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/5th
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Miranda Hembree - 4th/5th
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Bret Ingle - Director
Supply List:
Click picture to view
Upcoming Events:
*Elementary Read-a-thon!
*Click picture for details.
Lunch Menu:
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Ecology
"Teaching young children about ecology and the environment will teach them lessons they will take through the rest of their life. If children learn to respect and care for the world they live in and the wildlife within it from a young age they will help to preserve it for the next generation. They will become advocates for protecting nature.
The earth’s natural assets are made up of plants, animals, land, water, the atmosphere AND humans! TOGETHER we all form part of the planet’s ecosystems– together is perhaps the most important word here. Everything we do as humans affects the world we live in – we do not have limitless resources – we have the power to destroy or create – we need to teach children to create, care for and respect our world."
"Children Learning about Ecology and the Environment"
by Chris Pittam, 4th Nov 2013
