Creative Journey Archives - Spencer Education

Nov 20 2020

What happens when students launch their work to an audience?

By John Spencer Design Thinking 3 Comments

Right now, I'm feeling the effects of social isolation. My social circle is essentially my wife and my kids. I'm only going out when necessary to go to the grocery store. This Thanksgiving will be the first in years that I don't see friends or…

Apr 28 2019

The Power of a Launch (Why Students Should Share Their Work)

By John Spencer Design Thinking, Podcast One Comment

This article is part of a larger series on design thinking. Students begin with Look, Listen, and Learn, which is all about awareness and empathy. They move into Ask Tons of Questions, an inquiry phase. This leads to research in the Understanding the Process or…

Dec 05 2018

4 Surprising Truths About the Creative Journey

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 3 Comments

About a year ago, I watched La La Land for the first time. It was as enchanting and mesmerizing as people had told me. And it struck a chord, in terms of the deeply human longing to chase your dreams, captured in the lines: Here's to…

Mar 01 2015

Seven Surprising Things About Creativity

By John Spencer Creativity 2 Comments

It's no secret that I like to make stuff. My wife and I co-wrote Wendell the World's Worst Wizard and I have been blown away when classrooms choose it as a read aloud. I worked with two other people on creating Write About, a digital publishing…

Feb 21 2015

Teachers Need Genius a Hour, Too

By John Spencer Student Choice 14 Comments

My wife and I give each other one night a week to pursue our own interest. It's sort of like having a date night alone. Odd, I know, but something that allows both of us to pursue our own interests no matter how crazy life…

Nov 07 2014

I Hid My Art: Why Shame Often Kills Creativity

By John Spencer Creativity, Uncategorized No Comments

Just a few years ago, I would have been mortified for people to see that picture (above). When I was in high school, I decided not to go into Advanced Art, because I was scared. I had created a few pieces that won awards and…

Jan 27 2014

When Creativity Isn’t Fun

By John Spencer Creativity One Comment

I used to believe that creativity would lead to fun. I thought that if I crafted the right project and included a high level of creativity, students would enjoy every lesson. I was crushed, then, when I saw students getting bored, angry, anxious and confused.…