Research findings on the measurement of creativity in young children are reviewed, focusing on construct validity, relationship between response quality and quantity, and situational factors affecting scores. The article concludes that creativity is measurable in young children, but current methods rely on inappropriate unidimensional forms of…

The Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London, England) developed a full-time postgraduate course in performance and communication skills, with the aim of training instrumentalists, singers, and composers in creative skills which will enable them to perform to and make music with any sector of the community. (JDD)

Before chaos theory, Western society had no "scientific" tools to deal with disorder and unpredictability because science relied on factual evidence. With chaos theory, knowing and believing are now seen as interconnected and both are considered authentic. Counseling should reflect this authenticity with compassion, not control. (LKS)

This article presents the perspective that chaos theory may provide a more flexible, nonlinear, and effective model and basis for the preparation and education of counselors than competing linear-causal models. (Author)

Examined relationships among young children's metacognitive processing and creative ability, based on information-processing theory and Vygotsky's early thought development theory. Twenty-one five- and six-year olds were assessed on four attributes of creativity, and their private speech was coded. Specific qualities and characteristics of…

A principal describes a packet of Christmas letters from high school juniors expressing appreciation for good work habits learned in her eighth-grade English composition class. This former teacher injected relevance into the curriculum by accepting students' world and absorbing it into the learning environment. Students could connect classroom…

The mother of a highly creative girl describes her daughter's openness to experience and sensitivity, examines how adults misinterpret creative aspects of her daughter's being, comments that education could be a liberating medium but is generally a conditioning program, and notes that creativeness means living in essence and arriving at insights…

This study evaluated the use of guided imagery practice to enhance creative writing with 43 academically gifted students (stratified as either high or low creativity) in grades 3 and 4. Groups receiving the guided imagery practice (regardless of original creativity level) generated more original writing, which contained more sensory descriptions…

A definition of giftedness is proposed based on the constructs of intelligence, creativity, and problem solving. Research on relationships among intelligence domains and problem-solving processes is summarized, with specific findings concerning problem-solving processes used by children versus adults, by gifted versus average individuals, and…

Argues that outdoor education is, in its own right, a creative form of learning. Draws parallels between stages of personal development in real life and in caving (as an example of outdoor education). Includes citations from Maslow's work that are applicable to outdoor and adventure education activities. Notes the importance of preparing outdoor…

This paper examines the relationship between creation and destruction in the creative process. Findings from a study involving 60 actors and 60 criminals/delinquents (ages 10-65) indicate that the 2 populations are similar in their ability to use the creative process but criminals/delinquents do little productive with their ability. (Author/JDD)

A survey of 1028 teachers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland found that nearly 75 percent thought creativity in students was rare, yet most thought it could be developed. Teachers' definitions and perceptions of creativity were examined, and differences in views based on gender, teaching style preference, and subjects taught were also…

Twenty-two second grade children created musical compositions on an Orff xylophone during an eight-week period and produced accompanying written scores. Analysis showed that, over the period, children improved pattern recognition and increased use of melodic motives, and that writing the score did not inhibit the creative process. (JDD)

Suggests that teachers should consider which questions to ask as a part of instructional preparation. To ensure that diversity and critical thinking are involved, a teacher should use a taxonomy for a template when writing questions. Presents and discusses Bloom's taxonomy, Gagne's levels of learning, and a taxonomy for general science process…

Presented are 15 ideas for projects which require gifted elementary or middle school students to study a topic in depth. Ideas are in an easy-to-use "reproduce, cut, and distribute" format. Ideas are intended to foster individual creativity and production and cover such topics as plantations, insects, stars, telephones, bridges, and space. (DB)