Reading in English ClassroomsTeachers’ Dialogues
Group 4:
Enhancing Creativity Through Reading
Creativity
Use one minute to think about one way
to improve a coffee cup.
Nine Generic Skills
(English Language Curriculum Guide 2004)
Collaboration skills
Communication skills
Creativity
Critical thinking skills
Numeracy skills
IT Skills
Problem-solving skills,
Self-management skills,
Study skills
Why do we need CREATIVITY ?
Reproductive learning answered the survival
needs of individuals and societies in the past. It
continues to be necessary today, but it is no
longer enough. What is needed for survival is
innovative learning…….
If one of the challenges of education is to
prepare children for a fast changing world, then
teaching children to think creatively becomes a
clear need.
(Robert Fisher 1990 P.30)
Creativity
Creativity is a complex and multifaceted
construct. Within the individual, creative
behaviour is the result of a complex of
cognitive skills/abilities, personality
factors, motivation, strategies and
metacognitive skills.
(EMB English Curriculum Guide 2004 P.75)
Are you a creative person?
seeks reassurance
Uses own imagination
keeps feeling private
Share dreams
suspicious of the new
Open to experience
cautious
curious
Follow regulations
Likes to play
Fearful of consequence
Is is serious
Sees the fun of things
avoid surprises
Like surprises
intuitive
relies on others
Shows independent
alert to possible
danger
Seeks new patterns
Likes to play
Safeguarding Self Vs Experimental Self
suspicious of the new
Open to experience
cautious
curious
Follow regulations
Is intuitive
relies on others
Shows independent
alert to possible danger
Seeks new patterns
fearful of consequence
Likes to play
is serious
Sees the fun of things
avoid surprises
Like surprises
seeks reassurance
Uses own imagination
keeps feeling private
Share dreams
How to be an encouraging adult?
Values creative ideas
Allow time
Defers judgments
Follow child’s
interest
Shows real interest
Encourage
play
Accepts child’s
decisions
Uses openended questions
See learning
in mistakes
Challenge child to
try out new ideas
Optimistic about
outcomes
Creativity and Reading
Text
Comprehension
Construction of
meanings through
cognitive activity
Responses
to text
Opportunities for
creative self
expressions
Different Kinds of Creative Abilities
Fluency
e.g.
Mind-mapping
Consider all factors
Asking open-ended Qs
Flexibility
e.g. Think from different perspectives (six thinking hats)
Different points of views from different characters
Riddle reading
Different Kinds of Creative Abilities
Elaboration
e.g. Reading + extending the story (speaking/writing)
P+M+I (Plus + Minus + Interesting)
FIP (First Important Priorities)
What happened next?
Originality
e.g. Poem reading and writing
Reading + creative another version of the story
Creativity and Reading
Riddle
reading
Poem
writing/reading
Writing an
extension of the
story
FIP/PMI
Think from different
perspectives
(six thinking hats)
Mindmapping
Reading
Writing another
version of the story
Asking openended questions
Different points of views of
different characters
e.g. If Qs
Consider
all factors
(CAF)
What happen next?
Different Text Types Conducive to Creativity
Stories enable children to experience different kinds of lives
Riddles enable children to see between what has to be
guessed and that which appears at first sight.
Poems
give children the chance to write and read a variety of
styles and forms
Jokes
allow children to make unexpected connections
between events and ideas.
Comics
a wonderful way of making thinking visible. A child
who find it difficult to understand formal complete sentences
may feel dialogues plus visual images a lot easier.
Riddles
What kind of ball is fun to play with but does
not bounce?
Snowball
What is black and white and has 16 wheels?
A zebra on roller skates
Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long?
Because you can’t have a foot as your nose
Traffic Lights
On the top sits fire,
In the middle gold
At the bottom grass
At the top you stop
In the middle wait
At the bottom, pass
Please give this poem a title
A Really Hot Meal
A really hot meal
Doesn’t appeal
Seal
To a
Its favourite dish
Is very cold fish!
Jokes (1) Who is stupid ?
"If there are any idiots in the room, will they please
stand up?" said the sarcastic teacher.
After a long silence, one student rose to his feet.
"Now then mister, why do you consider yourself an
idiot?" enquired the teacher .
"Well, actually I don't," said the student, "but I
hate to see you standing up there all by
yourself."
Jokes (2) Wedding
Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl
whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride
dressed in white?"
"Because white is the color of happiness and
today is the happiest day of her life." Her mother
tried to explain, keeping it simple.
The child thought about this for a moment, then
said, "So, why is the groom wearing black?"
Different Ways to Improve a
Cup
Bibliography
Fisher R.(1995) Teaching Children to Think
Stanley Thornes (Publishers) Ltd: Cheltenham
Glover J.A., Ronning R.R. , Reynolds C.R. (1989) Ed.
Handbook of creativity Plenum Press: New York
Today’s Presenters
Teacher
presenters
Christine Lau
Elke Lau
Carmen Li
May Chan
Helen Lam
School
Chai Wan Kok Catholic Primary
school
Tai KoK Tsui Catholic
Primary School (Hoi Fan Road)
TWGHs Tam Shiu Primary
School