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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Attendance Policy
Dear Parent/Guardian of Joplin Schools’ Gifted Education Center,
As we head into the next school year, we wanted to take the time to remind our parents and guardians of Joplin Schools’ Gifted Education Center attendance policy. Our program is rapidly expanding and to ensure that the program remains robust, as well as providing a stable classroom environment, the following policy will be implemented.
Your child is a vital part of each day’s learning team and his/her presence contributes and amplifies to each group’s experience. Please note the procedures below that will be followed under the Gifted Center’s Attendance Policy. Gifted class is an educational intervention. Therefore, students are expected to attend gifted class each week unless they have an excused absence. Excused absences are determined by each elementary principal and include standardized testing, sickness, district planned grade level field trips, or a doctor’s appointment. Please check the Gifted Program’s calendar attached to the Joplin School’s Home Page for scheduling purposes. Classroom teachers need to convey excused absences to the gifted teacher on or before the student’s gifted day.
We teach a sequential curriculum that necessitates regular and meaningful attendance to the gifted classroom. Thank you for your support and sharing your child with us! Again, the policy is being implemented to ensure the highest quality experience for your child and for the program as a whole. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as this policy is implemented. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Director of Gifted Education, Brian Olivera, or your child’s gifted education teacher, Ms. Hughes or Ms. Hembree.
Thank you for opportunity to enrich your child’s education!
Sincerely,
Gifted Staff
