PATRICIA CONIGLIO

CREATIVITY

1. As teachers it is our job to encourage creativity within

our classrooms. It is my desire that my students should be
ever curious and always eager to seek answers and
solutions in whatever tasks are set before them.
Encouragement is a key factor in my estimation in
promoting creativity in the classroom. Students do not
always feel confident about the skills being taught and we
need to let them know that they are more than capable
and well up to the task. I recall a similar situation in my
youth. I learned at an early age that my art work did not
measure up to the work of children talented in art. My
representations were embarrassing at best. Even though
I really enjoyed participating in art, I gave up on the
notion of ever drawing beyond my stick figures. It was not
until years later in Australia when attending teachers
college, that an assignment was placed in front of me
involving drawing. I cringed at the mere thought of it.
However, knowing I had no choice, I jumped in. My stick
figures had not improved with time and I didnt know
what to do next. There was a drawing in an opened book
on my desk. I looked at it and something caught my eye.
It was nothing more than the lines used to draw it. The
drawing was simple, the lines obvious and I thought to
myself could I recreate the picture by following those lines
with my eyes and then with pencil in hand transfer it to
my paper. To my surprise I did it and havent looked back
since. It is a skill I use often in my classroom. I still
cannot look at an object and draw it, but if I have a simple
picture I can recreate it easily. One of my fondest
memories was creating an entire blackboard of dinosaurs,
with background scenery including volcanoes and flying
pterosaurs. I used colored chalk and it was something to
see. The kids loved it and it certainly helped them to
remember the dinosaurs discussed in our science lesson.
The children insisted in it staying on the board well past
the unit of study. During that time other teachers and
even the principal came by to see it and marveled at what
an artist I was. I always laughed and told them I wasnt,
just able to see lines and reproduce them. The point of all
this is as teachers, we must help children find different
outlets to express their creativity. We must encourage
them even when they are unsuccessful and discouraged.
One never knows what skills may be hiding just below the
surface.
I want my students to experience the joy of being able to
express themselves creatively in any academic area. It is
so rewarding to see and to know that you have played a
small part in it. As teachers we must embrace creativity
as an integral part of learning.
In the past, learning has focused too heavily on
convergent thinking. Today if we wish to promote
creativity in the classroom, we must encourage are
students to be divergent thinkers. Teachers have a
myriad of opportunities to incorporate divergent
questions and the thinking it entails into their lessons.
Doing this is a positive step towards fostering creativity
within the classroom. We should remember to always be
patient with our students, if we wish to encourage
creativity. Give them time to work problems out on their
own. Dont be too quick to jump in and provide answers.
Let them find the solutions themselves. Always be on the
lookout for that child that thinks outside the box, whose
questions are more thought provoking. He may be a
budding innovator and a creative child. Give him the
direction and support needed as well as your heartfelt
encouragement and confidence in his abilities.
2. I personally believe creativity is less a God given
ability and more something that can be taught and
learned. I think we need to expand upon creative skills
explicitly, such as imagination, self-motivation, resiliency,
collaboration, responsibility, curiosity, confidence. As a
teacher endeavoring to teach creativity in a creative way,
I would first strive to tie my students emotionally to their
learning. I would consider their interests and what is
important in their world. I would plan around these
interests, drawing them into their learning. Designing a
classroom that fosters creativity is another way in which I
can open wide the doors of creativity. I could provide
space for collaboration, for the use of art interpretation,
for dramatic presentations, quiet corners for reflection,
and bulletin boards that provide samples of students
creative thinking. Exploring different cultures is an
interesting avenue for promoting creativity.
Using artifacts, from the past or from different cultures,
provides a focus and an interest for learning.
Endeavoring to foster creativity, I should employ
collaboration problem solving at every opportunity and
the use of multi-discipline lessons can also be a creative
experience for my students. I also believe that
incorporating art, music, and culture in my classroom
provides an environment that is a wonderful backdrop for
creativity. Most importantly, I need to provide a free and
open environment where children feel confident in
expressing themselves creatively.