The Pinkard video that we watched for this week really resonated with me. As a kindergarten teacher, I feel I am in a unique position where creativity and self-expression is at the heart of what I do. So much of my students’ day is filled with play and teaching them academic concepts in a playful way. After kindergarten, I notice more and more that we begin to really squash kids’ creativity. We tell them what to do, when to do it, and what the finished product should like. We keep their thinking contained to a box. One of the ways I foster creativity in the tech world with my kindergarteners is by using SeeSaw. SeeSaw, for those who don’t know, is basically like an online portfolio for your students. When my students have work they want to share with their classmates and families, they grab their laptop, take a picture or video of their work and then upload it to their SeeSaw page using a QR code. From here, their families receive a notification and then they can go in and comment on their work. I’m curious how other primary teachers foster creativity through the vehicle of technology?
The book that creativity makes me think of is Crafty Chloe by Kelly DiPucchio. In the story Chloe is invited to a friends birthday party and is trying to figure out the perfect gift. The other girls going to the party share what they bought and they are all expensive things. Chloe decides to make her gift and at first it isn’t well received by the other girls. Little do they know, Chloe’s gift is the thing that saves the day! This is a sweet story that helps us remember just how capable, innovative, and creative kids can be!
Kindergarten Bookworm 