Does anyone have the directions for giving directions?

Do we give kids too many directions? Every year I get a class of kids who seemingly cannot operate without very explicit directions. They need to know where to go, when to go, how much, when to stop, quantity, quality, on and on... They are afraid to try something unless they have very detailed instructions which bring them right from the beginning through to the end product. They do not have any faith in themselves...they do not trust themselves enough to take a risk and be creative and innovate with their own imagination. It is a long and purposeful process I use to get kids to trust themselves enough to explore and take a chance to complete something without explicit directions. It is a magical time of the year when it does happen. Go ahead, let go of your preconceptions about how the end product of an assignment should look and give you kids fewer directions this year . Let them try to come to the end on a path that you did not show them. You never know, they might show you a new way of doing something! Music by Runaway Hudson...check them out!