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Metro East Montessori School Celebrating Over 40 years of Montessori education
Odyssey of the Mind
The children in the Upper Elementary (9-12 years old) are given the opportunity to participate in the Odyssey of the Mind competition. This after-school, voluntary activity runs the length of the academic year. Parents volunteer as team coaches. It is only through the year-long dedication of these coaches that this program is possible. The students begin their problem solving in September. The Illinois state competition is in March. The first and second place teams advance to the World Finals competition in May.
From the Illinois Odyssey of the Mind website:
Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Kids apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.1
Many educators use the program to bring creative problem solving into their regular curricula or to enhance learning in extra-curricular programs. More than being a learning tool, the benefits of participation are innumerable.
Odyssey of the Mind:
  • Builds teamwork skills such as cooperation and thoughtfulness.
  • Teaches self-respect and respect for others.
  • Improves thinking skills.
  • Builds confidence and increases self-esteem.
  • Provides an environment where students can express their ideas without criticism.
  • Makes students more detail-oriented and inclined to do their best.
  • Makes learning fun!2
Odyssey of the Mind World Competition letter from Mrs. Weyhaupt
See our Odyssey of the Mind photos!
1"What is Odyssey of the Mind?" Illinois Odyssey of the Mind. Illinois Knowledge Quest, Inc. n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2010.
2"Welcome Letter from the Illinois Association." Illinois Odyssey of the Mind. Illinois Knowledge Quest, Inc. n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2010.
Serving Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois and the surrounding St. Louis metropolitan area.
Metro East Montessori School is an AMI certified, private, independent, non-profit, co-educational School for students aged 2 1/2 through sixth grade.
4405 State Highway 162 Granite City, IL 62040 (618) 931-2508
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