Academic Competitions Encouraging Skills Necessary for the Future
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n recent years, many school districts have seen a surge in participation in scholastic competitions, such as spelling and geography bees and math contests. The reason? Educators and parents are recognizing these competitions offer great opportunities for children to not only improve academically but also develop other skills critical to success later in life, and they are encouraging more kids to get involved. “Learning and innovation skills increasingly are being recognized as the skills that separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in the 21st century and those who are not. A focus on creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration is essential to prepare students for the future,” explains the website Partnership for 21st Century Skills (www.p21.org), which strives to provide a framework for education in today’s schools.
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From elementary to high school, there are plenty of academic contests that compel students to apply these skills in a fun, competitive way. Here are a few of the many local competitions available in Omaha: the Douglas County Spelling, Quiz Bowl, MATHCOUNTS, and Battle of the Books. Spelling Bee There are many spelling bees in the Omaha area, but one of the more notable bees is the Douglas County Spelling Bee. This year’s Douglas County Spelling Bee will be hosted at Brownell-Talbot School (home school to the 2012 Douglas County Spelling Bee Champion).
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