ABSTRACT
Laugh when you do something stupid and when a student does something funny. Smile. Be silly. Laugh. Don’t be afraid to use humor in the classroom—as long as it is not sarcasm. Two of the most powerful stimulants for memory retention are novelty and emotion. Linking lessons to emotions, particularly humor, helps cement learning. Think about a wonderful day in your life. Chances are that you remember the emotions more than the facts. Let laughter into your learning atmosphere; it’s good for building better relationships and there’s nothing like a good, hearty laugh to relieve tension. We’ve all heard that it takes more muscles to smile than to frown, so use up those calories and laugh (then you can justify that extra piece of chocolate!).
