Periodically, I’m hoping to use this blog to share technology tools you can use to support creative thinking–preferably tools that allow you to do so without cost! This is the first such post. Since I’m entering the new technology world of blogging, I want everyone else to have technology adventures, too! One of the most … Continue reading
Today I wanted to share two of my favorite pocket-sized toys. They are good for language arts (and other) lessons, for carrying on airplanes, for rainy-day entertainment on camping trips, and a host of other occasions. And they are all about thinking creatively. So much creativity in such a small space! And the best part … Continue reading
Today’s “bonus post” was prompted by a walk. Strolling through my hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan these days is more interesting than usual. Attached to a number of the lampposts downtown are WhirlyDoodles, wonderful lighted sculptures that combine art and science into whirling wind-powered light pinwheels. They’ve been covered on Detroit television and are bringing … Continue reading
This is an fascinating moment for those of us who are interested in creativity. Creativity has caught the public eye, and individuals from teachers to politicians are sharing concerns that our test-focused education is choking the creativity out of our schools. As a result, news about creativity is popping up in unexpected places. In July … Continue reading
I just couldn’t resist. I’m not sure why all the schools I’ve ever worked in so totally embraced Valentine’s Day, but they have. (I suspect it may be because I’ve always worked in areas with cold winters and by February we’re all pretty stir crazy, but be that as it may….) Here is an assortment … Continue reading
Last week I asked you to think about the things you do to help your students prepare for, and survive, the times their creative risks don’t play out the ways they’d hoped. Having things fail or getting things wrong is part of human nature–part of life– part of creativity. It was facinating to learn that … Continue reading
One of the most important things we can do to help students exercise their creativity is to teach them how to ask good questions. In particular, if we want them to understand how creativity occurs within the disciplines, we need to help them think about the kinds of questions professionals might ask in the individual … Continue reading
So, friends, here’s the plan. I’ve been trying to decide on a reasonable number of posts for this blog—enough to keep it useful and to keep creativity on the mental front burner, but not so many that I can’t manage them. I decided to aim for two posts per week. On Monday I’ll post a … Continue reading
I’ve recently started a new adventure in mosaic art. To say this was an unexpected turn would be a significant understatement. Through the grace and gifts of a talented community education teacher, I’ve been reversing 50+ years of believing I could not possibly do anything worthwhile in the visual arts. It has been more than … Continue reading
This is how it all started. I was 21 years old, teaching in a one-building district in a county populated by more cows than people. And I loved it—muddy playgrounds, missing teeth, purple ditto machines, and all. Many years later, I am still a teacher at heart, though most of my students are earning masters’ … Continue reading
creativiteach 