On Teaching: "Inventing in the Classroom"

Since I’ve always wanted my students to be “inventive”, I decided to do a little dictionary work concerning the word. It’s interesting that it derives from the Latin “venire”, which means “to come”. Hmmm...does this mean that, when we invent something, we don’t actually create it, but simply “come to” it, as if it was already existing and we simply found it? In that sense, is inventing actually more like discovering ? The more I thought about it, the more I liked that idea, especially as it relates to my teaching. I have often told my students that writing and reading is like making, or building, something, but perhaps I should also introduce them to the idea that writing and reading is like discovering something. Instead of thinking of themselves as builders laboring away at an essay or an interpretation, perhaps they could see themselves as explorers searching for beautiful paragraphs and deep understandings. What I like about this notion is that the paragraphs and understandings are already there, waiting to be found. That suggests that my students, instead of trying so hard to be creators, deep thinkers, and hard workers, should focus more attention on being alert and circumspect searchers. The truths are out there. Like lost lakes and hidden valleys, the beautiful essays and profound interpretations are waiting for my students to come to, discover, or “invent” them.