2018-2019 Graduate Catalog

EDUA 5421 Creative Projects in Literacy K-5

Do you think you are creative? How about your students? Can creativity be taught? What do you actually do when you are thinking creatively?

Some educators believe they aren’t creative, and therefore, cannot teach this essential 21st century skill to students. However, creativity looks like different things in the literacy classroom, and it is so important that it is embedded in many of the local, state, and national standards we use in our schools, including the Common Core and the Partnership for 21st Century Learning Framework. Not only can creativity in the language classroom lead to genuine communication and cooperation, it can also improve self-esteem and enhance critical-thinking skills.

In this course, we will explore the connection between literacy and creativity to better understand how students in elementary ELA classrooms can effectively articulate their ideas, collaborate, and communicate with each other. To become successful participants in society, students must learn to understand others’ ideas while clearly expressing their own through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By the end of the course, you will be equipped with best practices for developing and implementing creative literacy projects that integrate visual art, dance, music, and theater; tips for offering constructive feedback that scaffolds students’ thinking; and strategies that allow students to make choices and pursue inquiry independently.