Left speechless

Authors of professional books and articles aren't exactly overwhelmed by praise - or even acknowledgement. So when an e-mail like this shows up in the e-mail box - and it is not even from a relative - it leaves be speechless!

Dear Mr. Johnson,

Your most recent book,  Teaching Outside the Lines, has been inspiring me over the last month.  You set out to make a guide for teachers, and to present the research in a clear and engaging way, and I truly appreciate every page of it.  I have been focusing on creativity in my classroom for a long time, but aside from inspiration (Ted Robinson, etc,) there is little to go on.  I have starred and underlined many of your points, and have incorporated some of your advice.  Ban clip art, for instance!  

Also, as a mom of two young boys (4.5 and 3), I loved reading about how to challenge them creatively as they grow.  My eldest is intensely creative and a bit quirky.  

I am writing to ask your advice about my next steps as a teacher to further my own creativity and that of my students.  I am a high school Spanish teacher in a small urban CT district.  I was certified in NY originally and got my MSSE at UAlbany in Spanish Education; I have been teaching for nine years in both middle schools and high schools.  

I have started book groups at my school (we jut read Mindset), and I have been attending PD workshops.  This year I gave a workshop on promoting creativity in the Spanish classroom.  I have also tried to expand my reading on creativity, including articles and your book.  I am now considering how to proceed; applying for an EdD is one next step.  There don't seem to be many programs with a focus on creativity.  Some of them have a focus on gifted education, which may be similar. 

I found a few programs which would allow me to do research in my classroom; that sounds really exciting!  I am always experimenting with my students.  

Do you have any advice for a teacher looking to promote creative thinking, open up young minds, and challenge herself?  Are there any programs you recommend, or people that you think would have good suggestions?  

Again, I can't stress enough how amazing your book was.  You seem to have a true passion for this topic, which is important, because there is so much push-back from students and other professionals.  

Most sincerely,

Libby ________________

___________ High School 

Spanish Teacher

TEAM Mentor

GSA Advisor

My reply...

Hi Libby,

Your email made my day. No, make that, made my year! What a thoughtful letter. I was truly taken aback.

I wish I had an easy answer about how to increase one's own creativity. I still honestly believe that the problems we encounter on a daily basis are from where most creative actions arise. ​ Pragmatist that I am, creativity isn't really creative unless it fills a need - practical, artistic, every-day. It is perhaps fearfulness that keeps people from exercising their​ creativity. What it doesn't work? ​ Will people make fun of me? ​ Could I cause harm? ​ Legitimate questions to be sure, but ones that must be overcome if one wants to be more effective through originality.

Creativity may, in the end, be a personal journey with no single path that works for all. Desire is a starting point and you have that. I expect we in education will hear more about you in the future.

Good luck raising your boys. ​ My children and grandchildren have been the driving force behind much of my work and thinking in education.

Oh, my I share your email with my editor at Corwin? I think he would enjoy the compliments as well.

Thank you and all the very best,

Doug​

Libby graciously allowed me to share her letter as I saw fit so now I am sharing it with you.

Wow!

Comments

[Mark Crotty]

Hi, Doug,

What a great tribute not just for your book for for your work over the years! Too often we have to write and communicate in vacuums, wondering how folks are responding. Justified affirmation!

I have found that one way to increase one's creativity is to learn about and engage in design thinking. Your fan might begin by taking a workshop on that. It's also really cool when a teacher shifts to an understanding by Design approach and incorporates design thinking and PBL into that. Then the creativity flows!

Best,
--Mark

[Joanne T]

I just listened to Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic. It is fantastic and I highly recommend it!

[Mary]

Well done Doug! Another book I might recommend that Libby read is Invent to Learn by Sylvia Martinez. This one is focused on making and engineering, but a lot creativity involves problem solving and critical thinking as well. She might enjoy that one. Not as much as your book, of course, :-) but it is another good one.

Mary

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Mark,

Great suggestion about design thinking. We too often think that parameters and process stifle creativity, when they may force us to truly be more imaginative. Think of the rules Shakespeare had to follow when writing his sonnets!

All the best,

Doug

Thanks, Joanne. I will definitely put the book on my to-read list.

Doug

Thanks, Mary. I know Sylvia and Gary Stager are big advocates for the Maker movement. We are doing it in our district - I just hope we get it right. Martinez's book will help.

Doug

[Sara Kelly Johns]

Where is the "like" button? I am glad you are hearing from someone about the book's worth. I never told you that I REALLY like it; I just pick it up and re-read parts often. Thanks for your wisdom and insight.

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, Sara. This means a lot coming from you!

Doug

[Lisa]

It is just "must read" not only for teachers. I think every parent have to read it and everyone who looking for inspiration. A lot of useful books for teaching I recommend from this list http://www.nea.org/grants/teachers-top-100-books-for-children.html but "Teaching outside the Lines" is out of competition. I often work with Ph.D. students at dissertation consulting service and actually one of my students recomeded it to me but now recommend this book to every student with who I work. For those who still didn't read this review, http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1014879 will be useful and dispel all doubts, at least it describes all my thoughts about this book.

[siennawatts siennawatts]

Wow! Sometimes such letters (say reviews) are as inspiring as books! I haven’t read your book, but the way she speaks about it makes me want to read it, especially since I’m very interested in the methods of raising free and creative children. I don’t have my own children, but I work with them and want to give the best I can. Sometimes I even sacrifice my time and money (because I’m a student and order my assignments from https://my-assignment.help/), but it’s worth it, when I see their growth!