December, 2020
Happy December everyone! Welcome to another edition of the SoWashCo Young Scholars monthly newsletter.
For the next two months, we will be exploring simple ways to help your Young Scholar grow and stretch their brains by learning more about the four types of thinking skills used in Young Scholar lessons.
We'll be looking at the traits for each type of thinking as well as questions and resources to help guide and encourage different thinking skills.
Our December focus will be on Divergent and Convergent Thinking.
 |  |  |
Understanding Divergent Thinking Divergent thinking often leads to new and original solutions to problems. Divergent thinking offers opportunities to practice flexibility and can often result in unusual, funny, and creative ideas. | Conversation Starters Try out these questions to get your Young Scholar thinking divergently about what they are reading. | Unusual Uses Game: At-Home Divergent Thinking Activity In the "Unusual Uses Game", players come up with unusual ideas about how to use an everyday object. Click HERE for more information about how to play. Click on the picture above for a little inspiration! |
Understanding Divergent Thinking
Divergent thinking often leads to new and original solutions to problems. Divergent thinking offers opportunities to practice flexibility and can often result in unusual, funny, and creative ideas.
Conversation Starters
Try out these questions to get your Young Scholar thinking divergently about what they are reading.
Unusual Uses Game: At-Home Divergent Thinking Activity
In the "Unusual Uses Game", players come up with unusual ideas about how to use an everyday object.
Click HERE for more information about how to play. Click on the picture above for a little inspiration!
Books for Building Divergent Thinking
The topics and characters in the following books pair nicely with the Divergent Thinking conversation starters above.
Each of the books below is available for checkout at Washington County Libraries.
 |  |  |
Flotsam by David Wiesner In the Caldecott Award-winning picture book, Flotsam, author David Wiesner reveals the magical possibilities of ordinary things and the beauty of our own imagination. | Ish by Peter Reynolds The picture book, Ish by Peter Reynolds, shows how thinking divergently and believing in yourself can lead to amazing possibilities. | Weslandia by Paul Fleishman Paul Fleishman's Weslandia tells the story of Wesley, a boy who doesn't really fit in at school, and decides to start a summer project creating his own civilization in his backyard. |
Flotsam by David Wiesner
In the Caldecott Award-winning picture book, Flotsam, author David Wiesner reveals the magical possibilities of ordinary things and the beauty of our own imagination.
Ish by Peter Reynolds
The picture book, Ish by Peter Reynolds, shows how thinking divergently and believing in yourself can lead to amazing possibilities.
Weslandia by Paul Fleishman
Paul Fleishman's Weslandia tells the story of Wesley, a boy who doesn't really fit in at school, and decides to start a summer project creating his own civilization in his backyard.
 |  |  |
Understanding Convergent Thinking Convergent thinking involves solving a problem or question by using clues and logical reasoning. | Conversation Starters Try out these questions to get your Young Scholar thinking convergently about what they are reading. | Dice and Card Games: At-Home Convergent Thinking Activities Click HERE or on the image above for some fun ways to use dice and cards to build convergent and logical thinking skills. |
Understanding Convergent Thinking
Convergent thinking involves solving a problem or question by using clues and logical reasoning.
Conversation Starters
Try out these questions to get your Young Scholar thinking convergently about what they are reading.
Dice and Card Games: At-Home Convergent Thinking Activities
Click HERE or on the image above for some fun ways to use dice and cards to build convergent and logical thinking skills.
Books for Building Convergent Thinking
The topics and characters in the following books pair nicely with the Convergent Thinking conversation starters above.
Each of the books below is available for checkout at Washington County Libraries.
 |  |  |
Looking for Bongo by Eric Velasquez In Looking for Bongo, by Eric Velasquez, a boy works to solve the mystery of his missing stuffed toy, Bongo. After the boy's abuela accuses him of being careless with his beloved Bongo, he devises a trap and catches the toy thief red-handed. | Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña In Carmela Full of Wishes, Matt de la Peña partners with illustrator, Christian Robinson, to tell the story of Carmela and her travels through her neighborhood as she tries to think of the perfect birthday wish. | Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet The chapter book, Chasing Vermeer, tells the story of friends Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay as they look for evidence and follow clues through their Chicago neighborhood to solve an international art crime. Chasing Vermeer is the first in a series of three mystery stories by author Blue Balliet. |
Looking for Bongo by Eric Velasquez
In Looking for Bongo, by Eric Velasquez, a boy works to solve the mystery of his missing stuffed toy, Bongo. After the boy's abuela accuses him of being careless with his beloved Bongo, he devises a trap and catches the toy thief red-handed.
Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña
In Carmela Full of Wishes, Matt de la Peña partners with illustrator, Christian Robinson, to tell the story of Carmela and her travels through her neighborhood as she tries to think of the perfect birthday wish.
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet
The chapter book, Chasing Vermeer, tells the story of friends Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay as they look for evidence and follow clues through their Chicago neighborhood to solve an international art crime. Chasing Vermeer is the first in a series of three mystery stories by author Blue Balliet.
Young Scholar Parent Support Group
- Come meet other Young Scholar parents, learn strategies to support and advocate for your Young Scholar, and discuss the joys and challenges of raising a gifted learner. Think of this group as taking the Young Scholar Newsletter live!
- Click below to download your invitation for our next meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 from 6:00-6:45pm.
Contact Information
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, thoughts, or needs!
Colleen Redmond
