"Humor can act as a social lubricant or a social retardant in the educational setting. It can educate or denigrate, heal or harm, embrace or deface. It's a powerful communication tool, no matter which side is chosen."
"Joy Master vs. Joke Maker vs. Life Mocker vs. Fun Meister
It is crucial for us to identify our humor style--it is such a powerful tool--we need to use it in an empowering manner! Please discuss ways we can utilize this information to make our classrooms, colleagues, and schools better.
Does your humor style bring you closer to your students?
Does it enliven them or deaden them?
Is it helping you reach your teaching goals?
Is it enhancing and promoting a learning environment in your classroom?
Does it enliven them or deaden them?
Is it helping you reach your teaching goals?
Is it enhancing and promoting a learning environment in your classroom?
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I believe that I am a mix between the Fun Meister and the Joke Maker, which easily can depend on the day. After reading through each description it was easy for me to label some of my colleagues. I think it’s important that we sway toward the positives of the humor styles so that we may impact others (teachers, administrators, students, and parents). By reflecting on the styles we become more aware and perhaps more intentional in our actions to bring humor into our lives. I feel that my humor style does bring me closer to my students but I also am aware that not all students may appreciate my humor style all the time. I make sure that students understand and feel comfortable when I use humor within our classroom. Currently I have one student who experiences much anxiety and has felt uncomfortable with some of our laughing experiences. I think we as educators must be aware of our students’ interpretations of humor. It’s important to read students’ reactions while maintaining a positive rapport with them when humor is used. I think humor helps make lessons more enjoyable and interesting to students. Even simple name inserts into story problems make my 2nd grade students giggle (example: Bob buys 2 apples and Sam buys twice as many…inserting students’ names).
ReplyDeleteThough I’m not exactly sure what to call my style of humor, I do know that using humor in the classroom brings me closer to my students. Laughing together creates a bond of shared experiences and memories. I like to make silly comments to my students or tease them in fun or playful ways as we work together throughout the day. Reading silly, fun stories or poems is one of my favorite ways to bring joy and laughter to my classroom. I feel strongly that children learn more when they are feeling confident, happy, safe, and capable of achieving. Laughter reduces stress and helps to create a positive and comfortable learning environment. In this kind of environment, my hope is that my students feel free to take risks, make mistakes, and learn.
ReplyDeleteI don't tell a lot of jokes, but I do tell a lot of stories (that I hope are humerous) that involve the use of math. Thursday evenings I teach a 3 hour college math class. Most of my students work full time jobs--3 hours is long class; I usually have my class do one or two non-conventional math problems each eventing. My students are well aware that I independently wealthy and just teach college students for the fun of it. They know that, because that is what I tell them the first night of class--I also tell them that on occasion I may stretch the truth just a little bit to make math problems a little more interesting. Last week's non-conventional math problem: Shortly before class I got an urgent call from my chili factory forman. He informed mth that there was a tragic accidental death at the chili factory and he wanted to know how to best handle it. The foreman went on to explain that a new cleaning lady had accidentally used furniture oil on the railing that is on the walkway that is over the top of the 500 gallon chili cooking container. The oiling of the rail caused a tragic accident that resulted the death of a long term factory worker. For many years "Squeeky" the mouse has served the role of providing Felix the rodent control cat with appropriate exercise so that he does not get fat and lazy. Each shift "Squeeky" runs rapidly accross the factory floor and gets Felix to chase him. Squeeky ditches the cat by running across the railing that is on top of chili cooking container. Alas, not realizing there was oil on the railing "Squeeky" did a 720 degree double twist(9.9) dive right into the hot chili and was killed instantly. The question the foreman had was what to fo about the chili. I quickly called the FDA and found out that under current government guidelines rodent hair, insect parts, etc. are not a problem unless they exceed 27 parts per million which is why I need your help. Fortunately "Squeeky" had taken his annual employee physical earlier that day and during the weigh in he topped the scales at 1.37 oz. You need to calculate whether the chili can still be legally sold under current FDA guidelines. (When they do the math they find out that the Chili can still be sold. I inform the class that because of their mathematical expertise I am having a new label put on the cans "Protein Enhanced Chili" and am raising the price to reflect the use the new secret additives.)
ReplyDeleteI have multiple businesses, each has their own unique problems involving the use of math. Even the sleepy heads in class get interested when the math problems are properly presented.
After looking at the pie chart, I have decided that I fall somewhere between "Joy Master" and "Joke Maker." One of the things teachers need to be sure of of is that students feel that they are laughing together, not being laughed at. It is sometimes a fine line because children do not always hear things the way that we think we say them. So even though classrooms need humor to help them along, we as educators need to be keenly aware of the reactions of all the students. My oldest son used to have a hard time when he felt that we were laughing at him and not with him. He would burst into tears and stomp off to his room to slam the door. If we can help students be able to laugh at themsevles sometimes, that is a good life lesson. Another part of the puzzle is to be able to communicate effectively to the class when it is time to stop and get back to the lesson.
ReplyDeleteI guess I would be more similar to the Joy Master. I have never thought of naming my style of humor, really. I find it fun to be silly with my fifth graders.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the school year, before the kids really know me, I think it is so funny that when I say something(which I think is rather funny or silly) they often just stare at me, not knowing how to respond. It usually takes a few weeks for them to see the humor I intended.
Humor can wash away some of the stress of the day. Some of them come to school with many serious family issues weighing on their minds. It binds us together to have little jokes or funny sayings in our classroom. Soon they pick up on funny little things as well and we all share in the humor.
I know how tense some kids get when they are taking tests or giving reports or reading aloud. From the beginning of the year, I try to set the tone of a relaxed classroom. I tell them that no one can be nervous in Room 117, because then I will get nervous and my stomach will hurt and I might start crying and that would just be a mess! A crying teacher! Imagine that!
It is just fun to be silly with the kids. Even such minor things as giving them little nicknames(usually encouraged by themselves).I have a student named Quinn and during math we were studying the names of super large numbers and he said something like maybe a quinn-tillion. So often, now, I will call him "Quinn-tillion" just for fun.
I feel that I best identify with the Joy Master. I’m always looking for the positive angle in a negative situation. It is not always easy, but certainly better than being distressed.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is important to have humor to help create an inviting, comfortable classroom environment. I would consider the previous librarian to be a Life Mocker. As a result, students often avoided the library and had negative connotations about it. My goal, the first year, was to change this perception. I wanted a welcoming library that students felt at ease and confident visiting. Being a Joy Master helped in the conversion. It also has helped to form relationships with many students. It is a piece of the personality puzzle that is usually easy to read when getting to know them.
I feel as educators, especially at the primary level, we must help students develop their sense of humor. While many agree that humor has a positive influence on student learning, there are instances in which it is inappropriate. I’m sure we can all name a class clown that would hinder a lesson with poorly chosen jokes. It is important to model the balance between humor and learning.
On occasions where I am the student, I enjoy lectures so much more when the speaker uses humor. I love to hear stories that have happened to the speaker that I identify with. When we share an experience it brings us closer together and it is fun to laugh together about these experiences. As a teacher, I try to use humor in the same way. I will try to share a silly story of my own, and more often than not, the children reciprocate with their stories. My humor style would have to be closest to the Joy Master, because I am sensitive to my students' feelings. At times, we laugh together about something that was said or something that happened. We don't laugh at someone or make anyone feel put down. If other students do this, I correct them quickly. I want all students to feel safe, comfortable and happy in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteAs a child who was incredibly shy—one of my educational principles has been to always create a win-win situation. I think that any type of humor that does not promote that does not belong in the classroom. I had a teacher who used humor at the expense of others. It was not a comfortable feeling. I spent most of that year worrying and trying to blend into the woodwork so that she would not single me out--with her idea of humor. That being said, I think that I am a fun and silly teacher-taking care to not hurt my student’s feelings because, to this day, I remember that uncomfortable classroom!
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