Comedy in the classroom is not always intentional.

in #funny7 years ago (edited)

A couple of months ago, I wrote a piece in response to a @steemiteducation homework assignment. The assignment required you to write about the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your classroom. Although I had many to choose from, I settled on one involving a potato ricer.


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Laugh it up while you can.

But I have been dying to tell my second favorite classroom story for months.

It is important to note that one of the biggest lessons I teach my high school students is that in life, you don't get to pick your bosses. This lesson pops up every time a student complains about one of their other teachers (I'm sure they never complain about me... to my face). I explain to them that all bosses are different and one of the lessons they are learning in high school is how to "get along" with bosses who have very different styles.


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It's probably best for a boss to fall somewhere in-between these extremes.

Some bosses are all business and want your cubicle to be completely devoid of anything personal.

Some are super excited about everything and really want you to go above and beyond with the amount of flare one displays.

Others are jerks who want you to come in to do TPS reports on your day off.

Some are flat out mean.

Some don't care and will let you do whatever you want.

Some want to be your friend.

Some like to joke around when it is appropriate, but when it is time to get down to business, they have very high expectations of you. They believe in positive reinforcement and act more like a coach than a "boss".



Yoda was a funny teacher but he knew when to get serious.

I try to be that last one on the list.

And that is not saying my way is better than some of the others. It is just different. In fact, I think some students may not like how much I joke around. Some students are all business whileI am more like a mullet... business in the front... party in the back.



Exactly like my teaching style... god help those kids.

I can honestly see how some kids might think I am wasting valuable teaching time with my jokes. To them I would say the same thing I say to all of my students... "You need to learn how to interact with all kinds of bosses."

But that is my personality. I use jokes to help drive lessons, make examples, and gain and retain students' interests. Usually, I purposely weave in humor to help "edutain" my students. However, there are some times when the humor just happens.



This is the only way I would ever get applause in my class.

Being a clown who also believes in fair play, I think it is only right that I allow my students to appropriately joke around as well. As long as it adds to the working environment and does not stop the learning, I love it when my kids use humor. But this can sometimes lead to some misunderstandings. Sometimes I'm not sure if they are kidding or serious.

For example, one day when I was droning on and on about voodoo economics or some other nonsense, a couple of my students gasped. Wow! Had I really elicited such an emotional response from my excellent presentation skills? Had I finally reached them? Would they make a movie like Stand and Deliver based on me?

No time to think about that. I had to continue empowering the leaders of tomorrow.

I continued enlightening them on the Platt Amendment or some other life changing topic.

As I proceeded, several students pointed to the front of the room where I was standing. "Did you see that?!" One of them shouted.

Wow! They were really impressed with the map of Cuba I had just shown them. (The only thing better than learning about Cuba would be learning about Cuba and having some food.)

After sharing a few enthralling details of the Davis Agreement, all the associated treaties, and the American Revolution in particular, several students screamed.



I thought they were cheering.

Holy Smokes! This must be how the Beatles or Elvis felt when they were in front of a crowd. I was pretty sure at any moment the President of the School Board Unites States of America was going to burst and give me the teacher of the year award Medal of Freedom!

And then it happened.

As I was thanking the students for their outpouring of heartfelt support, a student said "No. A mouse just ran across the room."

Clearly they were messing with me.

I guess I was going to be just like Chewbacca... standing there like an idiot without a medal.



As I began to speak about the importance of them not participating in such shenanigans on my time, one student asked "If I'm here and you're here, doesn't that make it our time?"

As I was answering him, I saw it. A mouse really was running back and forth on the floor right behind me. It stopped behind a very heavy box containing a metal computer cart that I had put off assembling for nearly a year.

I decided to investigate. I leaned the box forward a little and peeked behind it. Sure enough, there was a mouse staring back at me with its beady little hate filled eyes (they need to be hate filled... trust me). Although I really wanted to jump on a desk and scream like Ned Flanders, I had to maintain my composure in front of my students. I slowly leaned the box back on top of the mouse, assured my student they would not be distracted by the rodent any more, and continued my lesson.

Shortly after, the bell sounded and all the students hurried away from the scene of the crime.

After they were gone, I walked over to the box, leaned it forward and saw this...



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I'm not sure why it was wearing a karate outfit, but it really was flat as a pancake with one tiny spurt of blood coming from it's now paper thin body.

I learned two things that day:

  1. My students are never that excited about my lesson.

  2. You really can flatten a mouse like a pancake.

By the way, I made at least 12 movie references in this post. The first person to find all 12 will win 5 steem.


Images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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There is a play in Egypt called "School of the rioters" it's very funny

hi. nice post

yap its really nice!

I like it

Haha thanks for the story! Poor Mr. Mouse... There are so many movie references in this post....

Although I would love to find them and win. I will pass to see if someone else who is a little less fortunate will want to find them. :)

Great story, and I am glad you kept your composure.

I am always amazed at how much it comes through that you seem to truly love your job as a teacher! Very funny post with which most everybody can identify!

lol, somehow that fits right in.

Unexpected twist. 😂😂😂

5bd50b212596b5a687e908f3c4cff77c337c7411c057d91a77d5cb7ae6797793.jpg

You are surely correct as the funniest things usually happen by accident.

What does it think it is doing? Hahahaha

Tub Cat respects your teaching style in addition to the quality of your article. Tub Cat wishes he had a teacher like you when he was a little tubby kitten.

Tub Cat is as happy as he is when getting a belly rub when he pushes the little green upwards pointing arrow thingy on this post!

omg hehe

I'm a firm believer in using humor in the classroom. I taught English at a camp to new students every week and the first thing I would do is loosen them up with a song or a funny clip.

I do that to engage their minds to be ready to learn and 9/10, it works!

When I used to teach at an actual school in the USA, i'd still use humor but i'd also not bullshit my kids. I was kinda like William Dafoe's character in the movie Easy A (watch if you haven't, it's really good!).

Great write up today!

Easy A is brilliant! Emma Stone was incredible and such a fun take on The Scarlet Letter.

It was a good chance for me to really watch her acting chops at that time. Her and everyone else in that movie played off of each other well. I thought I was going to watch another one of those trashy teen dramas but it REALLY went above and beyond my expectations.

You must be a great teacher as per ur post here, You mentioned some great stuff that are really valuable.
I believe that comedy in the classroom is fine but not on a daily basis because the teacher may loose his value in the eyes of his students, and sometimes comedy in the classroom could make respect vanish between the teacher and students, in the contrary there are some teachers who use comedy as a main component in their teaching strategy,,so comedy is a double-edged sword and depends on the teacher to know himself very much before ending up with non-expected results.
Keep ut up for the good

It is definitely a fine line between humor that helps and humor that distracts.

You know, growing up, I really enjoyed teachers that weaved in comedy and jokes as they taught us some valuable material. The teachers that weaved in jokes and clever remarks regarding the material actually helped me remember some lessons. Which is amazing. You want students to be passionate and actually like what they're learning. Kudos to you for being an awesome teacher!

Oh that poor mouse!
I caught 12 references to movies and TV, if @lifes-a-dounut isn't right and if the the shows don't count, oh well maybe my list will help the next guy:
Tom and Jerry
The simpsons
The Office
Horrible Bosses
Waiting
Office Space
Star wars Empire Strikes Back
I feel like the mullet has to be related to Joe Dirt
Ferris Bullers Day off
Stand and Deliver
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Star Wars a New Hope

You have named quite few. Let's see how everyone else does.

Well @hanshotfirst i can relate this whole blog with my daily routine because i am a Teacher by profession Too :P :D Unfortunately May be Hahahahaha :D

They way you drew the map of Teacher Vs Students is Really very funny. This is so me ;

Some are super excited about everything and really want you to go above and beyond with the amount of flare one displays.

I always tell my students do whatever you want in classroom but yes after my Lecture :P :D It is not like I am Hitler Type nor it's like I am a Mr.Bean type Character but i maintain a balance among both these Great Characters of the History :P

Well My Friend I am not good with Movies but i am convinced that your write up is too too good and very funny and i loved it <3

Thanks for writing this great Blog @hanshotfirst

Stay Blessed, Steem On!

Damn! Should there have been a warning at the start of your post that there are elements in your story that readers may find distressing? That poor mouse with the beady eyes - the eyes that were pleading for mercy and regretting trespassing your humorous class....

I would love to b in a class wid the teacher who has great sense of humour like you. But some how when ever i try to recall my teachers the strict ones r first in the list. Some how it also depends on teacher who knows when to engage studenst with some light mood. When to draw the line.

I extremely like educators that utilization humor when they are instructing. I had this science educator and he was continually kidding near. I don't know why, yet for reasons unknown his lessons were very essential and it was simpler to process all the data.

The mouse thing is very amusing and I really saw a smoothed mouse once too! Much the same as in a toon, right

When

fun

added to study then the study becomes more

enjoyable

. @hanshotfirst

My sister is a teacher and She always has amazing stories to tell much Like you. But Comedy is always helpful and you can reach your students in the best way.

Tell her to join steemit and use the steemiteducation tag (I'm part of that team).

Gonna give it a go here. I don’t know if you’re counting tv with film, but those were available so I’m using them.

Swimming with sharks
Tom and Jerry x2
Office space x 2
Empire strikes back
Stand and deliver
The Simpsons x2
Star Wars
The office
Ferris Bueller
Fast times at ridgemont high x2

And also, although it’s not the originator, Joe dirt made the “business in front, Party in back” mullet saying popular again for a new generation.

You are in the lead!

I am very impressed!

Just got back from work and am combing through this haha. I know it’s gonna pop right up and feel so obvious when i get another one.

Man, i guess i found a third fast times reference- “ our time”. Also i can’t think shenanigans without thinking super troopers.

And by default, Shenanigans is the name of the restaurant in Waiting....so that’s a twofer haha

Zootopia- i learned two things that day

The thing that isn’t catching me is the Davis Agreement mention....i feel like that’s specific reference Andy i just can’t place it.

Edit: This Fast Times too! Lol that’s why

hey like your post and i just want to say that just a little bit of humor in class is not bad at all. if anything, it just makes the subject more interesting.

Sometimes when I’m struggling with wait time after I’ve asked a question, I imagine who will play me in the inspirational movie about my teaching career.

Brilliant!

If you ever write any educational material, please use the @steemiteducation tag. I'm part of that team.

It's really nice to hear that you are a part of Steemit Education Team, daily i write a post on Quote Series and i try to give a short messages. Steemiteducation tag can be used for these type of post?

Have a great day and stay blessed.

Wicked! I’m super new and used to Instagram where you throw 30 hashtags on your post and call er a day. I did write a little post about teaching already but DID NOT use that tag. Next time, next time. Currently on a 3 day Model UN field trip though so gaining just a ton of material.

Humor keeps class awake and engaged!! Makes them wonder,”What’s next?”

Lol I think you are a great teacher because you really seem to love what you do :D

You seem like a funny man, i really like your sense of humor! :-D
I don't know the 12 movies :-(
:-)
see you around!
really cool.jpg

Hilarious post!!! I found most of the references but not all 12.

Talk to your mom. Between the two of you, you might have them all.

tip!

edit: whoops tipped twice by accident ;) this content is worthy of two tips tho

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Great post:)

Comedy in class as kids was the best! Intentional or not.

I think it's great that you use humor with your students, and your blog. Laughter is the Best medicine of Life! I think that is part of the reason I enjoy YOU so much!
By the way, this is all the movie references I found: Office Space, Star Wars, Tom & Jerry, Empire Strikes Back, The Simpsons, Swimming with Sharks, Stand and Deliver, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, I am stumped on the rest!
Have a GREAT weekend!

Ok, The Mullets, Horrible Bosses, and Horrible Bosses 2, and The Office. I hope that's the 12! LOL

Wow you found a ton... but there is one hidden a little earlier in the post.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off . I forgot about voodoo economics

This teacher is happpy ...

haha
So Funny :D

Upvote because my friend is one of the stars and creators of Teachers

i like the way u come up with ur post,
and u seem to be passionate about ur teaching profession
thanx for the post
I too have felt students r never excited about the lessona

Great post, like the humour. Loving your teaching job, actually makes you a good teacher. Just reading your blog i could easily write you off as a very talented teacher, i can feel the passion in there. I haven't been in your class before, already want you to be my teacher.

You made a lot of sense also with great humour
So funny and educating

Its very interesting story dear thanks for sharing I follow you hope you will also share more

I farted once in class.

Hold on, the funniest thing I've ever done or the funniest thing that ever happened?

Hi! I totally agree with you! Keep on going!

Hahahaha funny post
Thank you for sharing

Well its wonderful article written and thanks for update @hanshotfirst
I like it and resteeming this excelle t blog which is informative to steemian community. Great project sharing and all the best

I really like teachers that use humor when they are teaching. I had this biology teacher and he was always joking around. I don't know why, but for some reason his lessons were quite memorable and it was easier to process all the information.
The mouse thing is quite funny and I actually did see a flattened mouse once as well! Just like in a cartoon, right? Lol

Thanks for the important info 👍

the very interesting story...
i like this...
thanks for sharing

Even though it seems funny from the top it has a serious message in it.. :) i like it

The applauding part got me rolling with laughter 🤣...

For the reference, I could only pick out one or two from the images used

Tom and jerry
The Simpsons
And
Yoda
😀

The nations are the only ones who are saved, and only the teachers. Teacher, a nation deprived of trainer, has not won the ability to take the name of a nation yet.

The teacher is similar to a mirage, giving light to his students by melting himself.

Teachers will be the new generation, the work of you.

MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK

Hiii @hanshotfirst, mind freshing and funny post you shared. here nice idea and nice contest. with wonderful opportunity to win 5 Steem, i appreciated your initiative.

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hahaha what the guy did.?

Your style is really funny ! If u mention u 12 moviebox in a comment before anyone else ( 1 give you 6 steem) 😆👌👍🏼😃✌🏻😉😃😂😃😅

And Will give 6 steem to thecwinnervyou choose too , to show real support for your post that i like 👌

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