Creativity In The English Curriculum

Creativity in the English Curriculum is essential reading for anyone involved or interested in the teaching of English, offering both a detailed history of how creativity has informed the tradition of teaching English, and how it should be used to position this teaching in the future. Highlighting the need to promote creativity as a rich, intellectual pursuit, Creativity in the English Curriculum celebrates artistry in English past and present, and argues for its restoration to the curriculum. It emphasises that creativity is at the core of a humane education, not only through stimulating and enhancing the growth of the individual, but also through developing understanding of the importance of community, society and collaboration. Smith presents the historical relationship between curriculum policy and creativity, demonstrating that creativity has and always will be the life blood of teaching and learning. Including dialogues between expert English teaching practitioners and leading professionals concerning the place of creativity in English, Creativity in the English Curriculum includes practical, research-informed ideas for effective creative practice for any English classroom. It is a must-read for teachers, educators, parents and guardians to prepare all learners for life in and beyond school.

"What do English teachers understand by the word 'creativity'? How does their understanding of creativity differ from the meanings that others ascribe to this word? What forms does creativity take in their classrooms? Prompted by Raymond Williams's statement that creativity involves stepping from the 'known into the 'unknown', the contributors to this volume inquire into how their students explore the 'unknown' in a policy environment where everything is mapped out in advance by predetermined learning 'outcomes'. They see their classrooms as spaces for students to engage in imagination, play and learning that exceed the conventional expectations of standardised learning continua. However, rather than supposing that it is possible to transcend those settings, as in old-fashioned notions of creativity or giftedness, the authors carefully trace the ways in which moments of creativity still occur within the heavily regulated environments imposed on them by governments. Creativity, they argue, should be understood as a product of the institutional setting of the school, as something that is facilitated by the social relationships of the classroom, rather than falling back on to assumed binaries of school as a place of regulation and control and creativity as something that can only happen outside the school gates. History has a privileged place in these essays, which draw on work from a number of key theorists in the history of English curriculum and related areas of the social science, including the work of Raymond Williams." --backcover.

Current, comprehensive, and authoritative, this text gives language teachers and researchers, both a set of conceptual tools with which to think and talk about creativity in language teaching and a wealth of practical advice about principles and practices that can be applied to making their lessons more creative. Providing an overview of the nature of creativity and its role in second language education, it brings together twenty prominent language teachers and researchers with expertise in different aspects of creativity and teaching contexts to present a range of theories on both creative processes and how these processes lead to creative practices in language teaching. Unique in the field, the book takes a broader and more critical look at the notion of creativity in language learning, exploring its linguistic, cognitive, sociocultural and pedagogic dimensions. Structured in four sections— theoretical perspectives, creativity in the classroom, creativity in the curriculum, and creativity in teacher development—each chapter is supplemented by Questions for Discussion and Suggestions for Further Research. Its accessible style makes the book relevant as both a course text and a resource for practicing teachers.

Presenting a range of exciting activities that support the development of creative English lessons within the existing structures of the Foundation Curriculum and the National Curriculum, this book: is packed full of interactive and creative teaching strategies provides guidance on assessing creative work highlights opportunities for creative literacy activities across the curriculum covers ages 3-11.

Why should we foster creativity in primary English? A practical and accessible text that demonstrates how creative thinking and learning can support primary English teaching. With chapters mapped to the Teachers' Standards and links to the new National Curriculum, each chapter provides a case study exploring high-quality primary English practice including planning, rationale and ideas for the classroom. These are fully grounded in a wide range of theoretical frameworks, viewpoints and values. Reflective activities in each chapter offering practical exercises and additional reading suggestions, encourage trainee teachers to further their understanding of how theory translates to classroom practice. This inspiring book helps support learning, teaching and assessment without losing innovation, excitement and motivation for both teachers and children.

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Pedagogy - School Pedagogics, grade: 9, , language: English, abstract: In this assignment I will look more closely at the role of creativity in learning, especially in education. First I will define creativity. Second I will have a look at how creativity is defined in the curriculum. What does the National Curriculum want the children to learn through creativity and how does it want the teacher to teach this? Is there an explicit way how the teacher should do it? How do they fix creativity especially with the subject English (as a native language) or with another modern foreign language? After getting an idea how creativity is taught or should be taught in the British school system, I will have a look at Germany. How is creativity mentioned in the German Curriculum? I also will have a closer look at the subjects German (as a native language) and English (as a modern foreign language). Are there differences in the Curriculum and the way of teaching or is it the same? After I have compared these two Curricula with each other, I try to give an example of how a creative English (as a modern foreign language) lesson could look like. In the end I want to answer if creativity in school is necessary, or what do pupils learn from being creative.