Season 1, Episode 13
Juliet Desailly Reflects on Standards and The Impact on Teachind for Creativity
“One of the things I think is most illuminating is… that where there is difficulty, where there is challenge, it actually makes people be more creative in order to solve those problems. For me, in those inner-city schools, it was about engagement, it was about overcoming attitudes to being in school… every teacher in every classroom will find something.”
– Juliet Desailly
Hosts & Guests
Juliet Desailly
Cyndi Burnett
Matthew Worwood
Episode Transcription
Juliet Desailly Reflects on Standards and the Impact on Teaching for Creativity
Do you consistently reflect on how creative your teaching methods are?
In this episode of Fueling Creativity, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood speak with author and retired teacher, Juliet Desailly. After becoming a lecturer at the Institute of Education, educating a new generation of primary teachers, it became obvious to her that the practice she had developed in the classroom was very much in line with the theories of creativity in education now being written about by academics.
As she reflects on her life as an elementary school teacher in the UK, Juliet summarizes the introduction of the National Standards during the 1980s and its eventual impact on student and teacher creativity in the classroom. She also speaks on how London’s education system compares to the rest of the UK, how to start reflecting upon the creativity in your own teaching methods, and what she would do to change how others view creativity in the classroom.
Juliet’s Tips for Teachers and Parents:
- Really get to know your children. What engages them? What motivates them? What fascinates them? Remember, every child and group of children is slightly different.
- Try hard to find contexts where the learning can be as authentic as possible. Search for real life or realistic situations and problems your kids can apply creativity to solve.
- Find opportunities for cross-curricular learning wherever you can.
“Science, technology, all occupations, they all need creative people. Our countries all need creative people. The world needs them and yet still we are pushed back into thinking that ‘Oh, well creativity’s lovely but I need to get my test results up first’ or ‘Creativity’s great but we only have time to do it in a week before the holidays’.”
– Juliet Desailly
Guest Bio
Now retired, Juliet has worked in education for over 40 years. As a primary school teacher for over twenty of those years she worked to refine and adapt the curriculum to suit the needs of the children she taught in inner-city London.
She went on to become a lecturer at the Institute of Education, educating a new generation of primary teachers. It became obvious to her that the practice she had developed in the classroom was very much in line with the theories of creativity in education now being written about by academics. This allowed her to combine the two in really practical but theoretically based advice on practice in the classroom and in curriculum design. She worked as a consultant in schools on creativity and curriculum design and the importance of social and emotional aspects of learning.
She is the author of Creativity in the Primary Classroom and two children’s novels set in Ancient Egypt, with a companion volume of activities for teachers to use based on the books. She currently runs workshops for schools based on her children’s books and being an author.
Debrief Episode
Related Podcast Episodes
Bridging the Gap: 3 Big Lessons Learned from Season 1
In this debrief episode of Fueling Creativity in Education, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood reflect on Season 1, discussing teachers as designers, AI’s impact on creativity, and factors influencing creativity in education. Cyndi also shares insights on fostering creative thinking skills in students.
SEASON 1: Introducing The Fueling Creativity Podcast
Welcome to the Fueling Creativity Podcast! In this debut episode, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood share their mission and goals for the podcast. They shed light on their professional backgrounds and why they value the integration of creativity in education and at home, especially during the pandemic.
Infusing Creativity into the Classroom with Dr. Susan Keller-Mathers
In this episode of the Fueling Creativity podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood speak with Dr. Susan Keller-Mathers, an Associate Professor at the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State.
Podcast Sponsor
We are thrilled to partner with Curiosity 2 Create as our sponsor, a company that shares our commitment to fostering creativity in education. Curiosity 2 Create empowers educators through professional development and community support, helping them integrate interactive, creative thinking approaches into their classrooms. By moving beyond traditional lecture-based methods, they help teachers create dynamic learning environments that enhance student engagement, improve academic performance, and support teacher retention. With a focus on collaborative learning and exploration, Curiosity 2 Create is transforming classrooms into spaces where students thrive through continuous engagement and growth.
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