It is a bit of a debate in the the teacher world and at teacher conferences-Can we teach children how to be creative?
I really enjoy teaching children how to write, no matter what level they are at. I also love motivating children to want to read! David Lordan, who is a creative writing guru, poet and writer of all things creative, is going to be giving a course that will help teachers learn how to teach children how to be creative in their writing! The details are below, I have to footnote Nuala Ni Chonchuir as she revealed this information first on her blog- http://womenrulewriter.blogspot.ie/
This course is going to be accredited and it sounds delish!
Teaching creativity
Here is something new and exciting for those who want to become teachers of CW. Or for those who already teach and want to gain new skills. A Teaching Creativity course taught by Dave Lordan, one of our most innovative young writers. His new book of short fiction First Book of Frags will be out shortly. I’ve read it and it’s a cracker. The course is great value at €200 for four sessions. Details:
Teaching Creativity is an innovative new course in which anyone interested in becoming a teacher of Creative Writing can acquire the fundamental skills and inspiration to do so. The module will be taught by poet Dave Lordan on behalf of The Irish Centre for Poetry Studies at the Mater Dei Institute, and will cover the teaching of creative writing in primary, secondary, adult and community contexts, areas in which he has acquired an abundance of experience over the years.
As well as boosting the CVs of participants and enhancing their teaching abilities, it will also provide specific opportunities for particular groups of people:
Qualified teachers will discover new inspiration for the integration of creativity into the design and delivery of curriculum, as well as how to design a short course in creative writing, enabling a confident response to the increased emphasis on creativity in the Junior Cert, for example.
Community educators and youth workers will be able to develop the potential for incorporating creativity into their work.
Writers, both aspiring and established, can develop the skills that will enable them to do creative teaching work that will complement their craft.
Participants will be asked to produce a short course and lesson plans. A certificate will be issued to all participants. The course can also be taken for credit as part of MDI’s Masters in Poetry Studies, as long as an expanded assessment piece is presented.
The module will be taught over four Saturdays at the Mater Dei Institute: January 19th, February 2nd, March 9th and April 13th. Sessions will run from 9.45a.m- 12.45p.m. The course fee is €200. The module co-ordinator, Michael Hinds, is happy to answer any enquiries: michael.hinds@materdei.dcu.ie