833 Young Scholars

As we wind down the last few weeks of school this year, I'd like to send out a huge heart-felt thank you to everyone who has made our second year of 833 Young Scholars a great success.

Thanks to the teachers and school staff for the amazing dedication, compassion, and energy they share with students every day. The change and growth in students from the beginning to the end of the year is truly incredible!

A great big thank you also goes out to parents and guardians for your daily commitment and attention to the complex, often exhausting, but oh so important job of raising your Young Scholar.

As your Young Scholar continues to grow, develop and take the next steps on their learning journey, your support, advocacy, and affirmation make all the difference.

Finally, I'd like most of all to thank the students. This year I had the privilege to spend time with so many of the fantastic thinkers and dreamers that exist in 833 classrooms. The ideas and insights students shared throughout the year never failed to amaze me and showed, once again how important increasing access, affirmation, and advocates is to nurturing and growing these children's incredible potential.

So, as we wrap up another year of 833 Young Scholars, I wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and fun-filled summer vacation, and I look forward to continuing our adventure together in the fall!

As we wind down another year of Young Scholars, students have been looking back and reflecting on all they've learned over the past nine months. Each student received a folder containing work they have completed and handed in this year. They then took time to look through their folder and choose one activity to think and write about.

Students were asked to reflect on their work and consider two questions:

• Why did I choose this work?" and
• "If I could do this over again, I would..."
  

Reading through the students' responses got me thinking about how important reflecting on our experiences is to learning. Opportunities for students to look back and reflect, whether it's about a math worksheet or a choice made on the playground, provide invaluable chances for students to see themselves as learners who grow and change over time.

Reflective thinking also allows students to recognize that learning about anything doesn't just happen once and is over. Learning is a journey, and not always a smooth one. Having the chance to look back, try again, and move forward with a new understanding, are some of the most important steps on this journey.

This week's reflections were a great reminder for me of the inspiring thinking and insight that exist within our students. Here are just a few examples to inspire you as well:

I chose this work because...

• ...it was a little hard.
• ...it was my best work.
• ...I can do better than this.
• ...all of it was hard but as I kept going, I got it.
• ...I like to imagine stories in words and I can fall asleep and imagine.
• ...I worked so hard.
• ...I want to finish it so bad.
• ...I could go back and see what I did wrong.
• ...to show my mom I'm ready to go to 2nd grade.
  
• ...it was a challenge, and I like hard stuff.

If I could do this over again, I would...

• ...check my work.
• ...use my teacher's feedback.
• ...add more detail.
• ...try to find another way to solve it.
• ...think better and better.

Below are three of my favorite children's books to further support and build your Young Scholars' reflective thinking skills. You can search the Washington County Library website for these and many other great books!

The Most Magnificent Thing:

This fun book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. In addition, a variety of support resources are available to extend the book's lessons including this great parent guide.

Sarabella's Thinking Cap:

This book is a great way to introduce children to the idea of metacognition, or thinking about their thinking, and how understanding their own ideas can help others understand them better, too.

Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came to Be:

This nonfiction book combines funny cartoons and weird and amazing facts to tell stories about how sometimes a mistake can lead to something amazing.

Hi All!

My name is Colleen Redmond, and I am thrilled to work as the 833 Young Scholars advocate and lead teacher.

I'm a mom of two teenagers, a wife, small business owner, avid biker (the pedal kind), book enthusiast, and beekeeper. Plus, on top of all of that, I have the happy job of implementing and growing the Young Scholars program here in 833!

I've been lucky enough to teach in South Washington County Schools for the past twenty-five years and have had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the lives of students and families in my classroom.

Now, as we launch Young Scholars, my path in education is taking on a whole new and wonderful life. I am so very excited to work with and support you and your Young Scholar. I can't wait to see where the journey takes us!

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, thoughts, or needs!

Colleen Redmond

651-425-6212

credmond@sowashco.org