Grouping Students by Ability

A phrase often used by Dr. Ruf is this: "Grouping children by age makes as much pedagogical sense as grouping them by height." Here's another favorite: "Put children in classrooms where what they are ready to learn is already being taught."

Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers, is a fantasy adventure for students in grades 5-8. The author hopes it will serve as a reminder that there's more to childhood than video games, iPads, and computers. The story involves two 13-year-old cousins who are staying with their eccentric old great aunt for the summer. It's an idyllic life except that their aunt won't allow them to watch television or use computers in the evenings. The reader will be challenged with language, math, and other elements as the cousins begin an adventure to help find Lexicon's missing children.

The author, Pendred (Penny) Noyce, is a physician, educator, and writer. Her father, Robert Noyce, was co-inventor of the integrated circuit (computer chip) and one of the founders of Intel.

"There's nothing inherently wrong with pixels, in moderation" says Noyce. "It's when kids overlook the beauty and the magic of language and numbers that they lose out on what makes childhood such a wonderful time - and that's a crime that I think we can all solve together."

You can download the first three chapters of Lost in Lexicon on Dr. Noyce's website. There's plenty of other interesting things to find on the site, as well. There's a games page with a fun and challenging Pong-type of arcade game, there are rules for playing some new (non-computer) games, and a few recipes for treats such as Punctuation Trapping Chocolate Chip Cookies (wrap these cookies well to keep them away from ravenous commas and exclamation points!).  In addition, there are several blogs written by the author and by some of the books' characters.  

Anyone can be a scientist, engineer or inventor at The Bakken Museum!

Discover Galvanism and what the buzz was about in the turn of the 19^th century when people were experimenting with animating the dead with the new technology of the day--the battery.  Learn about Mary Shelley's inspiration for Frankenstein and the scientist, Aldini, whose ´moving dead´ made many wonder if electricity was the answer to life itself!  Check out demonstrations with electricity that will make your muscles twitch!

Every Saturday the museum features hands-on science activities, experiments and challenges from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities are included with the cost of general admission. 

Governor Tim Pawlenty, at the request of the Minnesota Council of Gifted and Talented (MCGT), has declared the week of October 30 to November 6 Gifted and Talented Youth week.