Teacher’s Toolkit
Toolkit: Staci Lamb’s Creative Wonderland
Meet Staci Lamb, a high school language arts teacher at Elkton High School in Cecil County. Staci’s classroom is completely transformed into a lush Wonderland with cozy tables and chairs instead of traditional desks and floor to ceiling wallpapers adding texture and depth to her teaching space. Her Wonderland follows a Harry Potter-themed classroom you may have seen on social media!
PRIME YOURSELF TO THINK CREATIVELY. In Alice in Wonderland, Alice loved to daydream and think about how she would do things in her world. As you lesson In Alice in Wonderland, Alice loved to daydream and think about how she would do things in her world. As you lesson plan in your world, shift your thinking from how could that happen to how can I make that happen? Just like that, you’ll become curiouser and curiouser.
PURSUE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES.
Sometimes, we need to go down the rabbit hole. Whether it’s watching the latest TikTok trends or current events, collaborating with a colleague, or simply using a mind map as you lesson plan. This allows you to go from being just curious to being wildly creative.
PRODUCE CREATIVITY.
Think of the last time you had your students paint the roses red, or in other words, work on a creative project. Did you also create one with them? Creating models with students allows you to create through the lens of a student, informing your future practice and clarifying grading expectations.
PRAISE STUDENTS’ CREATIVITY.
How often do you say, “I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!”? We are often so constrained by time that we forget to not only incorporate creativity, but to acknowledge and encourage it.
Learn more about Staci’s teaching practice in her book, Keeping the Wonder.