Well, that might be overstating my point, but
I taught math to sixth graders. Trust me when I say it helps to foster a sense of humor.
And sometimes a joke will spark an understanding, an aha! moment,
not to mention a shared experience. Never underestimate the power of shared laughter as a teaching tool,
because some students latch on to the offbeat as a way to store information that otherwise would pass right over their heads.
