Re-establishes the playfulness, creativity, and joy in teaching and learning. It offers practical classroom activities to spark ideas and develop creativity while having fun. The first section discusses the "serious stuff"--The cognitive, emotional, physical, and social benefits of using humor in the classroom. 16 activities follow that focus on building rapport among students and with the teacher. Next, are six activities that help students learn about laughter and types of humor. Then there are over 50 activities that include jokes, puns, riddles, joy breaks, language builders, and quizzes--Cover.

Inner city middle school student Kenny Wright imagines himself as a superhero-but when he faces peer pressure and bullying, can he find his strength in real life? Kenny Wright is a kid with a secret identity. In his mind, he's Stainlezz Steel, super-powered defender of the weak. In reality, he's a chess club devotee known as a "Grandma's Boy," a label that makes him an easy target for bullies. Kenny wants to bring a little more Steel to the real world, but the question is: can he recognize the real strength and goodness inside himself? Or will peer pressure force him to make the worst choice of his life? Interspersed with fantastic illustrations and comic-book panels, this book aims to both entertain and to provoke dialogue about identity, belonging, and doing the right thing.

Prior to the stock market crash in 1929, Holland was a prosperous country where its people enjoyed secure futures-or so they thought. After the world's economic collapse, millions were forced into a poverty-stricken existence where every day was a struggle to survive. A Lousy Start shares one family's vivid impressions of living in Holland during the Great Depression and the lasting impact those experiences had on their lives. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Arie Demerwe worked hard and was paid very little, but still managed to put food on his table. Sent to fight in the war of 1918, Arie finally returned to his hometown where he began working again-only to see everything change again after the end of World War I. As the people of Holland enjoyed wealth they assumed would last forever, dark changes loomed ahead. When the sun rose on October 23, 1929, no one had a clue that tragedy would strike by day's end. For the next ten years, a hostile world would transform even the most religious people into thieves and liars. As one family fought to stay alive in a bleak existence, each of them learned valuable life lessons they would carry with them forever.