Creativity Archives - Spencer Education

Sep 15 2026

5 Myths About Creativity

By John Spencer Creativity, Routine Creativity No Comments

Sometimes our biggest creative failures reveal what we actually believe about creativity. In fifth grade, a disastrous California Mission project forced me to rethink what it meant to be “creative.” Years later, I can see how many of my assumptions were actually common cultural myths:…

Sep 09 2026

The Power of Routine Creativity

By John Spencer Creativity One Comment

We often picture creativity as something big and bold. It’s the ambitious project that draws in the entire community. It's the big project that kids remember years later. But creativity doesn’t have to be an event. In fact, some of the most powerful creative thinking…

Sep 02 2026

Five Reasons Students Should Own the Assessment Process

By John Spencer Creativity, Empowering Students, Mindsets 2 Comments

For years, I held a very teacher-centered view of assessment. I would grade student work and use that to modify lessons and pull small groups. Students would receive a grade, which would then motivate them to work harder. Later, I started realizing that my feedback…

Aug 20 2026

Why Confident Humility is a Critical Skill in a Generative Age

By John Spencer Creativity, Depth Advantage One Comment

We often assume that confidence comes with competence. But sometimes we are overconfident in what we know and, at other times, we underestimate what we can actually do. In a world of rapid change and increasingly sycophantic AI, students will need to recognize the limits…

Apr 16 2026

Contextual Thinking is Becoming Vital in the Age of AI

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast No Comments

Authentic learning has always required a connection to a real context. However, in a generative age, where AI cannot "read the room," contextual thinking has become more important than ever. In this article and podcast episode, I explore the implications of this and share six…

Apr 02 2026

How to Design AI-Resistant Writing Before, During, and After the Writing Process

By John Spencer Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, Podcast No Comments

AI has made writing faster and easier than ever before. But it has also nudged writing toward something more generic and predictable. We’re starting to see polished work that looks right on the surface but lacks depth, voice, and real thinking. So the question isn’t…

Mar 25 2026

The Five Biggest Pitfalls of Collaborative Grouping (And How to Avoid Them)

By John Spencer Creative Collaboration, Creativity, Podcast 7 Comments

We’ve all been there before. You’re working with a few other people and everything just seems to click. It might be on a ball field or court. Or it might be in a jam session or a rehearsal for live theater. If you’re lucky, it…

Mar 18 2026

The Problem with “They Didn’t Teach Us That in School”

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast One Comment

I often see memes on social media complaining about various skills that people didn't learn in schools. Sometimes, it's accompanied with "Here are the things we should be learning instead." But I want to reflect on that statement through the bigger question of the future…

Mar 11 2026

Boy thinking with a thought bubble and a question mark

How to Use Strategic Confusion for Deeper Learning

By John Spencer Creativity 13 Comments

For the last few weeks, I have been working on redesigning my social studies pedagogy courses to be fully asynchronous. I've been creating videos, designing resources, and putting together a weekly reader for them. But it's more than just making content. My goal is to build…

Feb 17 2026

The Power of Silent Discussions for Deeper Collaboration

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast No Comments

There’s a strange tension in most classrooms. We say we value discussion. We say we want depth. But often the loudest voice wins and the fastest thinker sets the pace. The result can feel energetic and engaging on the surface while quieter students fade into…