by Kelly Gray, Administrative Assistant It’s common knowledge that kids can benefit from participation in sports: weekly exercise, the opportunity to make new friends, development of leadership skills, and much more. However, what may not be so well-known is that participating in sports can have an...
by Nicole LaChance, Marketing & Communications Coordinator It’s a question almost every parent of a gifted child struggles with at some point: should my child skip a grade (or more)? For many gifted children, grade acceleration is beneficial. Students are placed in classes where they are...
The Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA) is excited to announce that 30 middle-schoolers across the country have been named 2016 Caroline D. Bradley Scholars. IEA’s Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship, the only merit based, need-blind high school scholarship in the country, awards highly gifted students nationwide...
by Niña Abonal, Program Coordinator Debbie Abilock (1999), the Co-founder of Educational Vision & Content, identified five facts about gifted readers: Gifted readers are skilled, flexible readers who read often; Gifted readers monitor their reading; Linguistically rich texts are especially suited to gifted readers; Gifted readers use...
by Jennifer de la Haye, Program Coordinator This year, IEA’s theme for both the Bradley Seminar and Yunasa Summer Camps was “Finding and Cultivating Your Voice.” In a culture that has become image-obsessed, where we often exist behind a meticulously crafted social media identity, and where...
by Alexis Hopper, Program Coordinator “The art and science behind questions is the source of all knowledge” --Thomas Berger, novelist On occasion, I remember to ask my husband questions like, "If you had to write a book, would you write a science fiction novel or historical drama?"...
by Qiao Li, Coordinator Why is Community Important? Community is the foundation of our social life. A healthy community provides support, encouragement, affirmation, and a sense of belonging to all members. Feeling loved and accepted also fosters good behavioral patterns, increase productivity, inspire creativity. Although there are tremendous...
by Tiffany Kwong, Operations Manager We did it! After months of research, analysis, and reporting, we are pleased to share with you the fantastic news that IEA’s programs are officially accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ASC WASC)! The...
by Zadra Rose Ibañez, Director of Operations While on a recent road trip, I explored ways to pass the time and make the journey more pleasurable. Eat Well Pack a snack that is healthful and wholesome, rather than sugary or greasy. This will help prevent the need to...
by Brianna Safe, Resource Coordinator I take it as true that a high percentage of American optimists out there still believe social and economic upward mobility is possible. The American Dream. The belief that if you start at the bottom, you can – through hard work...
by Nicole LaChance, Marketing and Communications Coordinator I have only been at IEA for six months, but in that time one of the most frequent struggles I have heard from parents is how their child does not fit in socially. This is no surprise, due to...
by Niña Abonal, Program Coordinator “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin’s quote embodies the sort of impact a mentor can have in a young person’s life. Mentors are truly extraordinary individuals who are willing to share and...
by Morgan Carrion, Assistant to the President “Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive…” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables There are many ways to explore and learn new things....
by Ellen Gruber, Development Coordinator Walking behind the Barder House on Thursday evening, anyone familiar with IEA’s home might have been surprised to see an expansive white tent where a parking lot would normally be, decorated with strings of fluttering red bunting and filled with smiling...
Are you looking for a summer book recommendation? Check out what we at IEA are currently enjoying! On The Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks “I have the New York-based podcast, Radiolab, to thank for my fascination and love of the late neurologist and author, Oliver Sacks....
Yoga has been proven to have many benefits for both the mind and body. In addition to toning muscles and improving overall physical health, yoga helps reduce stress, manage anxiety and calm a restless mind. These mental benefits are particularly useful for gifted kids, whose...
We have officially kicked off our summer programming at IEA! We are looking forward to meeting new gifted kids and welcoming back familiar faces. Check out a summary of what is happening in each of our programs below. Academy Summer Academy will feature 16 new classes, including...
by Jennifer de la Haye, Program Coordinator Tasked with the mission of writing a blog post, I pondered IEA’s 2016 theme, “Finding and Cultivating Your Voice.” Turning to Thomas Merton, to whom I often turn whilst seeking inspiration, I found this: “The beginning of love is...
by Nicole LaChance, Marketing and Communications Coordinator The gifted brain is a unique place. In fact, it is so unique that many of the complexities of giftedness are still not fully understood. Still, there are some common quirks that have been identified as being associated with...
by Nicole LaChance, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Happy National Scavenger Hunt Day! Did you know scavenger hunts have numerous benefits for kids? I explore a few below. Build Problem-Solving Skills Hands-on learning has numerous benefits, including increased memory of previously taught concepts. Scavenger hunts allow kids...
by Tiffany Kwong, Operations Manager With the end of the school year fast-approaching, you may find yourself looking for things to do with your child that are fun, engaging, and educational. As some of you know, I’m a huge fan of tinkering and believe it’s important...
by Cassidy Kao I had the opportunity to lead a poetry workshop, called The Wonderful World of Poems, to a group of five to seven year old students at IEA Academy on April 29, 2016. The goal of the workshop was to teach my students four...
by Louise Hindle, Program Manager At a point in the past, in the middle of an unusually busy year of educational change as a high school teacher and administrator, I recall hearing (and being motivated by) this phrase: “Without teachers there are no other professions.” Ah,...
by Nicole LaChance As a die-hard Gilmore Girls fan dating back to the show’s original run, its coming revival has me very excited. It seems like there is a new article on some aspect of the show every day, from fashion choices to boyfriend debates to...
by Zadra Rose Ibañez, Director of Operations Since last week was Earth Week, I thought I’d share one of my favorite pictures with you: [caption id="attachment_6472" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Image via Wikipedia[/caption] In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainability as “development that meets the needs...