Creativity is considered the skill of the future. We must be thoughtful, however, about how we innovate to support creativity, ensuring that we do not lose sight of equally important skills and competencies.

Most education systems around the world today rely heavily on conventional methods of teaching. Yet the challenges and needs of contemporary life necessitate innovative ways to teach children life skills. To create a positive and accessible environment in which to build positive life narratives, every student must be able to see people around them…

An important aspect of bringing innovation to education is supporting children's own innovative thinking. Teachers are finding that escape room activities can provoke children's wonder and determination to pursue their curiosity, which builds a foundation for innovators of the future.

Rollo Walter Brown was an American author and lecturer. He graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1903, and received a master's degree from Harvard University in 1905. He taught English at several institutions, including Wabash College and Carleton College. One of his nonfiction works is "The Creative Spirit--An Inquiry Into American…

Drawing on conceptual resources that underpin arts integration, drama-based and embodied teaching approaches, and embodied mathematical cognition, the authors developed a fresh professional learning model for teachers to use with their mathematics classes. This article discusses how "Creative and Body-based Learning" (CBL), the authors'…

As a high school English teacher in Ohio and later as a college professor of future teachers in Florida, the author, who loved choreographing dance routines, viewed teaching as consisting of both artistic and technical elements. Like dance which is a combination of artistic and technical skills, teaching also requires the combination of both…

There is nothing worse than hearing moans and groans when writing time is announced to students. Motivation for writing begins when students' interests are mixed with opportunities for creativity. This article presents an idea shared by a writing coach who found a way to spark students' interest in writing by developing recipes for more…

In this era of high-stakes testing, many teachers feel forced to aim instruction toward what will be assessed and ignore what students really want to learn. Publishers create materials guaranteed to boost students' test scores, but they neither broaden students' understanding nor increase their interest in learning. When the textbook becomes the…

An interview with the 1989 Tennessee teacher of the year describes her career, including her work as a home visitor for Head Start and a kindergarten teacher in public schools. Her experience emphasizes the importance of making basic skills developmentally meaningful through creative teaching. (DG)

Names hold great meaning for children and are, for many, the first word they learn to recognize by sight. Children have a great interest in learning to write their names as well as the names of their family and friends. Adults working with young children can take advantage of this interest to introduce a variety of early literacy concepts. Using…

Discusses activities that can help teachers of toddlers to design environments that stimulate and facilitate children's exploration, discovery, and understanding of color beyond the traditional boundaries of sight. Suggests that by incorporating other senses, teachers offer to the older toddlers rich multi-sensory experiences that can nurture and…

This column presents and summarizes recent resources that discuss some problems and solutions related to elementary education in inner-city urban areas. (Contains 6 Web resources.)