833 Young Scholars

As a new year begins, our Young Scholars Parent Newsletter also begins a new focus. For the past few months, we have spent time learning more about the four types of thinking skills that create the foundation for Young Scholars lessons: Divergent, Convergent, Visual/Spatial and Evaluative.

We've seen examples of how each thinking skill is practiced in the Young Scholars lessons as well as ways to continue building each skill outside the classroom.

Now, for the next three months, we will be taking time to learn more about each of the Young Scholars' goals seen below as well as explore helpful resources to support your Young Scholar at home.

Hopefully, as each month goes by, you will find you have a better understanding of what Young Scholars is all about and have also gained useful resources to encourage and grow your Young Scholar!

The image above shows us the three main goals of Young Scholars. Looking closely, we see that each goal has a common theme. This theme helps us see what is at the heart of Young Scholars and is shown, too, in the commitment at the beginning of every newsletter:

Nurturing Potential, Sustaining Support.

For Young Scholars, this means increasing access to resources, increasing affirmation of self, and increasing advocates in and out of school to help students reach their academic potential.

This month, we'll focus on the first goal of increasing access to resources and experiences that nurture high potential.

As I see each day in the classroom, every student has a wonderfully unique and diverse way of processing information, and each child's brain works differently to understand the world around them.

Some students naturally see the world in more complex and divergent ways. Young Scholars is dedicated to increasing access to resources and experiences that nurture this potential and support its growth over time.

Young Scholars thinking skills lessons are one great way to increase students' access to resources and experiences that encourage the brain to develop more complex thinking strategies. These strategies can then be further supported at home through the resources found in each Young Scholars Parent Newsletter.

As 833 Young Scholars continues to grow, we will also continue to expand our opportunities of access for Young Scholars students.

Below I've listed four examples designed to increase access and nurture potential in your Young Scholar. You can visit the 833 Gifted Education "Student Enrichment Opportunities" page for even more ideas!

833 Community Education's Youth page is always a great place to find high-quality fun and educational activities at a reasonable price.

The Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth's Your Extraordinary Saturday has classes available to 1st-4th grade students ranging from Crime Scene Investigation to Musical Theater and Bridge Building to Minecraft!

Bedtime Math is a free app for iPhone/iPad and Android devices and is available in both English and Spanish. This app is a fun and easy way to get your Young Scholar talking and thinking about math.

If your Young Scholar has a passion for creating art through original stories, poetry, paintings or more, then you may want to check out the 2018 Youth Honor Awards Program through Skipping Stones magazine. Skipping Stones is a multicultural literary magazine welcoming art and original writings in every language and from all ages.

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