"Given the 21 century demands to continuously innovate new services, better processes, and improved products for the world's global economy, and for the creative knowledge work required in more and more of the world's better paying jobs, it should come as no surprise that creativity and innovation are very high on the list of 21st century skills." Trilling and Fadel, p. 56 Creativity
Opportunities for personal challenge and creativity in our classrooms have most recently fallen victim to jam packed curriculums. It is evident though to compete in a 21st world that our students' creativity must be celebrated and encouraged. In his book, A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink said
"It's no longer sufficient to create a product, a service, an experience, or a lifestyle that's merely functional. Today it's economically crucial and personally rewarding to create something that is also beautiful, whimsical, or emotionally engaging." p. 65
To prepare our students for a “right brain” directed work force they need time to create, play and tell stories among other things. Arts education not only needs to continue to be funded and supported throughout the district, but needs to be expanded. Currently our youngest students only have one 40 minute Art and Music class a week. Additional electives chosen by the students in expanded areas of both the arts and engineering would allow for the the creative opportunities so needed for our students. The time to act is now.
As Trilling and Fadel said in their 21st Century Skills book, "We do not grow into creativity, we grow out of it." p. 57
An introduction of a dramatic arts program that could lead a school play or musical would be an excellent outlet for students. We should also have more school wide enrichment programs where the arts come to us. The school has depended on partent directed or parent funded activities, but it apparent that all students need the same access to these creative activities.
Classroom teachers can also do their part to both celebrate and encourage creativity in our students. Differentiated opportunities for students to choose their own products or processes for learning would allow for their creativity to shine. According to Joan Franklin Smutny in her article in Instructor magazine, "instead of mandating a product, encourage, divergent thinking. In addition to essays, students can express their learning through other forms-poems, collages, podcasts, etc." p. 31 Providing for even a small part of choice in their learning, will allow for students creativity, and motivation, to flow.
Creativity through the arts can also help to promote better understanding of traditional core curriculums like science and math. STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) has become the push in education in the last five years. It is becoming more apparent that by simply adding "the Arts" to this acronym we may motivate and excite even more learners. In an article by Erik W. Robelen published in Education Weekly he stated that "the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership, with support from a $1.1 million Education Department grant, is working with city schools to help elementary students better understand abstract concepts in science and mathematics, such as fractions and geometric shapes, through art-making projects." An integration of "STEAM" into the curriculum at the Killam school, would be a huge motivator for our students.
Creativity
Opportunities for personal challenge and creativity in our classrooms have most recently fallen victim to jam packed curriculums. It is evident though to compete in a 21st world that our students' creativity must be celebrated and encouraged. In his book, A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink said
"It's no longer sufficient to create a product, a service, an experience, or a lifestyle that's merely functional. Today it's economically crucial and personally rewarding to create something that is also beautiful, whimsical, or emotionally engaging." p. 65To prepare our students for a “right brain” directed work force they need time to create, play and tell stories among other things. Arts education not only needs to continue to be funded and supported throughout the district, but needs to be expanded. Currently our youngest students only have one 40 minute Art and Music class a week. Additional electives chosen by the students in expanded areas of both the arts and engineering would allow for the the creative opportunities so needed for our students. The time to act is now.
As Trilling and Fadel said in their 21st Century Skills book, "We do not grow into creativity, we grow out of it." p. 57
An introduction of a dramatic arts program that could lead a school play or musical would be an excellent outlet for students. We should also have more school wide enrichment programs where the arts come to us. The school has depended on partent directed or parent funded activities, but it apparent that all students need the same access to these creative activities.
Classroom teachers can also do their part to both celebrate and encourage creativity in our students. Differentiated opportunities for students to choose their own products or processes for learning would allow for their creativity to shine. According to Joan Franklin Smutny in her article in Instructor magazine, "instead of mandating a product, encourage, divergent thinking. In addition to essays, students can express their learning through other forms-poems, collages, podcasts, etc." p. 31 Providing for even a small part of choice in their learning, will allow for students creativity, and motivation, to flow.
Creativity through the arts can also help to promote better understanding of traditional core curriculums like science and math. STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) has become the push in education in the last five years. It is becoming more apparent that by simply adding "the Arts" to this acronym we may motivate and excite even more learners. In an article by Erik W. Robelen published in Education Weekly he stated that "the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership, with support from a $1.1 million Education Department grant, is working with city schools to help elementary students better understand abstract concepts in science and mathematics, such as fractions and geometric shapes, through art-making projects." An integration of "STEAM" into the curriculum at the Killam school, would be a huge motivator for our students.