Creativity in the classroom

Creativity in the classroom...are we listening?

"Creativity"... to some, this word can cause some panic and pressure.  As a teacher, we long to be creative.  We want to find new and exciting ways to engage our students.  People ask me why I don't give the same lessons year after year.  Shouldn't I have this all planned out by now...after all, I've been teaching 16 years...  I can't do it though.  I can't recycle my lesson plans.  I can't recycle my musicals.  I can't stand to teach the same exact thing...the same exact way (borrrring!).  But what if it is really because my students aren't the same exact students each year.  

Yesterday, I tweeted out this quote by Lewis Carroll "It's no use to go back to yesterday because I was a different person then."  

I found comfort in this quote...I don't have to go back.  I can be different because my STUDENTS are different.  But here is the most exciting news...THEY can be the creative force that drive and change OUR lessons.  It doesn't all have to fall on our shoulders as teachers.  We can get a lot of help from all of those beaming creative minds that walk into our classrooms each day.

My best creative lessons don't come to me during that hour of Prep time I get each day.  They "happen" when a student connects to what I say in class, offers an idea or gives me a fun suggestion.  THAT is when the true magic of creativity occurs...if your ears are listening, you can catch it, grab hold and let it take you for a ride!  

THIS was a big realization for me.  We, as adults, must accept that the children in the room are  probably more creative than us.  That is okay...listen to them.   They are uninhibited with their thoughts, unafraid to go out on a limb and try something different.  Their ideas are fresh, raw and relevant to the world they live in.

Let me give you an example of a creative tidal wave that just hit my music room.

A long time ago, I made up a story to teach the dynamic terms "Piano" and "Forte."  Since I haven't officially written my story down (true confession), the details vary a bit year to year.  

The main idea, though, is that a little guy, Piano, and a giant guy, Forte, run into some big trouble with their shoes.  (When I talk as "Piano" my voice is as quiet as a whisper.  When I speak as "Forte" I use a loud, booming voice.)  "P" and "F" go to the Cobbler to get their shoes fixed, only a terrible mix-up occurs....they get the wrong shoes back.  

I end the story there.  Done.

This past week, when I finished my story at this climax the kids looked back with open mouths and said "What?!! that can't be the end....they don't have the right shoes!!!"  I told them, "but that's all I made up!  I didn't make up any more."

Here is where the creative magic happened.  A huge discussion about what THEY thought should happen next.  It was a creativity-explosion: Tons of hilarious "sequel" ideas were shouted out.  New characters were added.  Other thoughts about what Piano and Forte should look like were given.  The class was alive and their creativity was off the charts!  I decided to ride this creative wave...They each got a piece of paper to share what they thought should happen next in the "Dynamic" story.  It was so amazing to see their excitement.  The next day, I received special treasures when I opened up the front doors of the school (my supervision duty).  A student brought me a stapled, homemade book of illustrations that went along with the story.  "Piano", to him, was a mouse....perfect.  "Forte" was drawn it detail too.  When I shared his pictures with the next class, it inspired a girl to design a "set change" for the story, if it were ever performed on stage.  THEIR creativity was unbelievable.  So much more than I could have produced.

You see, I think after 16 years of teaching, I've realized to take step back and cherish the true creative geniuses in the room.  They come to about my shoulder level, have bright eyes, and are usually missing a few front teeth.  Are we listening?