Cultivating Creativity in the Classroom A Primer for Teachers

Jamie Tubbs, 5 th grade Teacher Wyoming city Schools, OH misterteacher . blogspot .com www. misterteacher .com

Introduction: The Pencil

Without a doubt, the pencil is one of the most useful items in American classrooms today. The pencil

Taking notes… … solving math problems….

… solving math problems….

… whatever the use, the pencil is one of our students’ best choices. The pencil

Unfortunately… The pencil

… our students also need the pencil for something else .

For filling in bubbles on standardized test answer sheets.

If you teach here ,

Then this has become a fact of life .

You spend the entire school year preparing for “the test” .

You’d like to teach in a way that will inspire your students .

But “the test” is always looming.

So instead of this …

… you have this . I hate the state test!

Do not despair ! There is hope!

The pencil has many other uses. The pencil

And quite a few of them have nothing to do with…

… taking notes or solving math problems.

However…

If you allow your students to put the pencils away,

And let them use the most important tool of all,

Then they can come up with some pretty creative ideas. Nate’s electric car – a classroom project

The goal of this presentation is to convince teachers that…

… that they can inspire students while still “teaching to the test”.

Cultivating creativity is the key!

Creativity? Isn’t that reserved for art and music classes?

Well… Here are a couple important points about creativity that you may have never thought about.

“ Creativity is not a separate faculty that some people have and others do not.” – Ken Robinson Photo Source

“ Creativity is not exclusive to particular activities;” Photo Source

“ Scientists, technologists, business people, educators, anyone can be creative in the work they do.” – K.R.

That includes all of our students .

You know…

Digital Kids… The “Net Generation…

A generation becoming ever more difficult to engage in a traditional classroom environment.

A generation in need of some creative inspiration.

So how does a teacher inspire creativity without giving up valuable time preparing for the test?

Well… here are a few more important points about creativity that may answer that question.

“ Creative processes are rooted in imaginative thought, in envisaging new possibilities.” –Ken Robinson #1

However…

“ Whatever the task, creativity is not just an internal mental process; it involves action. It is applied imagination .” – K.R.

So if students are to be more creative , they must do more creating . Creating PVC instruments helps students learn about sound

This doesn’t mean that students should work without constraints.

Timelines, rubrics, & checklists provide structure for student work.

“ Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it’s the only one you have.” -Roger von Oech #2

Too often, we teach our students to look for the “right answer”. Call on me! I know this one!

To stimulate creativity , we need to teach them to…

“ look for the second right answer ”. –Roger von Oech

A simple reframing of the questions we ask will help our kids to do this.

A simple reframing of the questions we ask will help our kids to do this. Change your questions so that they solicit more than one answer.

Change your questions so that they solicit more than one answer.

A simple reframing of the questions we ask will help our kids to do this. Change your questions so that they solicit more than one answer. Change the wording of your questions. Simply replacing one word with a synonym can lead thinking in different directions.

Change your questions so that they solicit more than one answer.

Change the wording of your questions. Simply replacing one word with a synonym can lead thinking in different directions.

#3 “ If you act like an idea person, you will become one.”

#3 “ It is the intention and going through the motions of being creative that counts.” –Michael Michalko

So to inspire creativity in your students, become creative yourself.

Ideas are everywhere:

Magazines, books, newspapers, television, nature, popular culture, the Internet, even…

… your trash can. Madison’s toy boat built from plastic bottles and a battery-powered circuit

Tips for practicing creativity yourself: Take up a creative hobby Name your lessons Make your lessons part of a story Incorporate design techniques into your slideshows Keep an idea log

Take up a creative hobby

Name your lessons

Make your lessons part of a story

Incorporate design techniques into your slideshows

Keep an idea log

So how does a teacher inspire creativity without giving up valuable time preparing for the test?

Strategy #1 Adapt your test prep lessons so that they have students doing more creating and less paper/pencil work. More Less

Strategy #2 Generate discussion questions that require students to think of “the second right answer” .

Strategy #3 Practice being creative yourself.

Thank you!

Photos from: stock.xchng, Powerpoint clip art, & flickr.com