Synopses & Reviews
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 Martins 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.
Review
Reviewed by Professor Marion Wynne-Davies, School of English and Languages, University of Surrey
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.
Reviewed by Dean Goddard, Deputy Head Teacher, St Martins School, Brentwood, Essex
David Keeling is the Patch Adams of education. As the pressure and accountability on schools and teachers continue to rise this book represents a much needed reality check on what schools, childhood and growing up is all about.
Reviewed by Dr Katharine Low, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Dave Keelings 'The Little Book of Laughter' is a delightful book that concisely brings together some of the key ideas and facts about the impact of laughter on a person in order to make the case for the use of humour in an educational setting. Keeling engages with a range of different perspectives on humour, from the scientific views on the impact of laughter and our brains processing of humour, to the use of improvisational theatre techniques, and offers a resounding argument for incorporating play and laughter into the classroom.
Indeed, it is an engaging read, full of comic examples and interludes, which Keeling then takes care to unpack. Indeed, through his humorous and engaging writing, Keeling is modelling his suggested practice for the reader.
Keeling offers a useful distinction between laughter and humour, and the discussion on humour as a way of seeing and processing the world, as a cognitive process, is particularly relevant for the reader and he makes a strong case for the inclusion of humour in learning, emphasising its essential role as a communication tool. One of the key areas of the book is that it encourages the reader, and accordingly the educator, to consider their outwardly facing self or presentation to the rest of the world, or more specifically, the classroom. It encourages people to reflect on their body language, facial expressions, voice (tone and pitch) and the words used and to consider how they can use these to create an atmosphere of play, experimentation and fun in order to create more in-depth or sticky learning, through emotional connections. Throughout the book, Keeling offers useful examples and the final chapter outlines 30 different approaches and exercises to working with humour and laughter in order to develop childrens reasoning, analysis, debating, memory and literacy skills, in a enjoyable and engaging manner.
This book encourages the reader to find their own comedy influences, to consider what it is that they find funny and to note when they are funny, in order to take these ideas and experiences and to develop them into approaches that they can employ in their own teaching. Crucially, this book inspires and encourages the possibility of risk-taking and laughter and the benefits of such play in your teaching practice, and, just as importantly, it makes you laugh.
Synopsis
Education is far too important to be taken seriously.
Synopsis
This book includes a brief history of laughter, gives you the rules of Funny and explains why having a laugh should be in your job description. Included are exercises to encourage laughter and techniques that will create an environment that is linked to encouraging andimproving learning as well as a whole load of comical comments, quotes and, of course, gags.
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 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'.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Intro
Section I: The World of Humour and Comedy
1 Funny Business is a Risky Business
2 What is a Sense of Humour and How to Define It
3 Humour, Curiosity and Playfulness Being Seven All Over Again
4 The Sciencey Bit Its Brain Jim, But Not As We Known It
5 Your Funny Bone is Connected to Your, Er
6 Only Joking
7 Please Be Seated for the Secrets of Stand-Up
8 Making It Up As You Go Improvisation and Teaching
Section II: Thirty Exercises to Build Rapport, Encourage Spontaneity, Get Their Creative Juices Flowing, Improve Learning and Make Everything Better
Gagging for More?
Outro
Bibliography
Index of exercises
List of lists