We hear a lot in education circles about the need to inspire creativity in the students we serve. And rightfully so! Fostering innovative thinkers and problem-solvers is crucial for their future success and for the betterment of our society. Many educators passionately promote giving students voice and choice in their own educational journey, empowering them to pursue their interests and take ownership of their learning.
While inspiring creativity and giving students ownership of their learning is certainly a vital part of public education, we can’t ignore the brain science of how learning truly takes place. Before students can genuinely be creative, before they can truly innovate, they must have the foundational skills required to successfully grapple with and solve problems.
Our classroom teachers, those incredible professionals who are masters in providing the academic skills required for success in life, understand that teaching is both a science and an art. The art lies in inspiring, engaging, and personalizing the learning experience. The science, however, is rooted in how the brain acquires and retains knowledge. Brain research is unequivocally clear: guided practice is absolutely required for students to master the foundational skills for reading, writing, and mathematics.
In Ohio, our commitment to the Science of Reading is a critical step to ensure all students have the foundational skills to read. This isn’t about rote memorization of phonics rules; it’s about building functional memory, understanding the systematic relationship between sounds and letters, and developing the automaticity necessary for comprehension. Just as with phonics in reading, we aren’t talking about mindless repetition, but rather the deliberate practice that leads to deep understanding and effortless application.
We must make the same unwavering commitment to math skills, both numeracy skills and fluency. Students need to grasp fundamental mathematical concepts and be able to apply them with ease. This doesn’t stifle creativity in math; it unleashes it! When students aren’t bogged down by basic calculations, they are free to think critically, explore complex problems, and discover novel solutions.
As educational leaders, we must be intentional in our efforts. This means understanding the critical alignment and balance required in our schools. It isn’t an “either/or” proposition – either creativity or foundational skills. It is profoundly and unequivocally both.
By prioritizing the explicit teaching and mastery of foundational skills, we are not limiting our students’ potential for creativity; we are in fact building the very bedrock upon which their creative capacities can truly flourish. When students possess a strong command of reading, writing, and mathematics, they gain the tools to express their unique ideas, understand complex information, and tackle challenges with confidence and ingenuity. It’s only then that true, meaningful creativity can take hold and propel them forward.
Life in Focus 