4 easy ways to build creativity in your classroom
3 min
Tips and insights
Abi Bennett
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Simple ways to build creativity in your classroom
Creating a space to boost students’ creativity doesn’t need to be a chore. Make it part of your writing lesson and create some inspiring visuals as a class. Posters, writing exemplar wall displays and anchor charts are all great ways to showcase the Seven Steps techniques and celebrate writing successes.
1. ‘Wow’ boards
How do you celebrate your students’ writing? Try creating a visual display like these Seven Steps teachers. You can use them to demonstrate great examples of the techniques your students are learning and to showcase the progress your class is making! Get your students involved by having them create colourful drawings to go with their writing samples.
2. Anchor charts and posters
What better way to remind students of key concepts than having an engaging visual to refer to? Make your own like these Seven Steps teachers have done or use our colourful Classroom Posters.
Seven Steps Checklist Poster
Are you teaching the Seven Steps?
Here’s a checklist poster to put on your wall, just like Ms Chie has done. It’s a simple reminder of the Seven Steps and you can tick off the Steps as you go!
3. Writing growth wall
Check out this amazing writing growth wall made by @heyy_mrscarter. This display can be used for a variety of learning intentions. This example shows the transformation of a Sizzling Start from ‘amazing’ to ‘legendary’.
As a class, students wrote our 4 levelled examples adding and sharing ideas to create ownership of this resources wall. I can’t wait to see how this wall grows and changes throughout the year. I’m so proud of all the effort of our year 4s in creating this as a tool for learning!
4. The Alpha zone
Seven Steps teaches students how to think more creatively in order to write original texts that engage the audience. Thinking creatively – or being ‘in the Alpha zone’ – is actually a different brain state to logical, analytical thought (Beta).
To really help students focus and let their creativity flow, they need to feel relaxed with minimal distractions. The right ambience is so important as it can help or hinder students’ ability to think and write creatively.
Get your students into the Alpha zone by:
- decreasing the level of visual stimuli (e.g. dim the lights and lower the blinds)
- using mood lighting
- playing relaxing music
- keeping eyes closed while they think
- creating a quiet, enclosed space, just like Jolimont Primary School have done with their Alpha Zone tent!
Behind the teacher’s desk: My first term with the Seven Steps
Teacher Bec Drozdoff reflects on her first term teaching the Seven Steps. Check out her insights and tips for using the Seven Steps to develop eager and creative writers.
Share your wins!
Do you have an awesome Seven Steps display in your classroom? We love to see how our teachers are transforming writing and celebrating student wins! Tag us @sevenstepswriting using #sevenstepswriting
FREE WRITING MODULES
Teach them to love writing
Step 2: Sizzling Starts is fun to teach, easy to learn and will have your students cheering for more!
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