Now is your chance to join Microsoft and Odyssey of the Mind in the "Integrating Odyssey of the Mind into Classrooms Project." You can help us make even more of a positive difference in the classroom and help schools across the U.S. In order to start the next phase of the project, we are accepting nominations of "pilot schools."

These schools will be the first to receive Odyssey and Microsoft training materials, as well as training for teachers and staff. These materials use OotM classroom strategies such as encouraging teamwork, creativity, and use of technology -- just to name a few. Our objective is to help make teaching easier and learning fun. It does not add to the curriculum, but works as a complement to what teachers are already doing.

As a pilot school, you will be among the first to be part of the project. We will ask for feedback on the impact it has on your class.

You will help us recognize what worked and what could be improved in order to help shape the final form of the project. We will then introduce the training and materials to schools across the U.S. in hopes of encouraging creativity in the classroom. Becoming a pilot school will benefit your school and our project -- which ultimately benefits students and teachers nationwide.

If you know of a school that might be interested in becoming part of this collaboration, please email project coordinator Joy Kurtz -- jkurtz2929@comcast.net with the subject "Pilot School."

Thank you to everyone who filled out the Educator's Survey. For those who haven't had the chance, there's still time. Visit www.odysseyofthemind.com and look for the Microsoft Logo. Thanks again to everyone who is helping to make a difference with this project! Those small moments of time have the capacity to make a huge difference.