Humor and Laughter Article Review
After reading the articles Fun and the Immune System and Lighten Up please reflect on your thoughts and feelings. (These articles were emailed to you as an attachment w/ the syllabus)
The following questions were created to be thought provoking:
( you do not have to answer them all but they may aid you in your responses/reflections)
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**
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8 comments:
While reading these articles, I immediately thought about my husband. He is a great example of "laughter" being his medicine!
My husband, Mark, enjoys watching The Simpson's, Seindfeld, and Family Guy as a stress relief. I do as well. However, my husband laughter is so profound, that my kids, and their friends just roll their eyes. They are teenagers. His laughter is very loud, from the belly, and usually brings tears to his eyes. The episodes are usually those that he has seen before. I have never laughed in this manner. He has a very stressful job, and he looks forward to coming home and watching these shows, which he often DVRs.
The only thing that I have found to make me laugh really hard is when people trip or fall. I know that may be mean, but it cracks me up. I wish I could find a show, or video, all about it. Smetimes, I watch America's Funniest Videos. That can do it!
After reading these articles, I feel compelled to schedule fun every other day! I know that if I sit around too much, I become sleppy and lazy. When I have something fun planned, the days preceeding it, and the days to follow are more fun as well.
I am going to get my teenagers to do the same. Their lives seem to be so hectic. "Scheduling" fun may be just what "Dr Mom" orders. We scheduled a golf day for next week. Much of my teaching carreer involved Middle School children. In this time of their lives, they begin to feel more of life's presures. They stress out too much. By "assigning" fun, at least once a week, may be the prescription for a happier and healthier life ahead for them.
It struck me as strange, but very true, that the first article suggested planning something fun every few days for yourself. It's a little crazy that one should plan for fun, but the fact is, life is crazy and busy, and sometimes I get so wrapped up in remembering and organizing and working and cleaning, that I don't take time to slow down and do something that makes me smile/laugh.
I definitely agree that emotions play a huge role in a person's immune system, stress level, and overall how your mind and body function. I know how my stomach feels when I'm stressed or angry. I know I get headaches when I'm upset. Laughter does help and it's the simplest, cheapest, and healthiest medicine, but it can be easily overlooked/ignored.
I agree that humor is subjective - I enjoy observing what makes my young boys laugh - it's the simplest things - how something is said, a weird picture - and to listen to them laugh at something I'd never even notice is humorous - makes me laugh along with them.
I plan on keeping laughter a daily part of my life - both in school and at home - the overall mood of the house and classroom can always be lightened by a laugh.
I thouroughly enjoyed both articles, and they provided proof to me that I am going to use in my professional and personal life.
I have a lot of fun in my classroom, and I hope my students do too. I also worry if they are really learning. I know there is a bias among teachers towards other teachers who do too much "fun stuff." I have that bias against myself. These articles said to me - it's OK, you are doing the right thing, calm down about it and don't be such a worrier!
This next school year, I am teaming up with the technology committee and the wellness committee (yes, we have too many committees!) to start a blog for teachers called "The Virtual Lounge" and these articles are going to be part of my attempt to convince my colleagues that there is value to fun in the classroom and sharing postive experiences with each other.
In my personal life, I already made my husband read the "Fun and the Immune System" article because I believe he easily forgets about fun and gets too stressed out about work. He is a hard worker, but often compares himself to his father who worked a 40+ hour job and built their family's house in his "spare time." This article let him know to relax a bit more, that life has to have a balance between work and fun.
After reading both of these articles, I really thought about the importance of having fun and laughing more. They helped me to realize how so much depends on your own attitude and how I see things. I have been under a lot of stress in my personal life and realize now that I have to be the one to bring the humor back into my life and be sure to schedule fun every other day. I feel that I eat right and exercise regularly, but need to work on getting my stress under control.
I also see the importance of laughing with othersl. If I spend too much time alone, I feel lonely and depressed. Today, I will be spending time with my scrapping sisters. A small group of teachers gather to scrap for the day. Whenever we get together, I spend more time socializing than scrapping. We usually laugh so hard that my face and stomach hurt. At times I find myself snorting or having tears in my eyes.
Life has also changed having two teenage sons. Our house can be noisy, busy, chaotic, high energy, and fun all at the same time. We need to be sure to schedule time to enjoy funny videos and shows, boat, 4-wheel, and watch and play sports together.
Recently, I was down with a back injury and can relate to the laughter can help reduce pain. I spent some time on bed rest and a lot of time watching funny videos and shows. I decided I could still have fun in bed after reading my materials for class. By the way the doctor didn't prescribe five doses of fun over the next three days. He gave me medicine that made me tired and lazy.
I feel that I have a lot of fun in my classroom. If I am having fun, my students will too. They love it when I play along with them.
The articles spoke to a fact I had heard earlier at a district inservice about laughter being good for you, both emotionally and physically. I didn't know that it was also referenced in the Bible. Reading about the actual way that laughter reduces stress-causing hormones was interesting.
I try to run a laid back classroom atmosphere, and laughter is a big part of it. Teaching middle schoolers it's sometimes tempting to use sarcasm as a means of promoting laughter. The kids use it all of the time with their friends. You have to be careful to think about how all students will react before commenting.
Lastly, my school has brought in Comedy Sports the last 2 years as an incentive. The kids like it as it gets them laughing at the comedians and their peers. Hopefully we will continue to do this.
I enjoyed the articles and found myself thinking of humorous situations, past and present, that after the experience and an insane amount of laughter how much better I felt.
I use a lot of humor in the classroom already. Some of it, okay most of it, the kids find entirely lame-o but if it gets a smile, smirk, or any reaction out of some of the kids that don't have much to laugh about in their everyday lives I know I'm reaching them. Teaching 8th graders can be a challenge, especially in a subject that lots of kids struggle with. It's not only the level of math, but these kids are also in a stressful time in their lives. Trying to fit in, having to make some difficult decisions due to peer pressure, and passing classes so they, too, can go on and experience high school next year are huge challenges in their way. So bringing in a little fun and laughter every once in a while, planned or not, helps. I'll make fun of myself if I trip, stumble on words, or spit on the overhead as I'm talking. It IS funny and shows the kids that I'm human, too.
I am always looking for more ways to bring out the smiles and make more connections with kids that seem so distant. I'm hoping a little laughter is just what the doctor ordered!
After reading these articles, I thought about the friends I have in the medical field who have shared their stories with me. My favorite story about the importance of humor on the body is a true one. A minister was visited by a young female parishioner. Thinking she was the nurse, he slowly turned in pain and said "you can stick it here," pointing to his rear. She had flowers in her hand and he was expecting a shot. The girl was so embarrassed and the visit was brief and awkward. After she left, he laughed so hard that he didn't need a pain killer for 21 more hours. He had previously needed pain killer ever 2-3 hours. It was the start of a new life for him when he realized how much laughter had easedhim severe pain. I wish I could just belly laugh, but that has not happened much in the classroom. I do find that levity in the room SO helps our atmosphere and learning. I get so stressed with my children at home _ I need to work on being more joyous, upbeat.
Another comment--- I was thinking - At the end of the year when we talk about our favoritie memories, the students remember our stories and our shared good times. THEY NEVER SAY they remember the workbook exercises. It's the silly games, the running around the room, the strip tease I do for our clothing unit (with strip tease music), the funny stories, the stories about me being ebmarrassed in my travels, our singing and acting out the songs.
Remembering the teacher as a farmer with a knife and three "bling" students running around the room - What do they remember - the Spanish son and the laughter!!
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