Why So Serious? Laughter is Good for the Soul.

Farce, hilarity, wisecracking, three tools that are often neglected in the classroom. However they are useful ammunition. If used effectively they will not just brighten up a complacent learning environment but they will transform it into a haven of connection, cognizance, comfort and delight. This year, for me joy and mindfulness begin with a humble laugh and creating a humorous and compelling place where smiles occur daily and respectful banter is common place.

That first chuckle, giggle, guffaw. The moment their deadpan expressions turn into audible grins. This is the juncture when our classroom transforms from a stage to a society. Give-and-take becomes the norm. Quiet shifts to orderly networking. Each voice an interchange, communication seems like witty banter between characters, seamless and charged. The humor of a learning environment is a two-way street. An avenue of laughter, all the while, being one of academic attainment. Joking around may seem off-task but it builds rapport and camaraderie. It is all about the timing. I have actually heard teachers say "Do not let them see you smile the first few days of school. Only let them see you be stern or they will walk all over you." I simply reply, "Why so serious? Laughter is good for the soul."

In our classroom we are respectful and mindful. We listen to one another and support one another. We laugh a lot at ourselves and the comedy in error. We fail and rather than allowing ourselves to get stuck in the quagmire of defeat, we use the muck, the humor, to elevate ourselves above it. We talk things through rather than let things go undiscovered and un-approached. It's the anecdotes of trust we use to secure to each other, that we have all been there. Balanced pragmatism. I have never been one to skirt away from the bliss of laughter. When I make a mistake, I snicker. I am honest with myself and my students. This builds a bridge of equality, for they will make mistakes too and rather than shy away from them they will embrace them, share them and overcome them. Not alone but with the crowd of spectators. The audience that is watching, on the edge of their seats, anticipating the experience of knowledge and growth. The revel in satire and personal choice. If we use grins and smiles as a common language, then setbacks will never be dramatic but rather sitcoms, laugh-tracks and all.