Creativity in the Classroom

Creativity in the Classroom

by Andrew Wright

Andrew Wright is an author, illustrator, teacher trainer and story teller. He has published with Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Pearson. As a teacher trainer and story teller he has worked in 55 countries. E-mail: andrew@ili.hu, 
www.andrewarticlesandstories.wordpress.com

Andrew says, ‘Making new connections’, is almost a definition of creativity! Wandering and wondering is more likely to lead you to new connections than being guided by a strict goal and approach determined methodology'

Ideas for Language Teaching

change collocations eg, black cat is common, try black doctor, black student, black room - substitute: an expert, a brilliant, a tidy ....

Chain associations, each student adds a related word and needs to say how it is related

Brain storm a word

Sentence pattern gap changer - keep the grammar correct 

Text substitution -The Princess was kissed by a handsome Prince. The Princess was kissed by a hideous Prince.

Expanding sentences one word at a time

Be Particular

From early stages encourage students to be very specific eg, a slim white cat not just a cat

Odd one out and argue for your choice

Take two words and name ten ways in which they are different

Empathy with the medium

Change the way you use medium eg, shape of paper, layout of room