July 2007 Newsletter

Educational Options Newsletter
July, 2007

Greetings: Summer is already half over, but it’s still too early to be thinking about school (at least for the kids). Our clients have been sending us wonderful stories and photos of their children as they picnic at Minnesota lakes, attend summer camps or travel abroad.

May the rest of your summer be rich in experience.

Sincerely, Kathy Hara, Editor

In this issue:

Online chess academy for kids
Dr. Ruf honored by Mensa
SB5 vs. WISC-IV for gifted assessment
For Minnesotans
Keeping up with Dr. Ruf

Online chess academy for kids:

We have noticed locally there is quite a bit of interest in chess, with clubs, open game nights at bookstores, summer camps and tournaments. Now we have recently found an interesting website, chessKIDS academy. Webmaster Richard James, of the United Kingdom, has written and co-written several books and magazine columns about the subject, and he has taught children how to play chess since the 1970s.

This website is packed with free online interactive lessons, quizzes and games for kids, computers to play against, and more.

Dr. Ruf honored by Mensa:

Dr. Ruf recently attended Mensa’s Annual World Gathering in Birmingham, Alabama. And at a special event sponsored by the Mensa Education and Research Foundation, she was presented with its second annual Intellectual Benefits Award. The award was given in recognition of Dr. Ruf’s work nationally in furthering the understanding of high intelligence.

An arm of the high IQ society Mensa, the Foundation works to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity. It does this by encouraging research into the characteristics and uses of intelligence. The Intellectual Benefits Award program was set up to recognize the application of intellectual abilities that result in tangible benefit to society.

SB5 vs. WISC-IV for gifted assessment

In some parts of the country, school psychologists are more familiar with the Wechsler Scales (WPPSI and WISC) than the Stanford-Binet 5. Individually administered IQ tests require far more time than group IQ tests, so the valuable time of the school psychologist is more often reserved for evaluating children with learning problems. The WISC-IV, used by many Minnesota schools for LD (learning disability and low ability) assessment, is often incorrectly chosen to assess for giftedness, as well.

Although on the same standardized scale as the SB5, the WISC-IV has timed and performance sections (that assess for problems with processing) and is not recommended by the publisher for gifted assessments. First, timing tends to bring out test anxiety in sensitive or perfectionistic children. Also, the subtests for performance related tasks are intended to evaluate a child’s visual and motor coordination and whether or not they have the dexterity for school work. If a gifted child scores within the average range on these subtests, which would indicate they are normal for their age, it can pull their composite IQ score down and erroneously indicate a child of lower intellectual ability than is the case. Additionally, the Wechsler Scales come in three different tests for different age groups. This is especially problematic when testing gifted children who can then hit the test ceilings when given their age-normed tests.

These are the reasons why Dr. Ruf prefers the SB5.

For Minnesotans

Summer Picnic: The second annual Mensa/MCGT (Minnesota Council of Gifted and Talented) Family Picnic will be on Sunday, July 22, from noon to 5 p.m. at Snail Lake Regional Park, Shelter 2, 4191 Snail Lake Blvd. in Shoreview/Vadnais Heights. (map and directions are on the Ramsey County Parks web page).

The focus will be on those under 18, but this is a family affair for bright folks of all ages. If you are a member of Mensa or MCGT, or if you are considering becoming a member, you are invited to attend. Food for the grill, along with buns, condiments, plates, etc., will be provided. You should bring beverages for your group, as well as something to share - salad, side dish, dessert or munchies. Come and enjoy the company, the swimming, the activities, and the food. This is a great way to see old friends and make new ones!

RSVPs are necessary for this event, so that there will be enough food on hand, as well as stuff for the kids. Email Teresa immediately teresa@teresamanzella.com with the number in your group, age(s) of the child(ren) and what you are bringing to share.

MCGT will have a short annual meeting from 2:00 to about 2:30.

Keeping Up With Dr. Ruf...

	August 21, Noon EDT: Sirius Satellite Radio. Dr. Ruf will talk with Sr. Marie Pappas, host of the Pathways of Learning radio show. This is produced by the Education Dept. of the Archdiocese of New York on The Catholic Channel 159.
	September 28-30: Dr. Ruf will speak at the Minnesota Mensa Regional Gathering in St. Paul. Topics will include Gifted Adults: Their Past, Present & Future; and How Personality Type Affects Adjustment for the Gifted.

You wake up in the morning, and your purse is magically filled with twenty-four hours of unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life! It is yours. It is the most precious of possessions. No one can take it from you. And no one receives either more or less than you receive. – Thomas Arnold Bennett

Deborah Ruf’s book, “Losing Our Minds: Gifted Children Left Behind,”
is available through Great Potential Press or Amazon.com.

To subscribe to this newsletter, fill out the form at Contact Us