Humor Me

You won’t want to bang your head against the wall quite so much if you remember that it’s all hysterically funny.

My preceding posts have hopefully been useful in a pragmatic, functional sort of way, but I think it’s time for a little mental health food. While we teachers have the undeniably important and mind-boggling job of cultivating young psyches in large groups, we must also keep our own psyches from fracturing to little bits. My suggestion: always remember to find the funny no matter what. The day you can’t find the funny anymore is the day you need a helmet for your head-banging date with that wall.

Teenagers will drive you insane. And I say that with the utmost affection. Some are organized; some are not. Some are loud and intimidating; some are quiet and intimidated. They will be incredibly trustworthy and reliable, except when they’re not. Or, they will always create a disaster, except when they pull it all together superbly. Yes, teenagers are people – in a moodier, bouncier version. And it is your job to produce a product – using their brainpower and muscle – for all the world to see! (Or, at least, for your little community, including the administrators who can fire you.)

I know, I know. This is sounding stressful. But really, it’s not. No one will die if your students make a mistake, and, face it, your administrator probably wouldn’t really fire you. Stop shaking your head and muttering and think about it.

So, relax a little and allow your students to know that you are human. Smile, laugh, tell them they messed something up, but it’s okay. Tell them you messed something up, but it’s okay. Don’t yell, and do keep reminding them how much fun it is to publish.

Order in pizza during deadline, play music and all sing along. Yes, gathering and reporting the news is serious business, but when one is doing fulfilling work, the experience is also rewarding and enjoyable. You have an opportunity to teach your students that the idea of work doesn’t have to create a feeling of heaviness. Accomplishing something meaningful can be fun – and life can be funny.

So, take off that crash helmet, toss your hair around in the wind a bit, release one of those long yoga-inspired exhales, raise an eyebrow and give a sideways glance at what’s going on around you. Remember why you became a teacher, and then let the funny follow you into the classroom.