The Joy of Narnia: Teaching Laughter to Middle School Students

A university professor and two middle school English teachers weave recent educational research on humor with examples from C.S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles to make a compelling case for teaching teachers how to relax and enjoy the wild things in the classroom. Using Lewis's foundational ideas on the four sources of laughter, they illustrate how children begin to lose their gentle and affiliative laughter through the middle school years, often becoming mean, cruel, and cynical, and then suggest ways to counter the downward trajectory and revive the joy and fun of learning. Practical teaching "Tidbits" dot the pages throughout, like crumbs leading to a happier place for students and teachers. An excellent gift for weary and heavy-laden teachers, and for parents seeking to jollify their own children.