TEACHER'S CORNER: DONNA GROSSHEIDER TEACHES GIFTED PUPILS AT KELLY ELEMENTARY

Donna Grossheider enjoys working with children because they are "honest and open" individuals.

"They want to explore and be involved," she said. "Children still have dreams of doing something great. They are unique, interested and creative."

Grossheider is the resource room teacher for the gifted in grades K-8 at Thomas W. Kelly Elementary School at Benton.

She received a bachelor's degree in vocational home economics and a master's degree in early childhood education from Southeast Missouri State University with certification in elementary and gifted.

After teaching two years at St. Augustine School in Kelso, Grossheider went to Kelly where she has taught all grades but second during the last nine years.

As the resource room teacher for the gifted for the past five years, Grossheider has found that the most misunderstood children are the gifted, talented and creative.

"So many myths surround them," she said.

"A gifted child may not be a `good worker,' get A's and B's, or exhibit perfect behavior. They do not know it all, and they are not always bookworms.

"A gifted child questions constantly, learns rapidly and easily, and is sometimes capable of doing academic work two years in advance. Yet, they could have a learning disability in a certain area.

"They may have a terrific sense of humor, are able to come up with unexpected, sometimes unusual answers and are generally concerned with world affairs. Most seem to have a high energy level, and that keeps me hopping.

"Most of these children will certainly be leaders in their field someday, and that is why it is important to have a program that supports them."

In the gifted program, the students are involved in different activities.

"My eighth graders participate in a program called `Odyssey of the Mind,'" Grossheider said.

"The students must creatively solve a long-term problem within a certain time and cost limit. They compete on a regional or state level.

"We have also hunted for fossils, constructed pinhole cameras and put on magic shows. They are able to study and work on independent projects which interest them but cannot do in the regular classroom because of too little time to go into deeper."

The students take a major field trip of educational and cultural value each year. Students have visited places including the Pink Palace in Memphis, the Chuckalissa Indian Village, the St. Louis Art Forum, Science Center, Transportation Museum and the Arch.

Grossheider lives with her husband, Don, who teaches at Jackson High School. They have two children, Abby, 9 and Neal, 4.

Her interests include crafts, boating, knitting, sewing and recycling. She is a project leader with the Gordonville 4-H Club.