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The Creative Thinking Process Starts With…
By Judy Ross

1.  Listening- to your students and to yourself.

2.  Asking “What if…?” and “I wonder…?” questions.

3.  Providing open-ended materials for exploration.  Invite curiosity,  wonder, imagination, collaboration, and creativity.

4.  Providing a print-rich environment.

5.  Creating areas for whole group and small group interaction, as well  as private spaces for individual work.

6.  Thinking of PLAY not as a "four-letter word", but as essential to the creative process.  Play leads to innovation- with
     materials, ideas, or both.

7.  Providing time for discussion, evaluation, suggestions, and ideas as  a group. Allow kids to share ownership.

8.  Being the “guide on the side”, not the “sage on the stage”. Be  willing to release some control.  Remember you
     are a facilitator, and that you are the executive decision maker (to keep kids safe, step in to  help solve      
     problems  as needed, etc.)

9.  Creating an environment that allows for teachers and students  to share roles.  Everyone is teaching and learning  
     together, sharing ideas. Everyone’s ideas are accepted and considered. It’s a process that leads to lifelong learning, 
     innovating, problem solving, and collaboration as part of a team.


10. Above all else- observation and listening!