Welcome

A message from Robin Tennant, Co-Association Director

Dear Prospective Member,

The West Virginia Odyssey of the Mind Program invites your students to participate in the Odyssey of the Mind program. In 1978, Odyssey of the Mind helped pioneer the idea of creative problem solving as an educational tool. Since that time, we’ve grown from a small local organization to one that has affected the lives of millions of students around the world. We grow stronger each year because we provide learning opportunities that allow students to apply their talents and strengths to solving “problems” that appeal to their own interests. Educators like the program because it brings creative problem solving into their regular curricula, and students can apply classroom lessons to the problem solutions. But 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!

Schools in West Virginia are already taking advantage of the learning opportunities provided by our program. While it is common for Gifted and Talented programs to integrate Odyssey of the Mind problem solving into their curriculum, we believe that all students can benefit from participation. In this time of budget cuts for many districts, you can retain arts education, technology, and other subjects by incorporating them into Odyssey of the Mind problem solutions. The Odyssey of the Mind conforms to National educational standards as well as those of West Virginia.

The cost of only $135 per year allows you to have one team per problem per division, plus unlimited primary teams. This fits easily into almost any budget. Oftentimes, parents’ associations are more than willing to support the program once they learn how it can benefit their children.

To assist in starting a creative problem solving program at your school for the 2009-10 school year, information can be found at this website (click on information) or the international Web site www.odysseyofthemind.com. For further assistance, feel free to contact me with any questions or to arrange for a personal visit to your school.

Sincerely,

Robin Tennant

E-mail: wvodysseyofthemind@wirefire.com

(a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation)

The Original and Largest Creative Problem-Solving Program in WV