The Little Book of Laughter: Using humour as a tool to engage and motivate all learners (The Little Book Series) - Hardcover

Keeling, Dave

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1781350086 ISBN 13: 9781781350089

Publisher: Independent Thinking Press, 2014

Synopsis

Schools can use laughter to develop openness, bravery, teamwork, imagination, creativity, and, most of all, improve relationships between students and teachers. This book is the ultimate guide to getting more out of yourself and each other through, well, lightening up a bit!

About this title

About the Author

Dave Keeling has been a professional actor for 15 years and a stand up educationalist for 12 years, working the length and breadth of the country with teachers, pupils and parents. He is a speaker and Associate of Independent Thinking.

Ian Gilbert is one of the UK's leading educational innovators, speakers and writers with twenty years experience working with young people and educationalists around the world. He is the founder of Independent Thinking Ltd, the editor of the Independent Thinking Press and the author of a number of titles including Why Do I Need a Teacher When I've Got Google?. His book The Little Book of Thunks won the first education book award from the Society of Authors for 'an outstanding example of traditionally published non-fiction that enhances teaching and learning'.

From the Back Cover

THE LITTLE BOOK OF LAUGHTER - demonstrates why having a laugh should be in your job description and shows you the benefits that humour can bring to the learning environment.

Benefits such as creating openness, bravery, teamwork, imagination and creativity and, most of all, improving relationships between students and teachers.

Includes:
:) A brief history of laughter
:) Techniques linked to encouraging and improving learning
:) Exercises to encourage laughter
:) and The Rules of Funny
:) as well as a whole load of comical comments,quotes and, of course, gags.

“Dave Keeling takes the old saying ‘Make ’em laugh, make ’em think’ and transforms it into a clear, informative and enjoyable guide that shows teachers of all age ranges how to use humour in education. The Little Book of Laughter combines analysis of different forms of comedy with a handy DIY guide, as well as providing a series of ‘seriously funny’ jokes that will make both teachers and pupils laugh aloud.”
Professor Marion Wynne-Davies, School of English and Languages,
University of Surrey

“As the pressure on and accountability of schools and teachers continues to increase, this book represents a much needed reality check on what schools, childhood and growing up are all about.”
Dean Goddard, Deputy Head Teacher, St Martin’s School, Brentwood, Essex

6’ 2” and ginger, Dave Keeling is an author and professional actor and has been a ‘stand-up’ (or kinaesthetic and passionate) educationalist for over 10 years, working with teachers, pupils and parents the length and breadth of the country.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Foreword by Ian Gilbert
The only thing I remember about the course is how forgettable it was. It was run by BT (I think), in London (I’m fairly sure), and I had been sent on it while I was working for a local authority in the Midlands (positive about that bit). It was dry, boring and unremittingly factual, and everyone seemed quite happy with accepting that this would be as good as it got. My only clear memory of the day was the point at which the sweating presenter told a joke. It was a
lame joke, lamely told, but what happened next took me by surprise. Everyone fell about laughing. It was as if he had just come off stage at the Edinburgh Festival clutching a Comedy Award. Now that amused me.

What I learned that day was that people like to laugh. It wasn’t the joke that provoked the laughter on that course. That joke couldn’t have provoked a response even if it came with its own defibrillator. What made those delegates laugh was their desire to laugh, something that can be triggered by the weakest of stimuli in the right conditions. I became determined at that point to use humour in my training in education as much as I possibly could, and to follow Walt Disney’s famous mantra that he would rather entertain people in the hope they are educated than educate people in the hope they are entertained. After all, education is too important to be taken seriously.

What I noticed over the subsequent years is the power of humour when it comes to putting across important messages. (And, by the way, when I say ‘humour’ I don’t mean telling jokes. I’m lousy at telling jokes and, anyway, getting a laugh using someone else’s creativity is like getting a date wearing a Brad Pitt mask. Telling jokes isn’t humour, it’s just making people laugh.) By saying things that are genuinely funny you can make people laugh in a genuine way and, while their faces are all folded up, it is amazing what you can shove into their brains. ‘Make ’em laugh, make ’em think’ as the mantra goes.

As you will discover when you read this little book, laughter produces many physical and psychological benefits. For example, I once read that 100 laughs are the equivalent of a ten-minute row, that laughter improves your immune system, reduces stress levels and is beneficial for people with respiratory tract infections. I even read that breast-feeding mothers who laugh release a chemical into their milk that helps to immunise their child against eczema. I have also read of the benefits to learning induced by laughter – that it
actually improved recall in students who were played a funny video part way through their learning. Which, of course, is where it gets really interesting for teachers.

When I was doing my PGCE, I remember reading various reports about what children look for in a good teacher and two attributes always shone through – consistency and a sense of humour. The only thing I remember from my maths
lessons at high school were my teacher’s jokes. They were the only bit of the lesson I ever understood.(Thus reinforcing the point that some of the most intelligent people I have ever met are some of the worst teachers I have ever had.) It is only now, looking back with a combination of hindsight and a better understanding of neurochemistry, that I can understand what is going on when a teacher uses humour, what it is that makes it so memorable and the power of what I like to call ‘teacher’s little helper’, namely the neurotransmitter dopamine (but more of this later in the book).

Another thing that makes young people – and not so young people – laugh is Dave Keeling. I have worked with Dave for many years and seen firsthand the way he can win over even the most recalcitrant and reluctant young learner – and not
so young learner – before they have even taken their seats. Apart from the card games and the magic tricks he uses, he is also a very funny, a naturally funny, man. What he shows in this little book of comic wisdom, however, is that being
naturally funny is something we can all learn. That there are a whole host of tips and techniques employed by naturally funny men and women that transfer particularly well to the classroom to make the whole learning experience more
enjoyable, more effective and more memorable for all involved. What’s more, these ideas are designed to not only bring out your humorous side but also that of the young people in your classroom. After all, in my experience, they
are often way funnier than you could ever be. If you don’t believe me, simply try any of the exercises in this book. You’ll be impressed, I guarantee.
Talking of funny, did you hear the one about the Minster of Education who actually knew something about education? No? Me neither. Boom boom!
Ian Gilbert, Nina’s Table, Craig Cefn Parc

Edition details

• Publisher: Independent Thinking Press
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1781350086
• ISBN 13: 9781781350089
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160