“Teaching creativity at ELT class”

Presentation done by

Olena Galas

the English teacher

school №1 of Talne

Objectives: to give pupils and teachers the concept of creativity, to explain the importance of it in teaching English, to make acquaintance with main strategies and tips for developing creativity in the frames of the study process; to stimulate learner’s interest in the subject; to motivate students to study English..

Harvey Mackay

What is creativity? Creativity is often cited as one of the 21st century skills we need to be teaching students.

Historically, creativity has been seen as a tortured and mystical process, the province of geniuses, artists and eccentrics.

Now, creativity is recognised as a practical skill, one which can be taught and which everyone can achieve. It is a way of thinking in which we use our imagination to explore new possibilities.

The importance of creativity

Pupils who are encouraged to think creatively:•become more interested in discovering things for themselves•are more open to new ideas and challenges•are more able to solve problems•can work well with others•become more effective learners•have greater ownership over their learning.

Analytic concept is typically considered to be critical thinking ability. A person with this skill analyzes and evaluates ideas.

Synthetic concept is the ability to generate novel and interesting ideas.

Practical concept is the ability to translate theory into practice and abstract ideas into practical accomplishments.

Three concepts required for creative work

Teaching strategies to support creative thinking

•use imagination•generate questions, ideas and outcomes•experiment with alternatives•be original•expand on what students know or say•exercise students judgement

Tips for developing creativity

1. Model creativity2. Build self-efficacy3. Question assumptions4. Define and redefine problems5. Encourage idea generation6. Cross-fertilize. 7. Allow time for creative thinking8. Instruct and assess creatively9. Reward creative ideas and products10. Encourage sensible risks

11. Allow mistakes12. Teach self-responsibility13. Encourage creative collaboration14. Find excitement15. Seek stimulating environments16. Play to strengths

Tips for developing creativity

The ‘Connect’ game

Creativity begins with generating ideas, speculating and creating new

associations. As a warm-up or focusing activity play ‘Connect’. Ask a

student to suggest a word. You say a word that is related to that word

eg if the word is ‘football’ you might say ‘goal’. The next child then

says a word connected with the previous word eg ‘goal’, ‘net’ and so

on. Players take turns. They are allowed thinking time, but can be

challenged by any other player to explain the connection between

their word and the previous word.

Classroom activities encouraging creativity

Mystery objects

This activity encourages children to develop ideas that are original and have

a purpose, which is to improve or add value to something. It encourages children

to ask themselves the creative question: ‘How can this be improved?’

Show a box that contains an unfamiliar or interesting ‘mystery object’ (or a

picture of an object). Without showing or saying what it is, describe the object’s

appearance (or ask a child to). Ask children to try to visualize what is described, to

hypothesis what it might be and then ask questions to try to identify the object.

The child who identifies the object must also describe it. Show the object and ask

children to reflect on the description given and their ability to visualize it. Discuss

what it was made for, and its possible uses. Ask for suggestions of how it might

be improved. Encourage creative suggestions.

Questions for stimulating creative ideas about any topic, grouped under the

mnemonic CREATE:

Children could select or be given one object to study with a partner

C ombine : Can you add something else to it? Can you combine purposes,

ideas?

R earrange: Can parts of it be moved or changed?

E liminate : What could you remove or replace – in part or whole? Can it be

simplified?

A dapt: Can it be adapted? What else is this like? What ideas does it suggest?

T ry another use: Can it be put to other uses – or given a new use if you changed

one part?

E xtend: What could be added - words, pictures, symbols, functions, decoration,

logos?

Drawing games SquigglesPlay a drawing game such as ‘Squiggles’. Make a squiggle

shape on the board (a squiggle is a small mark such as a curve

or wavy line). Show how this can be added to make a complete

drawing of something. Draw identical squiggles on two halves

of the board and invite two children to make them starting

points for their own quick drawings. Discuss the creative

aspects of each drawing. Children work in pairs at the activity,

then display pairs of drawings. Other children must guess what

each completed drawing shows.

What might the shape be?

Draw a simple shape on the board and ask the children what

it might possibly be. Collect their ideas and add some of

your own. Ask what might be added to the shape to make it

something else – what could we do to change or add to it?

Invite children to sketch their own picture of something new

by adding to the given shape. Discuss their range of ideas.

Circle stories

1. Give children a worksheet of circle shapes. Ask them to draw as many different things as they can by adding details to each circle eg face, sun, watch, cobweb etc. Give a strict time limit.2. In pairs ask children to compare their collection of circle drawings.3. Children choose and cut out six of their circle drawings. They think of as many connections as they can between each drawing eg ‘The face is smiling because the watch says it is lunchtime and at this time the spider is weaving a web …’4. The children individually, in pairs or small groups create a story incorporating in it as many of the subjects of their circle drawings as possible.5. They draft these stories, adding details to make them as interesting as possible, using the circle drawings as illustrations. 6. The stories are presented and discussed.

CONCLUSION

Adding the concept of creative teaching has benefits for

teachers, for learners, as well as for schools. For learners,

creative teaching helps learners develop their capacities

for original ideas and for creative thinking. It also

improves the quality of the experiences learners receive

and can help learners develop increased levels of

motivation and even self-esteem. For the teacher it

provides a source of ongoing professional renewal and

satisfaction .

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