Create Learning Opportunities With Creative Approaches To Teaching

Creativity in the classroom is a great way to promote developing skills through  play and exploration. It also provides a greater opportunity to exercise autonomy, and take risks.Creative approaches to teaching enhances learning by increasing motivation, deepening understanding, and promoting joy. When children are enjoying the environment in which they are learning they are more actively engaged in the overall teaching process, which in the long run enhances success and generalization of newly introduced skills.

Creative Approaches to Teaching:

There are various ways to introduce creativity to the overall teaching and learning experience. Creativity requires an environment that encourages learning through play, autonomy, and taking risks. As teachers an or therapists, it’s up to us to establish this kind of supportive environment. Various ways to ensure this may be as follows: Create a compassionate, accepting environment where students trust that they can make mistakes in front of you, which is a part of the learning process. Be present with students’ ideas and don’t be afraid to follow their lead. Find out what their passion areas are or what motivates them, and build these topics into your approach. Encourage autonomy, give feedback that encourages self-reflection and independence.

How can you turn anything into a learning opportunity?

In the field of ABA we utilize a concept referred to as Natural Environment Treatment also known as NET teaching. It is with this approach to treatment that a therapist is able to teach targets acquired within a restrictive teaching environment to the child’s everyday or natural environment. When implementing NET procedures  during treatment, creativity is the cornerstone of effective teaching and intervention within the natural environment. During NET therapists follow the lead of their client while looking for creative opportunities to introduce teaching procedures. This is completed by using creative instructional strategies, models, and methods. Another important part of this teaching strategy is to support your student's intrinsic motivation.  

You Will Foster Discovery:

Creativity encompasses the ability to discover new and original ideas, connections, and solutions to problems. Developing this skill in children early in development helps model resilience and the development of self help skills. This approach to teaching introduces new applications of play and assists with overall flexibility and limits rigidity which is essential especially within the neurodiverse population.

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