A Likert style questionnaire consisting of 60 adjectives was administered to 451 undergraduates from Beijing, Guangzhou, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Results show the core characteristics of creativity that were identical in all the samples are originality, innovativeness, thinking and observation skills, flexibility, willingness to try, self…

Explains that music teachers can hamper student creativity in music composition by restricting assignments. States that teachers should assign only one parameter, focusing on a broad overarching idea. Provides examples of enabling parameters. Addresses the teacher's response to student work and nurturing musical independence. (CMK)

Presents five articles on using creative dramatics in early childhood education: (1) "Drama: A Rehearsal for Life" (Julia Gabriel); (2) "Fairy Tales Enhance Imagination and Creative Thinking" (Olga Sidlovskaya); (3) "Starting with a Story" (Ruth Stotter); (4) "Using Creative Dramatics to Include All…

Analyzes pupil-teacher dialogue in a mixture of English and Cantonese from a segment of a Form 2 (Grade 8, 13-14 years) English reading lesson. Analysis shows how these Cantonese children, with limited English, succeeded in subverting the reading lesson, which was based entirely on information extraction tasks. (Author/VWL)

Presents an interview with Elliot ("Ellie") Mannette who has played a major role in the development and application of steel drums. States that he has spent most of his life designing and teaching the steel drums. Covers interview topics and background information on Mannette. (CMK)

Asserts that teaching the arts to children will help make appreciation and creativity a way of life and self-education the ultimate goal of education. States that it is important for children to develop a sense of design. Contends that the use of art in teaching content-area subjects is a natural integrated approach to teaching. (VWC)

A study investigated critical factors for creating a supportive classroom environment for developing student creativity in 18 undergraduates. Characteristics of supportive environments include: personal teacher-student relationships, assessment (de-emphasis on grades), openness and freedom of choice, and classroom activities such as instruction in…

Asserts that music teachers must encourage discussion of musical interpretation and interpretive choices as opposed to only focusing on fingerings and tunings in the performance aspect of music education. Provides various strategies for building student creativity in musical performance, such as encouraging divergent thinking or the interpretation…

Students at a St. Louis middle school experimenting with hands-on learning methods have scored consistently higher on the Stanford Achievement Tests than those in other district schools. A hands-on learning environment requires a thematic, integrated curriculum; creative, self-motivated teachers; and a supportive, facilitative principal. (MLH)

Reviews literature on children's use of metaphors, focusing on how metaphorical language is used in the learning process and the implications for teachers in helping their students use metaphorical language and thereby build knowledge of the world. Asserts that teachers need to speak metaphorically and that conversation, writing, and literature…

Examines Marilyn Zimmerman's pioneering work on the applications of Piagetian theory to the study of children's musical development. Discusses "music conservation" and addresses the Piagetian model regarding (1) the implications of the sociocultural perspective and (2) the study of musical creativity. Develops the concept of…

Proposes that music teachers should use a reflective approach to classroom management that enables them to examine their teaching practices. Offers a collection of questions for classroom management to determine and improve teachers' perceptiveness, creativity, and ability to set a good example. (CMK)

Discusses an art project in which students created drawings of mop heads. Explains that the approach of drawing was more important than the subject. States that the students used the chiaroscuro technique, used by Rembrandt and Caravaggio, in which light appears out of the darkness. (CMK)

Discusses the music composition teacher's role in terms of four categories: (1) to impart technical knowledge; (2) to give historical perspective; (3) to provide real-world facts about the profession; and (4) to share personal strategies. Addresses the importance of the separation between the teacher's and students' styles. (CMK)

This article discusses the characteristics of creatively gifted children and the challenges of being creative. Ideas for fostering creativity are provided and include advocating for programs for creatively gifted children, recognizing the giftedness in creative students, differentiating instruction, and encouraging and supporting imaginative…