CREATIVE THINKING AND ARTS BASED LEARNING

"WHY SHOULD EDUCATORS BE CONCERNED ABOUT CREATIVE THOUGHT AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AT A TIME WHEN TOUGH TALK ABOUT ACADEMIC STANDARDS, TEACHER ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INTERNATIONAL RANKING ON TESTS DOMINATES THE EDUCATIONAL SCENE?" CREATIVE THINKING AND ARTS BASED LEARNING, FIFTH EDITION, ARGUES THAT THE ABILITY TO THINK IN INNOVATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE WAYS IS A SURVIVAL SKILL IN A WORLD WHERE WE ARE INUNDATED DAILY WITH INFORMATION. THE AUTHORS' VISION FOR THIS BOOK IS THAT IT WILL EQUIP PRACTITIONERS IN THE FIELDS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TO INFLUENCE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO REGARD THE CREATIVE PROCESSES AND ARTISTIC PRODUCTS OF CHILDREN'S MINDS WITH A NEW APPRECIATION AND RESPECT. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE AUTHORS HAVE GROUNDED THEIR CONTENT WITH THE VERY LATEST THEORY AND RESEARCH ON CREATIVE THOUGHT AND PLAY. THEY HAVE PROVIDED CASE STUDIES IN EVERY CHAPTER WHERE REAL TEACHERS DESCRIBE HOW THEY HAVE INTEGRATED PLAY AND THE ARTS INTO THEIR CURRICULUM. THEY