Creative Thinking Thinking that focuses on exploring ideas, generating possibilities, looking for many right answers rather than just one.

Let’s Reflect. Take out your IGP’s- Think back! How has implementing analytical and practical thinking impacted teaching and learning in your classroom? Turn and Talk. Share out: Why is it important that we intentionally teach thinking?

Critical Attributes for Teaching Thinking WhatHowWhy 1.Visual -Discuss the graphics on the Practical Thinking poster. -Display the poster once it has been introduced. -Reference the poster as you continually practice Practical Thinking in your classroom -Makes students aware of the types of thinking they are practicing each day -It helps the students make connections to their learning 2. Clearly Defined -When explaining Practical Thinking to students, define it as “Thinking that helps me make real world connections.” -Provide school wide, common language -Provides a definition in kid-friendly terms 3. Model the Thinking -Let students know you are making real world connections in your think-aloud during modeling -You are showing the students how great practical thinkers think! 4. Apply Practical Thinking -After teaching students the definition and discussing Practical Thinking, follow up the discussion with a Practical Thinking activity. -Allows students to apply why they just learned about and immediately see real life connections impacting their understanding. 5. Consistently Implement- -Provide opportunities for students to use Practical Thinking in the classroom -Solidifies importance/uses for what’s being learned

Characteristics of Creative People: curious seeks problems enjoys challenge optimistic able to suspend judgment comfortable with imagination sees problems as opportunities sees problems as interesting problems are emotionally acceptable challenges assumptions doesn't give up easily: perseveres, works hard The types of thinking are intertwined. Do you see the connections here?

What does creative thinking look like in the classroom? Students are… -generating and extending ideas- Generate many responses, encourage thinking of alternatives and the asking of questions. -expanding on what they do and know-Elaborate on what you know, build on a given situation, and make it more interesting -applying their imagination-Be willing to change one’s initial ideas, see things another way, experiment with alternative approaches -finding new or innovative outcomes-Think of new ideas, speculate on what might be possible and apply imagination to improve outcomes -exercising their judgment- Assess what we have thought/done, evaluate the process and judge the outcome

Math -Generate ideas by listing ways to solve a word problem (there is generally more than one ‘right’ way to do most word problems- pick a strategy) -Apply imagination by trying to solve problems multiple ways and making decisions about which strategy works best for them. -Expanding what students know by asking students to apply their understanding of a new math skill by creating a word problem. -Find new or innovative outcomes by __________. --exercise judgment by validating answers- check for reasonability and explain why it is or is not reasonable.

Writing Generating and Extending Ideas by recording ideas in their writer’s notebook after hearing a new story, learning new writer’s craft, or learning new CK information. Expand on what students know by revising and improving previous writing by applying new writing skills they’ve learned. Applying imagination by looking at how stories may change if told from another character’s point of view. Finding new or innovative outcomes by adding a character or changing the setting- what differences would this make in the outcome of a story? Exercise judgment by completing a self-check of writing using a rubric.

Core Knowledge: Science/Social Studies Generate and extend ideas by doing and continually revisiting a K-W-L or Concept Question Board during the course of a unit. Expanding what students do and know by engaging them in culminating activities that reinforce their learning (i.e. Tom Sawyer Day, Egypt Day..) Applying imagination creating a flyer showing information about a CK topic. Find new or innovative outcomes by discussing what would be different if certain events didn’t happen or happened differently in history or in a science concept. Exercising Judgment by examining historical events and considering viewpoints of all who were involved.

Reading and Language Arts Generate and extend ideas by writing or discussing student responses to literature. Expand on what students know by having students create a song that focuses on adjectives. Applying imagination engaging students in creating a project that represents the plot of a book. Finding new or innovative outcomes by discussing how a story might have ended differently if a character had solved a problem differently. Exercising judgment by asking students whether they agree or disagree with a character’s actions and why.