Institute for Educational Advancement

Let's debunk some myths. 💥

There are many misconceptions about what it means for a child to be gifted. Combined with varying degrees of identification, programming, and services for gifted students between school districts and states; giftedness expressing itself differently for each child; and the lack of consensus on the definition of the term itself, it isn't surprising that the giftedness is misunderstood.

The most common myths are:
- Gifted students always get good grades and don't need help
- Students with learning disabilities cannot be gifted
- Teachers love having gifted students in the classroom
- Gifted children aren't different from other children
- Gifted children are more mature than other children their age

Swipe through to learn the truth about these myths and visit our website for even more:
- https://educationaladvancement.org/blog-myths-gifted-kids/
- https://educationaladvancement.org/blog-myths-and-realities-of-the-social-and-emotional-development-of-gifted-children/

The last day to apply for Fall is Monday! ⏰

This is your last chance to apply for Fall Academy! The final application deadline is Monday, August 19th.

Do you have questions about the application, or do you need recommendations for the best class for your student? Call our office and speak to our Academy team at (626) 403-8900 or email [email protected].

Apply for Fall on our website: https://educationaladvancement.org/academy

It’s not too late to start your summer reading! 📚

Whether you or your gifted child are taking summer school courses, attending camp, traveling or enjoying activities with family and friends, summertime is a great opportunity to enjoy some extra reading.

Do you have a long road trip coming up? Listen to an audiobook. Will you have time to kill at the airport? Reading a book will help pass the time. Are you and your friends on the hunt for a new endeavor? Start a book club to read and discuss novels together.

In case you need some convincing to read beyond your assigned summer reading for school, here are six scientific reasons you should be reading more:
- Reading reduces stress.
- Reading, especially books, may add years to your life.
- Reading improves your language skills and knowledge of the world.
- Reading enhances empathy.
- Reading boosts creativity and flexibility.
- Reading can help you transform as a person.

Here are some books we recommend:
- Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers
- Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
- The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
- Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
- Boying Up: How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant by Mayim Bialik

Read more on our website via the link in our bio.

Do you have a favorite novel or book you are looking forward to reading this summer? Share it with us in the comments below!

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Post graphics and copy by: Joshua Mak
Edited by: IEA Marketing & Communications Manager
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Happy National Book Lovers Day! 📚

At IEA, we welcome book lovers and gifted students of all shapes and sizes—even squirrels (last slide)!

Whether you're diving deep into a new topic or exploring a world of wonders, there's a book for you. Let's celebrate the joys of reading!

There is no one definition of giftedness.

How do you or your child experience giftedness? Let us know below!

IEA advocates for the definition penned in 1991 by the Columbus Group, made up of parents and professionals well-versed in the needs of gifted learners, but there are many other definitions (https://bit.ly/4aJOn7H). While the majority of Americans understand the term "gifted," some individuals may have different opinions (https://ieap.educationaladvancement.org/).

No matter the term or definition we use, educators, researchers, developmental psychologists, and parents have all agreed that gifted children need more support inside and outside of school. There are more than 3 million gifted students in the United States from all backgrounds, yet advanced programming for these young people in most elementary and middle schools is limited and inconsistent.

This is why we founded IEA in 1993: to fill a gap in gifted education. Our goal is to ensure that each gifted child’s specific needs are met so that they can work towards meeting their full intellectual and personal potential.

There's plenty more! Over the next few weeks, we'll share more information and resources on giftedness. Follow us so you don't miss it!

Our students are coding their way through summer! 💻

Summer sessions have been packed with challenging coding that pushed students to work hard and think critically to solve diverse problems. Sometimes, the robots got confused and were not happy about it (last slide).
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Applications are still open for Fall. Check out our class schedule and sign up on our website! www.EducationalAdvancement.org/Academy
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Happy International Day of Friendship! 💛

We're thrilled to see our students connecting with each other and forging lifelong friendships. Here's to the friendships to be made!

What did the bridge say to the river? 🌉

"I've got you covered, bro."

Our Academy students had a great time engineering over the past two weeks! Swipe through and visit our stories to see all the cool things they built.

We're excited to see students back on Monday for our final Summer Session!

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Applications are still open for Fall. Check out our class schedule and sign up on our website: https://www.educationaladvancement.org/academy

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Happy Parent Appreciation Day! ❤️

Without your unwavering support, love, and care, our gifted students would not be the incredible people they are today.

Happy National Ice Cream Day! 🍨

It's become a tradition for our EXPLORE students to make everyone ice cream using dry ice at our annual Summer Spotlight. It's always a hit and a nice cool treat on a warm summer day.

Last full day of camp for Yunasa 2024! 🏞️

We're reflecting on a week full of laughter, friendship, learning, growth, and fun activities. Until next year!

The Fall Academy Early-Bird Deadline is Monday! ⌛

We offer many unique, engaging classes for students ages 6-14 including Microbiology, Robotics, and Designed Through Destruction. Tuition assistance is available.

Apply now for your Early-Bird Discount on our website: https://educationaladvancement.org/academy

The final application deadline is August 19.

Yunasa East is off to a great start! 🚣‍♀️

Campers are enjoying a variety of activities, including kayaking, paddleboarding, playing with bubbles, hiking, learning about wildlife and wild animals, and more.

Yunasa East starts tomorrow! 🏕️

We wish all campers safe travels heading to camp. We can't wait to host you all for a week of psychosynthesis, ziplining, water inflatables, s'mores, and more!

Our Academy students are back for Summer Session 2! 🔔

Classes kicked off today and students are diving deep into creating puzzles, engineering circus tents, practicing yoga, learning geochemistry, and preparing woodblocks for printing.

Interested in taking a course? Applications are open for Fall on our website: https://educationaladvancement.org/programs/iea-academy/

Apply by July 22 for an early-bird discount. Tuition assistance is available.

Happy 4th of July! ✨

As we celebrate Independence Day, it is a great time to share with gifted children our nation's history, including the stories of those who have fought for freedom and helped shape our country into a diverse melting pot.

Swipe through for some book recommendations for these stories:
- Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong
- Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus
- They Called Her Molly Pitcher by Anne Rockwell and Cynthia von Buhler
- We Came to America by Faith Ringgold
- We the Kids by David Catrow
- Wonders of the USA A Shine-a-light book by Carron Brown and Bee Johnson

Reminder: IEA's office will be closed on July 4th and 5th. We're excited to see students and families back at the Learning Center on July 8th for Academy Summer Session 2!

Our Fall Academy schedule is now available! 🧑‍🏫

We are excited to announce that the schedule and application for Fall Academy are now available!

Whether you're interested in creative learning opportunities, deep dives into unique topics, or community building for your child, IEA's Fall Academy offers a unique opportunity for your gifted students to thrive.

Apply by August 19 to secure your spot in this enriching educational experience or apply by July 22 for an Early Bird Discount! Tuition assistance is available to all families in need.

Visit our website to view the schedule and apply: https://educationaladvancement.org/programs/iea-academy/

Take a peek into one of our Yunasa Summer Camp traditions 🌈👕

Every Yunasa camper can tie-dye their own IEA t-shirt! Swipe through to watch our campers make their t-shirts.

This camp-favorite activity gives each camper the chance to get creative and make their own camp souvenir. We've heard from parents that some campers wear their tie-dye shirts long after they return home and are so glad campers get to take a piece of camp with them.

Students are having a blast in Academy science courses this summer! 🧪

They're learning about the states of matter using Oobleck, practicing their Punnett squares, studying cells and viruses, extracting fruit DNA, gaining lab skills while making rainbows, and more.

Happy International Yoga Day! 🧘

Yoga has been proven to have many benefits for both the mind and body. We teach yoga in multiple programs to help our gifted students learn to reduce stress, manage anxiety, and calm a restless mind.

If you and your child would like to try incorporating yoga to help develop the connection between your mind, body, spirit, and soul, visit our website for some yoga routines to try.

Happy Juneteenth!

This holiday celebrates the actual end of slavery in the US and recognizes the injustices African Americans have faced throughout our country's history through present day.

Swipe right for some book recommendations to help your children learn about Juneteenth:
- Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise by Lavaille Lavette and Illustrated by David Wilkerson
- Juneteenth by Van G. Garrett and Illustrated by Reginald C. Adams
- Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth by Tonya Abari and Illustrated by Tabitha Brown
- The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate by Alliah L. Agostini and Chef Taffy Elrod and Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
- A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor
- Opal Lee And What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan and Illustrated by Ketura A. Bobo

Let's remember this history as we continue to advocate for diverse curriculum, the needs of gifted students from marginalized communities, and equity in access to education and gifted services.

What a week! 🏕️

All Yunasa West campers are now safely home after spending a week in their growth zones! Each camper tried at least one new thing, whether it was conquering heights on a giant ladder, learning introspection in a workshop, or making a new friend. We are so proud of them for their growth, open minds, and bravery.

We hope each camper brings a piece of Yunasa into their lives outside camp. The Yunasa community will always be here to support you, even when we're spread out across the country. If you need a reminder, just remember: everything is peach juice 🧃

We're in our friendship era 😊

We love seeing friendships blossom between our Yunasa campers! For some of our campers, this is the first time and place they meet other gifted kids, kids who are just as unique as they are. They bond through shared experience and create a sense of affirmation and belonging at camp.

Learn more about our Yunasa Summer Camps on our website!

Yunasa West is under way! 🏞️

Camp started this past weekend, and campers are having a great time outdoors. From making camp necklaces to rock climbing, archery, ropes courses, and music, all our campers are trying something new while making new friends.

Stay tuned all week for sneak peeks into camp!

A big shout-out to Atticus Stewart and Channing Yang!

They're both CDB Scholars Class of 2028 who competed in the 2024 MATHCOUNTS Competition!

Atticus placed 15th in the top 25% of competitors for the South California State Competition, and his high school team also placed 5th!

Channing won the Written Competition, placed as Countdown Round Quarterfinalists, and his team (Team Texas) won the team championships in the National Competition!

We're so proud of all your hard work and accomplishments. Congratulations!

Happy Pride Month! 🌈🌟

Today and every day, we celebrate the diversity that makes our community so unique and vibrant. We are committed to making IEA a safe, inclusive place where every student can be their authentic self.

Let's spread the love, respect, freedom, equality, and pride. Swipe left for some book recommendations featuring LGBTQIA+ authors, history, and stories:

- Strong by Rob Kearney and Eric Rosswood, Illustrated by: Nidhi Chanani
- Sparkle Boy by Lesléa Newman, Illustrated by Maria Mola
- Pink, Blue, and You! by Elise Gravel with Mykaell Blais
- It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn, Illustrated by Noah Grigni
- Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
- Ritu Weds Chandni by Ameya Narvankar
- The Pengrooms by Paul Castle
- My Rainbow by DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal, Illustrated by Art Wink
- Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders

Interested in contributing to novel botanical research? 🌺🔬

Sign up for Introduction to Research through Botany!

This new Summer Externship program is a great opportunity for students interested in EXPLORE to develop their lab skills through hands-on experience in preparation for the advanced EXPLORE mentorship program.

Students will collect samples at the The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens and bring them back to the lab at IEA's Learning Center to culture microbes from nectar, extract and sequence DNA from these microbes, and other tests to contribute to novel botanical research.

This externship opportunity is open to students ages 12–15 and will meet Saturdays from 1–4 PM from June 29 through August 10 (except July 27).

Learn more and sign up here: https://bit.ly/4bWOZrs

We can't wait to have students back for Summer Academy in a few weeks!

We still have a few spots available for smARTy Science and How to Eat a Poem (In-person for Session 1 for ages 6–8). Spots are also available for Venomous & Poisonous Creatures, taught by Summer Spotlight monitor lizard's human and IEA's animal expert, Grayson Kent, (Online in Session 2 for ages 10–14).

Visit our website to learn more and sign up for these classes!

https://educationaladvancement.org/programs/iea-academy/

The sun came out just in time for Summer Spotlight🌞

We loved catching up with current and long-time families and meeting new ones. Kids and their families had a blast making friendship bracelets, blowing bubbles, petting a monitor lizard, learning about 3D printing, having dry-ice ice cream, and eating tacos!

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and volunteered! We're excited to see you all again soon for Summer Academy or at our next event.

This AAPI Heritage Month, we are celebrating Asian American heroes in education!

Thanks to the leadership, advocacy, and inspiration of Hanseul Kang, Martha and Berda Lum, Patsy Mink, Ronald Takaki, Haunani-Kay Trask, and many others, Asian Americans have equal access to education in the US.

Let's remember their legacy as we continue to advocate for diverse curriculum, data disaggregation so we can accurately identify and advocate for the needs of gifted students from marginalized communities, and equity in access to education and gifted services.

If you're looking to incorporate more Asian American stories in your home or classrooms, check out The Asian American Education Project and the National Education Association for curriculum and resources and swipe for book recommendations:
- Brown is Beautiful by Supriya Kelkar and Noor Sofi (Illustrator)
- Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho (Illustrator)
- The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang and Khao Le (Illustrator)
- Sari Sari Summers by Lynnor Bontigao
- The Spice Box by Meera Sriram and Sandhya Prabhat (Illustrator)
- When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling

https://asianamericanedu.org/
https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/teaching-asian-american-native-hawaiian-and-pacific-islander-heritage

The Asian American Education Project Today