Humor is a valuable tool in the classroom when it creates a light mood and a comfortable learning atmosphere. The use of humor can elevate student interest, comprehension and motivation in class,  as well as alleviate anxiety, tension and fear of the teacher or the subject being taught. Laughter can make lessons memorable and facts easier to recall.

Teachers have different strategies to teach students and ingrain lessons into their minds. Humor is a great way to recapture the attention of a class while also creating a comfortable atmosphere conducive to learning.

“I love it when teachers incorporate humor because it makes class more memorable and I feel make the teacher is actually trying to engage in conversations with the students,” said junior Kelli McGhiey. “Class also seems to go smoother and happier when everyone is having fun.”

Most students see teachers who incorporate a little humor into class lessons as approachable and are more likely to seek these teachers’ assistance.

“When teachers incorporate humor into their lessons, it makes class more lively and the teacher more approachable,” said junior Kelsey Yamanaka. “When teachers use humor in the classroom, it makes me want to learn from them.”

Sophomore Katie Lee agreed. “Laughter always makes the room feel lighter. If there is constant pressure and stress placed on the students in the classroom, humor can create a more enjoyable learning environment.”

Although humor can be a very effective teaching strategy, it should be used in moderation. Too many jokes in class can make the teacher seem too laid-back and can cause students to remember the joke but forget the material being taught.

“ I think teachers can make learning more enjoyable for the students if they appeal to the interests of students. However, they shouldn’t go too off topic,” said Yamanaka. “To help students understand the material, they can include more subject-related humorous anecdotes.”

McGhiey agreed. ”Teachers can make learning more interesting by telling jokes and stories related to the lesson. Just doing this can help make students feel more involved in class and more connected on a personal level with the teacher.”

Humor can allow students to relate to teachers more and build stronger relationships with them.

“It’s absolutely important for the teachers to relate to students,” said Lee. “If there is not a level of understanding present between the teacher and student, it  makes it harder for the student to learn because there is an absence of mutual respect.”