I don’t want to live in a world where creativity is not fostered and nurtured. It must be valued. It is the mother of innovation.
That said, who wouldn’t encourage creativity, at least knowingly. Parents are the first teachers. How they approach life and problems becomes the model for their children.
Do you look for an easy answer? Someone else’s answer? Do you try to find inventive solutions to problems? Do you let anything stop you from solving the problem?
All of these questions are indicators to children. Every moment is a teaching moment for them. Actions DO speak louder than words.
The classroom is the same. Teachers offer information, model activities and guide students through learning independence. This is the typical blueprint of what is done in classrooms. I know there are many teachers out there who will say they go beyond that premise. Ask questions. Inspire discovery. Motivate students to inquire. Build teams and collaboration. Encourage and enhance all communication media. Apply what you have learned. Solve problems. What do all of these actions become?
High stakes testing. Meet goals. Measure Progress. Follow the curriculum. Assess the progress indicators.
All of these things are important to educational success today. It is not enough. Where is fostering creativity? Encourage inventiveness. Ask questions that have no right or wrong answer. Try a new method. Learn from your mistakes. Brainstorm. Discover the possibilities.
Schools have huge budget cuts everywhere. Survival on a diet of austere curriculum rules. At the same time, the world calls for innovation, creativity. Our students are behind in math and science. What are we doing to change this?
I cannot understand NOT answering this call. It doesn’t cost more money to advance creativity in curriculum for public schools than it does to keep it as it is. It takes some CREATIVITY to do it. Yes, teachers and administrators and other stakeholders have to think out of the box. There has to be a willingness to do this. But before that, we as a society must VALUE this type of education.
So that’s it. Time for flexibility of thought. Create new habits of mind and the potential is unlimited.
Students must understand and use the creative process in their learning and problem solving. There is no time to waste. Our children are counting on us.
CREATE! COLLABORATE! COMMUNICATE! THINK CRITICALLY!
Ruth Catchen Reach for the Stars! 
As time progresses learning seems to fall lower on the priorities ladder. The drive to learn isn’t there as much as it could be. There are several technological outbreaks that are attempting to resolve this, one company including Via Response Technologies. Via Response has developed a new student response learning platform that blends cloud computing, the power of social media, and the mobile device explosion. Not only does this platform give opportunity for more dynamic and innovative class activities to enhance student-teacher interaction to keep students actively focused, but it is also very simple for both the instructors and learners.
Via Response Technologies lessens the workload for instructors by utilizing the existing clicker response systems and enhances the learning experience using the students’ own tools such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, or portable clicker device. Technology is rapidly evolving and so are our students. It is important that we do what we can to better our future by bettering the learning environment and making it more creative and relatable.
Reblogged this on Ruth Catchen – Reach for the Stars! and commented:
Budget cuts continue to threaten the arts and creativity in the classroom for other subjects. Educating children for the future takes comprehensive curriculum that includes experiential learning and project based learning that is implemented in a variety of ways to suit all types of learners. Instruction is paramount to student acheivement.
Excellent blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for
a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely confused .. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!
I am sorry I didn’t see your comment until now, and thank you for the feedback. I think WordPress is an excellent platform to start blogging and build a readership. It is easy to use and manage. The more you write, the easier it gets. Let me know when you start your blog and good luck!