The Little Book of Laughter: Using humour as a tool to engage and motivate all learners (The Little Books) - Hardcover

Dave Keeling

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1781350086 ISBN 13: 9781781350089

Publisher: Independent Thinking Press an imprint of Crown House Publishing, 2013

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review

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

David Keeling is the Patch Adams of education. As the pressure and accountability on schools and teachers continues to rise, this book represents a much needed reality check on what schools, childhood and growing up is all about. -- Dean Goddard, Deputy Head Teacher, St Martin's School, Brentwood, Essex

Dave Keeling's '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 brain's 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. --Dr Katharine Low, Royal Central School of Speech & Drama

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.

About this edition

• Publisher: Independent Thinking Press an imprint of Crown House Publishing
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1781350086
• ISBN 13: 9781781350089
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 128