The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

The Astrodome was a modern miracle, a Space Age wonder, with a glass dome, high-tech air-conditioning, and the world’s biggest scoreboard. When it opened in 1965, reporters dubbed it the “8th Wonder of the World.” This was the future. No more bad weather or quirky... The post Nine Vintage Ideas to Spark Innovation in Your Classroom appeared first on John Spencer.

When I was in middle school, one of my teachers called the entire class up to the front of the room. He held up a shiny golden disc in wild excitement. “This will change education forever,” he said, eyes gleaming. “Someday, you’ll be able to... The post The Power of Vintage Innovation appeared first on John Spencer.

When I was in the fifth grade, I kept a journal for class. My teacher would give us fifteen minutes to write whatever we wanted. I pretty much only wrote about baseball — and the Giants, in particular. For me, those fifteen minutes felt like... The post How Student Journals Can Spark Curiosity and Inspire Creativity in the Classroom appeared first on John Spencer.

Before I went to Hong Kong, people would ask me, “What about the protests?” and I almost always answered with “I hear you can avoid those.” And that statement is absolutely true. The beauty of living in a pluralistic democracy is the freedom to avoid... The post The Goal of Education Isn’t Simply a Better Job appeared first on John Spencer.

It was the first Friday of the first week of my first year as a teacher and I was determined to have students engage in a hands-on learning activity. My students were going to solidify their understanding of the five themes of geography by creating... The post It Might Be Hands-on Learning, But Is It Minds-on Learning? appeared first on John Spencer.

Years ago, my friend Chad started the 21st Century Classroom initiative in our district. Teachers would be part of six-person teams where they would attend professional development, receive state-of-the-art technology, and have a learning coach who would help them implement student-centered learning. But this wasn’t... The post Every Student Deserves Access to Project-Based Learning appeared first on John Spencer.

When we think about creativity and innovation, the words “humor” and “goofiness” don’t typically come to mind. But I’d argue that this is a critical piece of what it means to cultivate a climate of creativity. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog... The post Five Ways Humor Boosts Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving in the Classroom appeared first on John Spencer.

Picture this. I’m standing up front at the front of the class, an awkward high school freshman new to Arizona. I’m shy. Painfully shy. I don’t know anyone in my class. Every part of me wants to crawl up into a ball and hide. The... The post Students Are Often Terrified About Launching Their Work. Here’s How We Can Fix It. appeared first on John Spencer.

We’ve all been there before. You’re working with a few other people and everything just seems to click. It might be on a ballfield or court. Or it might be in a jam session or a rehearsal for live theater. If you’re lucky, it might... The post The Four Biggest Pitfalls of Collaborative Grouping (And How to Avoid Them) appeared first on John Spencer.

I still remember a moment in my fifth year of teaching when I invited my colleague, Javier, to observe a lesson I was teaching. “Colleague” doesn’t quite describe it. Javi and I ran a project-based service learning together. We developed a fully tech-integrated curriculum together... The post Why Trust Is Vital to Peer Feedback appeared first on John Spencer.

Early on in my project-based learning journey, I made a vow to go 100% project-based. My students would learn everything through exploration and discovery. I would remain the guide on the side observing the process and helping out only when necessary. After leading students through... The post Direct Instruction Is Still Necessary in a PBL Classroom appeared first on John Spencer.

Six years ago, I led my first PBL workshop for a group of high school teachers. It was the summer after my tenth year in the classroom and I felt fairly confident that I could facilitate a whole day of professional development. I knew, for... The post Four Things P.E. Teachers Can Teach Us About Innovative Teaching appeared first on John Spencer.

A few years ago, my parents purchased the ultimate HGTV-style home, replete with vaulted ceilings, granite countertops, and an open floorplan. This was the dream space for entertaining. People could seamlessly move from the kitchen to the dining room to the family room – which... The post Sometimes a Quieter Classroom Is Actually the Answer appeared first on John Spencer.

It was twelve years ago when I sat down with a journal and began debriefing my first full year of going project-based. I had a list of what went well, what went poorly, and what things I wanted to try out the next year. As... The post It’s Okay to Do That Same Epic Project Next Year appeared first on John Spencer.

A little over a decade ago, I read Mindset by Carol Dweck and it had a profound influence on my life. It affirmed something I knew as a teacher. Students show up to school with fixed and growth mindsets. As a teacher, I can do... The post Growth Mindset is Great But Children Need Affirmation appeared first on John Spencer.