Educational Options Newsletter
March, 2007
We are experimenting with different options for providing items of both
national and local interest in the most convenient way for our readers. Last
month we sent two separate emails, one with information useful to those
living anywhere in the country, and another with information about events in
Minnesota. This month, we are putting our Minnesota information as the last
item in this newsletter.
Feel free to weigh in with any opinions on how we can improve our newsletter!
Sincerely, Kathy Hara, Editor
In this issue:
- Call for Program Leaders
- Time for Summer Camp
- More Things to Do This Summer
- Scholarships for 7th Graders - Apply Now
- Mensa Free Prior Evidence Evaluation
- Minnesota Events
- Keeping up with Dr. Ruf
Call for Program Leaders
During this year's National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) annual
convention in Minneapolis, Saturday, November 10, is designated as Parents
Day. While parents are attending programs on that day, there will also be
concurrent children's programs. The planners are calling for program
leaders. So if you live in Minnesota or you are planning to travel to the
convention, please consider submitting a session proposal that will interest
gifted kids in kindergarten through 7th grade.
There will be two 3-1/2-hour kids' sessions - one in the morning and one in
the afternoon. There is a stipend of $100 per session, the cost of materials
will be reimbursed, and presenters will be treated to lunch. However, travel
expenses will not be covered.
For questions or to discuss your proposal, email Teresa Manzella, co-chair of
the NAGC Parent Day Children's Program, at temafiki@e arthlink.net. Otherwise,
please mail the information requested below to Teresa at 1741 Atlantic Street,
Maplewood, MN 55107.
(1) Name (2) Home phone (3) Home address (4) Date of application (5) School
or organization work phone (6) Email address (7) Position or involvement with
gifted children (8) Title(s) of presentation(s) and a two-sentence enticing
description of the content as it should appear in the program (9) Attach a more
complete 50-100 word description of the content (10) Age group - K-2nd grade,
grades 3-4, or grades 5-7 (11) Preferred session - 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. or
12:45 to 4:15 p.m., or both (12) Equipment, set- up or supplies needed.
Mail applications no later than Friday, April 13.
Time for Summer Camp
Summer is a great time for bright kids to focus on an area of particular
interest to them. Many summer camp experiences are listed on the websites of
Educational Options,
NAGC, and
Hoagies' Gifted Education Page.
A Google search for "summer camps for gifted" will reveal many more options, as
well.
More Things to Do This Summer
Are you looking for activities to keep your bright kids interested while they
are home on summer break? The following are some on-line catalogs that feature
toys, games and kits which can provide hours and hours of fun and learning.
Edmund Scientifics features
astronomy, engines and gears, magnets, robotics, solar energy, and tech geek
categories. American Science and Surplus
offers science, arts and crafts, household, sports and school items. (This one
is a surplus store, and the stock changes often.) For more sophisticated
projects, try Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories,
which has an Elementary K-6 section, as well as biology, chemistry, earth
science, forensics, and more.
Scholarships for 7th Graders - Apply Now
The Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Program is now accepting applications for
its scholarships. This is a one-time opportunity for current 7th graders, and
the deadline for the application is Monday, May 7.
Through this program, the Foundation selects high-achieving youth with
financial need and, throughout high school, provides them with individualized
educational opportunities and support that will enable them to develop their
talents and abilities. This can include financial help for online courses,
enrichment programs, obtaining technology such as computers and software, and
more.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation
established in 2000 through the will of Jack Kent Cooke. Its mission is to help
young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through
education. And to fulfill its mission, the Foundation identifies and supports
young people of exceptional promise, application, deportment, and character who
have financial need and demonstrated excellence in academic endeavors and
extracurricular activities.
For more information, visit the
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
Mensa Free Prior Evidence Evaluation
Many people have already taken a test that would qualify them for Mensa
membership -- and Mensa is a great place to make friends and explore new
interests. Mensa accepts more than 200 different tests for membership,
including the Stanford Binet, Otis-Lennon, Naglieri, Wechsler Adult
&Children Scales, and GRE.
The fee to evaluate test scores for admission to Mensa is $40. However,
during the month of April 2007, they will waive that fee. This is a
wonderful opportunity to get connected to all that Mensa has to offer. Visit
Mensa during the month of April and follow the instructions on the home
page.
Minnesota Events
Thursday, April 5, 7-8:30 p.m., Minnesota Council of Gifted and Talented
CHAT Night. Dr. Ruf will lead discussion about the highly gifted at the
Lynhurst Community Center, 50th Street and Humboldt Avenue South,
Minneapolis. (CHAT is for Connect, Help, Advocate, Talk.)
Thursday, April 26, 7:00 p.m.: CHEMISTRY DEMONSTRATIONS: The Minneapolis
Chapter of MCGT is hosting a Family Event featuring a chemistry
demonstration by the Chemistry Outreach Team from the University of
Minnesota. It will be at Marcy Open School, 415 - 4th Avenue Southeast,
Minneapolis. The event will be free to all.
Saturday, April 28. A Day for Parenting for High Potential, a Minnesota
Parent Institute, is sponsored by the St. Paul Public Schools, the National
Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Parent Trust, the Minnesota Council
for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT), and endorsed by the Minnesota Educators
of the Gifted and Talented. The event, which features local and national
speakers - including Dr. Ruf - takes place at Capitol Hill School, 560
Concordia Avenue, St. Paul. There will be children's activities for those
children whose parents are attending the Parent Institute. Go to
MCGT
for more information and a registration form. Registrations must be
postmarked by Friday, April 13.
Thursday May 10, 7:30 p.m.: Exploring College Options: Students who will
graduate from high school in 2008 or later are invited to speak to college
representatives from Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, and Stanford. This
will take place at the Hilton Minneapolis - St. Paul Airport/Mall of
America, 3800 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, Minnesota.
Keeping Up With Dr. Ruf...
Deborah Ruf’s book, “Losing Our Minds: Gifted Children Left Behind,”
