EDLA 506 - Activating Creativity through Literacy in ELA (K-5) (3)

Creativity is often undervalued in schools because it isn’t a requirement of K-12 education. However, as we standardize the definition of creativity through initiatives such as the Partnership for 21st Century Learning, we can propel creative thinking forward as a skill that helps students meet Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standards and prepares them for college and careers.

At the elementary level, students can cultivate creativity through reading, writing, drawing, play, and imagination. Students who are creative can synthesize information to form new ideas, ask complex questions to build on concepts, view problems through multiple lenses, and present innovative solutions to challenges. 

In this course, you will gain the tools, techniques, and resources you need to build creative literacy into your ELA curriculum. You will also learn strategies to help students become independent, self-directed learners who can use creative thinking to explore, discover, problem solve, and innovate while developing literacy skills that will help them succeed beyond the classroom. 

By the end of the course, you will be able to design literacy units, projects, and assessments that foster student creativity in your K-5 classroom, and offer feedback on creative works in ways that support students’ continued growth.