tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581931605568455763.post5241559350582638459..comments2017-04-25T16:42:18.013-07:00Comments on Clarify Me Archived: On Changing ParadigmsClaire Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469996081279966976noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581931605568455763.post-61189754326151909622008-08-14T07:49:56.000-07:002008-08-14T07:49:56.000-07:00Sadly, we experienced this firsthand last year wit...Sadly, we experienced this firsthand last year with our oldest daughter. She's a gifted kid (early reader, part of SD67's gifted program), very creative and bright. I know it's impossible to quantify, but as her Grade 1 year progressed, she changed in ways that we (our family, her grandparents and close friends) all noticed: less self-motivated, less interest/excitement in pursuing things she's curious about, less energy and spark, and more likely be bored. School seemed to be killing her creativity and motivation.<br><br>Obviously there could be lots of reasons for these changes, but it was also very noticeable over the holidays that she snapped back to her old self fairly quickly. She had a good teacher, but most of the activities were focused on conformity, making sure that everyone was doing the same thing the same way. Very little room for creativity from what we saw. <br><br>"I would love to see a school where they are..." Well, there are plenty of examples of these: hundreds of alternative schools, Waldorf, Sudbury Schools...not hard to find them. In my experience, teachers seem to be threatened by the very existence of these other models of learning, saying they're interested, but really not wanting to find out. My first thought when I read this was that we probably shouldn't even be looking for examples of authentic learning in *schools*. <br><br>Many of the families you're working with in the home learners program are already creating rich, creative learning environments for their kids, giving them lots of time and support to pursue their interests and talent -- it's too bad they keep such a low profile, hidden beneath layers of old stereotypes about homeschooling. I would *love* to hear more about innovative learning being done by students and families you're encountering in your work. All the better that most of them have nothing to do with traditional schooling.Jeremyhttp://jeremyhiebert.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581931605568455763.post-65067897880423922792008-08-15T13:25:27.000-07:002008-08-15T13:25:27.000-07:00Jeremy, thanks for commenting. I'm sorry to h...Jeremy, thanks for commenting. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's grade one experience. I agree, to an extent, that we shouldn't <i>just</i> be looking for examples of authentic learning in <i>schools</i>. I think the stifling of creativity abounds in society, not just schools. We have so many rules; procedural, social, etc and it seems like as a society that we can't wait to teach these rules to the children. <br><br>You mentioned the gifted program; I spoke the the teacher of gifted students in Penticton in June and she was talking about the class size. I believe she said that twelve students was what she considered the maximum for her program (I have a notoriously bad memory so the number may have been as high as 14). She said that having more than that many gifted children posed unique challenges. I think that raises a relevant point when considering fostering creativity in <i>all</i> students.Claire Thompsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581931605568455763.post-26175601857959308492008-08-18T08:19:42.000-07:002008-08-18T08:19:42.000-07:00Ivy's in the gifted program in Summerland, and...Ivy's in the gifted program in Summerland, and I've spent some time in her class and that limit makes sense to me -- more than a dozen or so gifted kids would be a serious handful. When you hear "gifted" you think smarty-pants-all-star sorts of kids, and there are those, but many have social and behavioral challenges in a classroom setting. I think they've got about 10 students in her class, and that seems about right. Good point about fostering creativity for all students...the other cool think in the gifted program is that all of the students get an IEP. Really, why shouldn't <i>every</i> student get an IEP? It sounded like maybe in the HLP, kids do get a sort of learning plan as well, which is great.Jeremyhttp://jeremyhiebert.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581931605568455763.post-89225503411569379672008-08-19T02:06:08.000-07:002008-08-19T02:06:08.000-07:00I agree, it would be great if every child got an I...I agree, it would be great if every child got an IEP (individualized education plan). And even if there is not an official IEP for each child, ideally the classroom teacher would try to individualize instruction for the students in their class. The reality is that that is very difficult to do when you consider the constraints that many teachers are working under (the student to teacher ratios, amount of prep time, etc). Having said that, I think that a lot of teachers do look at delivering their instruction in a variety of ways. For example, teaching a concept using visuals as well as text. Providing opportunities for students to model concepts using role playing or manipulatives. Many teachers are using inclusive strategies where accommodations made for students with special needs actually benefit the entire class much like wheelchair ramps for people in wheelchairs also benefit parents pushing strollers and the elderly.<br><br>Thanks for commenting Jeremy and getting me to think about these issues. It's a good way for me to gear up mentally for the school year ahead!Claire Thompsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581931605568455763.post-86200141482277467672008-08-29T22:59:30.000-07:002008-08-29T22:59:30.000-07:00Schools do kill creativity but one has to ask if i...Schools do kill creativity but one has to ask if in the past when the present school was not here, did everyone have more creativity or does life itself kill it for most people? It is true, that for those that could keep creativity throughout, schools do a great job of stifling. One has to ask, why some seem to maintain it anyway despite the obvious influences. I am not denouncing, just questioning. <br><br>We definitely need to do more to create critical thinkers. After all, most of the mess we are currently in is a result of people unable to be critical and creative thinkers. It is one thing to say we need it, but I agree asking how we are going to do that.<br><br>As they get older and we question, most topics are so charged and polarizing to the point they are not allowed. How can we make these changes when the public at large do not value or have these skills themselves? It has to start somewhere, but the environment is not in place to even nurture it (when we talk reform, is that possible, or must we just start all over with something new?)Louise Mainehttp://hurricanemaine.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581931605568455763.post-77311449228722640432008-08-30T11:18:16.000-07:002008-08-30T11:18:16.000-07:00@Louise, I think you're right in concluding th...@Louise, I think you're right in concluding that it is not just school that kills creativity. I wonder if evolution in humans has favoured the ability to learn and stick with the rules of society at the cost of nurturing creativity. If everyone was a creative genius I wonder if we wouldn't be living in anarchy? I'm not articulating this very well, but this is what's shaking around in my head ;)Claire Thompsonhttp://cthompson.edublogs.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581931605568455763.post-11935865373410366932008-08-30T11:19:48.000-07:002008-08-30T11:19:48.000-07:00BTW, I did not intend my last comment to suggest t...BTW, I did not intend my last comment to suggest that I am against nurturing creativity, I'm not. Just trying to think about why it usually gets stifled as children grow up.Claire Thompsonhttp://cthompson.edublogs.orgnoreply@blogger.com