What is Gifted Education?
It's part of human nature to want to learn, to be in that place where we can grow intellectually, emotionally and creatively. We want to feel challenged, to move beyond where we are and toward our innate potential, to test our limits. Abraham Maslow, the well-known humanistic psychologist, called this the tendency toward self-actualization, and viewed it as an essential human drive.
Children need to feel challenged. In order to stay engaged, interested and excited about learning, they need the opportunity to explore, create, grow and go off in their own directions. Gifted programs exist to support students who need a different kind of learning experience - where they can work at an accelerated pace, on an advanced level academically, and to be around others with similar needs.
Giftedness has to do with how you approach things, how you learn, and your potential for learning. Giftedness means you are biologically wired to view the world in a certain way. Giftedness is about potential and attributes - "just viewing the world through a different lens". Therefore, a person's giftedness influences how they interact with the world.
Being identified as gifted is neither a good thing or a bad thing. It simply is. The label doesn't define you - the characteristics you display everyday do. The key is to learn how to manage those things - especially hard things such as emotional intensity, peer interactions, expectations - yours and from the people around you. Gifted education exists to provide students the tools they need for a successful journey.
Supplies, Events, Permission Forms:
The Joplin Elementary Gifted Center is located on the 3rd floor of the Memorial Education Center at 8th and Pearl. It services grades 2nd - 5th. When visiting, please come in the West entrance.
Faculty:
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Wendee Hughes - 2nd/3rd
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Miranda Hembree - 4th/5th
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Kasey Pliler - Director
Supply List:
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Upcoming Events:
*Elementary Read-a-thon!/TBA
Lunch Menu:
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Intellectually Gifted Student Expectations
*Don't expect them to be enthusiastic about drill and repetition.
*Don't expect them to do their best with work that is too easy, or that they already know. Do expect them to rush through these assignments and make mistakes.
*Don't expect them to excel in every subject area.
*Do expect them to have many hobbies and projects outside of school.
*Do expect some to be perfectionists. These students may hand in assignments late or not at all, because the work does not please them.
*Do expect them to be avid readers.
*Do expect them to be emotionally at a different age than they are intellectually. Emotionally a child may be six, but intellectually 12. This is called "asynchronous development".
