In teacher training programs across the country, the last thing they tell newly certified teachers is "Don't smile before Christmas!" Veterans of the chalkboard jungle know the dangers that lurk behind the inquisitive faces that greet a new teacher on the first day of school. Yet, the need for control and confidence in the classroom does not preclude the use of humor as an appropriate and effective tool for managing students and helping them to learn in a challenging environment.
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Linda M. Wallinger (1997) studied this question.
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