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SoWashCo Young Scholars

Nurturing Potential, Sustaining Support

SoWashCoYoung ScholarsNurturing Potential, Sustaining Support
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October 2021

Happy October!


It's hard to believe we are already into the second full month of school this year! Hopefully, your Young Scholar is settling in and finding new and exciting ways to engage their amazing brains each day.


This month, our newsletter will be exploring resources to help support and grow important brain processing skills called Executive Functioning.


Executive Functioning, or EF, was the topic shared by Dr. Melissa Malen at our first parent speaker event on September 21st. Dr. Malen's presentation is also included in this month's newsletter.


Please feel free to reach out with questions or for more information about this month's topic. My contact information is available at the end of every newsletter. As always, I am here to support you and your Young Scholar!

This Month in Young Scholars

  • What are Executive Functioning Skills?

  • Handy Tools and Resources for Building EF Skills

  • Dr. Malen's Presentation - "Supporting Student Executive Functioning & Improving Learning."

  • Save the Date! - Upcoming Parent Education Opportunities

What are Executive Functioning Skills?

We all use executive functioning skills every day to manage and organize our lives. Executive Functioning, or EF, are key skills for school success and include brain functions such as memory, flexible thinking, decision-making, organization, and self-control.


Click on the image or download link below to learn more about EF skills and their important roll in learning.

Resources for Building Executive Functioning Skills

Executive Functioning skills are especially useful at school. Learning and practicing these skills help students better focus, follow directions, and handle their emotions.


Below are different tools and resources for supporting and improving your Young Scholar's EF skills.


Click HERE to see even more resources and information on Executive Functioning from Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child.

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Strategy Games

Games involving strategy provide practice with EF skills such as planning ahead, keeping several outcomes in mind, and adjusting plans. Games are a great way to have fun practicing Executive Functioning skills. Click on the image above for some ideas for your next family game night!

*Note: It may be possible to find online versions of your favorite board games. For example, click HERE to see an online version of the strategy game Blokus. The downside is the free versions often come with ads.

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Dance Party!

Believe it or not, you can also turn up the tunes to practice Executive Functioning! Dancing helps practice EF skills such as attention, self-monitoring, and working memory as dancers must remember and focus on multiple moves while coordinating with the music. Click on the image above to check out website GoNoodle for lots of guided dance videos (and much more) made just for kids! Scroll to the bottom of the page to learn where to find more free videos using the GoNoodle app.
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Brain Teasers

Brain teaser puzzles can be a terrific way to build working memory, attention, and flexible thinking. Click on the image above for a variety of fun brain teasers to try out online.

"Supporting Student Executive Functioning & Improving Learning"

Click below to watch Dr. Melissa Malen's presentation from the first

Young Scholar Speaker Series on September 21, 2021.

Young Scholar Speaker Series Dr. Melissa Malen Sept 21, 2021

Save the Date! - Upcoming Parent Education Opportunities

Young Scholar Speaker Series

Save the date for the second in a series of four opportunities this year to learn from and interact with experts in the field of Talent Development.


Watch your email for more information coming soon!

Academic Coaching to Support ADHD, EF, and 2e

Click on the image below to learn more about this free parent education workshop.

YOUNG SCHOLARS WORKS WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS TO INCREASE...

About Me

Hello!


My name is Colleen Redmond, and I am honored to work as Coordinator for SoWashCo Young Scholars.

I'm a mom, a wife, small business owner, avid biker (the pedal kind), book enthusiast, and beekeeper.

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

Now, as part of Young Scholars, I have the honor of working with the amazing staff, students, and families throughout SoWashCo to implement and grow the Young Scholars program.

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!

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Contact Information

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


Colleen Redmond

651-425-6212

credmond@sowashco.org