How to Uncork Creative Instruction

My intention with this article is to equip educatorswrong, the president is seriously discussing
with three easy to implement strategies. I've usedmandatory service for high school students. You
them and so have thousands of other successfulcan find six excellent teachers resources, packed
teachers. But, putting them into service withoutwith ideas, at Tuft University.
laying the foundation fundamentals won't do muchExtol the virtue of perseverance.
good.All students struggle at one time or another.
I've journeyed in successful careers coveringThere is nothing wrong with discussing how to be
business and education. Both endeavors havemore motivated individually. At the very least,
unique and specific foundation characteristics;when students are getting discouraged, point out
those qualities that can make or break success.how that happens in life too. You may want to
Let's take a minute to review what must be putshow this video clip or just watch it yourself; it's
into practice to have learning opportunities showElizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love)
up - no matter where your classroom is locatedmusing on nurturing creativity. More than once I've
or what subject is being discussed. To reviewhad a student ask me, "What can I do?" Now you
current research on the ideas being covered herehave a five star resource for that answer, just
you can browse the resources at Educationtake a look at the Giraffe House Project.
Reporting(TM).Fine tune a lesson by installing one or more
Foundation Characteristic #1character education ideas. Good character simply
An OAR is the essential tool for teaching. It's themeans being ethical, responsible, and caring. Those
tool that allows you to guide your lesson,are values all people in countries around the world
measure knowledge transfer - learning, and makeshare. In education it can address issues of
adjustments along the way. It's true that everystudent absenteeism, discipline problems, drug
educator has their style of an OAR , but allabuse, gang violence, and teen pregnancy. You
teachers, new and experienced, must use ancan easily post these eleven character education
OAR every day. Let's define the its'principals in your class. Another good resources is
characteristics.Partnerships in Character Education; a government
Objectives: this is derived from the curriculumsponsored web site.
standards set forth by your District. The learningStrategy #2: Purposefully forge critical thinking
objective needs to be clearly visible to studentsskills in your students.
during class.Acknowledge quality thinking strategies when
Activities and Assessments: The activity isstudents express 'em.
students collaborating, in small groups, on specificBefore school starts, on a sticky note write 2 or
tasks with the necessary materials. The3 words about thinking behavior(s) you want to
assessment is presented using a rubric andrecognize today. Then, place it where you can
reviewed with the class before task work ofglance at it often. Make a point to verbally
activity is begun.acknowledge students in each class when they do
Resources: These are the materials needed tothat behavior. Why? This sets a tone for learning.
carry out an activity.It builds mutual respect. I think that most
Foundation Characteristic #2importantly it shows you are paying attention. To
An effective teacher harnesses the undeniablelearn more about what critical thinking is and
power of student collaboration: studentsunderstand doable strategies you can explore the
participating in well defined activities, which areK12 resources at the Critical Thinking Organization.
actively monitored by the teacher usingInduce student responsibility to fuel lessons.
structured classroom management techniques.There are two types of responsibility
This collaboration is the perfect vehicle for learningopportunities. One is social responsibility and the
because students can apply or practice what theyother is individual responsibility. Behavior in class is
are studying. For example, talking about how toclearly an individual responsibility and that needs to
add specific measurements is less meaningful thanbe dealt with using consistent and equitable
using a student collaboration activity to determineclassroom management techniques. As your
how much paint is required to cover classroomteaching skills evolve, you'll use more student
walls. Another example, reading about historyactivities instead of long lectures, worksheets, or
engages less student attention than using anindividual reading. In group work the dynamic of
activity to design a radio show or play to act outresponsibility is cogent. Students want everyone
certain segments of historic events. Classto pull their load of the work, so students begin to
activities require students to pay attention andactively support all group members in participating,
participate in order to be successful.which is reinforced that with your active
Foundation Characteristic #3monitoring of groups.
Effective teachers excel at the right effort(s) toExtend the boundaries of your teaching skills.
build lessons, communicate, direct, and listen whileTackle new teaching tools and methods to
they also make a sincere effort to contemplateimprove your pedagogy. In the Journal of
their teaching practices. It's easy to get caught upExperiential Education you can connect with
in the drama of a class session. However, taking aorganizations and get hands-on teaching ideas. I
few minutes during lunch or at the end of classlike the Center for Information and Research on
period to jot down some words, or phrases, canCivic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) site
be enough to capture poignant reminders thatbecause it has research and contacts dealing with
help you decipher what worked and what didn'tservice learning. When you explore the Integrative
work. This kinda effort: applying wisdom gleanedLearning site, you'll get ideas on improving student
from today's lesson to tomorrow's lessonwith cross curriculum lessons that connect
demonstrates a blue-ribbon practice that Fortuneacademic, personal, and community life. The
100 companies pay big-dollar consultants to teachCarnegie Foundation funded several projects,
their employees. In the education world, it'sresulting in Inside Teaching - a web site offering
"active teacher research" and looks very good onteacher perspectives and resources about the art
your professional development plan.of teaching.
I have talked to hundreds of teachers who are
bored with what they are doing, but that's noStrategy #3: Foster curiosity in every lesson.
surprise to me. They won't stop regurgitatingIncite student participation.
dusty lessons. All over the internet you can findHere are two quick techniques I've used hundreds
lesson sites; they're sprouting like weeds. Theyof times to improve participation. First, start a
boast tons of free lessons on every subjectclass discussion by asking a question or two. Next,
under the moon. Personally, I think they're just agive students a chance to talk the question
waste of time. I'm a big fan of local teachersamongst themselves in pairs for two minutes.
helping each other. If your school doesn't have aCongratulations, you have purposefully setup each
Professional Learning Community (PLC) then startstudent with something to share, so now call on
one. I think the brightest lighting rod to improvingstudents -one at a time - to share. Be sure to
student performance is teachers sharing theiracknowledge each answer as a contribution -
wisdom with each other. You'll find somethere are no wrong responses. There is a potent
comprehensive PLC information here. After all, ifsite for learning about teaching with inquiry here.
we want students to collaborate then we mustOn Edutopia you'll find an informative article about
collaborate too.cooperative learning.
Strategy #1: Always and often associate learningEtch a minimum of one activity in class per lesson.
with quality of life.A definite skill for any career choice students
Successful teachers have a lesson that facilitatesmake is being able to work and communicate with
creativity.other people. I consider my class activities, where
There is a rhythm to teaching that must bestudents work in small groups, as precious time in
followed. It's comparable to a map. First you havepreparing students with lifelong learner skills.
to pique student curiosity and then you mustProject based learning is an excellent method for
provide opportunities for them to quench thatinvoking collaborative (aka cooperative) learning.
curiosity. When that happens, students becomeTo see a real example of active, applied,
confident with finding solutions - quenching theirparticipative, and collaborative learning in action
own thirst. That confidence is necessary for twovisit the Gever Tulley TED presentation.
reasons: 1) it naturally builds student interest andStudents today are the leaders of tomorrow,
2) its building the scaffolding to reach the learningmake sure they get some peeks at what is
objective. Listen as creativity expert Kencoming.
Robinson discusses, "Are schools killing studentBring the future into your class today. Reminding
creativity?" As teachers we need to demonstratestudents that they'll be inventing and leading the
our own creativity to students because, like it orfuture brings the power of "being all you can be"
not, we're role models. To understand this in ato everyone's front door. One simple way to
21st century context watch Will Richardson talkaccomplish this is current events. What will
about social media use in classrooms and_______ (fill in the blank from what you're
education. This article in a Manila newspaper isstudying) be like in the future? Seriously, twenty
perfect for simply detailing the importantor even ten years ago, who would have guessed
leadership qualities for teachers.that technology will play such an important role in
Divulge connections between community, school,education? Today, the Swiss are designing new
and living.technology just for schools - read about it here.
Engaged students understand the connectionStephen Hawking, one of the great scientists of
between what is studied in class and the worldour time, says humans are beginning a new phase
outside of school. Help them connect those dotsof evolution. Maybe students will improve
by constantly articulating connections betweenperformance using their genes, since picture
class and life. There are a couple of ways to doperfect memory is inherently in every person
this: 1) talk about how every situation in life hasaccording to recent news.
proper procedures and/or behaviors and 2) relateIn closing, if everything else I've mentioned
a specific idea you are discussing in class to howdoesn't work for you then I have one last
that idea is used to be successful in life. A couplesuggestion to blast creativity into your lessons.
of ideas for you to explore to substantiate thoseRead Richard Louv. He compellingly writes and
points:speaks about the dilemma facing digital students,
A. Explore the dimensions of social and emotionalwhose lives - he has corroborated with research -
variables in learning at CASEL.are being electronically hijacked. Yes, if all else fails
B. Check out Robert Lang as he discusses usingthen reconnect your students with being outdoors.
origami to teach math.I can attest to the power of his ideas from the
C. Consider integrating service learning because it'sclub sponsorship I completed with volunteering
taking root in schools across the USA. Right orhigh school students.