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...
By Niña Abonal As we progress through life, we continue to expand our networks and relationships with people in various academic, professional and personal circles. If we are lucky enough, we stumble upon a handful of individuals who nurture our skills and talents, challenge us to...
by Nicole LaChance Upon accepting my position at IEA I sought to learn more about giftedness in order to communicate our message in the best way possible. I was familiar with giftedness in a general way through my background in educational nonprofits, but wanted to learn...
by Nicole LaChance Parenting a gifted or twice-exceptional child comes with a special set of joys and challenges. I know it’s easy for parents to feel like they are alone in their situation and not receiving support from traditional educational groups and institutions. That is why...
by Brianna Safe, Resource Coordinator “Attention is the doorway to gratitude, to wonder, to reciprocity.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer The annual Bradley Seminar is a place where you can’t help but pay attention. In the blink of an eye, it has come and gone. The Seminar is...
by Kate Duey, College Counselor Razel Solow, Ph.D. and Celeste Rhodes, Ph.D. turn the chief criticism of early college entrance--that early entrance inhibits healthy social development--on its head in College at 13: Young, Gifted and Purposeful (Great Potential Press, 2012). Their book is centered on a...
By Louise Hindle, IEA Program Manager Saturday, March 12th bore witness to our 6th Genius Day, a day of deep learning on the life and legacy of none other than Albert Einstein. In case you didn’t know, our Genius Days are days of investigation into the...
by Morgan Carrion NPR ed’s website features several articles that discuss various ways in which our current system fails to meet kids where they are. Right next to an article about “The Quiet Revolution” (the movement to acknowledge and better accommodate introverted personalities) is an interview discussing...
How are aliens related to math? The answer is: in every possible way! From science fiction, to popular culture, to UFO organizations, and even a famous jerky shop half way between Los Angeles and Las Vegas named Alien Fresh Jerky, extraterrestrial life pervades our imagination. The...
Tiffany’s recent post on tinkering inspired me to look further into the benefits of hands-on learning. When researching, I found several studies noting various benefits of hands-on experiments in the classroom, from learning teamwork to increased engagement for tactile learners. By far the most prominent,...
Being a gifted child can be difficult. Gifted children often feel misunderstood by their peers and possibly don’t even fully comprehend themselves and their abilities. This can lead to low self-esteem or self-doubt, hindering a child from thriving in school and reaching their full potential. This...
By Tiffany Kwong After reading Niña’s recent blog post about the Maker movement and Maker Faires, I was reminded of the importance of hands-on learning, making, and tinkering for kids in and outside of the classroom. In elementary school, I remember my sixth grade teacher, Mr....
By Bonnie Raskin Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship Manager Finding the right high school can set the stage for the rest of a child’s academic and professional future. The key to choosing the best high school for your child lies first in understanding your child’s specific needs, but...
By Bonnie Raskin Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship Manager WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU: Each high school has its own values and culture, and your best school fit will be one that matches yours. Even before you visit an open house or begin your high school research, take...
By Niña Abonal This past November, I had the opportunity to attend NAGC’s Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Although the primary purpose of my trip was to learn more about the changing and ever-growing landscape of gifted education, I also had the privilege of listening to...
Here were the Institute for Educational Advancement's top blog posts in 2015: 25 of Our Favorite Gifted Kid Movies Our social media community and the IEA staff weighed in on their favorite movies featuring gifted children and young adults. The Bright Side of Overexcitabilities in Gifted Children Because...