E. Paul Torrance was assured that creativity in education was the key to successful learning for students. It was his life’s work that led to the Torrance tests and the gifted programs which are run all over the globe today. The current school process does not have much scope for creativity to be involved in the classroom. However in the homeschool classroom creativity can be enhanced and encouraged in students.
Encourage “Out of the Box” Thinking
When your homeschool students need to solve a problem, let them think about outrageous solutions. They don’t have to work perfectly, they just need to actually solve the problem. Let the inquisitive, young minds come up with new ways to do the same old thing. It will build their creativity. Give them all the time they need to come up with crazy, different ideas that they feel would work in the particular situation.
Keep the Atmosphere Congenial
No one wants to do something different if they are likely to be criticized or ridiculed for it. By keeping the atmosphere positive and congenial when the homeschools students suggest outlandish theories, the homeschool teacher will encourage them to keep being creative. Once the not so practical solutions have been vetoed you may find yourself with interesting, creative ideas that might just work out well.
Encourage Curiosity but Enforce Structure
It’s not enough to have crazy, creative and different ideas. These need to be put into a structure so that they are actually viable options. Encourage your homeschool student to come up with ideas that not only are away from the norm, but still manage to fit the parameters that an ideal solution may have. It’s okay if they don’t get it right initially, let them try again.
Don’t Enforce Your Creative Solution
You, as the adult will have a great many more ideas than the children in the homeschool classroom. This gives you the additional responsibility of not forcing them to come to the same conclusions that you have. Allow them the freedom to come up with solutions on their own, guide them, but leave them to spread their creative wings.
