Creative Teaching: Be Deliberate, Stay Open

How can educators give students the freedom to solve problems creatively? And how can school leaders create an environment where teachers feel comfortable sharing and exploring new ideas? In this episode, educator, principal, and author Dan Mault shares his experiences coaching students through Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination. These programs challenge students to collaborate, design, build, and solve open-ended problems. Dan explains why educators need to guide students without taking over, allowing them to experience productive struggle, test ideas, and adapt when things do not go as planned. The conversation then explores how school leaders can support creativity among teachers. Drawing on his experience as an elementary school principal, Dan discusses how creative problem-solving practices can make meetings more inclusive, encourage different perspectives, and help educators feel safe sharing their ideas. Rather than immediately saying yes or no to a new proposal, he encourages leaders to work with teachers to figure out what is possible. Dan also reflects on the role of technology in elementary education and why his school has renewed its focus on hands-on learning, play, and meaningful conversations between students. His experiences highlight how schools can make room for creativity by prioritizing collaboration, relationships, and opportunities to explore. Key Takeaways

What happens when students can see themselves and their own experiences in what they are learning? And how can teachers make history more relevant, meaningful, and connected to the world beyond the classroom? In this episode, award-winning history teacher Valencia Abbott shares how she brings creativity into her social studies classroom by connecting historical content to her students' interests, experiences, and communities. From using NASCAR to make the 1920s more relevant to her students to exploring Korean history through her own curiosity, Valencia shows how making unexpected connections can create more engaging learning experiences. Valencia also discusses a community history project focused on the Supreme Court case Griggs v. Duke Power Company. Through research, grants, and partnerships with her local community, she brought students into the process of uncovering and preserving an important story that many people in their own community did not know. The project gave students opportunities to work as historians while connecting classroom learning to their local history. The conversation also explores the importance of recognizing teachers and the humanities. Valencia reflects on what being named the 2025 National History Teacher of the Year meant to her and how recognition can validate work that often happens behind the scenes. She also shares how becoming a teacher later in life helped her discover a career that connected her passion for history, storytelling, and helping students build meaningful futures. Key Takeaways

Can creativity thrive within a structured literacy classroom? Greg McClure, an elementary educator and literacy specialist, joins us to explore how teachers can bring creativity into reading instruction without treating it as an extra. Greg shares his experience moving toward the science of reading and explains how explicitly teaching literacy skills can work alongside creativity. Rather than choosing between structure and creative learning, he encourages teachers to find meaningful ways to bring both into the classroom. The conversation explores how creative questions can strengthen reading comprehension. Greg shares examples from Hatchet, showing how questions that invite students to make connections, imagine possibilities, and explain their thinking can lead to richer discussions while still checking for understanding. Greg also introduces the idea of clarifying a problem before jumping to solutions through a live activity called “Quest for Clarity.” The activity demonstrates how asking thoughtful questions can help students gather information, understand a problem more clearly, and develop better solutions. Key Takeaways

What can neuroscience and neurodiversity teach us about creativity, and how can we create professional development experiences that are both meaningful and enjoyable? In this first debrief episode of Season 13, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett reflect on their recent conversations with Adam Green, Leonie Baldacchino, and Dr. Matt Zagreski. They revisit ideas about creativity, neuroscience, neurodiversity, and the role of fun in learning. The conversation explores whether we sometimes overcomplicate creativity, how evaluation can affect students' willingness to take creative risks, and why creativity should be recognized across all areas of learning, not just gifted education. They also discuss the value of fun in professional development. Rather than using activities simply to entertain, they consider how purposeful play, warm-ups, and opportunities to connect can help educators engage, build relationships, and prepare for deeper learning. Key Takeaways

Why do neurodivergent individuals often demonstrate remarkable creativity, and what can educators learn from the way their minds work? In this episode, Dr. Matt Zagreski explores the relationship between neurodiversity and creativity, explaining how differences in brain development and neural connections can influence the way people process information, make connections, and solve problems. The conversation looks at why traditional learning environments may not work for every student, including the impact of boredom, executive functioning, and the need for different ways of engaging with learning. Matt also challenges the idea that creativity belongs only in gifted education, emphasizing that creativity should be part of every student's educational experience. The episode also explores the importance of understanding neurodivergent students as individuals rather than viewing differences as deficits. Matt shares his own experiences and discusses how educators can create environments that help students recognize and build on their strengths. Key Takeaways