The other day I was lucky enough to take part in two sessions lead by the poet, Cliff Yates. One of them was for ten year olds and the other was for teachers, so I pretty much got the best of both worlds!
He's always written poetry, but for 31 years he was also an English teacher, so he has lost of experience working with children, teenagers and teachers.
During his session he passed on some great words of wisdom which I scribbled down to share with you. The most intriguing for creative folk like us is this nugget:
Moments of waiting are always interesting.
Many moons ago, I wrote about this very subject on Day 77. Waiting. When you are sitting with a blank canvas piece of paper, sheet music, dance floor in front of you to fill, there is a time when you wait for your brain to work out what to do with it. After a question has been asked and the class wait for someone to answer. You know most people are thinking of an answer. Think of all those ideas that stay silent because only one is told. What could you do with all those other answers...?
Don't be afraid of waiting. It's useful. It's thinking time. Thinking often produces creativity, so it's all good! If you have an idea, why not wait for another. It might be better!
What are you waiting for?
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Day 264: Creative Kids
This week I've been helping out with a kids club, it being half term and all. It has been so much fun, singing songs with actions, colouring, sticking, and all other creative things. Don't you think kid's creative stuff is so much cooler than ours, well, sort of?
Anyway, on Thursday, the 4/5 year olds blew me away. (Not literally, they've only got little lungs!) We did this craft thing where they made a little field with sheep in. The sheep were made out of plasticine and I thought, 'man, they are gonna struggle with this. Maybe I'll encourage them to just make one big sheep instead of three little sheep. It's too fiddly.'
But, you know what, their sheep were amazing! They were probably better than any sheep I could make. And they loved it.
I think sometimes I really underestimate exactly how much a 5 year old can actually achieve. Children are so creative. I'm pretty sure that, given the choice, most of them would spend all their time being creative if they could. I know I would of. (Well, I still would now!)
What fun it is to be young, eh? (Man, I sound old!) How could YOU use your creative talents to help kiddies? Why not get involved in a local club for kids and get them creative. It's more fun than you think!
Anyway, on Thursday, the 4/5 year olds blew me away. (Not literally, they've only got little lungs!) We did this craft thing where they made a little field with sheep in. The sheep were made out of plasticine and I thought, 'man, they are gonna struggle with this. Maybe I'll encourage them to just make one big sheep instead of three little sheep. It's too fiddly.'
But, you know what, their sheep were amazing! They were probably better than any sheep I could make. And they loved it.
I think sometimes I really underestimate exactly how much a 5 year old can actually achieve. Children are so creative. I'm pretty sure that, given the choice, most of them would spend all their time being creative if they could. I know I would of. (Well, I still would now!)
What fun it is to be young, eh? (Man, I sound old!) How could YOU use your creative talents to help kiddies? Why not get involved in a local club for kids and get them creative. It's more fun than you think!
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Day 229: Do you believe in your own creativity?
Sometimes I look at the world and think, how am I ever going to get anywhere with my creative skills? Does the world really need them? Do it even want them?
Even my some of my teacher tell me, 'it's so hard to break the industry. Most of you won't ever make it...'
Encouraging stuff, huh?
Well, this is the decision I've come to this morning because of an amazing teacher called Janine. In my lesson yesterday (and in many of lessons actually) she claimed our writing was better than an author that just one a prize for their book. She always says things like, 'when you get published' or 'when you send yours off to publishers.' She believes in us and the more you're told you can do it, the more you believe it. It gives you the motivation to carry on and believe that what you've got can make a difference.
So, what are you doing? If you believe in yourself and your creative abilities, you can do it! I'm here to say that creativity is important. It doesn't matter what the government says. It doesn't matter what our maths teacher says. Creativity is part of everyone and we got given an extra dose, so share it!
I wouldn't be writing this blog everyday if I didn't believe in creativity. So get out there and show the world what you got. If you think it's important, then it is! No one can do creativity like you can. You are unique and the world needs you.
Are you with me?
Even my some of my teacher tell me, 'it's so hard to break the industry. Most of you won't ever make it...'
Encouraging stuff, huh?
Well, this is the decision I've come to this morning because of an amazing teacher called Janine. In my lesson yesterday (and in many of lessons actually) she claimed our writing was better than an author that just one a prize for their book. She always says things like, 'when you get published' or 'when you send yours off to publishers.' She believes in us and the more you're told you can do it, the more you believe it. It gives you the motivation to carry on and believe that what you've got can make a difference.
So, what are you doing? If you believe in yourself and your creative abilities, you can do it! I'm here to say that creativity is important. It doesn't matter what the government says. It doesn't matter what our maths teacher says. Creativity is part of everyone and we got given an extra dose, so share it!
I wouldn't be writing this blog everyday if I didn't believe in creativity. So get out there and show the world what you got. If you think it's important, then it is! No one can do creativity like you can. You are unique and the world needs you.
Are you with me?
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Day 171: Nick Horby
Nick Hornby is a world famous writer. He's written, amongst others, Fever Pitch and About a boy. Both of these have been made into films too, so I'd say he's up there with the greats!
As a creative person whose in the lime light, Nick Hornby is going into schools in London to help pupils with their literacy skills and encouraging them to love reading and writing, just like he does. I don't know if you've watched the news recently, but the government aren't happy with spelling, grammar etc, so Nick Hornby and some other writers have decided to do something about it.
For Nick Hornby, the most important thing in the project is, 'humour, intrigue and creativity.' You can find out more about his project here.
Nick Hornby is taking his creative skills and using them to create change. How great is that!
I don't know about you, but this really inspires me to use my skills to help people too. Creative skills are just as important as maths or science. People love to get creative in lots of different ways and it makes people happy!
What creative skills do you enjoy using? Nick Hornby obviously enjoys creating stories, so that's what he's using to help people.
What do you care about? Nick Hornby obviously cares about reading and writing, so that's what he's focusing on, using his skills to do it.
What could you do with what your skills...?
As a creative person whose in the lime light, Nick Hornby is going into schools in London to help pupils with their literacy skills and encouraging them to love reading and writing, just like he does. I don't know if you've watched the news recently, but the government aren't happy with spelling, grammar etc, so Nick Hornby and some other writers have decided to do something about it.
For Nick Hornby, the most important thing in the project is, 'humour, intrigue and creativity.' You can find out more about his project here.
Nick Hornby is taking his creative skills and using them to create change. How great is that!
I don't know about you, but this really inspires me to use my skills to help people too. Creative skills are just as important as maths or science. People love to get creative in lots of different ways and it makes people happy!
What creative skills do you enjoy using? Nick Hornby obviously enjoys creating stories, so that's what he's using to help people.
What do you care about? Nick Hornby obviously cares about reading and writing, so that's what he's focusing on, using his skills to do it.
What could you do with what your skills...?
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Day 26: Learn from the best
Today I encourage you to pick up a new craft/trade/creative thingy. I'm thinking along the lines of sewing, web design, drawing, blogging, tap dancing, singing...whatever you fancy. What have you always wanted to know how to do (creatively speaking), but never got round to it? Well, make this the summer of discovery!
I hear what you're saying, 'that's all well and good Emma, but how exactly am I supose to learn this new thingy? I have no money!'
Well, I am suggesting that the first step to achieving this new goal is to find someone you know. Pull on the resources you have. You MUST know someone who has a talent you admire. Well, if so ask them to teach you. Simple! It could be your auntie, cousin, friend, brother, your brother's friend, a friend-of-a-friend (you get it!).
People love it when you compliment them on what they are good at/love doing, so make this your way in!
For example, my friend Beth is AMAZING at knitting. She can knit, socks, gloves, hats and she just invents her own woolen gadgets (she's really is exceedingly good!). Although I learnt when I was younger, I've never been very good at it. So, I asked Beth if she could help me and hey presto, I am at least a little better than I was before. I even started making a hat on round needles (sounds impressive huh)!
Who did Beth learn from? Her Nan of course. And so the links go on...
Without my friend Rhea, this blog wouldn't exist cause she helped me set it up (I really am useless when it comes to computoer, but I'm learning, yay!)
Take up the challenge. What will you learn this summer...?
I hear what you're saying, 'that's all well and good Emma, but how exactly am I supose to learn this new thingy? I have no money!'
Well, I am suggesting that the first step to achieving this new goal is to find someone you know. Pull on the resources you have. You MUST know someone who has a talent you admire. Well, if so ask them to teach you. Simple! It could be your auntie, cousin, friend, brother, your brother's friend, a friend-of-a-friend (you get it!).
People love it when you compliment them on what they are good at/love doing, so make this your way in!
For example, my friend Beth is AMAZING at knitting. She can knit, socks, gloves, hats and she just invents her own woolen gadgets (she's really is exceedingly good!). Although I learnt when I was younger, I've never been very good at it. So, I asked Beth if she could help me and hey presto, I am at least a little better than I was before. I even started making a hat on round needles (sounds impressive huh)!
Who did Beth learn from? Her Nan of course. And so the links go on...
Without my friend Rhea, this blog wouldn't exist cause she helped me set it up (I really am useless when it comes to computoer, but I'm learning, yay!)
Take up the challenge. What will you learn this summer...?
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