Creativity Challenge!

Monday and today, I attended Art Hubs with two different families of schools in our board.  Those are the kinds of days where the creative juices really start flowing.  Those are the days where I frantically turn on my iPad and take note of the ideas that come to me.  I have to note them RIGHT AWAY, as my memory can be terrible.  I won't remember my ideas at the end of the day.

The amount of creativity I have witnessed this week during the two Art Hubs has inspired me to challenge myself in a new way.  My fiancé, Patrick, does a challenge annually, called PiBoIdMo.  Everyday for a month, he has to think of a new picture book idea.  This is a challenge that authors and illustrators all over the world participate in every November through Tara Lazar's website.  Her first book is coming out soon (taralazar.com)!

This challenge, along with the creativity that I've been exploring through hubs, has inspired me to make up my own!  So, here is it:

For every lesson or activity I plan for my students, I will ensure that they have an opportunity to be creative.  The lessons and activities will all contain a certain level of openness in order to get every student's creative juices flowing!  It can be through The Arts, through writing, etc.!!!  I know I already do it often, but I'm aiming for EVERY activity or lesson.  This may be aiming high, but I thrive on a good challenge, so we'll see how it goes!

Unlike PiBoIdMo, I want to make this part of my regular teaching.  I don't want to stop after the month is up.

There are certain types of activities (rote work), that yes, in some cases here and there may be necessary, but I feel like anything can be given a spin to encourage creativity.  The more often you give students open tasks (whether it be fully open, or just slightly, by giving students one choice to make) the more it becomes part of a classroom's culture.  I think that students have learned to need a "focus," a direct instruction or specific detailed prompt over the years while in school.  It wasn't something they needed when they first came to school.  Kindergarteners are now "learning through play."  Why not keep that trend going throughout elementary and secondary education by consistently giving all students the freedom to be creative in their learning?

So, my challenge starts tomorrow.  Through French lessons, Art lessons, Social Studies and even Phys. Ed. and Health, I will give students the opportunity to CREATE!

My goal is also to write about it daily on here!  If you're feeling game, why not try it as well?  We can share ideas!