The Importance of Creating Creatives--Part 1

“She’s a Creative,” someone said with a shrug. That explained it all--her hair, her makeup, even the odd little boots she wore. Why does our society want to separate those who are creative from those who are not? It’s as if we believe that the gift of creativity is something only some of us have. (I beg to differ.) And while creativity may be esteemed in highly successful artists in society, it is often dismissed in those who are not.

In schools, we push out children toward the academic. We are prepared to cut the arts if budgets get too tight. College professors complain about students who had four-point-plus high school GPAs, stellar ACT scores, but have limited higher-level thinking skills—the very skills they will need to be productive in college and this rapidly changing world. Many of these students were “taught to the test,” a necessity brought on by pressures on school systems to “prove” their competence in teaching. And these students worked hard, learning those quantifiable things that would be on their tests. Their parents, their school systems and they themselves were proud—as they should be. It was a job well done. But are they adequately prepared for the future? Think about this: the children who enter kindergarten today will be a part of the work force in 2070. Who knows what the world will look like then? How do we prepare them? One thing we must do, I believe, is to help them be thinkers, experimenters, questioners who are willing to try something different. To adjust to all the changes that will invariably shape the coming decades, they will need to be Creatives.

Creativity is much less quantifiable than math, science or language skills. But in the coming days, we will examine what creativity is (hint: it’s more than being artistic), how it is tightly linked to higher-order thinking skills, and how it positively impacts all aspects of learning. And, we’ll take a look at how stitching can be a part of creating Creatives.

Reflect on your own experiences. How do you define creativity? Where do you encounter it in your life?

Transliteracy--an author's view

Transliteracy, the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media… is a hot topic among educators and and librarians alike. Already librarians are charging themselves with the responsibility to close the gap in the digital divide that exists between the haves and the have nots.

Schools have computers, but with the continuing pressures placed on them by high stakes tests, how can they incorporate more time toward making their students more transliterate? Yet everyone seems to agree that this needs to be done.

The question I ask myself is, how do authors and children’s publishers (who have had a long and enduring love affair with the printed word) work toward the transliteracy of children? For authors, websites, blogs and vlogs, social networking sites such as Facebook and even Twitter can help with this, if we aim them at our younger readers. This media may be utilized by children in schools as they do author studies, book reports and more. Publishers can provide book trailers, online reading clubs, and other interactive activities. As much as I love the printed page—and I do!—the digital age is upon us, and we must now do more than provide ways to contribute to children becoming literate. We need to provide them with quality transliteracy experiences, as well.

RIF funding eliminated

From the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance: OBAMA ELIMINATES RIF FUNDING IN NATIONAL BUDGET!

CEO of Reading is Fundamental, Carol Rasco says:

"Unless Congress reinstates $25 million in funding for this program, RIF will not be able to distribute 15 million books annually to the nation’s children at greatest risk for academic failure. RIF programs in schools, community centers, hospitals, military bases, and other locations serving children from low-income families, children with disabilities, homeless children, and children without adequate access to libraries. The Inexpensive Book Distribution program is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (SEC.5451 Inexpensive Book Distribution Program for Reading Motivation) and is not funded through earmarks. It has been funded by Congress and six Administrations without interruption since 1975."

When I studied education at The Ohio State University(okay, I know it was eons ago) research showed that the single best thing a parent could do to ensure his or her child's success in school, was to read to them from an early age. (Educators, if the research on that has changed, please let me know.) I agree that the president needs to reign in spending--in a serious way!--but not by cutting books to at risk children. Want to help? Follow either link to NCBLA or RIF above.

Get to Writing

Why the title "Get to Writing"? A good friend of mine has a son who loves to write. And he takes it seriously. He posted a sign above his bed--a friendly reminder, you might say. It reads, "Get to Writing". With all the distractions life offers, this is great advice. So while I'm here, that's just what I'll do. I'll write about the children's lit world--or the small corner of it that I'm associated with. I'll write about the changes I see in the educational system, and the things I'd like to see (drawing upon my education background for perspective). And I'll write about this writer's life--the ups, the downs and all the stuff in between.