Are Your Students Evolving into Their Creative Potential?
A few years ago, my 12-year-old daughter hopped into the car after a long day at theatre camp.
“How was your day?” I asked.
“It was okay,” she replied, clearly unimpressed.
“Just okay? Tell me more.”
“I just don’t feel like I’m evolving.”
I had to stifle a laugh—“evolving” felt like a big word for a 12-year-old. But the more we talked, the more I realized she was voicing something we all experience: the desire to grow, to feel challenged, and to unlock our full potential.
That simple car ride conversation reminded me just how important it is to intentionally nurture creativity in our students. Like my daughter, they want to evolve. They want to stretch their thinking and try new things. But they may not know how—unless we help guide them.
As educators, we have the power to foster creative thinking in the classroom in meaningful ways. Here are four practical strategies to help your students grow into their creative potential:
1. Ask Open-Ended Questions
Fuel curiosity and critical thinking by asking questions that invite exploration.
Try:
- “What’s a new way we could approach this?”
- “What are three different solutions you could try?”
These kinds of prompts encourage students to think beyond the obvious and take intellectual risks.
2. Create a Safe Space for Failure
Creativity thrives when students feel safe enough to take risks. Normalize experimentation and celebrate effort—not just the “right” answers.
Mistakes aren’t setbacks; they’re stepping stones to better ideas.
3. Encourage Self-Reflection
Help students track their own growth by making reflection part of the routine. Ask questions like:
- “What are you most proud of this week?”
- “What’s one area you want to improve?”
This helps them recognize progress and set personal goals.
4. Provide Constructive, Student-Led Feedback
Instead of giving all the answers, guide students toward self-directed growth. You might say:
- “Here’s something I noticed. How do you think you could approach it differently next time?”
This empowers students to become problem solvers and take ownership of their learning.
Helping Students Grow Creatively Starts with Us
Every student has creative potential—it just needs the right environment to grow. When we model curiosity, encourage reflection, and create space for experimentation, we give students the tools they need to evolve.
What strategies do you use to foster creativity in your classroom?
Share your ideas in the comments—I’d love to hear what’s working for you!
Dr. Cyndi Burnett
My Bio
Dr. Cyndi Burnett is the Director of Possibilities for Creativity and Education. Like her creativity-focused curriculum for students and teachers, Cyndi embraces the creative lifestyle that she teaches. You will often find her trying on new ideas, exploring resources to stretch her thinking, and being an advocate for playfulness and humor. Although she loves to research and write about creativity, Cyndi is a firm believer in field service. She has 20 years of teaching experience as an academic at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at SUNY Buffalo State where she instructed classes in creative-thinking and creative problem-solving.
Cyndi is the co-author of the books Infusing Creative Thinking into Higher Education, Weaving Creativity into Every Strand of Your Curriculum, 20 Lessons for Weaving Creativity into your Curriculum, and My Sandwich Is a Spaceship: Creative Thinking for Parents and Young Children.