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Is Creativity Disappearing from the Classroom?
If you’re an educator, you’ve probably felt the weight of content coverage. Standards, testing, pacing guides—it all adds up, leaving little room for creative exploration. But is creativity truly being squeezed out of the classroom, or is there a way to weave it seamlessly into our content-driven instruction?
I recently sat down with Monica Roach, an expert in fostering creativity in education, and she had a powerful message: Creativity is still possible—it just looks different than it used to.
Why Creativity Feels Like It’s Disappearing
Many teachers feel that creativity has taken a backseat because of the intense focus on standards and testing. And while it’s true that instructional time is precious, we don’t have to choose between creativity and content. Instead, we need to shift how we view creative teaching.
Creativity and Content Can Coexist—Here’s How
In this episode, Monica Roach shares several actionable ways teachers can embed creativity into their lessons without losing precious instructional time:
- Creative Thinking Routines – Simple activities like “What If?” scenarios, brainstorming sessions, or open-ended questions can spark curiosity and deepen understanding of content.
- Choice-Based Assignments – Give students the freedom to show mastery in different ways: a podcast, a comic strip, a short story, or even a mini-documentary. The learning stays rigorous, but the engagement skyrockets.
- Real-World Problem Solving – Connect lessons to real-life challenges. If students are learning about fractions, have them design a recipe. Studying history? Let them create a modern-day news broadcast about past events.
- Art, Music, and Movement – Even in core subjects, incorporating music, drawing, or hands-on activities can activate different parts of the brain and make learning stick.
- Low-Lift, High-Impact Strategies – Creativity doesn’t have to mean elaborate projects. Quick creative warm-ups, like “One-Minute Sketches” or “Six-Word Summaries,” get students thinking differently without taking up much class time.
The Big Takeaway
Creativity isn’t gone—it’s evolving. As educators, we have the power to design lessons that engage students in meaningful ways while still meeting standards. The key is to make space for creative thinking within the content, rather than seeing it as an “extra.”
So, how will you bring creativity back into your classroom?
🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Monica Roach on the latest episode and get inspired to make learning more engaging than ever!
