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TeamMastermind Inspirations

Inspired by the possibility of a new learning paradigm

Years ago, when my daughter was in elementary school, she participated in the Odyssey of the Mind program. That’s when I became aware of two distinct learning styles: the creative process that OM promotes and the more traditional, authoritarian style. While she was engaged in OM, she was highly creative, vividly imaginative, and unafraid of taking intellectual risks. Learning seemed effortless and integrated.

Watching my daughter become so excited about learning piqued my curiosity about teaching methods. I wanted to provide educators with another tool for bringing higher-order thinking skills to our children. And so began my journey to craft a curriculum that would inspire creative learning and growth.

It’s about how to think — not what to think

TeamMastermind evolved to bring together creativity, teamwork, and problem solving. Specifically, I sought to provide techniques and strategies that children could use to master these vital skills. I also wanted to emphasize the process of learning — not just the result… in other words, how to think, not what to think.

During the past 16 years, TeamMastermind has impacted thousands of children. Look at the faces in the photographs on this site. That active engagement and pure delight is why I created TeamMastermind… and it’s why I continue to develop curricula that can change lives — one enthusiastic child at a time.

—Founder Mindy Degraff

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