Creativity Archives - Page 8 of 26

Nov 21 2022

I’m Not Looking for a New Adventure

By John Spencer Creativity One Comment

Each day, I do an entry in my gratitude journal. Okay, not actually each day. About 2-5 times a week, I fill out an entry in my journal. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I thought I would share a personal journal entry after being in…

Oct 31 2022

Scott Witthoft on the Curious Craft of Prototyping

By John Spencer Creativity, Design Thinking, Podcast One Comment

In my latest podcast episode, I interviewed Scott Witthoft, who shared an expanded view of what it means to prototype. I've written extensively about design thinking but his latest book This is a Prototype? challenged my thinking while also providing several new strategies I plan…

Oct 20 2022

The Power of Student Conferencing

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 9 Comments

If we want to empower students to own the assessment process, we need to incorporate meaningful self-assessment and peer assessment into our lessons. However, students still need guidance from their teachers. This is why I love five-minute conferences. Unlike a deep dive tutoring session or…

Aug 14 2022

Writing Prompt: You Discover a Magic Fountain Prompt

By John Spencer Creativity One Comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oUvp3TqJpM&t=6s Writing Prompt: It’s a lazy afternoon on a blazingly hot Saturday, so you and your friends decide to go to a mall to cool off. Once you arrive, you notice a water fountain where people are tossing coins and making wishes. You know it…

Jun 12 2022

16 Ways to Own Your Professional Learning

By John Spencer Creativity, Professional Development 6 Comments

I'm sitting at a barbecue joint putting finishing touches on a social studies pedagogy course I'm teaching this summer. While I try to focus, I can't help but notice the passion and excitement at the table across from me. “Screw going on a cruise. I…

May 23 2022

Showrunner Jerry Kolber on the Power of Creativity and Curiosity to Deepen Learning

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast No Comments

In this week's podcast, I interviewed Jerry Kolber, a Showrunner and podcast creator. We talked about creativity, curiosity, and what it would mean to re-imagine learning in schools. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to listen to it on…

Apr 27 2022

The Seven Types of Creative Teachers

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 26 Comments

When I was a new teacher, I railed against boxed curriculum. I felt like a chef being forced to use Hamburger Helper or an artist forced to paint by number. It felt like they had taken the creativity out of the profession and I was…

Apr 04 2022

PBL by Design – Exploring the Overlap of Project-Based Learning and Design Thinking

By John Spencer Creativity, Design Thinking, Podcast, Project-Based Learning 2 Comments

Project-based learning and design thinking have both become buzzwords in the educational landscape. But beyond the buzz, both PBL and design thinking have rich histories that span decades. Both approaches also offer practical frameworks for teachers who are crafting authentic projects for their students. So,…

Mar 21 2022

Daniel Lewer On the power of student-centered, authentic, creative social studies

Daniel Lewer on the Importance of Student-Centered Social Studies

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast No Comments

In this week's podcast, I interview social studies expert Dan Lewer on the power of student choice and authenticity in history classes. Check out the interview below. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to listen to it on the…

Feb 21 2022

Dominique Foster On Designing a Creative Classroom for Early Learners

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 2 Comments

In this podcast, Dominique Foster shares practical strategies for designing a creative classroom for early childhood students. She talks about instructional design and physical space design. She also shares ways we can partner with stakeholders to help them see the vision for a creative classroom…