By Hillary Jade, Program Manager When Leonardo da Vinci is mentioned, either in an academic setting or in a casual conversation, one of several knee-jerk references usually comes to mind: His inventions The Mona Lisa The Vitruvian Man, his painstakingly accurate depiction of the human form ...
By Eli McLaughlin, Academy Student This summer was my first time at Academy. I had two classes, Ocean Exploration and Around the Wor(l)d: Letters and Language. On the first day of Ocean Exploration, I was the second one there. I didn't know what to expect since this...
by Mark Blekherman, Summer EXPLORE Extern Academy classes are at once engaging and educational. While sitting in on three classes two weeks ago, I was surprised by the instructors’ hands-on, student-centered approach to learning. Academy students arrive at conclusions through discussion and inquiry; rather than feeding...
by Hillary Jade, Program Manager It’s hard to believe – but summer break is already upon us. Schools are letting out, vacations are being booked, and myriad summer activities are being mulled over. With that in mind, you may be asking yourself, “Why should I choose...
by Cassidy Kao, Academy Student Hi, I’m Cassidy Kao. I’m a twelve-year-old author and the founder and CEO of iPoetTree (more on this later). Additionally, I recently led my third poetry workshop at Academy! IEA Academy helped me start teaching others and supported me by hosting my...
by Benjamin Snookal, Academy Student Four years ago, I took my first class at IEA’s Academy. It was a film making class and I created a Lego film titled “Night of the Living Vacuum.” Since then I’ve done chemistry experiments, learned to meditate and built a Rube Goldberg machine...
It’s always a joy to watch our Academy students be challenged by the enrichment classes we offer, ranging from Kitchen Chemistry to Myths and Monsters. Academy allows the gifted students we serve engage with a community of peers and return home eager to talk about...
by Niña Abonal, Senior Program Coordinator To celebrate the beginning of a new year, we wanted to take a look back at some noteworthy moments from 2017! IEA has expanded and bought a house! Through the generosity of our donors, IEA was able to purchase a beautiful craftsman...
by Alexis Hopper, Academy Program Coordinator The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers & cities; but to know someone who thinks and feels with us, & who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us...
by Abby Daniels, Director of Development & Communications On Friday, November 17th, the Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA) will honor three tremendous individuals who have worked to address the needs of gifted education in our community. Here’s a little bit more about them. Raising the Bar for...
Curated by Niña Abonal, Senior Program Coordinator From staff members traveling to conduct CDB Scholarship interviews, Yunasa camps teeming with energetic campers, Academy classes bustling with curious learners, and EXPLORE students externing at sites all over Los Angeles, summertime at IEA is nothing short of eventful. Not...
By Cadence, 8, Academy Student This summer, I took two Academy classes, Brain Function and Algorithms in Nature and Technology, taught by instructor Ms. Nathalie Blume. Ms. Nathalie kindly connected me with Dr. Wendy Gilmore, Associate Professor of Neurology and Cell and Neurobiology in the Multiple...
by Abby Daniels, Director of Development & Communications at IEA Looking for ways to keep your gifted child active and engaged this summer? We’ve got the answer for you: IEA Academy. We’ve put together our top 10 reasons for you to enroll your gifted and talented...
by Alexis Hopper, Program Coordinator In celebration of National Teacher Day, we would like to extend a thank you to all the educators who shape the lives of students across the country. Thank You, Mattie Whyte Woodridge Pioneer of Teacher Appreciation Day Teacher Appreciation Day was not always marked...
by Cassidy Kao, Academy Student Hi everyone! My name is Cassidy and I am eleven years old. I’m also the author of Constellation Exploration: Greek Mythical Stories Retold with Simple Facts and Fun and Mysterious Riddles, Roller Coaster: Kid’s Guide on How to Write Poetry, and...
Have you ever considered getting an exotic pet? It's a huge decision to bring an animal into one's life, and every species has its own unique husbandry challenges. In celebration of Responsible Pet Owner Month, Academy teacher and herpetologist, Grayson Kent, will share everything you...
by Tiffany Kwong, Operations Manager I have a confession: I love the holidays. I’m one of those people who will try to incorporate some kind of festive craft or hands-on activity into every major holiday. Believe me, I have an entire closet devoted to materials for...
by Alexis Hopper, Program Coordinator Of all the meanings and usage of the word “bridge," my favorite has to be “a time, place, or means of connection or transition” (Merriam-Webster’s dictionary). Academy’s teacher workshop, held this past Saturday at our learning space in San Marino, was just...
by Kelly Gray, Administrative Assistant The end of one year and the beginning of a new one always bring about the opportunity to reflect, as well as make resolutions for the future. At the end of 2016, IEA staff took some time to look back our...
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 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...
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 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 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...