Skills Guide
Teaching: Creative Thinking
Creative Thinking
Why This Skill Matters
Creative thinking supports resilience by helping students see possibilities where others see barriers. Without it, challenges can feel rigid and limiting, leading to avoidance or frustration. Teaching creative thinking encourages flexibility, curiosity, and openness to new approaches when obstacles arise.
Student Challenges This Skill Helps Address
- Feeling stuck
- Rigid thinking
- Avoidance of challenges
How WhyTry Builds This Skill
WhyTry fosters creative thinking primarily through Problem Solving, where students are encouraged to explore multiple solutions and approaches. Motivation & Resilient Mindset supports this work by helping students stay open and engaged when initial strategies don’t work. Facilitators reinforce that creativity and flexibility are key components of resilient problem-solving.
Problem Solving
(“Jumping Hurdles”)
In Problem Solving, creative thinking is developed by encouraging flexible approaches and multiple solutions. Facilitators guide students to move beyond rigid thinking and explore alternatives. Processing emphasizes creativity as a resilience tool when obstacles arise.
Motivation & Resilient Mindset
(“Motivation Formula”)
Motivation & Resilient Mindset supports creative thinking by helping students stay open and engaged when initial attempts fail. Facilitators guide reflection on curiosity and persistence, reinforcing adaptability as part of resilience.