Observation

As much as creative thinkers like to spend time in our own imaginations, we also possess a hidden superpower that is all about looking outward.  You may not even know you have it, but I bet you do.

It’s the power of observation.

We observe first.  Then, we make connections, go off on tangents, or put our own spin on the object of our observation.

I co-teach one ELA (English Language Arts) class every day, and the rest of my classes are Science.  I’m a Special Education teacher, so I’ve had the privilege of teaching with many different people and a variety of grade levels and subject areas.  My brain loves it.

In our 7th grade ELA class, the students have been reading a short story called, quite appropriately, “Seventh Grade,” by Gary Soto.  The magic of this story is that it seems so real, which is a testimony to Soto’s skill for writing with believable details.  He either has amazing observation skills, or an impeccable memory.  (Probably both.)

An author I follow on Twitter was talking about getting lost in her latest project.  She noted that all of the guys she knew in high school and college were providing excellent fodder for her latest work.  

Again, it comes back to observation and the ability to store away the data in some mental folder for later use.

But observation is not just important for writers.  In my Science classes, we will soon begin to teach the Scientific Method.  Science is creative, too!  It’s all about noticing a phenomenon, or recognizing a problem, and figuring out, “Why?”  Some of the best science requires bold thinking and brave risk-taking.

As we move into the weekend, it’s the perfect time for observing and taking notes.  You never know which small observation could provide valuable material for your next project.