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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General Behavior Characteristics
Gifted children's behavior differs from that of their age-mates in the following ways.
*Many gifted children learn to read early, with better comprehension of the nuances of language. As much as half the gifted and talented population has learned to read before entering school.
*Gifted children often read widely, quickly, and intensely and have large vocabularies.
*Gifted children commonly learn basic skills better, more quickly, and with less practice.
*They are better able to construct and handle abstractions.
*They often pick up and interpret nonverbal cues and can draw inferences that other children need to have spelled out for them.
*They take less for granted, seeking the "hows" and "whys."
*They can work independently at an earlier age and can concentrate for longer periods.
*Their interests are widely eclectic and intensely focused.
*They often have seemingly boundless energy, which somtimes leads to a misdiagnosis of hyperactivity.
*They usually respond and relate well to parents, teachers, and other adults. They may prefer the company of older children and adults to that of their peers.
*They like to learn new things, are willing to examine the unusual, and are highly inquistive.
*They tackle tasks and problems in a well-organized, goal-directed, and efficient manner.
*They exhibit an intrinsic motivation to learn, find out, or explore and are often very persistant. "I'd rather do it myself" is a common attitude.
