The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to examine a published language arts curriculum, determine how Anna Craft's possibility thinking framework could be integrated into the curriculum, and then observe how students responded to the implementation of lessons integrating the elements of possibility thinking. The findings…

It is important to find the means by which struggling writers can find success in the English Language Arts. For students struggling with reading and writing, the visual arts may be a way of accessing and expressing their ideas and ultimately opening up a world of creative possibilities. This article explores drawing and painting as a pre-writing…

Designed for use with gifted students in grades 6 through 8, the unit deals with suggestions for developing creativity through writing poetry. It is explained that the focus is on helping students recognize their own creativity before teaching poetry skills. Information on objectives, materials, and presentation methods is presented for the…

Discusses ways of using literature to teach language arts creatively. (MM)

Teachers can encourage youngsters to express their ideas creatively by providing help in three areas--content, language, and process. In terms of content, children often have few resources for tapping their thoughts, and may need 'pump primers' such as being told the beginning and end of a story and speculating about a variety of middles. Once…

This digest paper presents strategies and activities that can be used to encourage gifted students to develop their individual talents in the language arts. Suggestions for exploring poetic language especially free verse, include ideas for creating group poems and catalysts for creating individual poems. Suggestions for exploring the elements of…

Teachers should foster in children's writing the use of words with "sparkle" and "spin"--"sparkle" implying brightness and vitality, "spin" connoting industry, patience, and painstaking work. By providing creative listening experiences with good children's or adult literature, the teacher can encourage students to broaden their imaginations and…

Based upon the conviction that children can be taught many of the aspects of writing unique to the preparation of professional writers, this book offers ideas for the teaching of creative writing to children. "Creative" writing is defined and its values for children are discussed. Specific suggestions to promote imaginative writing are proposed in…

In this collection, numerous professional writers who have worked with students in public school classrooms offer ideas for helping students learn to write creatively. The ideas are grouped into six major sections: "Teaching Writing,""Writing Ideas" (gimmicks, letters and dialogues, writing from observation, writing and literature), "Drama, Film,…

Following the establishment of working definitions of "creativity" and "English," Chapter 1 of this state-of-the-art paper surveys research into the nature of creativity, points out the need to establish criteria for creativity, and discusses the relation of creativity to English. Chapter 2 considers the classroom and the teacher as elements of a…