District 205 fostering creativity to enhance learning

Elmhurst Unit District 205 has developed an approach to instruction and professional learning to ensure that the six Cs - creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, character and citizenship - are at the heart of its classroom practices. This is intentional to support the district vision of all students graduating college-, career- and life-ready.

District 205 is fully committed to being a National Leader in Future Ready Learning. A culture of innovation is necessary to accomplish this. In the fall, administrators began a deeper dive into the concept of innovation and reached consensus that creativity is the driver of innovation.

The district also has identified increasing rigor as an important priority. District 205 participates in the practice of instructional rounds, in which teams of administrators visit classrooms to obtain data on how to support the teachers in implementing these critical instructional practices. The focus of rounds this year is rigor.

The district is using the International Center for Leadership in Education's Rigor and Relevance Framework as an anchor to help establish a shared organizational definition of rigor. The framework identifies adaptation as the highest form of rigor. In the framework, adaptation is the combination of critical thinking and real-world applications. In this model, creativity is also the key to rigor.

With this in mind, District 205 administrators have embarked on a quest to better understand creativity and how that looks, feels, and is manifested in classrooms so that the district can support the professional learning and practice of its teachers.

In February, District 205 administrators participated in a video conference with Doug Reeves, author of "The Myth of the Muse." During this activity, administrators gained a better understanding of what creativity is and how to assess it.

The premise of the book is that creativity is not an esoteric concept that only a few savants are born with. Reeves asserts that creativity can, and should, be developed and cultivated in all human endeavors.

He asserts that curiosity, versatility, synthesis, discipline, collaboration, experimentation and tenacity are the key tenets of creativity, and that an emphasis on these concepts will bring out the best in our students.

District 205 is incorporating these ideas in all of its curriculum and assessment work, and in how it supports the professional learning of its teachers.

• David Moyer is superintendent of Elmhurst Unit District 205. During the school year, his column runs monthly in Neighbor.