Freely Educate

How Do You Encourage Creativity?

I finished a few chores this morning, then moseyed into the kitchen to find this lovely sight:

Coincidentally, right before I walked in on the kids and their spontaneous paint session, I listened to an inspiring talk given by Sir Ken Robinson (a speaker & educator) in which he said, 

"Creativity is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status."

Wow.  That requires some rethinking, doesn't it?  But after the past few years of mulling over what education means to me, I agree with him.  It's good to keep sagging bookshelves around, but it's equally good to leave out paints, paper, scissors and gluesticks for the children to use freely.

Mr. Robinson (Sir Ken, is it?) says, "We don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it...or rather, we are educated out of it.  Many highly talented, brilliant, creative people think they're not.  Because the thing they were good at in school wasn't valued."

Our little gal (5) noticed me taking photos and without looking up from her paints, said, "I'm going to be an artist." 

That door, I hope, will always look as open to her as the doors to mathmetician and aeronautical engineer as a result of a fulleducation: one in which creativity is as important as literacy.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on creativity and its importance to the children in your life.  How do you encourage creativity?

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Sunday Homeschool Q&A: For Special Needs (and an Opportunity to Help NZ & Get a Great Deal)

Can you help?  On Sundays (and today, as this is posted early!), we give back to others by answering questions from other parents, homeschoolers & educators like us.  Here is today's question: 

"I have a special needs child that I homeschool. What do you do on the days that seem to be a troubling day from the start? I am already over a week behind due to "bad days". She has Sensory Integration Disorder among other things. I just need a way to keep her motivated. I have tried so many things. Any suggestions would be appreciated." ~ Teresa

If you can  help Teresa (and the rest of us who would love your opinion!), tell us what you think in the Comments section below. 

Special Note:  If you'd like to help the New Zealand Red Cross Earthquake Fund, I highlighted an opportunity to do so on FrugallyEducate.com.  You do pay $20, but you get over $250 of educational downloads for your donation.  100% of the proceeds go to charity to help New Zealanders.

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 p.s. Do you have a question?  Ask on our Facebook community wall and I'll pass it on to the 1,600+ other members there.  They're a very helpful bunch!

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Sunday Homeschool Q&A: Do you sit with the children, or let them work on their own?

Can you help?  On Sundays we give back to others by answering questions from other parents, homeschoolers & educators like us.  Here is today's question: 

"I'd like to know if other moms [or dads] sit at the table while teaching their kids even while the students do worksheets and such?  Or do they read the directions, hand the worksheet to the children, then say "do it," while they take care of other things (such as tots, dishes, vacuumming, etc)?" ~ Jennifer

If you can  help Jennifer (and the rest of us who would love your opinion!), tell us what you think in the Comments section below. 

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 p.s. Do you have a question?  Ask on our Facebook community wall and I'll pass it on to the 1,500+ other members there.  They're a very helpful bunch!

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