Creativity is something that we have to nurture as teachers. In this blog post and episode, I share some of the ways I believe nurture creativity in students.

Listen to Vicki Davis share techniques for nurturing creativity in the classroom

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• Stream by clicking here.

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Ideas to Promote Creativity in Your Classroom – Show Notes

1 – Make a Digital Learning Launchpad

• Hyperdocs.co
• Hyperdoc choice board for typing games

2 – Make a Hyperdoc for App Smashing activities

• Gives suggestion of the apps to do
• Students can document their learning journey by commenting on squares and coloring in what they’ve done

3 – Create a Learning Library of Books in Your Classroom

• By topic
• As part of an “Invention Convention” to spur on ideas

4 – Have an “Invention Convention”

• Put resources of all kinds out on the table and let children choose things to create and invent with as they work on inventing new things and sharing with their classmates.

5- Create a Library of Maker Materials

• Make it easy to tinker and invent with a rich library of resources and materials.

6 – Teach Kids to Use the Tutorials Inside Software Programs

7 – Create Curated Playlists by Topic on YouTube

8 – Label Materials with What They Are and the “Role”

• In my film cabinet, I might put “Gaffer” or “Sound Engineer” or “Hair and Makeup Department” or other roles that a professional who would use those materials would play. This helps students understand who would use those materials.

9 – Teach Students “Search Engine Math”

• My tutorial with some of the basic principles – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ldLV9vrCE

10 – Teach Students to Look Up Cool “Hacks” or “Tricks” for the Software They Are Using

11 – Help Students Connect with Mentors: Mentor Film Library

• Film those who come teach your class and make a “mentor library” of videos that new students can consult as they join the class in the future.

12 – Create Multi-Age Mentor Experiences

• Help students mentor one another on a topic across grade level

13 – Create a Mentor “Slack” Channel

• If you use slack, make a “mentor channel” where mentors can help students.

14 – Help Kids Connect with Online Mentors

• Teach them to find online mentor resources to help them learn. (Steve Hullfish – Advice from a Filmmaking Pro – episode 462)

15 – Help Students Look for their Giftedness and Interests

• Example of “Macrophotography” in show with little people   See some ideas on Pinterest for little people projects.

16 – Create Topical Club Activities and Special Interest Times

17 – Issue Challenges and Activities for Students

• Sherwood Showstoppers Student News Announcements Channel (mentioned on the show)

18 – Create Special Interest Projects for Students

• Bloxels – making your own video game (mentioned on the show)

19 – Expose Students to Kids Doing Cool Things

• “Island time” Commercial referenced in the show
• “Arrival Scene” is at the beginning of this video as I referenced in the show

20 – Let Students See You Creating Things

• Get feedback from students on what you create

21 – Teach Students How to Brainstorm

• A 3 Step Process to Brainstorming
• Brainstorming: The 7 Dwarves’ Secret
• My secret to getting great ideas from students (and getting them past worrying about how cool they look)