In the United States, people's collective definitions, perceptions, and myths about creativity have, at best, produced an uneven understanding of what it means to be a creative person. This article aims to clarify meanings associated with the broad term "creativity" and identify some observable processes associated with it. Part of the problem in…

The title of this article borrows loosely from the philosopher Nelson Goodman, whose classic essay "When is Art" addresses context and symbolic function. The discussion in this article concerns an entirely different matter: identifying moments when a learner's creativity is sparked in school art programs. The word "creativity" usually enters…

This article discusses the Choice, Voice, and Challenge (CVC) Instruction, an instructional model that encourages creativity or "wild things". CVC Instruction defines ways in which classroom teachers may provide vehicles for their students' mental journeys that can lead to creative and imaginative actions and outcomes. The CVC model provides a…

Researching whimsical and spirited artists can inspire new ideas and methods of communicating how art remains a valuable part of people's lives both in and out of the classroom. This instructional resource explores one such contemporary artist who, driven by a curiosity in human interaction, continues to explore the world in fanciful and…

Art and creativity are closely linked in the minds of most people. When asked to explain why art should be part of the school curriculum, respondents commonly answer that art provides an opportunity for students to be creative and express themselves. As professionals who have worked with art education for years, the authors suggest a different…

Creativity serves an important role in culture, education, and the workforce as it "provides the impetus for any act, idea, or product that changes an existing domain or discipline into a new entity." In the 21st century, information technology is forming a powerful alliance with creative practices in the arts and design to establish new domains…

Art teachers are most successful when they teach the whole child, with an awareness of the student inside as well as the work that is being produced outside. Therefore, when teaching students about their own creativity and that of artists they study, it is helpful to understand complex neurological and emotional operations that are active during…

Educators from Reggio Emilia encourage educators to see children as competent and strong. They persuade educators to acknowledge the children's use of the visual arts as a "language," especially during project work. Inspired by the philosophy from Reggio Emilia, the author initiated a 10-week ethnographic study of young children in a…

In order to learn from one's own classroom discourse or that of other teachers, one can start by considering that spoken language is always simultaneously propositional and social. When engaged in spoken discourse, people exchange information. This is the propositional function. With the same words they also build and maintain relationships…

Education in recent years has tended increasingly to narrow its focus, zeroing in on only those academic skills tested in high-stake assessments while ignoring many other aspects of children's development. Opposing this trend is an alternative movement, holistic education, which is concerned with cultivating and balancing all dimensions of the…

Many of the paintings of 20th-century American artist Philip C. Curtis defy clear classification. Curtis's artworks often show dreamlike and fantastical qualities and are therefore frequently pigeonholed as Surrealistic. While this classification is not completely erroneous, it fails to acknowledge some subtle differences between Curtis's artwork…

Keifer-Boyd and Kraft's (2003) article "Inclusion Policy in Practice" inspired the creation of a new art education course as well as this article. In response to their claim that preservice training should provide greater exposure to experiences with students with special needs, during the summer of 2007 a group of University of North Texas (UNT)…

One of the traditional privileges for teachers in the United States has been control over the curriculum. Unlike most countries in the world, the United States does not have a national curriculum "per se", enabling teachers to make curriculum decisions that most benefit local students. However, the Elementary and Secondary Act, also known as the…

Many graduate programs in North America require a course in the history of art education for master and doctoral students. When learners of all ages fail to see connections between their learning experience and educational outcomes, they are less motivated to engage actively, creatively, and responsibly in the construction of their own knowledge.…

Although it may seem like a fruitless task, art teachers must focus not only on their students and classes, but also on building community support to maintain a place in the schools and the lives of their students. To pursue this endeavor, art teachers need to encourage community members to see beyond the often taken-for-granted views of art…