A Different Approach to Creativity Enhancement
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TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED Volume XIX Issue 3 Member, National Association for Gifted Children (NAGel A Different Approach to Creativity Enhancement Summer 1999 Issue Jane Piirto Creativity Ashland University A Different Approach to Creativity Enhancement n 1990, when I began to write the first edition of my Jane Pllrta 1 Ibook, Understanding Those Who Create, I began From the President it with this vignette: Colleen Elam 2 It was a convention for teachers of the talented. Katherine Miller had just been hired to teach in a pullout program for Executive Director's Update fourth, fifth, and sixth grade talented students. She was glad Cannie McLendon 3 for the opportunity, for in her undergraduate years during her student teaching experiences, she had always seemed to gravi Giftedness vs, Creativity tate towards the bright students. Her new superintendent had in the Visual Arts received an announcement for the state convention for teach Ellen Winner 4 ers of the talented, and had told Katherine that he would pay her way to go so she could learn what she was supposed to Farewell, Old Friend teach. Evelyn Hiatt 6 There was no written cuniculum to guide her. Besides teach ing the students, Katherine was to develop a cuniculum. As in The Complexity of Creativity most states, Katherine's state did not require her to have any Shirley Porter 7 special training in how to teach talented children. Katherine, her superintendent said, was bright and young, and not jaded, Using CPAM-The Creative Product Analysis Matrix and the school district could afford to hire her because she had Mary Nled Phillips 9 no teaching experience and would come in on the lowest rung ofthe salary scale. Moving Bevond The Creative Katherine had not been taught anything about talented chil Thinking Skills dren in her education courses, though she had a course in the Joyce Juniune 10 education of other special children. Before her interview, she had gone to the state university library in a town nearby to do Creativity is as Creativity Does some reading. She had memorized the categories of the tal James Collette 12 ented children that the state served. Among these were "cre ative" children. Katherine was not sure what creativity was, What the Research Says About Creativity and was even less sure who "creative" children were. Were Susan Johnsen 25 they the ones who colored outside the lines? Were they the Q & A: Answers to Your Questians ones who looked a little weird? She stepped into the large ball Donna Corley 31 room of the hotel where the convention was being held, took a cup ofcoffee, and sat down to hear the first keynote speaker. Book Reviews 32 The conference organizer introduced him as one of the experts on creativity. "Oh good, " Katherine thought. As he began to speak Publications of Interest 33 she serried in. He told ajoke Or two, and was a little mussed, his hair The Last Word caught into a fashionable ponytail, his cowboy boots and jeans in Michael Cannon 34 (see PIIRTO, page 20) Call tor Articles 35 Gt"~attjJt\;~ From the President Nurturing Productive Creativity PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Mleh9.@i Cannon Colleen Elam TAGT OFFICERS PRESIDENT r-::!..ifted children are born with a passion for life. They Colleen Elam U are bundles of energy grasping eagerly at the world PRESIDENT-ELECT around them. As they grow, gifted children explort myriad as Karen Fitzger~ld pec~1 of life and living. They want to know, to partake, to partici FIRST VlCc"l'RESIDENT pate. They actively engage life with a thirst for knowledge that Krys Goree seems insatiable. SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT How do we nurture thi' quest for life itself? Knowing that Tillie Hh~kman somewhere along the path of life, many people lose their passion THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT for exploration, for challenge, and for pursuit, how do we nourish Joe Munoz this propensity so that it endures for a lifetime? How do we shore SECRETARYITREASURER it so that it is not crushed? James (Jim) Collett We can sense the exhilaration of actively living life as op IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT posed to passively existing through life. The world glistens and Benny Hlekecson, Ph.D beckons, offering countless adventures to explore or ignore. We TAGT STAFF have the power to experience the marvels of life, moment by mo EXECUTlVE DIRECTOR ment. When we fully experience a starry summer eve Or a frosty Connie MeLendon winter mom, a dry auUlmn breeze Or a thundering spring stann, we ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR partake in the wonder of life. When we live intensely, when we Ann Wink feel down to our core, we kindle a flame of passion for life. Every ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/PUBLICATION$ COORDINATOR moment presents another opportunity. Seth Tracy How do we encourage gifted children to live their lives to the COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP SERVICES fullest? How do we nurture this vitality so it weaves the fabric of Jole Borland their lives? How do we teach them to pursue their passions into OPERATIONS ASSISTANT new realms of understanding? Laurie Walter Children are hom with the ability, the sensitivity, and the in RECEPTIONISTIDATA ENTRY CLERK tensity that are characteristic of productive creativity. We need to Christina Sau(:edo provide the environment to nourish children physically, intellectu The Texas Associatlon for (he Oifted lind. Thlt:.nted (TAGT) is II nonprofit organlzatioll of ally, and emotionally. Through nourishment, the same passion for pal'ents and pJ"(lfe~.~ion~ls promoting appropriate education fot Sift~d and talented ~t\ld~nts in life and living that penneates gifted children, and radiates into pro th~ stQte ofTex!ls. TAGT Temp() b the ~ltfic,:i~l journlll of the Texas Associatlon for the Oifu!d .and Talenled, ductive creativity. With nurturing, children internalize a method h i~ pl,lblish~d four times a year in Janual'Y, April, luly, .and Oc,:tob~r, Th~ subscription is a of thinking that bolsters creativity, and they embrace an attitude benefit forTAOi rt'Iilmberl', Anmml individual and family dues are $:2S. Mllt~rilllllppearing in Tempo m.ay be teprin~d unl~l'S oth~rwise noted, When copying an that enhances productivity. Productive creativity is a tool for hap article p1eaae elte TEmpo .and TAGT liS the source. We appreciate copies of pubHcali(}n.~ piness and success in any arena oflife. When we develop children's cOTltainini Tempo reprints. gifts, we enrich their future and ours. TAGTdoesnot seH Its mert'lb~~hip li~t to IWv~rtisers or other parties. However, membership names and .addrt!.~~~.~ ~~ mlldc IIvlliiable for approved l'Bsearch reque~t~. If y~lU 1;11) nQt wish yO\lr nllme to be made available for atT-telated re~~+lJl;h, pl~lIse write to TAGT at the address below. GOING FOlI TIlE GOLD Ad.I;I~ss correspondence conccrnlng the Tex.a~ A~~~lc:il1tion for th~ Gifted lind Talented Adults have to be creative to mett the challenge of develop (Including subscription queitJo~~) tl) TAGT, 406 East 11th Srreer, Sulle 310, AII.Hill, Texl.l~·, ing children's gifll_ One of our challenges is to channel gifted 78701.21$/7. C~H TAGT at 5121499-8248, FAX S 121499-8264 ur bye_mail at t}(~Ssnit@lIo],com Address correspondence eUllcetTliTlg T!!mpo wnlent to; Michael Cannon, TAGT Ed/lorlal children's creativity into productivity. It comes naturally to these Office, 5521 Martilli..J;lIle, ft Paso, TX 79903. Can the editorial office aI915/778.;'988, FAX children to observe in depth, to comprehend at a complex level, 915/779-2625 or 915/ 565-3245, or e-mail! caTln(}l'I@whc:.n~t. and to view from multiple perspectives. This is the root of creative ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED: Please nOllfy "tAOT If YO\l"~ moving or if thinking. However, crtative thinking is only the frrst step. Chil yom mniling address haG changed. iAOT P\lblic;:~tions are sent via third-class mail and arc 1101 forwarded by the p[).~t ot'fic;:c, Also, note the date at the top right of yOtlt r"I'I.aHingl.ahel. Thi~ is dren must be encouraged to follow through. It is one thing to think the d~l~ yom membership in TAGT expires. Be ~Llre Iq renew YO\lr m~mbership, You will not of a great idea; it is quite another to follow through to productivity. receive TAGT ptlb1icatiol'l~ [)r ml1i1illjS after your membership expiration date. Our country is strong and our history is rich hecause so many of our forefathers had great ideas and followed through with a stal- Opinions expressed by individual authors do not necessarily represent official positions of TAGT. (see ELAM, page 15) 2 TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED. TEMPO. SUMMER 1999 Executive Director's Update The 76th Texas Legislative Session: Positive Outcomes for Gifted andTalented Students Connie McLendon HB 1, General Appropriations Act. Foundation School Program and Science with a weal share equal to Denton ISD S. Gifted education did well this session under HB 1. the General Ap. propriations bill, thank, to the ,upport of Chainnan Rob Junell. Dis • •. And Some Legislative Outcomes Causing Concern trict 72, San Angelo. TAGT also acknowledge' and thanks Repre sentative Scott Hochberg, District 132. Houston. a member of the Rider 34. Mathcounts House Appropriations Committee, for his support of gifted education Out of Foundation School Program Gifted and Talented Education programs. State funding for gifted education in very few ,tates equals Funds appropriated in A.3.3., Improving Educator Peljormance, the that in Texas according to a recent survey compiled by the national Commissioner shall set aside $200.000 in each year of the biennium organi ..tion of state directors of gifted programs.