Does using humor in the classroom improve learning? If I had a dollar for every time I heard a student say, “school is boring,” then I’d be on a beach somewhere enjoying retirement! But really, why shouldn’t school be fun? Teachers don’t have to be comedians, but humor can positively impact the classroom for students and teachers! Adding some humor into your class increases engagement and encourages a positive and safe learning environment. Not to mention a few smiles and laughs can help reduce stress! Here are a few ways to use humor in the classroom.
Joke of the Day
It may sound simple, but something so easy can have a lasting impact on your students. Starting class with a belly laugh can start your lesson off in a positive direction. You can research appropriate jokes that are relevant to your students’ age group or look for educational jokes.
Jokes can go beyond, knock knock who’s there. You can insert silly questions into assessments, homework, and classroom assignments. I’ve added celebrities to multiple choice options and the students get the giggles over the answers.
In addition, you can add humor to the classroom by asking your students to come up with a joke of the day. Of course, this is an easy way to teach them research skills! Teach them how to cite their source and to credit the author of the joke.
Insert Pop Culture Into Your Class
By building relationships with your students, you can learn what their interests are. Making assignments relevant to student interests increases student engagement. Start getting to know your students with a “Getting to Know You” card game. Use what you learn to start inserting the things they love into your lessons! Are you teaching virtually? No problem, grab this digital Getting to Know You Game.
I’ve used song lyrics and even wrote math word problems like the one below:
If each TikTok video is 2 minutes, and you spend two hours every day watching TikTok videos, how many TicTock videos will you have watched in a week?
If your students aren’t old enough for TikTok, no problem! Make it relevant to whatever is popular in pop culture for their age group. You’ll get some giggles when your students realize you “get” what they are into.
Play Mad Libs
Take it old school and play Mad Libs. This is a great way to get that grammar lesson in with a sprinkle of writing and reading comprehension all in one activity! MadLibs makes it easy to use in the classroom with fun and free Mad Libs printables.
Allow the students to get creative with their parts of speech and see the funny stories they write! Reading them out loud could incite giggles and an all-out laugh-fest.
Comic Strips
Another way to add humor to the classroom is to use cartoons. A comic in and of itself is typically humorous. You can use cartoons to add humor to the classroom while teaching your students vocabulary, sequencing, and creative writing. Comic strips can be displayed throughout the class and viewed to bring smiles to your student’s faces. Not only are comics funny, but they are a conversation piece that can encourage academic talk within your classroom.
There are numerous benefits from adding humor to the classroom other than getting a good laugh. Students can develop a bond with their classmates or create a class community by finding common ground over a humorous situation. Adding humor to the classroom promotes communication skills and engages the brain by fostering critical thinking skills. Students who laugh together, learn together. What ways to use humor in the classroom will you try with your students?
Have Fun,
