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How do I Choose the Best Creative Curriculum?
The educational system has mainly focused on making subjects such as math and science core parts of the curriculum and using lectures and textbooks as the main teaching tools. In recent years, educators and parents have come to recognize the benefits of nurturing creativity in students, and incorporate creativity into their academic studies. Whether you're in search of creative curriculum with which to home school your kids, or trying to find a school with the best creative curriculum, there are a number of creative content indicators to look for. A curriculum's textbooks, projects, activities, classes offered, and grading methods can all indicate whether or not it encompasses creativity.
The content of a textbook or workbook that supports a creative curriculum is one which endeavors to engage different students on a variety of levels. For example, a textbook that has lots of photos, illustrations, and other interesting images will attract the attention of students who learn on a visual level, while students who enjoy reading may be attracted to its conversational text. A multimedia approach to teaching is another indicator of a creative curriculum, and could mean deploying videos, games, and other audio and visual tools to support standard textbook material.
Projects and other assignments which offer students choices both foster and reflect creativity. For example, if students are studying outer space and are required to complete an assignment on the topic, they could be presented with the choice of writing a report, making models of planets, or designing their own educational game about space. The diverse range of classes offered in certain schools today is another sign of a creative curriculum. Private schools that specialize in the arts offer a particularly creative curriculum which may include classes focused in such subjects as dance, art, music, and theater.
The way in which a student's performance is evaluated also reflects a curriculum that is creative. Grades which take into consideration a student's attitude, problem-solving abilities, and overall approach to a subject can be assessed along with the student's test scores. This results in a richer, broader curriculum which places value on a student's approach to learning instead of just his or her test results.
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![Creative curriculum encourages developing educational experiences beyond the textbook.]()
By: Elena BlokhinaCreative curriculum encourages developing educational experiences beyond the textbook. -
![Projects that offer students choices foster creativity.]()
By: pressmasterProjects that offer students choices foster creativity. -
![A curriculum's projects and activities can indicate whether or not it encompasses creativity.]()
By: paylessimagesA curriculum's projects and activities can indicate whether or not it encompasses creativity. -
![Creative curriculums engage students on a variety of levels.]()
By: Mikkel BigandtCreative curriculums engage students on a variety of levels. -
![Some creative curriculum encourage class participation.]()
By: Prod. NumérikSome creative curriculum encourage class participation. -
![Children who are bored or frustrated with their school work may struggle to perform academically.]()
By: emde71Children who are bored or frustrated with their school work may struggle to perform academically.
Discussion Comments
@browncoat - How often do you actually end up writing an essay in everyday life though? A creative curriculum can teach literacy without being prescriptive. I mean, if a student presents a model of a volcano without labels describing each part, then they aren't going to get a great mark, the same as one who can't write an essay. Almost every form of presentation is going to need some kind of written component and some kind of organization. Letting the kids choose what they would prefer to do doesn't stop them from being well rounded.
@Mor - I do agree to some extent, but you've also got to consider what you want your kids in school to learn. If they have trouble writing and reading then they are going to have trouble for the rest of their lives. It's great that they can build a scale model of a volcano and prove they know all about geology, but if they aren't able to write an essay about it, they won't be able to take that knowledge anywhere.
Creative curriculum activities should be used more often in school, perhaps for almost every activity. But students also need explicit instructions and to be taught the fundamentals of different kinds of presentations or they won't be able to get on in the world, which is what they are really learning to do.
It is so important to try and get your child into a school where they will value education over presentation. Even a creative curriculum in preschool can boost your child's self efficacy to the point where they will do much better in later life.
I mean, the problem with some students is that they don't like the only methods of presentation they are given in class. If they aren't good at essays, it doesn't matter if they are an expert in the topic, they still won't get a good grade. And it makes it impossible for the teacher to truly evaluate the student in terms of their actual learning of a particular topic, if all they do, over and over, is evaluate their ability to follow directions.
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