Interview

TEACHER’S CORNER
STARTING
THE SPARK
By: Nicholas Provenzano
High School English Teacher
Lake Orion Schools
I
believe that creativity has a place in our
classrooms because self expression is one
of those things that makes us who we are.
In my early years of teaching High School
English, all of my projects for students were
highly structured. I would outline every part
of the project and I would receive multiple
versions of it that were all the same. It was not
very fun for me to grade and for the students
to watch the same project presentation over
and over again. One year, a student came to
me and asked if the group could do a slightly
different project. Something that still hit the
assignment requirements, but allowed them
to apply what they knew in a different way.
It was then that I realized that I could give
students the freedom to show what they
learned in a way that suited their skills. When
I backed away from controlling all aspects
of the project, students took control over it.
Nick Provenzano
I believe that creativity
has a place in our
classrooms because
self expression is one of
those things that makes
us who we are.
Now, Free Choice Projects is one of my best
ways to spark creativity in students.
I establish the rough guidelines for the
students to follow for each project and
they come to me with a project proposal.
For example, for The Great Gatsby, I ask
students to demonstrate understanding of
two themes and two symbols visually. Once
I’ve approved the project, they get to work.
Moving to Free Choice Projects creates an
inviting environment for my students to try
new things and to take risks. I tell students
they have to choose a different medium of
expression for each project to encourage
them to explore different ideas. This allows
them to stretch their creative muscles and
still explore the literary concepts discussed
in class. The deeper students want to go
with their projects, the deeper they reach
into the content.
The first time I tried it, I received some of
the best projects in my career -- movies, art
work, poetry, a puppet show, and so much
more. The kids were excited and the presentations
were amazing! They loved showing
their work to class and seeing what other
students had done.
Students crave ways to express their
creativity in class. It is our job as teachers
to give all of them the opportunity to shine.
We need to cultivate that in students. If we
don’t, who will? These projects are not just
a fun distriction to keep students busy; they
are educational tools that get the most out of
kids. Free Choice Projects is just one way I
use to get my students going. Think of your
own way and start this spark in yours!
Enjoy The Ride: Mini-Society
of Student-Led Learning
By: Blagica Taseski and Bethany Rocho
4th Grade Teachers
Clarkston Community Schools
Education seems to spin
like a revolving door.
Studies in developmental
psychology have shown that the
superior learning and motivation
in children come from playful, rather
than instructional, approaches to
learning. As teachers are continually
modifying their methodology to keep
students engaged, in many classrooms today,
Bethany Rocho
instruction has shifted from ‘teacher-driven’ to
‘student-led.’ It is not uncommon for students
to take a lead in meaningful
conversations while
teachers guide
their thinking,
clear up any
misconceptions,
and celebrate
discovery.
When last spring a fellow
fourth grade teacher dug
out of the closet the idea of having our students
become entrepreneurs while studying
Blagica Taseski
an Economics unit called Mini- Society, we
got excited. For years, curriculum demands
pushed economics concepts on the back
shelves of our practice, and this idea
allowed us to bring them back to
life. Together, we agreed that the
best way for kids to understand
entrepreneurship, economics, and
consumer issues was through this
self-organizing, experience-based approach
to learning.
For several weeks, we were introducing
students to the basics of business
Continued on p21
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