8 Easy Ways That Teachers Can Encourage Creativity In The Classroom

In the past, creativity would often take a backseat in learning environments and be classed as fun or extracurricular activities. That has all changed in the modern classroom, with teachers holding a unique and influential position in shaping the future for the next young creatives.

Fostering creative thinking in students has become essential, because whilst this brand of thinking was once classed as abstract or unnecessary, there is plenty of new evidence that shows how nurturing creativity can open many doors for students in the future, and plays a vital role in their overall development.

This article outlines 8 simple methods that modern teachers can employ in their classroom to help inspire and motivate the creative spark in their students, nurturing this essential skill and shaping the new creatives of tomorrow. 

1. Use Posters for Motivation

Besides cultivating critical and imaginative thinking abilities, impactfully designed posters can inspire students by igniting their creativity and helping them form their own viewpoints through visual narratives. Go one step further by having your classmates create the posters you will display themselves. Use cultural events to plan your lessons, for example making posters for Raksha Bandhan in class.

Likewise, visuals displaying the achievements of renowned artists, scientists, or historical personalities can inspire students to delve deeper into these individuals’ lives and their significant contributions, as well as motivating them to keep working hard.

2. Foster A Creative Environment

The traditional classroom setting might not always be conducive to creative thinking and collaboration, so have a re-think on how you want to arrange chairs and desks, and the general classroom layout.

You can start by eliminating assigned desks, allowing students the flexibility to collaborate with who they want. Some may thrive by working alone, some may enjoy working with their friends and others might like the challenge of working with new people.

Having plenty of visual stimuli is key for fostering this creative environment as well. Have charts that allow students to visualise their ideas and goals, include inspirational quotes and bring plenty of colour and life to the room. After all, a classroom is a place that should excite, not somewhere that feels like a dark and boring prison to children.

Sometimes, it even pays to bring the learning experience outside. Outdoor learning is a teaching method demonstrated to improve students’ problem-solving, independence, and confidence.

3. Integrate Art Into Lessons

Each student faces their own challenges in the classroom. While some may excel at communicating through reading and writing, others may find it a struggle. This is where introducing art to subjects like reading, writing and maths can be hugely advantageous.

Students who may be frustrated with their limited abilities in traditional methods of learning can practice how to share their thoughts, feelings and understandings without such an exclusive focus on reading and writing. It will vastly improve their communication skills and give them a platform to excel, as well as feeling better seen and understood. 

4. Promote Collaborative Learning

Research has proven that engaging in active learning facilitated by human interaction and collaboration results in higher achievement.

By working together, students can bring their own diverse perspectives, experiences, and working styles to the table to stimulate innovative thinking as they learn from each other’s distinct viewpoints.

Not only does this allow for students to bring their unique skills to the table, it also provides a supportive environment so students are more likely to want to engage and take part. This means students will become bolder and more willing to take risks, which will set them up for a greater future and career.

5. Encourage Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking, or the ability to generate unique ideas through unconventional methods, is a key aspect of creativity. Encourage this by posing open-ended questions and problems that have multiple possible solutions. Thinking outside the box should not only come from your students – it’s also your job as a teacher to come up with innovative new ways to teach your classrooms.

6. Incorporate Technology

Technology provides numerous tools that can boost creativity in the classroom. From digital art apps and music composition software to coding platforms and virtual reality, technology offers diverse ways for students to express their creativity. 

These days, children are so embedded in technology from birth that we are often catching up with them to harness its potential in the classroom. But for a modern teacher, incorporating digital elements like Adobe Express to teach photoshop skills in art classes is essential.

7. Create Space For Student Choice

You would be amazed at how giving your students more control over their learning experience can unlock their creative sides. This is all the more important as online and remote learning becomes more popular. Students will need to be autonomous and responsible for their education outside of the classroom environment and beyond it, which involves knowing what they feel strongly about and where they feel they need extra support, by making space for them to discover and share this information.

You will discover that students become more engaged in their studies when they feel valued, and the more invested they are, the more creative they will be.

8. Provide Time for Creative Thinking

While weaving creative thinking into the everyday classroom experience is hugely beneficial, there should also be dedicated time where children can let their imaginations run wild. This can be achieved through a range of activities like reading time for young ones, free drawing and writing periods for a slightly older age group, and debate classes and presentation periods for older students.

In conclusion, helping your students become more creative is going to make them more rounded and better equipped to handle the challenges that life has to throw at them, in both an academic and social sense. 

It also makes learning more fun for you as a teacher, and for your classes. Following these tips will leave you with students that are actively engaged and wanting to participate, which leads to better outcomes for all.