30 Creative Skills Every Educator Has (A sadly incomplete list)
As a visiting, or artist in residence, teaching artist, I have spent time in countless classrooms.
I have been made acutely aware of the stressful conditions so many teachers work under, and the heroic dedication they maintain in support of their students.
However, there is one comment I have heard teachers make too many times.
Here I am, in front of a class of expectant children, about to lead an arts integrated lesson and the teacher introduces me something like, “Class, this is Ms Karen. I am not a creative person, so I am happy she is here to show you how to do this project.”
Teachers, YOU ARE SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE PEOPLE ON EARTH! So your drawings are more Picasso than Michelangelo, so your best singing is in the shower, - that is no mark of creativity!
Before I point out just how creative you are, I want to encourage you to model pride in your creativity! It is a firm fact that every person is born creative. This creativity we all have is a survival skill - to be able to manage when things don’t go as we thought they would. Problem solving IS creativity! As teachers, you have the power to give your students pride in and understanding of the many ways they use their inherent creativity every day!
I will now step down from my soap box and make a VERY short list of the ways in which YOU are ALL creative in the most important way possible!
Feng Shui Master
Arrange the desks in your classroom for best use of space
Rearrange desks to accommodate three unexpected new students
Move Student A’s desk away from Student B to discourage copying
Move Student C’s desk away from Student D to discourage escalating squabbles
Accommodate unexpected new furniture for reading corner
Cover necessary but very old table to avoid splinters
Decorate door for seasonal display contest
Maintain and update class bulletin boards for students and impressive parent night
Master of the Lightening Speed Pivot
Without any warning, be forced to learn to use a totally new technology to teach students who are not even in the same room you are
Deliver materials to students E, F, and G, whose parents cannot come by for pick up, and who do not live near you, or each other, for virtual classes
Teach Hybrid - Zoom AND in person classes
Reschedule test when fire drill interrupts
Re-write your lessons when the state comes up with a new set of academic standards
Accommodate pop-up assembly when you had something specific planned
Continue class despite loudspeaker interruptions with irrelevant, droning messages
Keep students at the same pace when several are pulled out for student play practice
Eyes on the Back of Your Head, Heart in Your Hand
Give attention to Student F who experienced a family tragedy
Accommodate Student G who never speaks above a whisper
Accommodate Student H who cannot sit down for longer than 10 minutes at a time
Figure out how to discipline Student I (who lies up and down) when they are the most likely suspect for a missing item
Keep the advanced learner Student J from getting bored and in trouble while you give time to the struggling Student K
Figure out what to do when, in Zoom class, you get a glimpse of possibly troubling home life for Student L
Find abandoned jacket in the lost and found for Student M, sent to school without adequate warm clothes
Parents, Parents, Parents
Tactfully advise parent of Student N they may not bring a McDonalds Happy Meal into the classroom before lunch time to eat with their child
Tactfully advise parent of Student O that modest attire is required inside the school
Care for Student P, dropped off too early before morning care.
Care for Student Q, not picked up from after care
Create incentives for parental school participation
Deal with parent of Student R, who refuses to acknowledge that their child may have a learning disability that needs intervention
Deal with parent of Student S, who refuses to consider that their child has a behavioral problem that needs to be addressed
Inspiration Magician
Find just the right book to get Student T inspired to read
Come up with just the explanation to allow Student U to lose their fear of math through an ah-ha moment
Choose a book to share with the class that initiates deep thought and discussion
Share a personal experience that makes a connection between curriculum material and the world
