Some Ways For Teachers To Be More Creative

Encourage discussion

Avoiding chatter and meaningless conversation can be a difficult task as a teacher. But on the other hand, channeling meaningful discussions can provide students with an arena to express new ideas and voice their opinions.
Some other reasons why discussion can be productive include:

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  It gets students thinking more critically about the material.
  
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  It challenges them to listen to other students’ opinions and think critically about their contributions and ideas.
  
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  It gives them the opportunity to challenge each other intelligently and build off of each other’s ideas.
  

This could take the shape of a reflective session 10 minutes before the end of a session, or by asking one member of a group to present their ideas to the class. Download the useful list below and place it in your classroom to help guide meaningful conversation:

Replace hierarchy with collaborative learning spaces

Collaborative working spaces help students see themselves as co-constructors of knowledge, rather than “subjects” of teachers. Without hierarchical front to back row seating, every seat is the best seat in the class, and students are always at the center of learning.
Maintain structure in less traditional ways by creating “zones” for different parts of the learning process, such as reflection and brainstorming. For ideas and inspiration for your classroom, watch the video Flexible Learning Environments as several teachers who have tried this mode of learning share their challenges and triumphs.
Related article: 20 inspiring classroom poster designs

Encourage more color

Color in the classroom doesn’t only need to be for early primary school. Challenge yourself to use color in creative and unconventional ways, such as displaying inspiration posters or creating themed “mood” corners.
As you can see in the examples below, anyone can get creative, even when it comes todisplaying the class rules or teaching students about triangles.
Color can also be an incredibly powerful tool to aid students with absorbing information and learning new content. Encourage your students to use more color as a staple when taking notes. You’ll be surprised at how quickly they start absorbing new information.