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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Journey Around the World
Introducing students to the countries of the world at a young age is important for many reasons.
The first reason being simply so that they know where countries are in the world. Yes, they will continue to learn about various countries throughout their schooling, but from a practical standpoint it is important to know where places are. As discussions occur about current events, it is helpful to have prior knowledge. This helps them make more sense of and connect to current events more thoroughly.
Another reason that learning about other countries is so important is to raise culturally aware children. The world we live in is so large and yet, so small.
People travel for work, travel for pleasure, and travel for survival. an awareness of the different cultures around the world and a realization that not every place is like where we live is impactful. People wear different clothes, speak different languages, believe different things, and have different values. This develops respect, and an appreciation of the wonderful diversity of the world.
A third reason for teaching world geography is because kids are naturally curious. There is a window of opportunity where they just want to know and see everything about everywhere. Maybe one day they will travel and get to experience different places.
"Teach Me and I Grow"
