Included in the Digital Ideas Advent Calendar with a new idea each day!
I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. – Dr. Seuss
Often, you will see me include pictures of my pug in my webinars, keynotes, or profile pictures. I had few people question if this is professional. When I conduct classes- online and offline- I am more concerned with building relationships with my students and getting them to warm up to me. I find that laughter helps students get to know me and relaxes them when heavy duty learning that is stressful is involved. My classes are challenging and I require a lot of effort but I also need my students to be open to the content and motivated to learn. Humor also has helped ease my stress. It’s always a great teaching day when I get to laugh with my students. Recently, I published an article in the GO Teach magazine, LOL! Teacher! Using Humor to Enhance Student Learning. Click the link for a free digital version of the article. Below, find a slide presentation you can download with ideas included in the article, such as introducing a subject with jokes, using memes, choosing humorous content and more! Scroll to find a list of humorous apps for learning.
Teaching with Jokes Webinar Recording
Favorite Apps and Web Tools
- I like the humorous writing prompts at WriteAbout.
- Fun comic creation tools- Makebeliefscomix (web & iOS app), Toondoo (web), or the Comicshead.com iOS/Android app.
- Students can retell a past event, recreate a conversation between characters, share jokes, or animate an interview with Goanimate, ZimmerTwins, or apps like BuddyPoke 3D avatar or Sock Puppets.
- Students can make their own drawings or images or historical figures talk using tools like Voki, Blabberize, YakIt Kids, Chatterpix Kids, and Tellagami.
- Find more ideas on integrating jokes in this article I wrote for ESL Library, Let’s Laugh! Activities for Inspiring Laughter in Your Classroom.
Challenge:
Create a great learning atmosphere or interrupt the monotony by using humor effectively.
If you enjoyed these ideas, you may want to get your copy of The 30 Goals for Teachers or my $5.99 ebook, Learning to Go, which has digital/mobile activities for any device and editable/printable handouts and rubrics. Subscribe for FREE to receive regular updates!
Bookmarks
Humor & Learning, by shellyterrell
Included in the Digital Ideas Advent Calendar! Scroll the image below and each day discover free web tools, apps, and resources.
