Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.
Please use this button on your site for DigiLit Sunday posts
Some weeks a word will pop into my head for a DigiLit topic. Then I’ll mull over it and wonder why. This is how it’s been with Innovation. Like Blended Learning last week, I am wondering if innovation is happening in my classroom.
I think of my young students who are writing for the Slice of Life Classroom Challenge every day. Last year I put together a treasure box of writing prompts. I decorated it and filled it with little odds and ends I found around my house. One of these was a wishing rock. Andrew put his hand into the box and came out with this rock. I immediately thought of this Harris Burdick image.
“Maybe you could write a story to go with this image?”
“I’ve never written a story before.”
Andrew proceeded to type furiously into his Kidblog post. The next day when he came in, he said “I can’t stop thinking about my wishing rock story.”
This is creativity working hand in hand with innovation. You can read Andrew’s story here (part 1) and here (part 2).
My student, Noah, created a list post of “Things I Trust.” Two of the curators of the Two Writing Teachers blog read his post. They wanted to publish it to give other students ideas for writing.
Creativity and innovation happen in a classroom that is open to new ideas. The let-me-try-this-out attitude. I believe in my students. They are more capable than I am when it comes to creativity. Just look at Lynzee’s word cloud she created using the root word color. She went on to write her post and change each word into a different font color.
Sometimes I feel like I just stand by and watch the brilliance of my students shine. They are gifted kids, but more than that, they are open to the ideas floating around in the universe. This openness will lead them on to produce wonderful innovations in the future, but for now, they are my little wonders.
To link up your own DigiLit post today, use this button.
Reflections on the Teche 
Wow, is demonstrates how creative children are. Bravo to you for igniting the fire!
What a great idea to have a box of physical writing prompts! I think I need to start collecting things for my own classroom box. And you guided your student without pushing to create a piece about his object.
Here’s my post from last year about making the box. It was fun to make. https://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/sol-16-8-treasure-box/
It’s a sweet post of celebration, too, Margaret. I can hear that you love your students! And you have given them the openess that makes innovation come, well, if not easy, with the assurance of possibility.
I like that, the assurance of possibility. Thanks.
Such a supportive environment (including the teacher) for students to explore, try out, AND reach success in reading, writing, and thinking. Love your stories, Margaret! ❤
The treasure box is a great idea. It can plant a seed while giving the students real choice in writing.
Being “open to the ideas floating around in the universe” is critically important. How often have I thought “I can’t” and not been open to new ideas. Love your students’ work.
I was thinking of Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic. She talks about how ideas wander around waiting for someone to grab them.
Your little wonders are creative indeed. Like Elsie, I liked your thought that the children are “are open to the ideas floating around in the universe”.
Oh, do they shine! Brilliantly.
Aren’t kids amazing? This post made me smile.
[…] Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche posted this as the topic for DigiLit Sunday. […]
You have created with them — a space for innovation. Learning and thriving together.
Thank you for sharing the brilliance of your “little wonders.” You are a big part of the reason they shine!
I love this Margaret. It’s so important to notice all of the brilliance that our students bring into our classrooms. Thanks for allowing us to peek in.
[…] of writing? A few weeks ago, Margaret Simon asked teachers to consider “innovation” for her DigiLit Sunday Linkup. I worked on a post, but wasn’t happy with the result, so I didn’t share it. Over the past few […]