Summary
Contents
“Zing! is a wonderful book that encourages others to be creative by sharing what has worked for Pat Mora in all of her creative efforts.”
—Camila A. Alire, Dean Emeritus University of New Mexico
“In a series of letters to teachers written with her signature poetic grace, Pat Mora gently reminds us of the potential in ourselves and our students.”
—Lee Galda, Professor University of Minnesota
“In this era of mandates, accountability and adherence to canned curricula, Mora reminds us that great educators are fueled by passion and creativity.”
—Gary Bloom, Superintendent Santa Cruz City Schools, Soquel, CA
Cultivate your own creativity and the creative potential of all your students!
Zing! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students is a beautifully written guide that offers seven powerful practices for personal creativity and professional inventiveness. For each of the seven practices, author Pat Mora proposes seven symbols and presents parallel exercises for teachers and students. Evocatively written in the form of letters to teachers and librarians, this book:
Helps educators access their creative selves and, in the process, become better teachers; Nurtures students in expressing themselves through writing and other creative pursuits; Includes activities at the end of each chapter
This moving and inspirational volume serves as a reminder that inventive teaching is truly an art form that enriches lives and transforms teachers and students.
You can watch Pat Mora speak about honoring educators, the importance of reflection, and writing letters to educators all as ways to improve teaching practice through creativity.
Pat Mora was named one of the “Fifty Most Inspiring Authors in the World” by Poets & Writers magazine. Click here to see the full list.
Begin Your Project
Begin Your Project
Dear Teacher,
“How do you make a poem?” a young student asked. I savored his use of the concrete verb make, “poet” from the Greek word poietes, maker. When I explored the boy's question, I scribbled notes about what children need when they make things like cakes or kites or wooden toys. I deleted that section eventually, but the writing process allowed a far less concrete answer to surface. “One Blue Door” evolved and became part of the collection This Big Sky. The poem begins,
To make a poem
listen: crow calls.
Rain paints a door,
blue in the sky.
I had often walked a wonderful street of old adobes and had seen many blue doors. “Hmm,” I'd wondered, “what's on the other side? Probably some ...
