How to get your Students UnStuck and out of “I can’t” Mode

“I can’t do. I don’t have any ideas. Can I have my mom draw this for me? This is terrible, I’m terrible, this is horrible, I can’t draw. I’m not creative. No one in my family is creative. Why am in this stupid class?”

You cringe when you hear these words coming out of students mouths, and when they say it over and over again, you want scream.  This mindset springs for a wide range of things, but when you’re trying to teach students to think like artist, we need to make sure to give them the tools to do so.

I got the email telling me that my work had been accepted for a show at city hall.  After I finished celebrating, I realized that I needed to come up with a plan of what exactly I was going to create, and with that it seemed like my brain froze. Now , as a teacher that works on pushing my students past, the ” I can’t”,  I decided that perhaps I should use the tools that I have my students use on myself. ( novel idea, I know)

So I grabbed my “everything book”, a pen, and started writing. Want to try?

Step 1: Write down a few words ( I find that less is more to get started), the words should be somewhat related to the problem that you’re trying to solve. For me, I’m working on a show that will be woven wall hangings ( I like to call them scarves for your wall, because first and foremost I’m a scarf maker.) In the image below, you can see that I stared with: Woven Dreams.

 

Step 2: Set your timer for at least 5 minutes and start to write down what pops into your head, flowing from the top word. I find it easier to make small changes, and if you’re feeling stuck, then just try to think of something that is the opposite as above.

 

Step 3: select 2-3 of your favorites

Step 4: write some new words, ideas, and or questions off of those selected ideas.

Step 5: let incubation work it’s magic, and go and do something else.

 

 

In the video below you can see a live class, where I walk through the process with high school students.