In a climate where increasing numbers of performance demands are placed on youth, the author provides an inspiring account of how humor can bring joy to troubled lives and foster social and emotional learning. (Author)

Suggests that the use of humor in the technology education classroom can reduce stress while lessening the gap between teacher and students and stimulating cooperative work. Cautions against using humor that can be cruel or detrimental to the classroom environment. Includes a list of acceptable jokes. (Contains 17 references.) (JOW)

Presents a collection of humorous, incorrect answers given over the years by college students taking tests in a course on French civilization. The paper emphasizes the importance of appreciating the humor within any situation. The answers are in response to questions asking students to identify people, places, dates, or events and to explain their…

As a principal facing the task of figuring out all the complexities of the No Child Left Behind legislation, Kenneth Remsen, has concluded there is a strong belief that testing students is the answer to bringing about improvements in student performance. Because testing seems to be a cornerstone to improving performance, he doesn't understand why…

Research has shown that individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome are impaired in humor appreciation, although anecdotal and parental reports provide some evidence to the contrary. This paper reviews the cognitive and affective processes involved in humor and recent neurological findings. It examines humor expression and understanding in…

A 1"-grader entered the health room at Wayside Elementary School in Potomac, Md., with an odd complaint."I feel bloated," the boy reported to Diane Arkin, a health aide.Arkin, trying to keep a straight face, asked the 6-year-old, "What does bloated feel like?"He thought for a second. "It feels like I'm 51 ."(Source: Bulletin, Montgomery County,…

Adults often express concern about the increasing production of books with scatological humour despite the evidence of the popularity of such literature with children. This article explores a range of recently published picture books where the anthropomorphic dog is subject to children's laughter. Bakhtin's theory of the carnivalesque is…

By July 1994, "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories" had appeared for the third time on the "New York Times" bestseller list with sales exceeding 100,000 copies. One year later, there were almost 1.5 million copies of "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories" in print as it continued to excite public commentary. This popular book is an ideal case study…

This study investigated the humorous activity of two infants, 18 and 21 months old, in their infant group childcare setting. This was a qualitative study that followed two infants for four months. Through participant and non-participant observations, journal writing and interviews, data were collected on children's involvement in humorous…

This qualitative research study examined the "lived experiences" of learning identity during work transitions among three women (ages 35 to 55) who were not previously married. The research question was how do particular mid-life women who engage in a work transition re-construct the meaning of (or make sense of) their identity? Primary research…

Purpose: The purpose of the report is to provide teachers with tried and proven methodology to improve student writing. Methodology: The practices described are based on enclosed research and first-hand experience garnered while working with inner-city students in both middle and high school in San Antonio, TX. Results: Students that are given the…

Among Swales' (1996) list of occluded academic genres, retention-promotion-tenure (RPT) evaluations have been little studied. These evaluative reports, however, can inform EAP researchers, teachers, and students about ways that writers both follow and transgress discourse conventions to fulfill various purposes through an institutional text.…

Four experiments were conducted to assess the roles of politeness and humor in the asymmetry of affect observed in verbal irony production. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants rated different replies (ironic, literal, or "no response") made to hypothetical scenarios for their politeness and humor, respectively. Participants in Experiment 3 were…

Children attending early childhood education and care centres spend a lot of time fitting in with institutional routines. This paper uses ethnographic methods and sociocultural activity theory to describe and analyse the processes whereby young children in an early childhood centre collectively created meaning and interest during potentially…

Teachers and administrators are often directed to distance themselves from the children in their charge. Despite the land mines that accompany personal relationships with students, the authors argue that educators can still learn to build personal relationships with students. Personal-relationship building is one of the most important skills a…