| This qualitative case study examined the effects of teacher humor on the students in classroom situations. How could humor assist in the acquisition of new or frustrating materials, and how could humor assist in creating a comfortable, positive classroom environment for teacher student interaction? Data was collected from three sources: my observations of experienced teachers, reflections on my student teaching, and written feedback from sixty students from an eight grade classroom located at a local middle-upper class Junior High. The data was then categorized and analyzed under the three roles of humor, looking for any emergent themes. While minor drawbacks were found, the overwhelming success in engaging students with learning and laughter has left this new educator dedicated to implementing humor, when feasible, in his future classrooms. |
