So why should we unleash creativity in our classrooms?

Ok, so creativity is personal, unique, individual etc… overall it’s unpredictable.

So why should we unleash it in our classrooms when it’s so unpredictable?

Hold that thought.

We see our classrooms as our territory it’s our land that these students have come into too learn and we are the controllers. We decide what happens there and it’s our rules in our yard.

What I am saying is we need a change of perspective.

My classroom is an open door to learning. I have no idea what the students are bringing in and allow them to unload there in anyway they want to. The only real ‘rule’ I have is to leave having learnt something new. That could be a skill, a fact, a key term etc… but no-one should go out the same person they came in – me included.

Philosophy of Frogger

Life isnt always forward motion...sometimes to step forward you need to move sideways!

Conscientious Objectors

During any war you get those who see the act of war as a crime against humanity. They are the ones who in WW1 were given white feathers or in WW2 were assigned to jobs 'fighting' on the Home Front. As the century moved on they became, in many countries, the majority voice not the minority - yet their power is always tempered by those in charge of the country.

Think about your classroom for a minute. Do you have a vocal opposition against what you do? Probably not, the more likely scenario is that you have an underground at work, non-vocal more quality of effort based. Check students books and work are they on track, working at the maximum potential they can? If not - there is your opposition.

We all have classes where there are conscientious objectors...but what do we do with them? Do we carry on blindly with the 'our way is best!' mentality or do we bring them to the negotiating table and find out how we can appease them by incorporating some of their ideas and values?