It is well known that Leonardo da Vinci is a brilliant artist, but many people don’t realize how he nurtured his own skills. One day he made a note to himself to describe the tongue of a woodpecker, and this was followed by 7000 pages in his notebook with observations, drawings, sketches, calculations, and questions. His ability to work on nurturing his talent led him to become one of the most influential people ever to live.
Why Creativity in Schools Matters
Creativity is using your mind to come up with new and different ways to do things. In a world where technology and solutions are changing rapidly, creativity is critical to success. When children draw, each one has their own version or vision for the final product. This helps them see different perspectives and explore other ways to interpret the same thing.
When children learn something new, the way they see the world changes. Creativity is a skill that is necessary for success in school and later in the workforce.
What Helps Develop Creativity in the Classroom?
There are several different ways to nurture creativity in the classroom. Make sure that the environment is compassionate and accepting. It takes confidence for children to be creative in front of other people.
Make sure that you listen to the students’ ideas and help them. Encourage them to use their own ideas rather than trying to figure out the right answer. You can even change the way assignments are worded to encourage creativity. Use words including “imagine,” “suppose,” or “be creative” to encourage them.
Once your students take the steps to come up with their own ideas, be sure to give them feedback. Let them know when they do a great job. You should also help them understand that there are times to be creative and times to follow directions. They need to understand the difference.
You can introduce lessons by showing them that there are different ways to solve a problem, and make sure that you support them when they come up with an alternate way of solving a problem. Make sure that they understand that creativity requires effort and acknowledge it when they do a great job.