What is a creative teacher / tutor?

Someone who allows for a child's individuality and is also prepared to deviate from the curriculum. Someone who inspires and instills aspirations in others. Thinking out of the box and who can interpret the curriculum / way of working in an individual way.

Leading by example and not afraid to make a fool of yourself.

Addressing the needs of all people / children, so that everyone can achieve success.

Putting the fun back into education!

Making innovative links and connections from a variety of stimuli.

Giving permission to take risks and supporting when things don't go according to plan, learning from mistakes.

there would be no times on the timetable. classes would go on until it was felt by teacher and learner that they had achieved their aims

creative teacher is/has:
approachable, kind, warm
creating secure space for the learner
consideration of learner's needs
non judgemental
encourages a have a go attitude
enthusiasm
broad view of what is possible
flexible viewpoint

can you be creative with an autistic pupil in your class?

Who is a creative teacher / tutor?

Someone who can make a learning opportunity out of any situation.

Make the curriculum appropriate and relevant to the child - looking at work / methodologies / processes from a different point of view / perspective. Build on the child's experiences. This may be above and beyond the remit. Someone who goes the extra mile.

creative teacher:
open minded
sees the different routes to the same answer
nurtures or develops talents and skills
inspires
allows unexpected things to happen
teaches new skills
creates a creative learning environment
gives the learner time and space to realise their potential
provides stimulus in the environment
understands how the learner learns
gives guidance, is an enabler, inspire confidence, approachable, good listener
encouraging and positive to all

an opportunist! don't miss a chance, go with the flow and make the most of the flow!

expect the unexpected!
change your mind
be prepared to admit that things aren't working and change accordingly

be receptive to the learners' needs

we think we all are here...we worry about individual teachers we have known who are not! do we just have wait until they retire? what is the kind and humane way of dealing with that?

recognise a creative teacher:

by the environments they choose and create with their children

a creative teacher /coach/mentor is someone who:
-is enreprreneurial
-takes risks
-identifies opportunities
-no preconceived idea of what the outcome may be
-non-judgmental
-starting from shared /individual starting points
teacher who tracks progress, rather than presuming all start from the same point & interested in development from point A to Point ? rather than Point A to B-intuitive, responsive teaching, flexible teaching/learning style
- testing out different ways of learning
-faciliator of learnin

support needed?

peer support
senior management
government initiatives

how do we persuade parents that creativity is an important element of their child's learning and development?

Can we be as creative as we would like to be with the National Curriculum, literacy and numeracy hours?

a creative teacher is:
enthusiastic-imaginative-tired-listening-

who?
those that are - potentially all of us

recognition?
by the children they teach, by the classroom environment, they may be carrying didgeridoos...

support
money!!, supportive parents, supportive SMT, good TP experiences, time to communicate with other teachers -

who?
everyone

when?
all the time

The creative teacher is confident to make changes and adapt, flexible, sensitive, questioning.
Willing to learn themselves and don't pretend they have all the answers

The support they need is
A supportive head
support structures in school
a mentor who will ask questions and stretch thinking
Time out for teachers to learn and talk
Money
the ethos of the school

A creative teacher can be recognised by the culture of the classroom- one which is exciting and all are engaged in learning /teacher and pupils are co-learners, democratic lerning structure

How do you recognise a creative teacher / tutor?

Enthusiasm.
Prepared to share ideas and talk about successes.
Open outlook.
Someone who makes you think differently and inspired.
Busy and confident pupils who are engaged in the task and not afraid to ask questions.
Includes everone, and doesn't whinge about it - who sees children as children with all their differences and needs.

A creative teacher is someone who offers opportunities to explore, experiment and investigate. They allow the journey to the end product, to demonstrate learning. A creative teacher/tutor/coach will be enthusiastic and motivating, be prepared to surprise and be surprised including go off timetable if there is benefit in it. Learning is successful when spontaneity is allowed and enthusiasm encouraged. The creative teacher is inspiring, a role model, a mentor as someone who supports individual and collective creativity.
Support and information has to come from Head and outside agencies to provide the space and time where creativity can flourish.

a creative teacher doesn't care if they don't have a life outside school (i.e. no time for anything else due to constant exciting lesson planning)- however a creative teacher NEEDS a life outside for inspiration and ideas and stimulation - the catch 22 of education

support needed- time, money, permission, encouraging leadership

support:

Head teacher would support
HOW
unlimited resources
therapy
time
WHEN
whenever you asked for it
offering support you haven't asked for
offering training opportunities
CPD opps

as an artist working in the community: would really appreciate support from other creative professionals or some kind of network to share resources, ideas, information, contacts i.e kind of networking opportunities but more friendly!

Some one who opens up minds, who listens, who questions and challenges, guiding self learning and supporting self assessment.
Giver of confidence to learner to believe in themselves with enthusiasm, trainer in skills needed to acheiving own goals and potential of each individual.
Will have transferable passion to envelop those students to find their own passions.

A creative teacher/tutor/coach non-judgemental, knowledgeable and an information source. They would act as a mentor and be receptive to ideas. A good communicator who can act as an enabler whilst taking advantage of opporutnities as they arise. They will be open, receptive and from any sector such as business/teahcing/professional/community or voluntary

an irritant for change

Support needed?

A whole school ethos.
Tust.
Confidence in your own ability - trust instinct in what will work.
Flexibility of approach, permission to give something a go.
Training, experiences, the opportunity to share and learn from good practice.
Professional partnerships / connections, people with specialist knowledge who can be role models, inspire, pass on skills, show what is possible.

Need the support structures in place, to get answers, help, advice etc. - people, funding, resources, space, time ...

Acceptance!

When - should be on-going and consistent. When you need it.

Who - anyone who enables you to do what you are doing.

I cant be a creative teacher unless I am being creative myself, that means having time for myself to do my own work - Ellen
I can understand how teaching takes over your life and all your own creative desires get pushed aside - Lorna
Does that mean a creative teacher must want to be a teacher first ? Ellen
Yes but I would like time for myself. Lorna

What is a creative teacher?

They are a creative learner. You cannot be a creative coach if you are not creatively learning.

They would be able to challenge any restrictions on them, take risks and ask basic questions about why we do what we do.

Who is a creative teacher?

They are a creative learner with the opportunity or the willing to share their outlook. They can be a parent, teacher, peer, neighbour, community leader.

How do you recognise a creative teacher or coach?

See first answer, plus their evaluative approach to learning via ongoing review and reflection.
They are consistently delivering, sharing, evaluating, reviewing and recognising the fruits.
This process should be shared and owned by both teacher and learner.

What support is needed to be a creative teacher, who gives it and when?

Flexible curriculum/framework.
Shared ownership of guiding principles between teachers and learners.
Space and time to think, review and reflect.
Interaction with colleagues on and off site, of various kinds.
Having the opportunities to work with other professionals in other settings.
Co-teaching (using others in the classroom).

Who?
Parents and family, teachers, senior management, government, peers and outside agencies.

support needed: for employer to trust that your idea is valid or useful even if they can't see how!!
have faith

support: financial support : pay for training, resources, visits, CPD opps

A creative teacher/tutor is someone who inspires, supports, facilitates and provokes.

A creative teacher is anyone with knowledge, skills and experience to share...including children.

Not to differentiate between the arts / being creative, having fun and ... work / targets / curriculum. They should be one and the same.

A creative teacher wouldn't map out their day through a timetable. Days would be responsive, flexible and lead by the interests of the creative learner. Timetables NO!!!!!!

no no no! we need timetables and structure and all that - trust me I'm a dancer

Groups in a classroom context could choose their own area of interest and explore it through the course of a day. They would then be encouraged to shared their ideas and findings with other groups in the class in order to stimulate new directions and focus. The creative teacher/tutor would support and facilitate opportunities for learning and celebrate achievements however great or small.

Creative teachers like time to be flexible to 'go with the flow'without the constraints of a timetable. They love to make a mess - essential to the creative process

If you need a timetable devise one in response to the people you are working with, don't impose one. Maybe the people you work with need structure and by all means give it to them but don't decide on their behalf.

we need to balance structure and routine with creativity and flexibilty. children need the safety of knowing what to expect but the freedom of knwing that this can be changed. children with behaviour difficulties especially need the safety of structure and consistency. you can find a happy medium between this and a flexible timetable (contradiction in terms?!) helps to plan for this.

creative lesson
would include a practical demonstration if appropriate as a base and sensory reference

space/time for the learner to solve problems independently or in a group but with the opportunity for effective questioning to guide them through the process

start with a particular aim but recognise that the outcome achieved may be a different one