Intention: Critical Creativity in the Classroom

by Amy Burvall

How might we choreograph a short story, remix a political party, sketchnote an equation, costume a scientific phenomenon, or hashtag a nutrition plan? Veteran classroom educators, Amy Burvall and Dan Ryder, believe intentional acts of creative expression enables deeper learning, turning the creative spirit into a force for authentic understanding. Critical Creativity in the Classroom provides a catalog of field-tested, student-centered activities, lessons and experiences ready for integration into any classroom. Each item in the catalog features a pathway for facilitating the thinking and making, an inventory of critical thinking skills developed during the experience, multiple suggestions for content area integration, and ideas for further enrichment and exploration. Turn the pages with an open mind and nagging curiosity; close the cover with a concrete plan and collection of strategies for integrating innovative imagination into your daily classroom practice. Explore a catalog of over 40 classroom-ready exercises, lessons and experiences tailored to middle and high school, easily adapted to elementary and higher education Discover over 80 ideas for integrating critical creativity into math and science, physical education and health,world languages and social studies, English language arts and more. Tap into an increasingly diverse creativity toolbox, ranging from LEGO bricks and Oreo cookies to programmable robots and mobile apps Uncover strategies and tools for students to explain their intentions and go from "cool idea" to authentic understanding Learn how critical creativity can be used for both formative and summative assessments and be put to work in both traditional and standards-based learning environments Connect to an international network of educators and creators harnessing the power of intention and serious fun

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2017

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educators, this is a no-brainer. Intention must be a part of your professional collection. You will dog ear, highlight, and doodle throughout its pages because it is filled with inspiration. Bring critical thinking, creative whimsy, and intention to the work you do everyday. Your classroom will change in amazing ways.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is maybe my favorite curriculum-driven PD book ever. The caveat is that I don’t read a TON of those, but holy wow. This book has reinvigorated my belief that the classroom needs to be a creative place, and that creativity is essential to literally every future career path my kids will take. The authors spend the first half of the book defining what “critical creativity” means: “students using creative expression to demonstrate deeper thinking and the nuances of understanding content” (8). Burvall & Ryder make it clear that creativity is not art projects. Creativity is a mash-up or remixing of our collected experiences and knowledge in order to create something unique.

I cannot stress enough how kick ass this book is. Any English teacher, especially, who wants to get out from under a mountain of essays and infuse more critical creativity into their classroom needs to pick this up (it is definitely NOT just for English teachers, but ya know, my lens and all.)

Last year I realized that I was not being true to myself as a person or teacher with the assignments I was giving. When I let go of the idea that rigor was the opposite of creativity, I felt so much more free and authentic. This book reinforced my beliefs and that my changes were good and right and necessary, and I can’t wait to apply even more of these ideas this year.

[Cassie Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teachers--all teachers--just buy this, read this, and use this book. NOW! Please and thank you (you're welcome in advance).

[Anita Heveron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource for educators trying to intentionally create a culture of creativity in their classroom and school. I just wish there was more for admin/counselors to use.

[Doni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of awesome, inspiring ideas told in enough detail that they are easy to implement.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often I can say I enjoyed a pedagogical book that was assigned as part of an endorsement course, but this book was great. Solid ideas for creativity and engagement in my classroom. 10/10.

[Kimberly Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooo many things I’ve been looking for! Increase the level of agency and productive struggle through constraints and creativity- their ideas will amaze you!!