CREATIVE TEACHING METHODS
EVERY TEACHER SHOULD USE TODAY

I can still clearly remember my favorite teacher from elementary school. I remember everything we learned in class because we would sing songs about historical events, put on a living library of historical figures, and watch movies about what we were learning. These creative teaching methods made learning feel exciting and memorable. All this cool stuff we did was a ton of fun, but these were also very effective teaching methods since they made the educational material become real to me, helping me understand it more easily.

Creative teaching methods in all levels of education from preschool all the way to postgraduate have always been much more effective in making boring or hard to understand material stick in students’ minds. Unfortunately, creativity in education has not been as heavily prioritized as the best teaching strategies, which is why these amazing teachers with fun classes are few and far between.

Now, when kids are more distracted by the internet, social media, and shorter attention spans, every teacher needs to infuse their teaching methods and strategies with creativity to make learning enjoyable and the material stick. The future of education depends on it!

Here are 5 creative teaching methods that every teacher should use today:

1. Sparking Curiosity and Embracing Critical Thinking

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it will turbocharge the education and life of students. Getting students curious about the topics they are learning and excited enough to ask their own questions are the best teaching strategies because students then want to learn. This creativity from curiosity then opens them up to critical thinking because the students happily choose to embark on the journey of getting the answer, building their problem solving skills instead of just going straight to the answer.

Teachers can implement these creative teaching strategies by asking open-ended questions so that students use their creativity and critical thinking to craft the answers themselves. One of the best teaching strategies for creativity that teachers should use is to make the classroom a safe space where questioning, inquiry, and trial and error are encouraged over “being correct” so that students gain confidence in their curiosity.

2. Teaching Through a Storytelling Lens

There’s a reason why stories from our childhoods stick in our brains years later, but we can’t remember how much something cost at the store yesterday. Stories and narratives stay with us more significantly, compared to just random raw information because we can usually identify with characters and situations, reflecting it back on our own lives and making it more meaningful.

Storytelling is an incredibly creative process, and engaging with it makes creative teaching methods. Stories are also the most effective teaching methods because they’re enjoyable and students’ brains are 40% less likely to forget the story over the pure information. There’s a reason Schoolhouse Rock! is so unforgettable because it made everything from grammar to government fun and catchy.

Even teachers will have a good time rewriting their curriculums to include teaching methods and strategies through a storytelling lens. Their creativity and excitement is sparked and they carry that into the classroom to the students.

3. Play and Project Based Learning

Play and the freedom to play encourages creative minds. If students are inspired to learn through play early in preschool, that openness to curiosity and a creative approach sticks with them as they get older. That is why one of the best teaching strategies is to tailor play to whatever level the students are at in their education.

But also, don’t forget the play based learning even when the students are older! Sometimes that is what is missing from an older student who could have lost their sense of wonder and needs some good creative teaching methods to get back on track.

The best teaching strategies could be to reenact a scene from history or literature that they are learning, or have them work in groups on bigger projects. The point is to let loose and collaborate with others so that students of all ages can navigate relationships and potential conflict.

4. Collaborative Learning

Learning in a vacuum is not fun, but because the world is evolving technologically and socially through globalization, it is also not effective or useful anymore. In the “real world” students will need to know how to work with and relate to different types of people from all over the world no matter what profession they end up in. Collaborative learning in school is one of the most effective teaching methods to prepare students for this.

These creative teaching methods allow students to exchange ideas and build off of each other, giving way for new solutions that they otherwise would not have come up with on their own. These teaching methods and strategies give students the tools to have meaningful conversations and effective teamwork to take into their futures.

5. Reflection and Ownership Over What Students Learn

When students have a reflection period after a project, lesson, or activity, they have the time to make connections for themselves, opening up all kinds of creative pathways which can solidify the lesson even more. Most of the time, teachers don’t have time to pause for reflections because there is too much to cover and they need to move on, but the creative teaching methods of reflection and ownership unlock a better understanding and excitement in students’ minds, empowering them to apply that learning more.

To make these effective teaching methods, it doesn’t have to be complex, reflection can be through journaling or even just discussion. What worked? What didn’t? What did they like? What was the main objective of the exercise or lesson? What would they want to know more about? If students can articulate the answers to these questions themselves, they are already on their way to mastering the material.

Conclusion

While there are lots of trends in education these days, prioritizing creativity and creative teaching methods have always been important and should be emphasized further. Teachers can work these 5 simple creative teaching methods of sparking curiosity, teaching through a storytelling lens, play and project based learning, collaborative learning, and reflection into their lessons to give students the most fun, creative, and effective education at all levels.

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About Author

Ilona Sindhu

Ilona is a writer focused on Old Norse Mythology, drawing from her Hungarian, Pakistani, and Texan roots. She holds a BA in Dramaturgy and Theatre History from NYU, an MS in Religion and Literature from the University of Edinburgh, and is currently working on her PhD. After working in theatre, dance, finance, and academia, her work blends myth, culture, and storytelling across borders.