Reviews the literature for empirical support of the use of humor in classroom teaching. Concludes that the judicious use of humor by a teacher can facilitate student learning, and offers guidelines for its use. (FMW)

Discusses the role of humor in children's social development in the following areas: (1) social interaction; (2) friendship development and popularity; (3) hostility expression; and (4) interpersonal relationships. Argues that early humor development helps to optimize social development. (FMW)

Presents guidelines for the use of humor in children's educational television. Reviews the literature in the following areas: (1) audience attraction; (2) post-choice attention; (3) acquisition of educational information and (4) the viewing experience in hedonic terms. (FMW)

Encouraging students' use of satire, irony, and parody in college writing assignments is recommended to help students voice their concerns, think critically, and discover how a form of discourse contributes to both form and substance of the writing. Samples of student work illustrating the effectiveness of this approach are offered. (MSE)

Advice is offered for making college alumni reunions fun and memorable, illustrated with anecdotes from various institutions. Suggestions include exciting opening activities, focusing on the particular habits or characteristics of a class, appealing to a variety of tastes, emphasizing class identity, savoring favorite campus traditions, and…

Presents thoughtful writings by underprivileged seven- and eight-year olds, and analyzes how they were produced. Includes an introductory lesson and supporting strategies related to content and method. Provides a view of the placement of such a lesson in the context of cognitive psychology and philosophy of education. (DR)

Describes episodes of humor in a middle school classroom. (SR)

Presents 20 networking etiquette guidelines taken from electronic and print sources. Highlights include focusing on one subject, condensing messages, editing quotes, spelling and grammar, typography, mistakes, acronyms, humor, researching discussion groups, intellectual property and copyright, manners, ethics, and damage. (AEF)

Recommends the use of political cartoons in history instruction. Identifies characteristics of effective cartoons: (1) wit or humor; (2) basis in truth; and (3) moral purpose. Argues that the study of cartoons can promote creativity and social science skills. Identifies sources of cartoons. (SG)

Stories from "Nights with Uncle Remus" are examined for the messages beyond Harris's ostensible humor. The story plots are filled with degradations and stereotypes found in the slavery era. Whether authentic retold folk tales or "fakelore" constructed by Harris, the tales reveal information about Harris's audience, the White…

This article discusses sources of difficulty that language-impaired children and adolescents often have in understanding the various aspects of humor. General and specific techniques for remediating humor comprehension deficits are offered. Suggestions are also given for using humor materials in remediation of other areas of language impairment.…

Offers five strategies from teachers regarding self-evaluation of student writing, teaching sentence construction, research paper notetaking, using humor in the writing classroom, and student use of transparencies. (PRA)

The reactions of 60 gifted students and 60 regular students in grades 4, 6, and 8 to an audiotape of age-appropriate riddles, jokes, puns, satire, and nonhumorous items were compared. Results indicated that gifted subjects performed significantly higher in spontaneous mirth response and comprehension of verbal humor than the general population…

Discusses how one journalism instructor deals with disruptive students in her reporting, communication history, and ethics courses. Lists reasons for students' disenchantment. Notes that sometimes humor eases tensions. Addresses building respect in the college classroom. (RS)

Modern school executives have a bewildering number of management philosophies to choose from and a seemingly limitless supply of buzzwords and fads. In this poem, St. Peter (Heaven's chief executive) has trouble forming committees of subluminaries to help him decide which managerial types should enter the pearly gates. (MLH)