Crayola® Coloring & Quizzes

Experts say that imagination is as important as intelligence in determining children’s long-term success. Use this quick Other IQ (Imagination Quotient) quiz to gain insights about how you use imagination and creativity in your teaching. Your Other IQ score could help you determine ways to better leverage creativity in your classroom.

Thinking about your classroom, your teaching style, and the expectations you have for your students, choose the one response that best answers the following questions. Then add up your score to see what it reveals.

1. How do students in your classroom spend most of their time?

listening to lectures and completing worksheets

memorizing answers for the next multiple-choice test

reading textbooks and working independently

researching ideas, writing original reports, and presenting findings

2. What strategy do you primarily focus on to teach literacy skills?

drill the class using flashcards or spelling tests

follow reading series and companion assessment worksheets

assign reading and assessment reports according to individual students’ levels and interest

expect illustrated, original stories and creative twists on classic story endings

3. What do you consider the main benefit of doing art activities in your classroom?

keeps students busy and quiet while others finish working

provides something tangible to take home to show parents

addresses varied learning styles and helps visually or kinesthetically oriented students learn

inspires students to think in new ways and apply subject matter learning to memorable experiences

4. From the following list of goals you might have for your students, which is most important?

learn how to follow directions and behave

attain high test scores on standardized tests

become strong readers, digesting information from teachers and textbooks

discover new answers and think up alternative ideas

5. How would the use of creative arts in your classroom compare to other classrooms?

We rarely engage in creative arts, since I’m not comfortable with this area.

I provide creative arts experiences only occasionally, due to time, mess, and cost restraints.

I frequently weave art, creative writing, and drama into my class lessons.

Students in my class have more creative freedom than most others—we engage in creative thinking and hands-on experiences almost daily.

6. If a school budget cut were required, which program would you recommend cutting?

art or music

library services

textbook refreshes

competitive sports

7. How do you plan your activities and lessons?

stick to mandated minimum requirements—no time to stray

follow the textbook teacher’s guides and workbooks

ask innovative colleagues for new ideas

incorporate student ideas into those I’ve collected online, at workshops, and from resource books

8. Which of the following describes what hangs on most of the walls in your classroom?

alphabet/handwriting signs and “school rules” posters

materials provided by the textbook and workbook publishers

bulletin board displays with designs purchased from catalogs or teacher stores

children’s original artwork and creative writing

9. How frequently do you share creative ideas with or receive creative ideas from others?

I don’t gather or share creative ideas because that might distract me from the core curriculum.

Occasionally I ask other teachers to share creative ideas.

I frequently brainstorm with other teachers to generate and exchange creative ideas.

I am constantly energized by sharing ideas with other teachers, community artists, students, and parents.

10. Which statement best describes your beliefs on children’s creativity?

Creativity is something that a child either has or doesn’t have—not everyone can be creative.

Parental influence is what determines how creative a child will be.

Teachers can make a difference in helping a child tap creative talent, but cannot really overcome parental barriers.

Every child has creative potential and any adult can become the spark of inspiration that changes a child’s creative abilities.

11. What do you do to nurture students’ creativity?

I leave that up to the creative experts, the art and music teachers.

I provide coloring sheets, and we make holiday decorations, but we don’t spend much class time on creative activities.

I encourage students to decorate book report covers and illustrate science fair projects to incorporate some creative activities into academic assignments.

I weave creative assignments into the curriculum units every day, so students use art and creative writing to demonstrate what they know about the subject matter.

12. When your class makes holiday crafts or Mother’s Day gifts, which is your main objective?

to teach children how to follow directions and make sure their finished crafts all look like the sample

to give children a break from academics and enjoy holiday preparations together

to nurture diverse gift-making and giving traditions and foster interpersonal connections

to build creative skills, encourage original thinking, and respect unique outcomes

13. Which of the following describes how you prefer to assess students?

I prefer multiple-choice tests so that grading can be done quickly and objectively.

I prefer to use both multiple-choice tests and written essay questions, so students can explain their thinking.

I prefer assessment methods that evaluate how well students integrate what’s been taught into written or oral presentations and special projects.

I prefer assessment methods that evaluate students on how much original thinking they bring to the subject and whether or not they can generate and defend alternative points of view.

14. What art materials do students use in your classroom?

whatever supplies students bring from home or we borrow from the art teacher

paper, scissors, glue, and crayons that are in our supply closet

the basics: crayons, markers, paper, glue, and scissors, plus modeling materials

diverse collections of basic supplies, plus collage materials and recyclables, as well as various artistic examples for students to explore

15. What do you do to nurture your own creativity?

Who me? I’ve never been creative.

I’m comfortable doing projects that provide a pattern to follow, like needlework or paint by number.

I enjoy experimenting with a variety of creative activities including inventing new recipes, creating improvisational songs or dances, or painting in new styles.

I bring a creative approach to everything I do, including generating new solutions to problems, helping others think “out of the box” and always trying to see the situation from another point of view.