Creative teacher encourages process over the product

It is truly a creative teacher who recognizes a teachable moment and follows through on that moment. Creativity can be fostered through open-ended activities. These activities allow children to think divergently and create something that is unique just to them. The creative teacher encourages process over the product, because they understand that children must experience, first-hand, skills like problem-solving, collaboration, failure, and flexibility.  There is a balance of open-ended and teacher-directed activities.  (Links to an external site.)Inviting Creativity: The Teacher’s Role in Art (Links to an external site.) (Schirrmacher, 2006) Not only must the teacher be creative but the physical environment must be also and can have a tremendous impact on the creative actions of young children. Two sets of creative faculties are interacting in the physical environment; the teacher’s and the children’s. If the teacher values and develops their creativity the children will notice. Children thrive because this is an exciting learning environment.  Teachers must be intentional with their words and demeanor and realize that both directly encourages and discourages creativity.

Compare & contrast open-ended and teacher-directed activities.  Which is your preference and why?  Do you believe both types of activities can encourage creativity in the classroom? Why or why not?