Mrs. Gomez is in her third year of teaching fourth grade. This year one student's dadvisited with Mrs. Gomez during the second week of school and described his son Gabe as very creative. He mentioned Gabe's skill in crafting witty statements, his love of writing and creating characters and settings with distinctive traits, his insatiable curiosity, and his intensity. Mrs. Gomez discussed with the

Question

dad some of the things she would like to do to encourage Gabe's creativity and help him acclimate to classroom rules and procedures without feeling stifled. Gabe's dad felt like she was on the right track.

On the way home from school, Mrs. Gomez is reflecting on the conversation and realizing that she would like to encourage creativity in all of her students. She believes she can work effectively with Gabe and use some of the same ideas to help other students think outside the box.

Describe at least four things Mrs.

Gomez might do that will foster Gabe's creativity and encourage other students to be creative.

Answer 1

Suggested Response:
Mrs. Gomez should provide opportunities for students to use divergent thinking. The process may involve asking questions that are not included in the teacher's guides. Such questions ask students to think of additional solutions to problems and consider perspectives that are not presented in the lessons.
She should use brainstorming regularly with her students. By engaging in true brainstorming, students learn to listen and consider others' ideas with judging, to come up with ideas of their own, to build upon ideas of others, and to verbalize wild ideas. The process can be freeing and encourage students to take risks and express ideas that do not conform.
Mrs. Gomez should provide a wide range of resources, supplies, and materials for students to use in the production of creative projects. Such projects allow children to demonstrate their learning in nontraditional and creative ways.
Mrs. Gomez should also be quick to tolerate diverse ideas and dissenting opinions. In doing so, she creates a learning environment in which diversity is respected. Students will not feel as though they are being poured into a mold of thinking and behaving a certain way.
She might alsocapitalize on technology in the classroom. She might model innovative uses of technology and ask students for ideas about using technology. She might find free apps and programs that encourage divergent thinking and creative solutions.
She might provide spaces in the classroom for students to do creative projects and explore. If her classroom has limited space, she might develop assignments that encourage students to make choices about creative projects they can do at home or at their desks during special work times.
Text Reference: Creativity: What It Is and Why It Matters