The Laughing Classroom Post

Hello All-- I hope that everyone is doing well. Continue to work on your assignments as outlined in the Fun In The Classroom syllabus. The final project should be useful to you--remember it is flexible. The last thing that I want is busy work that will not benefit you and your goals for growth as an educator.

The journal and project can be turned in after completion via snail mail or email.

There are many fantastic ideas throughout the book to integrate humor and play into your classroom.

Thanks,
Dan

Assignment--

Look at the major benefits to laughter and play in your classroom from page 33:

*maintain a high attention level
*relieve physical and mental stress
*build rapport
*increase retention
*enhance self-esteem
*promote divergent thinking
*bring new insights
*allow for pleasurable learning
*increase feeling of hope

Wow! Huge benefits!

Please Take "The Laughing Classroom Quiz on pages 34-35.

Post thoughts and AHAS from the reading in The Laughing Classroom.
Ideas: (Remember these are just guidelines and all of the following do not have to be answered)

*Any questions from the page 24 Play Sheet.
*Paula Parrot and the Carrot--What makes you feel alive and what does this story have to do with education (pg. 29-31)
*Discuss your Gratitude and Humor Journal entries and how they have influenced your lives.
*Your scores on the Laughing Classroom Quiz (Reflections...)

Humor Styles

Humor Styles

"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."
(Pg. 14 The Laughing Classroom)

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.

Nikki's Journal Entry

Wanted to share this one...
“Snow”

I was unloading some bags from out of our car from my weekly trip from Target and my son walked outside onto the driveway. I kept an eye on him while he was looking around and walked a couple of feet onto the driveway. He was “talking” in his typical gibberish to himself and to me I suppose while pointing to something in the sky. I tried to see what he was pointing to and tried to understand what he was saying, but there really aren’t many true words that he uses, so I just smiled and said “yes” to him. I was finally able to let him walk around outside after the cold spell we have been enduring lately and it was nice to get some fresh air for a change.

I was telling my son to walk in the snow and look at all of the white snow around him. He glanced out around him and was looking at the sky. He also enjoyed pressing his feet into the snow and noticed that his shoes left shoeprints in the snow. I did the same and lined up my shoeprints next to his and talked about the sizes of our feet. Whether or not he listened and understood, who knows, but he again was speaking in his gibberish. He started to walk towards a bank of snow and touched the snow and pulled his arm back quickly. I remarked how cold it was and he just looked at me.

This little moment was sweet and I thought to myself how we take things for granted such as snow and our senses. How wonderful it is that we can taste, see, touch and feel-let alone appreciate our senses and appreciate them with snow! I also was glad that we could be outside and I realized how thankful I was that we didn’t have to be indoors anymore. To see snow through a child’s eye must be wonderful and to think how as adults we complain about driving in it and shoveling it!

WOW! What a great entry--yes I totally agree with you--the beauty of parenthood--to see life through the eyes of children. We wake up and see that it is raining and respond with aghhhh "My hair will be messed up (not that I have to worry about that anymore) or my shoes are going to get wet!" Kids wake up and see it is raining and say, "yeeeehah I can not wait to get out there and splash in the puddles!!"
Thanks for the great reminder to appreciate the little things and see the choose our attitude!
Dan Slowey

Laugh Lines For Educators

From The Book Laugh Lines For Educators
By: Diane Hodges
Things I Have Learned From My Children

1. A king-sized waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 square foot ranch house 1/4 inch deep.
2. A 3 year olds voice is louder than 200 adults in a restaurant.
3. You should not throw baseballs up when a ceiling fan is on.
4. The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
5. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh'" it's already too late.

Please feel free to add to this list by clicking on comments

The Laughing Classroom--Page 11

"He who laughs most, learns best."

--John Cleese

Please refelect on any ahas or main points on this weeks readings.

• Share what you are already doing in your classrooms or daily lives that foster a "Fun-damental" Attitude.
• After going over the Pop Quiz on pages 10 and 11 reflect on your personal results.
  

Click on comments to add your thoughts, feelings and ideas

Article Reflections

"Of all days, the day on which one has not laughed is the one most surely wasted."

Sébastien - Roch Nicolas de Chamfort

After reading the articles Fun and the Immune System and Lighten Up please reflect on your thoughts and feelings.

The following questions were created to be thought provoking: ( you do not have to answer them but they may aid you in your response/reflection)

1) What were some of the AHA's that you encountered? (if any)

2) How can you utilize this information in your own personal life?

3) How can this information make you a more effective teacher/counselor/parent?

**Click on comments to read and leave your personal ideas**

Introductions

Introductions--Fun In The Classroom

Please introduce yourself to the rest of the class by answering the following questions:

1) Your Name
2) School/City
3) Grade level and subject that you teach
4) What hobbies do you have that create laughter and joy in your life

Click On Comments To Leave Your Post