#The Entertainers

Attention is key for students’ learning. However, even when content appeals to students, interest may wane after a few minutes, and their attention diminishes.

That’s why maintaining students’ attention is one of the biggest challenges teachers face. Yet for some, this is not an issue: those who use humour effectively, the entertainers.

These teachers know how to:

• Choose the type of humour that works best in that context: a joke, a funny anecdote, or simply a clever language tweak or gesture can make students laugh.
• Time it perfectly to revive energy and keep the lesson flowing.
• Use humour to re-engage students without causing embarrassment or losing control.
• Shift students’ focus back to the task with ease, without turning laughter into a distraction.

 

With this teaching style, humour is naturally woven into instruction. It becomes part of the classroom routines, allowing students to distract, breathe, relax, and rewire their brains.

And something wonderful happens in those moments: connection. Even students who’ve drifted off feel drawn back in—they want to understand the joke, share the laughter, and be part of the moment.

You don’t need to rehearse or plan every funny line. Humour in teaching is a skill that grows with time, practice, and observation. The more you know your students, the easier it becomes to entertain them, in their way.

You also become more attuned to when their attention starts slipping. And with just the right touch of humour, you bring the classroom back to life.

#The Demonstrators

Teaching is not just about telling—it’s about showing. For students to understand and stay engaged, they need to see how things work, interact with ideas, and experience the lesson in a tangible, memorable way.

The demonstrators’ teaching style creates dynamic interactions where both teachers and students are active participants in the learning process. These teachers model, perform, act things out, and bring materials into the classroom—not just to decorate, but to immerse students in the learning experience.

In this style, learning becomes visible. Concepts are no longer just heard; they’re felt, observed, and experienced.

Materials are personalised, tasks are concrete, and lessons are rooted in real-life contexts. Energy flows through the room, and enthusiasm becomes a natural part of instruction.

But what makes this style even more powerful is the teacher’s role as a facilitator. Demonstrators don’t just take the stage—they invite students into the process. They guide rather than lecture, offer support, and remain approachable.

Their classroom feels open, supportive, and alive with possibilities.

A great example of this can be found in Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess. In the book, Burgess shares how he brings lessons to life by dressing up in costume, using props, and transforming his classroom into a stage.

These lively demonstrations are not only for fun—they’re also deliberate ways to create lasting impressions and make learning stick.

This shows that the teacher cares and makes students respond with curiosity, excitement, and genuine engagement.

#The Lesson Narrators

We all like stories, whether reading a novel or watching a great movie. Don’t we?

What sustains us are the elements of suspense, the twists, the emotional highs and lows, and the way we constantly interpret what’s happening.

We stay engaged because we’re mentally and emotionally involved. It’s a pleasure that doesn’t end when the story does—and that is the kind of experience we should aim to create in our classrooms.

As Daniel Willingham reminds us in his book Why Don’t Students Like School? “It’s successful learning that is pleasurable and that will keep students coming back for more ” (2021, p.16).

Lesson Narrators understand this well. They don’t just deliver content; they design learning as a compelling journey. Their lessons follow a story structure:

• They start with a hook—a surprising question, a relatable scenario, a powerful image—that grabs attention.
• They activate prior knowledge, setting the stage for what’s to come.
• They introduce challenges and questions that build complexity and tension, prompting students to think, wonder, and explore.
• Students work through the “rising action”—connecting ideas, identifying patterns, and solving problems.
• And by the end, there’s a resolution: a moment of clarity, insight, or discovery that makes the learning stick.

 

But just like a good story, these lessons leave room for surprise. Lesson Narrators know when to shift away from the script, improvise, or follow a student’s unexpected insight. These often lead to deeper understanding.

More importantly, these teachers don’t see students as passive listeners. They see them as co-authors, actively shaping the learning process.

They make sure students feel emotionally connected to the content, because engagement isn’t just cognitive—it’s also personal.

#Brain Teasers

We all know that feeling—the snap of satisfaction when we finally crack a problem. Yes, we did it!

Our students deserve that feeling, too. They need opportunities to think deeply, solve moderately challenging problems, and experience the joy of working things out.

That’s when curiosity kicks in and learning becomes exciting.

Teachers with this style are true brain teasers. For them, questions aren’t just part of the lesson—they are the lesson. They spark understanding, fuel critical thinking, and drive exploration at every stage of learning.

These teachers don’t just deliver information and move on. Instead, they guide students to extract meaning, analyse what they discover, apply it to new situations, and push their thinking even further. They turn information into puzzles waiting to be solved.

They know that thinking is effortful—and that’s the point. Their questions are intentional and layered: starting simple, building gradually, and always aligned with the lesson’s goals.

They recycle ideas, revisit key concepts, and encourage students to ask and answer in turn.

Their questioning is provocative—not in a controversial way, but in a way that leads students to want to learn more.

#The Experts

I’m sure you’ve had a teacher like this—the one who makes learning feel endless, enjoyable, and deeply rewarding.

With them, learning isn’t just about sticking to the curriculum. It goes beyond it. It’s fresh, relevant, and sparks a flood of questions in your mind.

Their goal isn’t just to help students pass an exam. It’s to build real understanding and help everyone develop essential skills that matter far beyond the classroom.

What fascinates you most is how much they know about the subject, yet they never overwhelm you.

They add just the right amount of extra flavour, at the right time, in the right way. You don’t feel lost or bored. You feel curious, inspired and hungry for more.

This is the kind of teacher we all admired—the one we wished we had more time with. The one who never stopped learning, and made us want to keep learning too.

Because for them, learning is a lifelong habit. And for a true expert, that’s the only way the status is to be maintained.

Final thoughts

So, which teaching style should you choose? The truth is—teaching is dynamic, and so are your students. What works today may not work tomorrow.

That’s why your flexibility as a teacher is so important. It enables you to remain present, responsive, and connected to your students’ needs and your lesson goals.

Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Experiment, blend styles, and trust your instincts. You don’t have to conform to a single teaching box—you get to create your own rhythm.

And just in case no one’s told you lately: You’ve got this. You’re awesome. And your students are lucky to have you.