LONG TERM PROJECTS

The ones who need to learn to laugh are
you teachers! We already know how!

Over the years I have created, promoted, and coordinated several long-term projects which have proven to be worthwhile as a more effective way to develop humor.

• “MASCARADA”, a humor magazine for and by students from the Antonio Machado School (1983-2003) and “MASCARADA JUNIOR”, a version for younger students (1997-2003.) The on-line newspaper for schools in El País Digital. (2003)
• HUMOR FORTNIGHT for the city of Salamanca, Spain, having the theme “LEARN TO LAUGH,” which included lectures, workshops, exhibitions, cinema and contests. (1989)
• “I SYMPOSIUM ON HUMOR,” University of Salamanca, organized by Pablo Garcia Castillo and Germán Payo. (1996)
• HUMOR WORKSHOPS for students and teachers at the Antonio Machado School. (1983-2003)
• OBSERVATION NOTEBOOKS to write down in a sort of journal funny things that happen in daily life.
• “ANGER MELTDOWN” EXERCISES to compile occurrences at school which made teachers angry. When ten or more had been turned in, they would be printed up on a sheet of paper and passed out to the participating teachers. Later we would try to come up with a humorous response, rather than an angry one, to each situation.
• LAUGHTER CONTESTS: Groups of three laugh as hard as they can while the other groups rate them on a scale 1-3. To do this with larger groups or with whole classes, it’s necessary to have an impartial jury of teachers or parents.
• HUMOR BULLETIN BOARDS in the classrooms, hallways, or at least to save a section of each classroom bulletin board for humorous material: cartoons, funny stories, sayings…
• HUMOR IN THE CLASSROOM. Activities and games to make classes more participatory, to establish better relationships, to create an agreeable atmosphere of cooperation and teamwork.
• COUNSELLING/TUTORIAL SESSIONS WITH HUMOR. A compilation of all the basic topics encompassing the project Educate through humor, presented in courses and based on participatory exercises and games.
• Various annually held “HUMOR DAYS”, involving students and teachers at the Antonio Machado School, plus follow-up activities during the weeks afterwards. This event presented an educational theme every year, as indicated by the parenthesis.
• “LEARN TO LAUGH” (and laugh at yourself)
• “IMAGINE” (creativity)
• “BEING DIFFERENT IS NICE” (tolerance and acceptance of diversity)
• “DON´T BE DEPRESSED, LAUGH!” (positive thinking and emotions).
• “SAY IT WITH HUMOR” (communication)
• “TURN OFF THE TV. LAUGH AND PLAY INSTEAD” (foment traditional games and play.)
• “LAUGH WITH ME, NOT AT ME” (bullying, tolerance).
• “WHEN THERE IS A CONFLICT, YOU CAN EITHER GET ANGRY OR TALK, LISTEN, AND UNDERSTAND. THEN YOU CAN LAUGH TOGETHER.” (conflict resolution.)
• “LAUGHTER IS HEALTH” (benefits of laughter).