Cultivating Creativity in The Classroom

While children attend school to learn skills in literacy and numeracy, it's also an important time for developing creativity.
As a young student, I had two kinds of teachers: those who developed my creativity and those who didn't.
The teachers who didn't develop creativity within the classroom taught straight from the text books; Everything was repeated and learned by the rote method. Spelling was writing down the same word list over and over until it was stuck in our heads for the test on Friday, and concepts in science were never truly grasped, but rather remembered for class presentations and then perhaps forgotten a few days later.
The teachers who aimed at developing creativity in the classroom taught in an entirely different fashion. These teachers stepped away from dull and sleepy practices to make learning an enjoyable experience in the classroom. As a student, I relished the times set aside in class to brainstorm ideas for stories and science projects, and I remember being excited to learn when my teacher was able to show me creative ways of expressing my thoughts.

But why is creativity so important? Well, it's important because it improves the motivation of students. Creative ideas engage children and help them to produce positive outcomes, not only in the classroom but at home and in social settings. It also teaches independence and enables students to explore ideas and to present them in unique and exciting ways.

So how do teachers cultivate creativity?

1) Brainstorming is an excellent way to generate creativity in the classroom. Tasks can be set for small groups which require simple brainstorming exercises to enable students to introduce new ideas and to build up on them. This is an excellent way for students to bounce ideas off of one another and to find new ways of thinking about things, as well as gaining the ability to problem solve and work as part of a team.

2) Resources play an important part in helping students to unlock their creative side. Children will be more open to learning and experimenting with ideas if new resources are introduced. The teacher should be able to stimulate students and encourage them to explore in ways beyond the text book. The internet is a great resource for students to collect creative ideas as well as helping them to develop their computer skills.

3) Positive Feedback in the classroom is an essential ingredient when students are experimenting with new concepts. By providing encouragement and positive feedback, students will gain confidence in expressing creativity and will move forward with their ideas. This enables students to become more imaginative and to take risks with new ideas without the fear of making mistakes, as support from the teacher is a crucial element for maintaining a student's confidence.

4) Teachers can develop creativity in their students by being role models - by being creative themselves. Creativity will certainly be difficult to foster if there is no guide on how to go about this, so teachers should always be able to motivate their students by being an example and displaying their own imaginative side. Hanging up bulletin boards and student work will not only lighten up a dull classroom but this will get your students in the mood for exercising creativeness. Teachers can also deliver new information in unique and creative ways - this is a sure way to get your students thinking outside of the box.

Creativity doesn't appear from thin air, so teachers must find ways of expanding the imaginations of their students in hands-on ways. And while developing creativity in your students can sometimes be a laborious task, the reward of a creative class is priceless.

Written by Rachel Oakley

Educational Writer for Gigglepotz.com