This article criticizes classroom traditions and environmental factors that serve to limit and impair students' creativity. Steps required for a more creative classroom are discussed, including adequate "think time," conducive supplies and surroundings, a risk-free environment, empowerment to think independently, and teachers who model creative…

This book offers new ways for classroom teachers to broaden the definition of literacy to include music, dance, poetry, and the visual arts. Information about incorporating the fine arts into the daily curriculum includes how teachers can help students use the fine arts as a bridge to reading and writing, and as a valid way of interpreting the…

The Classroom Creativity Observation Schedule (CCOS) is designed to gather objective information about student and teacher behaviors which relate to students' creative growth. The revised schedule, based on the 1966 version, is composed of eight items designed to assess classroom behavior on the dimensions of: motivational climate; student-student…

Considers both teacher-initiated and child-initiated strategies for enhancing young children's self-expression and creativity, based on the philosophy of the preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Discusses how the classroom can be modified to best support children's emerging creativity. (HTH)

In this special section on creativity and learning, several articles discuss practices of schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Topics include the role of reciprocity between child and adult in creative learning; the importance of play for adults; and ideas directors can use to help teachers translate creativity into classroom practice. (AC)

This booklet is a teacher's manual that promotes sex equity in elementary school physical education. The first part of the booklet explains the development and effect of sex stereotypes in the classroom. The second part lists games, activities, and sports in which both sexes can participate equally. Appendices include behavior and discipline…

This lecture discusses the creative ability of young children, asserting that educators must cultivate children's creative potential so that these abilities can develop and expand. Early childhood education also needs to take into account children's natural need for rules. (MDM)

This paper discusses creativity in young children and what teachers can do to support and promote it. Topics addressed in the paper include: (1) teacher interest in promoting creativity; (2) defining creativity; (3) creativity in the socioemotional domain; (4) the relationship between creativity and empathy for others; (4) bibliotherapy; (5)…

Explores misconceptions about the place of the arts in early childhood education. Notes that children's creativity usually flourishes in a play-like atmosphere where children have the time, materials, opportunity, and social support to experiment. Suggests three ways to facilitate children's artistic growth and creative expression, and includes a…

A set of "creative competencies" provides a framework for assessing the extent to which local school environments contribute to the production of creative citizens. Following an introduction to rationale and organization of the Vermont Creativity Task Force, material is divided into five substantive sections. Section 1 pinpoints the…

This document is a handbook for helping children develop self-esteem through encouraging creative behavior in after school day care. The handbook is meant to be a resource for after school day care providers. Each chapter is structured to describe a creative behavior concept or strategy, explain how and why it works, and when it can best be…

This booklet presents a preservice teacher education model that promotes sex equity in elementary school physical education. This competency based model details performance objectives, learning experiences, and behaviors for each of the competency areas: 1) the providing of equal opportunity education to all students; 2) the building of a positive…

This book describes the special way one teacher, Jeanette Amidon, approaches children's thinking, with a particular focus on reading and writing instruction. The root value of her first-grade classroom in Massachusetts is respect for children's ideas, with the children's art and writing as visible signs of the teacher's respect for their thinking.…