Taking risks in a competitive environment can be daunting. In light of international results that rank the United States in the bottom half of developed countries in math achievement among 15-year-olds (PISA, 2012), the prospect of trying new instructional methods is tempered by risk-averse concerns of slipping further in rank. But risk taking in teaching is essential for our nation's students to remain competitive internationally. How can we make room for teacher creativity within the demands of our competitive education culture? Here are four ways to encourage teachers to take creative risks, even in today's education climate.
Combine Topics to Create Time Loopholes
Meaningful, creative projects may require not only material resources but also time for student engagement in those activities. My experience has shown me that textbook curriculum leaves little room in the school year for teacher-created projects, so I leverage the time we have by consolidating textbook topics. Rather than teaching chapters in isolation, for example, I suggest reviewing the chapters of a text in advance to identify central themes. Teachers can create assessments that span multiple topics and chapters. Isolated chapter instruction doesn't match the complexity of real-world problems or teach students the combination of skills they will need to solve them. So, consider the classroom textbook as a supplemental resource and let your creative approach to organizing conceptual understanding drive the delivery of high-quality instruction.
Bootstrap Background Knowledge to Interests
Students can build background knowledge by applying new skills to concepts that already interest them. In a recent ratio project, I asked students to research a topic of interest and to compare and contrast facts about their topic using math applications such as ratios, decimals, fractions, and concepts related to surface area and three-dimensional shapes. For example, one middle school group researched ratios and surface areas of different gummi bear containers, while other students researched the dimensions of a dollar bill to determine how many times a major league baseball player's salary would round the bases in terms of money in dollars. Students were building background knowledge and working toward a standard, but choosing their own route to get there.
Collaborate to Develop Creative Solutions
Excellence in teaching is a team effort. Overworked, stressed teachers struggle to find the time to develop creative lessons. Professional learning communities (PLCs) are one way to provide teachers with designated time to share ideas and best practices. By offering PLCs, school leadership can support and encourage collaboration among colleagues. Exchanging ideas is critical for maximizing the potential of productive risk taking to improve learning outcomes. In addition to PLCs, schools might consider creating a digital resource database that teachers can contribute to and access when developing their curricula. As an instructional coach, I have created, and other teachers have generously contributed to, a list of resources for both teachers and students. Our "Virtual Math Library" includes practice equations, Jeopardy-style math games, and sample lessons organized by mathematical concepts. Consider the purpose when designing a resource. When creating a virtual math library, for example, I informally surveyed colleagues to ask what skills the online resource should address.
Design Differentiated Learning Stations
Differentiated stations allow teachers to creatively design activities for students with a variety of learning styles and needs. By establishing set learning center themes and rotating skills, teachers can institute a manageable system for creative teaching. For example, in the math classroom, students can practice skills by rotating through computer or technology-enhanced stations, no- or low-tech gaming stations, and problem-solving stations that require them to collaborate to find a solution. This strategy can encourage risk taking in a predictable, safe environment if teachers create game formats that allow for new challenges while keeping the same rules.
Educators can encourage creativity by embracing these productive risk-taking strategies: thoughtfully grouping classroom content, encouraging colleague collaboration, allowing for student-driven instruction, and designing for differentiation.