Chapter 8: Humor
In this chapter 8 Clark talks about the important element of Humor and the balance that in needed with it. He starts by talking about how laughter is a universal language and can serve as a connecting cord for students and their relationship with teachers. Clark discusses how as teachers we have to sometimes just laugh off and not to sweat the small stuff. Small little issues are going to come up when we are teaching and sometimes it's just easier to laugh it off.
Another area that Clark dabbles in is understanding the humor of children. Sometimes its hard to remember that children don't see and understand humor in the same way we do. As teachers we have to remember what it is like to be young and try to understand the humor that children see. Laughter can be a mask for not knowing what kind of emotion to display or being uncomfortable.
From reading this chapter I also was able to reflect on the boundaries of humor. As teachers you have to understand what are appropriate boundaries for humor. Humor can be a great way to connect with students, but it should never be at the expense of someone else. "Picking on" or "poking fun" on a student might seem like fun and games, but it can effect that student even if it seems not too. Clark talks about how students usually laugh this picking on off, but only because they don't know how to respond. By making sure humor isn't hurting or embarrassing anyone, you can rest assure that humor is only adding positively not negatively.
Clark talks about how humor can relieve stress in a classroom and make it a more open and friendly environment. Clark talks about how we naturally want to be around people who are laughing and when you incorporate that into the classroom, it makes students want to be there. Laughter and Humor can take away blues and help students feel comfortable and welcomed in the school environment.
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