Final Thoughts

I started this class with feelings towards creativity that I feel (even now) are pretty typical for the average person. This scares me because as I have become more educated about creativity, being creative, teaching creativity, teaching creatively, etc, most other people are still in the same place.

I used to think that creativity meant that you were artistic. I probably used the words synonymously. I now know that creativity is simply the ability and willingness to think differently, think critically, think outside the box. This means risking being wrong or criticized, but the results are often worth the risk. I hope that as both a student and a teacher that I have improved in my ability to “be creative.”

I think the first few assignments were the most difficult (the can transformation jumps out at me). I do not think that the assignments were necessarily that difficult, but I was not yet ready to throw myself into the assignments. As I learned more about the creative process, thinking creatively came more easily to me. By the time I got to the metaphorical cartoon, I knew that there was no real wrong answer—I am free to express myself however I like! I am my only (and biggest) roadblock and limitation.

From here I hope to continue to expand my creativity both in my instruction and in what I expect to my students. This is perfect for my current position as my school is a creative arts and science magnet school—there is no better place to be creative! Also through my OM team, babysitting, etc, I have plenty of platforms to continue to practice the activities that I have learned.

Creativity in Education

I came across this video on YouTube and found it very interesting. I believe its purpose is to raise funds for a film school, but it poses some interesting points about education and the importance of creativity in the future of our children.

I know the school is a film making school, but their points apply to ALL schools and all children. In the video, they say, "because when students learn through the lens of something they care about, they care about doing the work." This is true for ALL schools! It is our job as teachers to facilitate learning, but this becomes much easier and more meaningful when the students care about the "what"s and the "why"s of their learning.

Plus this video is pretty cool. :)

What Six Hats has to say about The Tortoise and the Hare

The Six Hats as applied to The Tortoise and the Hare.

White hat: Why did the hare feel the need to prove himself? Why did the tortoise challenge another animal that he knew would be much faster than he is to a race? Why was a fox hanging around a tortoise and a hare?

Red hat: I feel good about the underdog winning. Good guys DO finish first sometimes! I feel nervous about the fact that the hare might demand a rematch.

Yellow hat: How can we ensure that the tortoise will always win in a race against the hare? Was the fox in on the deal to help the tortoise win?

Black hat: Is it logical that the tortoise could really beat the hare? Was there really just a fox there hanging out waiting to judge a race? Did the tortoise not wake the hare as it walked past?

Green hat: Was the fox in on the race to help the tortoise win? Could the hare have had ulterior motives for letting the tortoise win?

Blue hat: Our next steps: Talk to the fox and figure out what he was doing there and what his motivations were.

6 Thinking Hats

From: http://wevictory.com/2011/04/26/6-six-thinking-hats-method/

CREATIVELY improving an object

Some things I found in my purse:
- Paperclip
- “big” eraser
- MANY pens
- Peppermint
- Old receipts
- A few pennies

Object: PAPERCLIP
Ideas for improvement:
- If it looped more times, it could hold several sets of paper.
- It can be straightened and used to get in small places.
- It can be unfolded and made into an S to help with letter recognition for early learners.
- If it were plastic coated, it wouldn’t rust and stain paper etc.
- If it were colored or designed, it would be prettier.
- There could be different strength paperclips—thinner metal allowing for more paper and thicker metal for only a few sheets.
- If linked, it can form a chain.
- It could be made smaller or bigger to cater to different uses.
- If it were folded in a different design, it could be used by different organizations/companies as a form of advertisement (WFU shaped paperclips, Atlanta Braves tomahawk shaped paperclips, etc).

Who knew that such a simple object had so much potential?!?!

The Creative Person

Here is a talk show, Tyler Today, where the editor of the newsletter, The Creative Person, talks with Tyler Graybeal about the spotlight of this month's newsletter.

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

I wrote this Creative Dramatics script based on The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. I think it would be especially applicable to a class studying telling time in math. There are many parts of varying difficulty, so it would work well for a class of varying abilities.

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

Characters:

• The Grouchy Ladybug
• The Friendly Ladybug
• Yellow Jacket
• Stag Beetle
• Praying Mantis
• Sparrow
• Lobster
• Skunk
• Boa Constrictor
• Hyena
• Gorilla
• Rhinoceros
• Elephant
• Whale face (not a speaking part)
• Whale fin (not a speaking part)
• Whale tail (not a speaking part)
• Clocks (as many as needed). These will be wearing clocks with movable hands to mark the time.

Setting: bright and early in the morning!
Two lady bugs approach a big green leaf covered with aphids. The happy ladybug is smiling, the grouchy ladybug is frowning

BIG CLOCKS read 5:00.

Friendly Ladybug: Good morning!

Grouchy Ladybug: Go away! I want all these aphids!

Friendly Ladybug: We can share them!

Grouchy Ladybug: No! They’re mine, all mine! OR do you want to fight me for them?! (aggressively)

Friendly Ladybug: If you insist… (sweetly)

Grouchy Ladybug: (steps back looking unsure). Oh-h-h… you’re not big enough for me to fight.

Friendly Ladybug: Then why don’t you pick on someone bigger?!

Grouchy Ladybug: I will! (in a high pitched, annoyed voice) I’ll show you! (it puffs up, and flies off)

The Grouchy Ladybug flies until he meets a yellow jacket. BIG CLOCKS read 6:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Yellow Jacket: If you insist. (shows his stinger)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and meets a stag beetle. BIG CLOCKS read 7:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Stag Beetle: If you insist. (opens his jaws)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and comes across a praying mantis. BIG CLOCKS read 8:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Praying Mantis: If you insist. (reaches out with his long front legs)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and almost flies into a sparrow. BIG CLOCKS read 9:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Sparrow: If you insist. (opens his sharp beak)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and sees a lobster. BIG CLOCKS read 10:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Lobster: If you insist. (stretches his claws)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and almost bumps into a skunk. BIG CLOCKS read 11:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Skunk: If you insist. (lifts his tail)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and spots a boa constrictor. BIG CLOCKS read 12:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Boa Constrictor: If you insis-s-s-st, right after lunch.

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and happens upon a hyena. BIG CLOCKS read 1:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Hyena: If you insist. (laughs eerily and shows teeth)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and meets a gorilla. BIG CLOCKS read 2:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Gorilla: If you insist. (beats his chest)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and runs into a rhinoceros. BIG CLOCKS read 3:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Rhinoceros: If you insist. (lowers his horn)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and encounters an elephant. BIG CLOCKS read 4:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

Elephant: If you insist. (raises his trunk and shows his big tusks)

Grouchy Ladybug: Oh-h-h, you’re not big enough…

Grouchy Ladybug flies off and meets a whale. BIG CLOCKS read 5:00.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

(no response)

Grouchy Ladybug: You’re not big enough anyway.

Grouchy Ladybug flies on and encounters a one of the whale’s flippers. BIG CLOCKS read 5:15.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

(no response)

Grouchy Ladybug flies on and reaches the whale’s fin. BIG CLOCKS read 5:30.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

(no response)

Grouchy Ladybug flies on and meets the whale’s tail. BIG CLOCKS read 5:45.

Grouchy Ladybug: Hey you, want to fight?!

The whale’s tail GENTLY pushes the Grouchy Ladybug. He flutters around the room until he lands back upon the leaf upon which he started. The Friendly Ladybug is still there. BIG CLOCKS read 6:00.

Friendly Ladybug: Ah! You have returned! You MUST be hungry! There are still some aphids left. You can have them for dinner.

Grouchy Ladybug: (tiredly) Oh, thank you.