LAUNCH: #D100bloggerPD Book Study

I'm excited to be back participating in a #D100bloggerPD book study! We are a group of bloggers in Berwyn South District 100 that read and blog. It's a great community of learners and a fun way to jigsaw our way through some great education books!

This time, we are reading the book, LAUNCH, by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani. Thanks to Jenny Lehotsky for organizing this study! Jenny is an amazing instructional coach with a passion for design thinking and personalized learning. She is also a TED-Ed Innovative Educator (impressive!). You can check out the post about Chapter 1 on Jenny's blog, Teaching and Learning Redefined.

click on the "ThingLink" above to go to participating blogs & posts!

Now it's on to my assignment, which was Chapter 2. This chapter was titled, "Finding Your Creative Approach," and was all about recognizing and celebrating the fact that everyone is creative in their own way.

The chapter goes on to define six types of teacher. Each has it's own way that creativity plays out depending on the strengths of that type. In reality, you might find yourself identifying with more than one or many of the types depending on the situation. However, the authors say you probably aren't ALL of them, nor can you be all at once.

The artist is the type of teacher that likes to make things (lessons, activities, and classrooms) that students will love. Creating things from scratch and actually liking to "reinvent the wheel" are habits of this teacher. Also, this teacher would probably prefer stories of learning rather than data.

The geek likes systems, structures, research, and data. While this type of teacher likes to make something new, they also would like to use data to determine if it is effective. Sometimes this type is not usually thought of as creative, but as the authors say, "sometimes creativity worlds best within a framework informed by the data we collect on a regular basis." 

The architect does create things but "relies on the collaborative work of other creative types to design something." This teacher brings together the systems and art.

The Engineer is focused on fixing problems. This teacher focuses on how things work and is willing to ignore data and do things differently. Creativity might not be as obvious because this teacher is more practical but this teacher is always searching for a better solution.

The Hacker is the type of teacher that might find subtle ways to subvert the system. This teacher is willing to destruct current systems to find an alternative. This type might also find new ways to use the system and mix together things in a way that hasn't been tried before.

The point guard is able to "think differently in the moment and create opportunities as a result" This teacher can set up opportunities and experiences for students that are creative. Thinking on their feet is a trait of this type and the authors state that it looks effortless, but it isn't "You must be part activist and part chess master."

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This chapter reminded me of those "personality quizzes" I used to take in Seventeen Magazine when I was in middle school! I wanted to know "what type" I am just as much as I wanted to know about the types. I found myself identifying with several types. I think I most strongly identify with Engineer and Hacker! I also am curious about how others perceive me and if they see my creativity differently than I do. 

But I think the most powerful part of this chapter was actually the argument that we need all of these types in schools. "When schools embrace all types of creative teachers, we are able to build the kinds of learning environments our students deserve." Also, knowing about the different types can help us appreciate what each other brings to the table in terms of creativity. "When we understand and appreciate the varied approaches to creativity, we are better able to embrace our differences and work in a way that is complementary rather than divisive."

Up next in the #D100bloggerPD book study is my friend, Lauren Slanker. Lauren is a passionate middle school science teacher. I was lucky enough to work with her as a teacher and team leader before moving into my current role. Be sure to check out the post on her blog!