Several Ways We Can Help Students Develop Their Creativity
Following are two excepts from the article that are excellent food for thought...
The researchers summarize their sad data: "Judgments for the
favorite student were negatively correlated with creativity; judgments
for the least favorite student were positively correlated with
creativity." Of course, there's a very good reason for this: nobody wants a
classroom full of little Pablo Picassos. That's a recipe for chaos,
which is why we also need to teach our kids how to focus and exert
self-control. But we shouldn't be so determined to enhance these mental
skills that we discourage the mental strategies that make creativity
possible.
Students need to learn how to pay attention, of course. But they also need to learn how to productively daydream.And this is why arts education is so important. Like most skills, creativity is best learned by doing.
I am a music teacher and, given my content area, should be one of the teachers that encourages creativity the most, however the logistics of my choral classroom (one to as many as eighty three,) makes encouraging creativity very challenging. Some describe the role of band director or choral director as one of a dictator due to the numbers and the need to maintain behavioral control.
45 minutes, 83 fifth graders, standards to meet, concerts to prepare for... Where does individual creativity find its home in this classroom? Technology is an obvious tool that can be used by students to share their creative vocal talents. I wonder if it is possible to develop a private HMS Chorus/Vocal youtube account that students can submit work to that they are willing to share with other students at HMS?
That is sad data, Kim. Hmmm, I wonder how that data would differ if it was gathered on primary students only...? It seems to me that Yarmouth schools truly value creativity. With wonderful teachers, like yourself, in the arts our students are encouraged to express themselves creatively and shine in ways they didn't even know they could! The balance that you refer to is a tricky one, indeed.
ReplyDeleteWhat is posted so far are simply quotes from the article. My reflection is in the works. :)
ReplyDeleteKimberly, I've been thinking about the whole creativity in music lately getting ready to teach the comp. class at USM, and I've come to realize that many, many music teachers (myself included) don't have much creativity happening in their classrooms - at least from the students. I think we as teachers make lots of creative decisions. I wonder how we can effectively (and more importantly with 83, efficiently) flip the classroom so that the students have more say in some of the creative decisions we as teachers and conductors make.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, let's talk about doing some composing with your chorus kids...I have USM students who would love to come help!
Kimberly,
ReplyDeleteBring in creativity into any classroom under those circumstances is a rather large challenge at hand, but I love the idea of creating a classroom youtube site where your students can post videos of themselves being creative. What child now a days does not love to upload videos of themselves doing something new and innovative? If I was back in middle school and my chorus direction presented this idea I would have been beaming from head to toe with excitement. Keep me posted on this project of yours...I would love to see the end result of your hard work!
The classroom youtube sounds like a great idea! Can you make those accounts so they're not open to the world? Just thinking that some parents may not want their child our there for the world to see. It would be a great way for those of us who can't always get to performances see our talented students. I hope it works out for you.
ReplyDeleteKimberly, Even in smaller classes, the challenges of "managing the class and the learning" versus "encouraging creativity" are difficult. With 83 middle schoolers, I can only imagine! Creativity or chaos! The idea of using YouTube publishing is an interesting one. Could you have students record their part of the song they are learning, or have them select music to accompany a picture or short video ? Or pick from a menu of options? They wouldn't have to show the creativity during rehearsal, but could demonstrate something they have learned in class some other way while using their laptops.
ReplyDelete