Abstract/Notes: In contrast to intellectual giftedness reflected in high academic performance and often measured by IQ tests, there is growing recognition that other forms of giftedness exist. This paper focuses on creative giftedness, defined as high potential to produce work that is original and context appropriate. After a brief introduction to the psychological basis of creative giftedness, the role of school context in the development of creative potential is highlighted. Then an empirical study suggesting that creative potential is influenced by educational context is presented; pupils attending traditional and Montessori schools in France were compared on a set of creativity tasks in both the graphic and verbal domains. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted as children were seen at two measurement occasions, with approximately one year delay. Results indicated greater scores on measures of creative potential for children in the Montessori context. The discussion situates the results in a broader context of issues concerning the development of creative giftedness through education.

Language: English

ISSN: 2396-8702, 0267-1611

Abstract/Notes: This article and the one that follows, "Quilt-Making in the Elementary Class" (EJ1077043), emerge from Mountain Laurel Montessori School and provide examples of the intrinsic links between the hand and academic lessons. This article features a compilation of artful recipes for young children (Soap Sculpting Clay, Easy Flour Paste, Face Paint, Homemade Sidewalk Chalk, and Great Fun Dough), craft activities (Sponge/Potato Printing, Felt Bead Necklace, Multi-Medium Collage, and Coffee Filter Flowers), as well as primary sewing activities (Preliminary Sewing Lessons, Greeting Card Lacing--for youngest children, Plastic Canvas Decorations--for older children, and Felt Pouches). Elementary activities such as Work Pouches, Prepositional Phrases, Pyramid with Name Research, Bilateral Symmetry and Names of Triangles, and Paper Quilts from Timeline of Life are also described. The article concludes with examples of adolescent projects (Timeline of Humanities Projects, Tree--World Religions Humanities Project, and Inventions--Simple Machines Occupation Project). [This article was written by the Teachers and Students of Mountain Laurel Montessori School.]

Language: English

ISSN: 1522-9734

Abstract/Notes: David McNees' deep foray into creativity theory and drama begins with mindfulness as a preparation for adolescent focus. This article discusses role incarnation, the correlation of the three-period lesson to Landy's role theory, the creation and re-creation of personal story and identity, archetypal heroes, and how the adaptability learned in theater builds both academic and creative success. The practice of role fluidity brings theater theory to ordinary, everyday life as theater can serve as an active support to emphasize the adolescents psychological characteristics in a Montessori context.

Language: English

ISSN: 1522-9734

Abstract/Notes: "To a great extent, we all must "do" in order to learn." Ellen Lebitz begins with this overarching truth as a lead-in to a close look at handwork in the elementary environment. She explains the benefits of handwork for the second-plane child, including it being a key to helping "even the most distracted children find focus and interest." She gives concrete examples of handwork (mostly as follow-up work) along with tips for implementation, including maintaining a clean-up routine and having materials organized and available. She addresses teamwork in handwork, issues of scale, and poses handwork as a grounding route to abstraction. Supported by invaluable tools for the teacher to use, her enthusiasm and experience with this work shines through as encouragement to be prepared and, most importantly, to trust in the child: "It would be so easy to just assume that we know what the best follow-up is, but the children need to be free to figure out themselves what they are interested in and on what they want to work. Once we make a particular project an expectation, then we are taking away the 'spontaneous' part of the spontaneous activity in education. We have to make peace with the idea that some follow-up will be not as we expect, will fizzle out, but, sometimes, will exceed our wildest expectations. All of this is part of the process; we have to let go of our 'favorite' projects and let the children be free." [This talk was presented at the NAMTA conference titled "Finding the Hook: Montessori Strategies to Support Concentration," October 6-9, 2016, in Columbia, MD.]

Language: English

ISSN: 1522-9734

Language: English

ISSN: 1522-9734

Language: German

Language: English

Published: Rohnert Park, California, 2010

Abstract/Notes: Fostering creative minds has always been a premise to ensure adaptation to new challenges of human civilization. While some alternative educational settings (i.e., Montessori) were shown to nurture creative skills, it is unknown how they impact underlying brain mechanisms across the school years. This study assessed creative thinking and resting-state functional connectivity via fMRI in 75 children (4–18 y.o.) enrolled either in Montessori or traditional schools. We found that pedagogy significantly influenced creative performance and underlying brain networks. Replicating past work, Montessori-schooled children showed higher scores on creative thinking tests. Using static functional connectivity analysis, we found that Montessori-schooled children showed decreased within-network functional connectivity of the salience network. Moreover, using dynamic functional connectivity, we found that traditionally-schooled children spent more time in a brain state characterized by high intra-default mode network connectivity. These findings suggest that pedagogy may influence brain networks relevant to creative thinking—particularly the default and salience networks. Further research is needed, like a longitudinal study, to verify these results given the implications for educational practitioners. Research Highlights Most executive jobs are prospected to be obsolete within several decades, so creative skills are seen as essential for the near future. School experience has been shown to play a role in creativity development, however, the underlying brain mechanisms remained under-investigated yet. Seventy-five 4–18 years-old children, from Montessori or traditional schools, performed a creativity task at the behavioral level, and a 6-min resting-state MR scan. We uniquely report preliminary evidence for the impact of pedagogy on functional brain networks.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1111/desc.13389

ISSN: 1467-7687

Language: Italian

ISSN: 0042-7241

Abstract/Notes: Studies on the development of creativity have highlighted the impact of learning environments. In particular, pedagogical approaches are hypothesized to differ concerning their emphasis on individual initiative, and action-based learning. A semi-longitudinal study was conducted during two consecutive years with 210 children in elementary schools with traditional and alternative pedagogical approaches. Our results highlight (1) an influence of pedagogy on children's creative performance; (2) a positive influence of alternative pedagogy on creative development from year 1 to year 2 mainly for Montessori school. Children's creative performance was influenced not only by the type of task but also by the type of school.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1016/j.lindif.2007.11.009

ISSN: 1041-6080