This book is a primer for practitioners and researchers striving to incorporate the assessment of human strengths, resources, and fulfillment into their work. Contributors examine the scientific underpinnings and practical applications of measures of hope, optimism, self-efficacy, problem-solving, locus of control, creativity, wisdom, courage,…

In this article, I explore laughter as a form of multimodal play in which adolescents' engage across contexts and in various configurations. With a few recent exceptions, a focus on unscripted play is largely missing from ongoing research and discussion about the education of adolescents. Whereas the space to play has been vitally important to the…

This document contains a brief bibliography of peer-reviewed literature, with abstracts, on humor in later life. It is one of 12 bibliographies on aging prepared by the National Agricultural Library for its "Pathfinders" series of publications. Topics covered by the other 11 bibliographies include aging parents, adult children, dementia and…

Tips for the substitute teacher. (CM)

Educators often take themselves a bit too seriously. To remedy the situation, the author, who is a veteran educator and illustrator, offers a little perspective with this collection of lighthearted cartoons. These cartoons can be used as overheads for staff development meetings, for an individual break in a busy day, and perhaps, even for a…

Discusses Jan Mark's "Thunder and Lightnings" and offers the teacher various approaches to teaching the book in the classroom. (HOD)

Humorous statement that the ability to write suffocatingly fuzzy prose is really the art of camouflage, and, at times, can be helpful to school administrators. (Author/MLF)

Reports on an analysis of more than 200 high school newspapers which showed that only nine papers included humor on a regular basis. Uses excerpts from those nine newspapers to illustrate how humor can be used. (FL)

This article provides a rationale for using humor to increase creativity in gifted students and suggests a variety of activities which focus on humor. (DB)

Provides examples of featurettes--very short feature articles--and offers suggestions for writing them. (GT)

In a lighthearted yet serious look at academic deanship, stories are recounted regarding the dean's role in such matters as tenure decisions, budgeting, affirmative action, and coping with demands of faculty, department chairs, vice-presidents, parents, and students. Current practices in academic administration are described in a humorous manner.…

A humorous account is given of an encounter with a talking computer in the form of a superintelligent robot. Several mathematical problems are posed. (MP)

This analysis of the U.S. Department of Labor's "Dictionary of Occupational Titles" as a literary and cultural document, looks at its (1) history; (2) job classification scheme; (3) egalitarianism; (4) cultural and literary value; and (5) humor. Five references are listed. (MES)

Presents six generalizations on using humor in public speaking. (PD)

Ten elements and techniques which can be used very effectively in a college level political science course are animation and enthusiasm; costumes; skits; motion; humor; perks; personality and mood changes; voices, puppets, and imitations; the personalization of material; and state of mind. (RM)