Humor is an essential component in the classroom. I think that if you can make your kids laugh, then they are more likely to do what you want them to do. Students need to know that you're not some ol' stick in the mud, stuck on rigidity and conformity. I recognize that for some being humorous is not comfortable, but I think that there are ways to incorporate it into your classroom where it fits your style.
Last year, I wrote this post about a spelling word that more than a few of my students have gotten wrong over the years. Today I gave the spelling pretest for our 16 words and this week's lesson includes "assign." After I gave the test, I wrote "assing" on the board. I asked my students to please double check number ten to make sure that they did not the word on the board on their paper. I saw a few hurriedly make that correction.
I'm not afraid to make a bit of a fool out of myself if it means that perhaps within the space of fifteen minutes that I need my students to pay attention, they do exactly that. If I write something on the overhead incorrectly, I'll quip, "I must be having a blond moment" or "what do you expect from someone who roamed the earth with the dinosaurs?" Depending upon the student, I may even be able to "cap" on them and the kids absolutely love it. For example, a few months ago, one of my students was sharpening his pencil and a few kids turned to watch him. Darnell, trying to be funny, said, "What are you looking at? I'm not a t.v." I immediately came back with, "if you were, we would have already changed the channel." Darnell started laughing as did the rest of my students, and he replied, "that was good!"
Of course, there is that fine line between sarcasm and humor. I am a strong believer that no one should be made to feel bad at the expense of someone else.
(Wow! I can't believe that I've done 30 of these!)Last year, I wrote this post about a spelling word that more than a few of my students have gotten wrong over the years. Today I gave the spelling pretest for our 16 words and this week's lesson includes "assign." After I gave the test, I wrote "assing" on the board. I asked my students to please double check number ten to make sure that they did not the word on the board on their paper. I saw a few hurriedly make that correction.
I'm not afraid to make a bit of a fool out of myself if it means that perhaps within the space of fifteen minutes that I need my students to pay attention, they do exactly that. If I write something on the overhead incorrectly, I'll quip, "I must be having a blond moment" or "what do you expect from someone who roamed the earth with the dinosaurs?" Depending upon the student, I may even be able to "cap" on them and the kids absolutely love it. For example, a few months ago, one of my students was sharpening his pencil and a few kids turned to watch him. Darnell, trying to be funny, said, "What are you looking at? I'm not a t.v." I immediately came back with, "if you were, we would have already changed the channel." Darnell started laughing as did the rest of my students, and he replied, "that was good!"
Of course, there is that fine line between sarcasm and humor. I am a strong believer that no one should be made to feel bad at the expense of someone else.
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7 comments:
Congrats and a big thank you for the thirty of these you've done. I completely agree with you, especially about the fine line between sarcasm and humor. There is room for the good sarcasm, but you have to be very responsible in how you present yourself.
I, too, think it is important to be able to laugh at yourself or to make mistakes and to let the kids see that. I once took a long slide into a fall on an overhead cord. Bless their hearts, my students did not laugh until I started and they all first asked if I was okay.
Do your msers/jhsers make this mistake: "hores" instead of "horses" ? Mine do. Repeatedly, year after year. They also don't know we wear "clothes," not "cloths". Maybe its the high ESL numbers.....or just a lack of accountability in school years 1-6.....or maybe because we live in the "dessert" ( desert ).
Nice post. Humor is very important for teaching and dealing with those creatures that are msers/jhsers.....I know "spongebob" and such nonsense answer choices have appeared on some of my quizzes....
I think that's why I like the older kids--they can roll with the sarcasm.
I love this teacher tip on humor! I am in the first part of my student teaching and I find my self laughing just as much as many of my students. Of course, I have to wait for my students to leave most of the time before I can laugh. But still, I laugh. One of my professors suggested that I read the book "If They Are Laughing They Are Learning." I can't think of the author, but some of you might be interested in reading it as well.
This tip is great. I always enjoy when teachers use humor in their lessons (I am a graduate student studying Education...a teacher to be :) Sometimes our professors scare us that we should not use humor in case we offend a student, however as you said you can read each student and know what comments they can handle. This makes me feel as if I can be myself as a teacher and the students will respond well to it. Thanks for sharing!
Collecting teacher tips can be a great way to enhance your professional proficiency. If you are teaching a module on science experiments or science fair projects then Teacher’s Guide to Science Fair Projects is a great site to visit.
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