Tips for Teachers of Creative Thinkers

A master of adaptation, the creative thinker’s mind often races in all different directions, and it can seem as if this learner forgets how to be a team player. When this gifted learner becomes enthusiastic about tackling highly individualized pursuits it is important for an educator to practice patience.

Oftentimes these creative thinking students think so far outside the box that few rubrics can comply with their need for diversity in assessment! In fact, a teacher of creative thinkers might question whether mastery is the goal or the means for these learners.

Some suggestions for the teacher working with creative thinkers include the following:

• Consider the acquisition of knowledge to be a launching pad, not an end in itself.
• Remember that these students have a need to develop concepts in depth.
• Validate the fact that they approach problem-solving in different ways.
• Know that the correct answer response may have little importance for this learner.

From Professional Learning Board’s online continuing education course for teachers: Differentiation for Gifted Learners in the Classroom