Sometimes little things are really interesting. No, I’m not talking about the latest diamond commercial or kitten video (though I’d take the kitten any day). Sometimes small studies about small changes in teaching can bring thought-provoking ideas. Here’s one. A 2014 study in the Early Childhood Education Journal, researchers Angela Webb and Audrey Rule describe … Continue reading
What messages is your classroom sending? Is it telling students they—and their creativity—are welcomed? Being creative often entails risk. The kinds of creative risks we want to encourage in schools don’t entail jumping from great heights or other physical risks (at least I hope not!), but they can still be frightening. As the commercial said … Continue reading
It isn’t often I recommend that classes (or families) watch a commercial, but for this one I’ll make an exception. Take a look. General Electric (which is barely mentioned) lives up to its slogan “Imagination at Work.” What a great way to start a conversation about innovation, risk taking, and the kind of atmosphere we … Continue reading
As more and more schools realize that creativity and problem solving are essential skills, we face a dilemma—how do we manage organize curriculum in ways that do both? One possibility is using design thinking to organize curriculum. And some schools are doing just that. For example, Vista Design and Innovation Academy, a magnet middle school, … Continue reading
If, as the adage suggests, curiosity killed the cat, what killed curiosity? I’ve been wondering about curiosity lately. Anyone who has ever spent time with toddlers knows they are full of questions. “Why is my cat fluffier than Jane’s cat?” “Where does milk go when I drink it?” “What is dirt made of?” “Why can’t … Continue reading
Think of the difference between these two questions. How did you do? What did you learn? Which one will help students be more successful in school (and life)? Which will help them be more creative? The idea of mindsets, introduced by Carol Dweck, says that there are two basic ways to look at our abilities. … Continue reading
This is Part 2 of my resolutions for a creative new school year. Perhaps, like me, you have more success writing resolutions—at least professional ones—in September. If so, come along and think with me. This year I’m trying to think in broader terms about the types of classroom I want to establish. For more specific … Continue reading
I’ve never been good at traditional New Year’s Resolutions. Somehow, coming on the heels of the most intense time of year—when holiday and end-of-semester craziness merge—by January 1 I’m more inclined to be grateful for survival than set new goals. But September is different. Even when I’m teaching summer term, the end of August brings … Continue reading
The M I Curious series on my local Public Radio station is a cooperative exercise in problem finding. Modeled after the Curious City series at WBEZ in Chicago, M I Curious asks, “What do you wonder?” It invites listeners to submit questions, puts the questions to a vote, and then selects those for investigation. It … Continue reading
How many times have you heard it—or said it, “Practice. Work hard. Just keep trying. All you have to do is work harder. Then you’ll succeed.” But in a recent Washington Post blog post, Alfie Kohn discusses a new meta-analysis that calls into question that traditional wisdom that links practice time and success. A meta-analysis … Continue reading
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