The Innovation Literate Classroom

Teaching Tips  

 

brain-based teaching grit growth mindset learner centered curriculum motivation persistence social and emotional learning

Dr. Jeanne L. Paynter

Our minds tell us “Persistence Stories.”  We tell ourselves, “I’m persistent. I can focus my energy on a task and keep working when it’s difficult.”  Or, perhaps our minds tell us, “I’m not persistent. I’m scattered, hesitant, uncommitted.” Where do these stories come from? Ou...

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Metacognition Tip 1. Define It! brain-based teaching creative thinking critical thinking learner centered curriculum metacognition problem solving reflection self-assessment social and emotional learning

Dr. Jeanne L. Paynter

“Stop, look, and listen before you cross the street.” This is an early example of how we teach children metacognition: literally, thinking about (our) thinking. Metacognition is that “above and beyond” analytical thinking we use to set goals, plan, select appropriate problem-s...

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Persistence Tip 2. Overwrite Wrong Mindsets with Right Ones brain-based teaching grit growth mindset learner centered curriculum motivation persistence student engagement

Dr. Jeanne L. Paynter

I’ve been reading a new book, Mind Your Mindsets, and discovered something about our marvelous brain: It continually seeks to make meaning from our memories and experiences and form “stories” or narratives that help us function. The stories are mostly helpful, until they’re no...

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Logical Reasoning 2. Make it the Goal 7 aptitudes of innovators critical thinking gifted education learner centered curriculum logical reasoning

Tomorrow’s innovators (our children today) must become adept at open-ended (divergent) and focused (convergent) thinking. For example, their curiosity and creativity fuel open exploration of many interests and possibilities. Then, they must use logical reasoning to draw conclusions based on evidence...

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Logical Reasoning 1. What's so Logical about It? 7 aptitudes of innovators critical thinking gifted education learner centered curriculum problem solving

Have you ever heard someone say, “That’s just not logical.”  (Perhaps that person was you!). What makes reasoning logical?

Logical reasoning is a type of critical thinking that helps us to see the relationships among facts, deduce patterns and rules, and apply them to make objective judgements.

Wh...

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Creativity Tip 4. Teach and Assess Creativity 7 aptitudes of innovators creative teaching creativity gifted education learner centered curriculum

I know you understand the importance of creativity as a 21st century skill for all graduates. In the past three Creativity Tips, I’ve shared ways we can develop it using the divergent/convergent thinking stages of Creative Problem Solving.  Now, how do we assess it?

Perhaps, like me, you’ve added “...

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Creativity Tip 3. CPS in YOUR Classroom! 7 aptitudes of innovators creative problem solving creativity gifted education learner centered curriculum

We may not have the time or the discretion to implement the complete Creative Problem Solving process in our classrooms. I want to share with you three ways I have integrated CPS stages into my teaching so that you can decide which one will work for you.

The CPS process requires two distinctly diff...

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Creativity Tip 2. What's the Real Problem? creative problem solving creative teaching creativity gifted education learner centered curriculum problem solving

Creativity Tip #1 introduced Creative Problem Solving (CPS) as a process to apply creative thinking in a unique and useful product, idea, or service— in other words, to innovate. The creative problem-solving process requires two distinctly different types of thinking: divergent (open) and convergent...

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Creativity Tip 1. Got a Problem? Get Creative! creative problem solving creativity gifted education learner centered curriculum problem solving

In our homes and classrooms, children exhibit creativity when they express new or unusual ideas and connections, enjoy imagining, inventing, and divergent thinking; and they initiate new projects based on their ideas.

Creativity empowers us to “Think Different,” the mantra of Apple founder Steve Jo...

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That Healthy CURIOSITY! 7 aptitudes of innovators creative teaching gifted education learner centered curriculum motivation social and emotional learning student engagement

Q: What capacity doesn’t diminish over our lifetime?

A: Our capacity for curiosity!

Children are naturally curious, aren’t they? Their motivation is to explore, question, and imagine. As parents and educators, we always want to nurture curiosity at every age and stage. Curiosity fuels the joy of l...

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Innovation Literate Classroom

Learn practical tips to teach all learners how to apply across disciplines "the aptitudes of innovators," those creative problem solvers who will change our world for the better. 

 

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