Welcome to Educator’s Toolkit! This growing collection is designed to support high school drama educators with practical resources and inspiring insights. While many posts focus on staging productions from our catalog—offering guidance on directing, casting, and creative problem-solving—we also feature broader articles that champion the role of creativity in the classroom.

Through contributions from experienced educators like Deborah Baldwin (@Dramamommaspeaks), you’ll find ideas for nurturing innovation, building student confidence, and enriching the overall arts experience. Whether you're directing your next school play or sparking imagination in day-to-day lessons, Educator’s Toolkit offers adaptable strategies and expert wisdom to support your goals.

Click here to read the full article on her blog: The Power of Creativity: Nurturing Innovation in Students

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The Power of Creativity: Nurturing Innovation in Students

Deborah Baldwin

I worry about our students.  Specifically, as a drama teacher and working with all things theater, I’m concerned about our students’ creativity.  So let’s consider that today–the power of creativity: nurturing innovation in students. In a world increasingly shaped by rapid technological advancements and complex global challenges, creativity has never been more essential.

Schools are not just places where students learn facts and figures. They are incubators for innovative thinkers, problem solvers, and dreamers. I believe that nurturing creativity in students is not only a vital aspect of their development but also an investment in the future.

Why Creativity Matters

This is a generality–many people believe they are not creative. One of my friends, who has a beautifully decorated home, told me, “I’m not creative like you.”  What? Of course,  I disagree with her. Creativity is not just about art, music, or theater. It is the foundation of critical thinking, adaptability, and innovation. When students learn to think creatively, they develop skills that help them approach problems from new perspectives. They explore unconventional solutions, and express their individuality. Since this is a drama education blog, I’m going to consider creativity from that standpoint.

Creativity in Action: Building Skills Through the Arts

For example:

• Problem-Solving: Creativity helps students develop resilience and resourcefulness when facing challenges, fostering a mindset of possibilities rather than obstacles.

• Innovation: Many of today’s most groundbreaking advancements come from those who think outside the box, whether in science, business, or technology.

• Emotional Growth: Creativity allows students to express their feelings, build confidence, and develop empathy by exploring diverse narratives and perspectives.

Classroom Connections

1. Encourage Open-Ended Exploration Let students experiment with ideas and projects without fear of being “wrong.” Open-ended assignments promote originality and allow them to explore their interests. 

2. Incorporate Arts into the Curriculum Theater, music, visual arts, and creative writing engage students in ways that traditional lectures cannot. These disciplines help students develop a broader range of cognitive and emotional skills. Teaching students about building a mood through sound effects and music is always fun.

3. Provide Opportunities for Collaboration Group projects encourage students to build on each other’s ideas, learning how to synthesize diverse perspectives into something greater than the sum of its parts.

4. Value the Process Over the Product Celebrating effort and experimentation reduces the pressure to “succeed” and helps students take risks, an essential part of creative growth. 

5. Model Creativity Teachers who demonstrate their own creative processes—whether through storytelling, problem-solving, or innovation in teaching methods—instill a sense of curiosity and possibility in their students.

6. If you’d like to learn about the importance of drama education to a student’s life, check out my Litpick.com article.

The Long-Term Impact

Are you a day dreamer? Sometimes I daydream when I’m create new resources such as the Sonologue unit.  According to the American Psychological Association, “Studies indicate that creativity involves the interaction of multiple neural networks. For instance, the default mode network, associated with mind-wandering and spontaneous thinking, collaborates with the executive control network, responsible for focused attention, during creative tasks. This interplay allows individuals to generate original ideas and critically evaluate them.

As a teacher, one of the best things you can do is praise your students when they are creative, no matter the quality of their project.  When creativity is nurtured, students carry these skills far beyond the classroom. They learn at an early age that having creative ideas will pay off for them.  They become innovators in their fields. Additionally, they are compassionate leaders, and individuals who view the world through a lens of possibility. My advice?  Be as free with them as you possibly can and just watch them light up! 

Here’s a new warm-up exercise which I think will help you and your students greatly as they hone their creativity: Exploration Game

Moreover, creative education helps students develop a lifelong love of learning, which is critical in an ever-changing world. Learn about my former student, Brandon Davis and how he used set design as a student and turned it into a professional career. The Five Reasons Your Students Will Love Set Design

The Link Between Personality, Creativity, and Joy

Personality traits such as openness to experience have been consistently linked to higher creativity. Individuals high in this trait tend to be more imaginative.  Additionally they are curious, and open to new experiences.  These quality all contribute to creative thinking. in a recent study sponsored by YouGov which surveyed 700 children, “Creative activities help children recognize their unique talents and develop a deeper belief in their abilities—giving children an incredible sense of joy and accomplishment,” says Cheri Sterman, senior director of education for Crayola. For more information, check out: www.parents.com 

Final Thoughts

I hope my friend re-considers her creativity.  It would be sad to think someone stunted their creativity and imagination just because they don’t think they are capable.  And here’s another thing–creativity has nothing to do with talent! Whoa, that’s a heady thought.  Someone can be talented and not creative.

For instance, your student is a math wizard–that takes analytical thought and problem solving.  That doesn’t necessarily take talent.  Or your teacher is an incredible singer–they are expressive and skilled. Her prowess was probably built through much hard work and practice. I would argue that both people are creative. Do you agree? 

Investing in creativity in education is about more than preparing students for careers—it’s about preparing them for life. When schools make room for creativity, they  enrich students’ academic experiences. Furthermore, they empower them to shape a better future. As educators and mentors, we hold the key to unlocking the potential of the next generation. Let’s use it to inspire a world filled with imagination, innovation, and boundless opportunities.

How do you nurture creativity in your classroom? Share your strategies and success stories in the comments below!