Unlocking Creativity

in the Language Classroom

By Olga Pustina

We acknowledge we are on the ancestral lands of the Dena'ina Ełnena, specifically the Dghelay Tehtʼana (Mountain People), and we honor their continued stewardship of this region known to them as K'dalkitnu "food is stored river".

Land Acknowledgement

Introduction

Olga Pustina

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• 4th and 5th grade Russian Immersion Teacher, Turnagain Elementary, Anchorage

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• 4th Grade Russian and English Teacher,

Turnagain Elementary, Anchorage

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• 1st Grade Russian Immersion Teacher,

Turnagain Elementary, Anchorage

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• Assistant Professor at Barnaul State Linguistic Institute, Russia

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• MA in Linguistics, Barnaul State Pedagogical University, Russia

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• BA in ESL, Barnaul State Pedagogical University, Russia

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Agenda

The Growing Demand for Creativity in the Workforce

Defining Creativity and Creative Thinking

The Role of Creativity in the Language Classroom

Strategies for Unlocking Creativity in the Language Classroom

Questions, Comments, and Ideas

5

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The Growing Demand for Creativity in the Workforce

The Growing Demand for Creativity in the Workforce

Defining Creativity and Creative Thinking

Creativity is “a process of having original ideas that have value.” - Sir Ken Robinson (2009)

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“Creativity is imagination in action.” - Wendy L. Ostroff (2016)

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“Creativity involves having students organize information in a new way to design a product.” - Rebecca Stobaugh (2019)

Creativity - imaginative activity fashioned so as to produce outcomes that are both original and of value.

(National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education, UK)

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Creative thinking - a process through which knowledge, intuition and skills are applied to imagine, express or make something novel.

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The Role of Creativity in the Language Classroom

• Creativity enhances language use and the use of compensation strategies.

• Creativity improves self-esteem

• Creativity promotes genuine communication and cooperation.

• Creativity enriches classroom work

• Creativity increases motivation and engagement, inspires and challenges students.

The core elements of a creative environment:

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• The opportunity for play and experimentation/exploration
• A non-threatening atmosphere in which children are secure enough to take risks and make mistakes
• Activities presented in exciting or unusual contexts
• Opportunity for generative thought, where ideas are greeted openly
• Opportunity for critical reflection in a supportive environment
• Children given a sense of engagement and ownership of ideas and tasks
• Respect for difference and the creativity of others
• Choices given to children in terms of resources and methods.

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David Harrington (1990)

• TIME !!!

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Question Detective

Strategies for Unlocking Creativity in the Language Classroom

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• Students ask questions to find out information

• Gives opportunity to practice asking questions

• Increases engagement

What’s in a box?

• Individual, group brainstorming and small group activity

(Dr. Amanda Minnillo)

Mystery Picture

Curiosity is a fuel that drives critical and creative thinking.

Transforming personality

• Students step into other person or objects’ shoes

• Enhances language use

• Inspiring

• Speaking, Writing and Reading activities

Shifting Genres or Media

• Students change prose into drama or comic, act out a song as a drama, making an advertisement, etc.

• Promotes language use in diverse settings and encourages repetition

• Increases engagement

1 x 5

• Select a specific object or concept that the group will work with.
• Organize students into groups of five (or whatever number works for your group).
• Each group member makes one change to the object or idea.
• The object or idea is passed to the next person in the group, who makes another change. This process is repeated until everyone in the group has made one change (or more).
• Groups discuss how the object or idea has changed and explore the new possibilities it presents. Students can describe the process or the final product.

Questions, Comments, and Ideas

Cпасибо!

Pustina_Olga@asdk12.org

“Children are not vessels to be filled but lamps to be lit.”

— Quote by Chinmayananda Saraswati.