Shared laughter is a powerful way to reinforce learning, and it helps to make tasks less laborious and threatening. Humor, retention, anxiety; engaging in spontaneous and planned humor; concerns about humor use; and personal humor growth and integration with instruction are discussed. (MLW)

Reviews theory and research on the relationship between humor and creativity. Briefly describes two Israeli projects aimed at encouraging humor creativity in adolescents and at teaching teachers to use humor to foster creativity. (FMW)

Discusses the value of wordless picture books. Topics addressed include children's attitudes toward wordless books; historical tradition; sequencing; illustrative details; the use of humor; the development of oral and written language skills; self-confidence; creative thought; and natural language competencies. (Contains 20 references.) (LRW)

Provides a satirical view of the extinction of school librarians. Highlights include educational technology development; changing professional environments; mainstreaming; certification; and the industrialization of education. (AEF)

Reviews five books on talk in the classroom; teaching with humor and play; how children talk, write, dance, draw, and sing their understanding of the world; talented teenagers; and life histories of women teachers working for social change. (BAC)

Reviews research related to humor, especially the role humor can play in the instructional process. Highlights include theories of humor; variables associated with humor; health benefits derived from humor; developmental stages and humor; effects of humor in children's educational television; and humor in the college environment. (25 references)…

Describes the organization and operation of an immigration social service agency in Garden City, Kansas, with attention to relations among the staff and between the staff and the Asian-American and Hispanic-American clientele. (DM)

Lists 29 books and articles that the author considers classics in the field of information science. The background and major ideas of each work are discussed, and information about authors is provided. Topics covered include economics of information, inventive insight, techno-sociology, personal information systems, humor, speech recognition,…

This annotated bibliography lists 24 books, a video, and a periodical title that can assist patrons with public speaking, including several books of quotations. The list is divided into indispensable, recommended, and business-oriented titles, as well as some items useful for comprehensive collections. (EA)

Contends that the study of the psychology of humor integrates areas such as child development stereotyping and creativity. Describes an undergraduate college-level course in which students apply psychological theories of humor to understand both popular humor and experiences in everyday life. (CFR)

Focuses on appropriate and potentially helpful applications of workplace humor to enhance the work atmosphere in academic libraries. Provides an overview of humor literature and Internet sites. Discusses a conference on incorporating humor into the workplace, humor in academic libraries, personal applications, and applications for management in…

Discusses booktalks as a method of promoting reading among middle school students and suggests titles in the areas of fantasies, mysteries, contemporary fiction, outdoor/adventure fiction, historical fiction, and humorous fiction. A Web site is given that includes complete bibliographic information and additional titles. (LRW)

Loyal Jones talks about his role in the Council of the Southern Mountains, the controversy that led to its demise, founding the Appalachian Center at Berea College (Kentucky), and elitist attitudes of liberal arts colleges that hinder sincere efforts to help Appalachian people. He discusses humor as a way of simultaneously putting people on and…

Characterizes the telling and learning of political jokes as a powerful socializing tool for children to learn about the world. Maintains that this activity serves as a means of storing and transmitting social knowledge as well as information about the world of public affairs. Includes some representative examples. (MJP)

Discusses the personal and subjective nature of humor and considers ways that children respond to humor in literature and films. Suggests activities for school library media specialists to use with specific books that are humorous, including group discussions, individualized writings, and examining illustrations. (LRW)