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5-year-old in Tennessee earns Mensa membership after testing for high IQ

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5-year-old in Tennessee earns Mensa membership after testing for high IQ


HILLSBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — 5-year-old Connor Samples earned his Mensa membership in February for testing above a 132 IQ — when the common IQ for teenagers his age is between 5 and 20.

Mensa is the oldest and largest IQ society on the earth with members in 90 international locations. Connor is one in all solely three kids aged 5 and underneath within the state of Tennessee to earn the membership.

“It is a corporation that basically offers us these sources, offers us with hyperlinks, sources that oldsters can grow to be extra educated on how you can help and assist develop these little gifted minds that they’ve,” defined Connor’s mom Marjorie Samples.

His dad and mom realized their son was transferring sooner than his friends earlier than he was 2 years previous.

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“He was one and a half and he began recognizing all his alphabet actually simply,” recounted Marjorie. “He began doing his sight phrases and issues like that at two. After which come two and a half he was studying.”

Claire Kopsky

At solely 5 years previous, Connor Samples is already studying algebra.

“I might come residence from work and there he’s studying subtitles throughout the TV display screen, at simply such a younger age,” stated Connor’s father Phil. “I used to be all the time so shocked.”

However it was not simply studying Connor was excelling at, it was additionally math.

“We had some household over and so they had been sort of teasing. They’re like, ‘what’s one plus two plus three plus 4 plus 5?’ And, you already know, he was like, ’15.’ And all of us on the desk had been like [nodding yes] after which they might be like [pulling out calculators to check him],” defined Phil. “‘OK, what’s one plus two plus…’ after which they’d go on and he’d get them.”

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Connor began kindergarten in the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester.

“When he began faculty, I noticed regression taking place. He got here in he wished to do phonics and I am like, ‘OK, we might do phonics, buddy, however you already comprehend it,’” defined Marjorie. “We mentioned, you already know, is retaining him at school one thing that is good for him? And we determined to attend to see what the college system would come again and advocate for us.”

After some persuasion, the college agreed to permit Connor to take a check.

“He examined rather well, means above his degree. And you already know, right here I used to be considering, ‘OK, there’s received to be some sort of gifted program, what are you able to do?’ Proper? So that they solely supplied about 40 minutes a day, retaining him in kindergarten,” defined Marjorie.

She knew that will not be sufficient for her son primarily based on what they knew he might achieve this she and her husband talked to the college once more.

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“They supplied that they might push him to first grade. And I used to be like, ‘Whereas that’s good, he’s surpassing first-grade materials.’ I imply, he is studying at a third-grade degree, he is doing math at a second-grade degree or extra, you already know, it is identical to, I do not assume that is sufficient,” she stated. “And since these had been our solely choices, and there was nothing else they will do. We determined to tug him from the faculties from, from the general public faculty and homeschool him.”

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Claire Kopsky

Connor’s dad and mom Marjorie and Phil Samples

The couple altered their work schedules and began homeschooling Connor in January.

“My mother does studying and spelling and language arts and my dad does math, social research and science,” defined Connor.

As of the start of March, he was already 75% via a math e-book for the 12 months.

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In February, the household additionally acquired information Connor examined excessive sufficient on the IQ check to qualify for Mensa—they stated that was additional affirmation they made the precise resolution to take him out of conventional faculty.

“We’d have misplaced three years of his life on one thing he would have already recognized. So, be an advocate. Proceed, you already know, nurturing what they’ve, and should you see it at a younger age, even at kindergarten, you already know, push to your scholar or your youngster to essentially be examined and have these packages out there,” implored Marjorie.

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Claire Kopsky

Connor Samples’ dad and mom cut up the topics they train at their homeschool in Hillsboro, Tennessee.

Connor’s dad and mom stated they’re working laborious to verify he’ll proceed to socialize with youngsters his personal age in addition to those that share his IQ.

So far as what he needs to be when he “grows up,” Connor instructed his mother, “I don’t know, I need to be perhaps the president, however perhaps a Spiderman, however you already know I sort of like The Wiggles however then I believe I need to be a fireman. I don’t know. There’s a lot I might do. Perhaps I need to be all of them.”

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With the assistance of sources from Mensa, the couple hopes he can obtain any dream he has.

Phil stated,” [We want him] to verify he is aware of all of the completely different pathways and he can do no matter one he chooses that he needs to do with what he’s been given.”

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Claire Kopsky

Marjorie and Phil Samples say one of many advantages of homeschooling their son is that he can speed up in every topic as rapidly as he needs to.





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Tennessee parent proudly calls herself a ‘Venmo mom’ — why her stance is dividing the internet

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Tennessee parent proudly calls herself a ‘Venmo mom’ — why her stance is dividing the internet


A Tennessee mom says she doesn’t want to volunteer in her kids’ classrooms or for their extracurricular activities — and said she’s “found her community” after posting a video on TikTok explaining that she’s a proud “Venmo mom.”

“I don’t know about anyone else out there, but ‘Meet the Teacher’ is super stressful because I do not want to be involved at all,” Casey Neal, 31 and a mother of four, said in her video that has grabbed at least 450,000 views. 

“I will make sure my kids obviously do their homework and get to school on time … but I don’t want to be on PTO, PTA, room mom, team mom — I don’t want to do any of that.”

Neal indicated that when the start of a school year or sports season rolls around, she gets ready to duck.

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“I start getting real stressed when they start asking for volunteers,” Neal said in her video. 

“I’m like, ‘Oh no, I know they’re judging me because I’m not raising my hand,’ but I don’t want to do all that extra sh–,” she said. “I don’t want to come in. I don’t want to set up.”

But she’s more than happy to Venmo money to help with whatever is needed, she said.

“If the room mom needs money for everyone to participate, fine. I’ll Venmo money right over,” Neal said in her video. 

“I do not want to set up for it. I don’t want to do it.”

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This year, to avoid the stress, she said she made that perfectly clear to all the classroom and team organizers. 

Neal and her husband have four kids — ages 11, 7, 5 and 3 — who are involved in all kinds of activities, such as cheerleading, baseball, football and more.

“I even told one of the coaches today that I am a ‘Venmo mom,’” Neal said.

Neal, who worked as a district manager and ran five stores for Andy’s Frozen Custard until moving to Knoxville this year, said her job made it difficult for her to attend school functions during the work day. 

And that didn’t seem to sit well with some people.

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“When I wasn’t as involved as the other moms, I didn’t feel very welcome in certain situations,” Neal told Fox News Digital. 

“My two youngest, they went to a private school before we moved, and they had a bike day, where you brought their bike or their scooter, and [some people] were like, ‘Oh, you’re not staying?’ Or, ‘Oh, you’re not staying for the party?’ I’m thinking, ‘Does nobody work anymore?’”

Neal said she also had a bad experience with some cheer moms a couple of years ago. 

“Their practices are two to three hours long,” Neal said. 

“So I just come back and pick up [her daughter] when practice is over. There was a mom who was talking very poorly of me, and this is one of the practices I happened to go to. When she realized I was there, her face dropped. There was even a dad there who was, like, ‘Not cool.’”

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Said Neal, “I don’t need that drama in my life or in my kids’ life.”

“We’re here to set examples, and if they’re talking poorly in front of all the parents, I’m sure some kids heard some stuff. I just don’t think that’s necessary.”

That’s when Neal realized she could avoid all the trouble and still help out by donating her money rather than her time. 

Neal indicated that when the start of a school year or sports season rolls around, she gets ready to hide. JinnaritT – stock.adobe.com

Thousands of people agreed with her — all for their own reasons.

“I’ll literally pay for the entire event, just don’t make me actually go,” one viewer of Neal’s video said. 

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“This is so me. Just let me know how much money and I will send it,” another viewer said. 

“As an introvert, please don’t ask me. I’ll send all the money and cheer in the audience, though,” another person commented.

“This. Can we normalize this?” another person commented. 

“You need door prizes, meals donated, crafts? I’ll drop it at the office. I’m not staying,” another viewer stated.

What’s even more validating, Neal told Fox News Digital, are the comments of appreciation for “Venmo moms” by the ones organizing the events.

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“There is a place for everyone,” one viewer commented. 

“As a room mom and team mom, I can’t thank you enough for being a Venmo mom,” someone else added.

“As a room mom, I love Venmo moms,” another viewer said.

Neal said she now has a community of moms who are supportive of this behind-the-scenes role.

“Not to sound cheesy, but I just thought it was really beautiful,” Neal said. 

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“Never did I think my rant would go off. But the comments and women supporting each other in the comments and supporting me meant a lot. It takes all kinds of people doing all kinds of things,” she added.

“We’re all there for the same reason. We just contribute in different ways. I just thought it was really beautiful and positive.”


moms watching children play soccer
She’s more than happy to Venmo money to help with whatever is needed, she said. athichoke.pim – stock.adobe.com

There were a few who disagreed with the notion of not giving time to an important cause, such as a child’s education experience or extracurricular activities — and they didn’t mind saying so.

“I do want to be involved [because] I wish my mom was when I was a kid,” one viewer commented. 

“Your kids would love to see you helping,” someone else said.

“I was a Venmo mom until I lost my son last year. This year I’m doing everything to be involved in my daughter’s life. Every moment counts,” another user wrote.

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Others said that they didn’t really want to volunteer their time — but they’re willing to take one for the team.

“As a new PTA president, I don’t want to do it either, yet here we are,” another said. 

“I don’t want to either. I do it to make sure my kids have the best experience [they] can. It’s not really about me at all,” someone else commented. 

“My thoughts are if everyone felt like that, then the kids would have a sh—- experience in school,” another person said. 

“So I suck it up and volunteer so the kids can have fun or whatever else it’s for.”

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Neal said her kids love seeing her in the stands and they know she’s there to support them in all their activities.

“I love being on the sidelines. That, for me, is the biggest thing,” said Neal. 

“But as far as being in charge, being a team mom, a room mom, I’m just not good at planning, and there are people who want to do that. I will get a teacher whatever they need to make them successful, to help make the class successful, but I just don’t want to be in charge.”

Neal added, “And the teen moms, they seem to have it under control. They don’t need me.”

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Former Bengals OL Named Titans Candidate

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Former Bengals OL Named Titans Candidate


The Tennessee Titans and the other 31 NFL teams will have to cut their rosters down to 53 players by tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT, which means a lot of roster reshuffling will take place.

The Titans not only have to look at their own roster for who they wish to keep, but they also have to keep an eye on other teams to see if they cut any players that they may want instead.

Bleacher Report suggests that the Titans may want to pick up offensive lineman Jackson Carman, who was cut over the weekend by the Cincinnati Bengals.

“The Titans are still working on rebuilding an offensive line that was among the league’s worst units last season. Fortunately, they have a secret weapon in Bill Callahan. He’s one of the league’s best offensive line coaches and his ability to develop players should help,” Bleacher Report writes. “It should also allow the Titans to take a shot on some players with talent who haven’t worked out yet. Jackson Carman is a perfect example. The Bengals just waived the former second-round pick, but he’s still only 24 years old so there might be some development to come. He should be on the Titans’ radar.”

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It should also be noted that Carman worked for three years with Titans head coach Brian Callahan while he was the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, so that familiarity could make this a strong fit as well.

Carman played in all 17 games in his rookie year, and he appeared in Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams. However, he has only appeared in seven total games since. The last time Carman started came in the 2022 playoffs, where the Bengals lost in the AFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Carman wouldn’t be asked to step in right away for the Titans, but he could help the team’s depth in the trenches at multiple positions, especially at right tackle, where Nicholas Petit-Frere narrowly won the starting job and right guard, where Dillon Radunz is currently the starter.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!



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Wetter than normal Tennessee winter? What Farmers’ Almanac and weather forecasters predict

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Wetter than normal Tennessee winter? What Farmers’ Almanac and weather forecasters predict


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Instead of a winter wonderland, Tennessee — along with the rest of the United States — is expected to experience a wet whirlwind, according to the 208th edition of the Farmers’ Almanac. The 2024-2025 winter weather outlook calls for a winter season full of rapid-fire storms that will bring both rain and snow for most regions.

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The outlook predicts a cold, wet winter for most locations. Average or above normal temperatures are forecast for New England, the Northeast, the Southern Plains, the Southeast and the Atlantic Coast regions.

“It definitely looks more wet than white in many areas,” Farmers’ Almanac Editor Sandi Duncan told USA TODAY. “Obviously, depending on where you live, there might be more white than wet, but we’re focusing in on the wet winter ahead.”

Here’s what lies ahead regarding winter weather.

What does the Farmers’ Almanac say about the 2024-2025 winter outlook in Tennessee?

As previously reported by USA TODAY, the Farmers’ Almanac predicts that Southeast states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) are expected to be “mild and wet” overall.

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“But that doesn’t mean they will escape Old Man Winter,” added Duncan.

Tennessee will experience a hotter and wetter than average winter season, according to the National Weather Service

According to the Climate Prediction Center, Tennessee will experience above average temperatures (33-40%) with parts of the Middle Tennessee region experiencing above average precipitation (33-40%) during December, January and February.

“There is still a 60-67% chance that either near normal or below normal temperatures are experienced, but our best prediction is that we’ll exceed the monthly temperature averages,” said National Weather Service Meteorologist, Ryan Husted.

In December, Nashville experiences average highs of 52, average lows of 33 and an average precipitation of 4.43 inches. In January, the area normally sees highs of 49, lows of 30 and an average precipitation of 4 inches. Then in February, things gradually begin to heat up with average high of 54, lows of 33 and an average precipitation of 4.47 inches.

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Most of the Southeastern United States is typically favored for above normal temperatures, due to La Niña, the periodic cooling of sea-surface temperatures, added Husted.

How will La Niña impact weather weather in Tennessee?

Low pressure systems generally move north of the area during La Niña conditions, which often keeps Tennessee in the area of warmer temperatures, providing fuel for thunderstorms, said Husted.

The probabilities for the Volunteer State to experience a major winter event like snow or ice are lower, however extreme winter events can never be ruled out. For example, the winters of 2022-2023 (a La Niña winter) and 2023-2024 both experienced above normal temperatures yet they still came with a “substantial” cold snap, said Husted.

“We all remember these single winter events but often forget how warm the rest of the winter is,” Husted told the Tennessean in an email. “… We speak in general terms for the season and are unable to predict single weather events and their exact timing until they have formed and are approaching us, usually a few days away.”

Will Nashville receive snow this winter?

It is currently impossible to predict how much snow Nashville will receive this season, said Husted. Based on previous snowfall events, Music City favors normal (4.7 inches) and below normal snowfall during La Niña winters.

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The winters of 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 were all La Niña winters, and they received 5.2 inches of snow (near normal), 9.5 inches of snow (above normal) and 1.2 inches of snow (below normal), respectively.

How much snow did the Nashville area receive last winter?

In January, Nashville experienced record breaking snowfall, receiving its yearly average of snow in less than 24 hours. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, the weather service confirmed Nashville’s official snowfall accumulation was 7.6 inches, with the majority of it (6.3 inches) falling on Monday alone.

Surrounding areas were covered under an even thicker blanket of snow. Kingston Springs, Gallatin and Hendersonville received eight inches while Belle Meade, Berry HIll and Oak Hill received nine inches.

Record snowfall in Nashville? Music City surpasses yearly average in less than 24 hours

Nashville’s top five snowstorms:

  1. March 16-18, 1892: 17 inches
  2. Feb. 2-3, 1886: 16 inches
  3. Feb. 20-21, 1929: 15 inches
  4. Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 1951: 12 inches
  5. Feb. 6-9, 1979: 11 inches

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

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