American Mensa Prior Evidence Discount for the Month of May

To honor the greening of spring and the recent fame of some of our younger members, American Mensa is offering a 70 percent discount for the month of May to potential members who want to qualify using Prior Evidence.
 
This promotion has been launched to take advantage of public interest generated by several young Mensans highlighted in recent news stories.
 
Many people find that submitting scores from prior intelligence tests is a quick and easy way to qualify for Mensa membership. For potential members under age 14, submitting scores from prior testing is the only way to be evaluated for membership. However, the May Prior Evidence discount is available to potential members of any age.
 
If you know of potential members, let them know they can see what testing qualifies and can take advantage of this $12 special by visiting http://www.us.mensa.org/testscores. Use the code MAYPE13 on the application to receive the discount.

Upcoming NAGC Free Webcast

Please join us for this FREE video webcast:

The Growth Mindset and Stereotype Threat
Tuesday, May 14
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Eastern Time (90 minutes)

NAGC is pleased to present “The Growth Mindset and Stereotype Threat,” a FREE video webcast on Tuesday, May 14, 12:00 – 1:30 pm (Eastern). Moderated by NAGC Past President Ann Robinson and featuring Joshua Aronson, Associate Professor of Applied Psychology, New York University, this event was inspired by a project developed by the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented that resulted in a book collaboration with psychologists, cognitive neuroscientists and gifted education researchers from the NRC Center, NAGC, and the American Psychological Association. Malleable Minds: Translating Insights From Psychology and Neuroscience to Gifted Education shows us what current research in psychology and neuroscience means to developing talent.

Aronson is one of the most widely cited social scientists in the past decade. His research in minority student achievement offers a strong challenge to traditional genetic explanations of why these groups perform less well on tests of intelligence than their White counterparts, and why women trail men in hard math and science. Aronson’s work seeks to understand and remediate race and gender gaps in educational achievement and standardized test performance. His studies have revealed that stereotype threat engenders a number of interesting psychological and physiological responses, many of which interfere with intellectual performance and academic motivation. A particular focus of his recent work is on creating scalable interventions that any teacher can use to improve the performance and learning of their students.

Register now for this FREE webcast.

http://www.nagc.org/log-in.aspx?ReturnUrl=/webinars.aspx

PLUS

Teacher Behavior as a Tool to Understanding the Motivation of Gifted Learners
Wednesday, May 15
4:00 – 5:00 pm Eastern

The following day, an NAGC Webinar on Wednesday builds on the motivation theme with “Teacher Behavior as a Tool to Understanding the Motivation of Gifted Learners.” The May 15 session at 4:00 pm (Eastern) will be moderated by Ann Robinson, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR, and features Joyce VanTassel-Baska, College of William and Mary; Williamsburg, VA.

Section three of Malleable Minds covers the application of cases through narrative accounts of teaching and learning. The cases integrate theory and research in engaging vignettes about the real world of schools and classrooms. VanTassel-Baska will share her response to the case in the context of motivation theory, with a particular focus on Aronson’s research, and the positive outcomes of using a growth mindset orientation to work with gifted learners. $39 for NAGC members/$59 for nonmembers. Register now.  http://www.nagc.org/log-in.aspx?ReturnUrl=/webinars.aspx

New Kids’ Book Benefit for Mensans

American Mensa is excited to partner with LifeBound to offer a new benefit. Members will receive a 33 percent discount when they buy three or more books from LifeBound (http://www.lifebound.com), whose books, programs and curricula follow a stairstep developmental path for students from Grades 5-12 and beyond into college and career.

 

Mensa students can also attend LifeBound’s Summer Enrichment Workshops for students in 5th through 12th Grade.

 

Visit LifeBound (http://www.lifebound.com/mensa-members/home/storefront/mensa-members) to look over the selection of books, study guides and other materials. To receive your 33 percent discount, enter the coupon code MENSA at checkout. Learn more about this and other membership benefits at http://www.us.mensa.org/benefits.

Southeast Michigan Mensa’s Regional Gathering 2013

Are you a member of Mensa or do you want to learn more about Mensa?  Come to the Southeast Michigan Mensa Regional Gathering, May 3^rd-5^th, 2013,  in Farmington Hills, Michigan. 

Register here: http://mensadetroit.com/semmantics/.  If you are currently a non-Mensa member, email gifted_in_mi@sbcglobal.net to be put on the guest list.  Proof of giftedness not required.  Here’s what your kids get to do if you go:

Build Sumo Battle Robots from scratch and test them in the ring.

Build Brushbots from the Maker Shed and race them for fun!

Learn how to operate a ham radio!

Learn how to hunt, collect and preserve fossils from U of M paleontology club experts.

Learn basic maker skills such as how to make your own battery, electromagnet, and flashing hairpiece or badge.  Take your creations home!

Learn about local volunteer conservation opportunities from the City of Ann Arbor.

Meet John Blinke, author of the Supplementally column in American Mensa’s Bulletin magazine and learn from him about the Great Sphinx of Giza!

Travel around the world in 88 days with Stewart McMillan.

Enjoy kids’ ice cream social and pool party!

All meals and snacks provided.

Here are the highlights including additional attractions! http://giftedinmichigan.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/semm-antics-xxxiv-from-a-to-z.docx.  

And here is a grid of events: http://giftedinmichigan.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/grid-v03-28-2013-final.pdf.

Best of all come to meet other families with gifted kids!  We hope to see you there!!

SPARCIer Series: Parenting Traps: Raising Your Gifted Child

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

7-8:30PM

Steppingstone School

30250 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Hills, MI

Guest Expert: Dr. David Klimek

Dr. Klimek is a clinical psychologist with 40 years experience serving gifted families; founder and director of The Alliance for Gifted Children in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

This is a Parent Support Seminar open to the public and will include discussion and answers to questions posed by the audience.

Please call Steppingstone with any questions or to RSVP: 248/957-8200.  Feel free to comment on Facebook and to share this event with anyone who may benefit from coming.  We hope to see you there.

SPARCIer Series: The Truth About the Gifted: Dispelling the Myths

Thursday, March 21st, 7-8:30PM Steppingstone School 30250 Grand River Ave, Farmington Hills, MI Guest Expert: Sherry Sparks Sherry Sparks is an educator with 30 years experience in public schools administration — gifted consultant, curriculum director, and teacher trainer/mentor; founder of MightyMindz, providing guidance for families of gifted children. This is a FREE Parent Support Seminar open to the public and will include discussion and answers to questions posed by the audience. Please call Steppingstone with any questions or to RSVP: 248/957-8200. Feel free to comment on Facebook and to share this event with anyone who may benefit from coming. We hope to see you there.

Raising Gifted Children: What I Wish My Parents Had Known

PLUS of SWMI Presents:

Raising Gifted Children: What I Wish My Parents Had Known 

Do you frequently wonder if you’re doing the right thing for your gifted child?

Do you sometimes wish your 5, 10, or 13-year-old could verbalize what works

 for them – and what doesn’t – in the classroom? How do you know if what

you’re advocating for is really what your child needs? 

• What were some of the unique challenges they faced?
• What did their parents do that was particularly helpful?
• What did their parents do that really did NOT work?
• If they could go back and change one thing about their education,

what would it be?

. A panel of older teens and adults who were gifted children answer

your questions regarding raising gifted children!

                          This FREE presentation is open to the public.                         

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

7:00 – 9:00 pm

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency

1819 E. Milham Ave., Portage

(located between Lovers’ Lane and Portage Rd. on the north side of the street) 

For more information, call 269-353-3757, or visit our website at http://www.plusofswmi.org/.

This free program is presented by Partners in Learning for Unlimited Success of Southwest Michigan, a support and advocacy group for the families for advanced and accelerated students. PLUS is an affiliate of the Michigan Association for Gifted Children.