Teachers Drive Student Engagement Through Practical Learning at the Gifted Academy

At Towne Meadows Elementary, the Gifted Academy is defined by a teaching philosophy that prioritizes creative, outside-of-the-box thinking. Teachers in the Gifted Academy recognize that their students often possess a desire for deeper learning. To meet these needs, the teaching staff focuses on providing a highly integrated and hands-on educational experience.

The teaching structure allows teachers to adapt their instruction to the pace of their students, as many gifted learners process material quickly. This enables educators to dedicate more time to independent research, Socratic seminars, and higher-level discussions. While math instruction is accelerated by one full year, teachers differentiate other subjects by integrating complex, practical applications. For example, 4th-grade Gifted Teacher, Kayla Worthington, brings her environmental expertise into the classroom to turn standard water units into projects where students build sustainable 3D city models.

The goal of the gifted staff is to provide a learning environment where students remain engaged through practical engineering and student agency. Lessons in electricity might involve students constructing functional circuits to light up 3D-printed angler fish, while choice boards allow students to direct their own learning and present unique projects to their peers. These activities, alongside the creation of physical games like customized Operation sets, integrate academic concepts with real-world design.

Outside of the classroom, the Gifted Academy supports families through regional transportation for both gifted students and their siblings. This keeps families together on a single campus and helps integrate the gifted experience into the broader school community. Through this combination of accelerated pacing and specialized projects, the educators at Towne Meadows work to ensure every student finds a place where their curiosity is matched by their curriculum.

To learn more about the Gifted Academy at Towne Meadows Elementary, visit TowneMeadows.GilbertSchools.net/Gifted-Academy or schedule a tour!