Hello Jheff,

What do you think about incorporating magic and teaching? Do you ever include a magic trick during the lesson?

Thanks,

Sam

Hi Sam,

Using magic and mentalism in a classroom certainly keeps their interest. Definitely, do it if you can. (I say that because I do know of a friend who had a principal that forbade her to perform for her elementary school students. The reason was unknown, but fortunately that principal didn't last long.)

So the answer is yes, of course I include a magic or mentalism effect in some lessons. But those are exceptions, rather than the rule.

The difficulty comes with the balance. If you do it too much, the students will want and expect you to entertain them, instead of focus on learning what you want them to learn. So I try to do it when they least expect me. And if they ever make that request for a performance, usually right in the middle of some important discussion or instruction, I'll usually a very quick, very stupid gag so that they get the message that if ask at a "stupid" time, they'll get a "stupid" trick. Those tricks would be like the cut and restored thumb, the mind reading fingers, or the vanishing finger. Or "I'm thinking of a person and projecting that name to you, what is it?...Wrong! You're not very good at this. I won't do anything else until you're better." Yeah, that kind of stuff.

As we speak, I actually have a couple of effects set and ready to go, such as Alex Elmsley's Newspaper Tear, and as soon as I can work one of them into a discussion, I will.

- Jheff

True. I used to be a home tutor in the past. I use magic tricks as an icebreaker. It turned out they always waiting for my performance instead of the lesson.

Thanks for the answer and very nice tips btw.

Sam