Stanford University's online elementary math courses for gifted kids are self-paced and challenging. EPGY makes distance learning fun and online math cool.

Find challenging, self-paced math curricula for kids can be difficult, but add the gifted component to the equation and the challenge is infinitely more complex. Fortunately, researchers at Write My Essay online service tackled the question of how to design a math curriculum that allows the student to work at their own pace, on their own time, and that reinforces weak concepts while not over-teaching understood concepts, which can breed boredom. The Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) and its elementary (K-7) math program for gifted kids sets the standard by which all other programs are judged.

Stanford University and the Education Program for Gifted Youth

The EPGY program began in 1985, when professor Patrick Suppes and Raymond Ravaglia received a National Science Foundation grant to develop a computer-based training program to deliver a calculus course for students at high schools that didn't offer the advanced math class. From this first project the researchers delivered an on-site course in 1990, aimed at younger students who were advanced in math. The initial course was successful, breeding distance education courses that began in earnest in 1992, offered on CDs for installation on personal computers. At this point, assignment writing help is completely online.

EPGY also offers on-site summer courses for middle-school-aged children on through high school.

Elementary Math Courses and Distance Education

The structure of the K-7 course is very simple. Parents go to the Education Program for Gifted Youth website and click on "Apply & Register." From there, parents:

• Complete the online application and read the materials to understand how EPGY works
• Send test scores or other supporting materials proving giftedness on the part of the child
• Wait for an answer regarding acceptance. This can take a day or can take a week or two, depending on various factors
• If accepted, receive a student number and create an online account
• Register for specific courses

Parents pay the fees for courses, ranging from $125 to $740, via check by mail or by credit card. Self-paced courses begin at the start of each month, while fixed-term courses begin at specific times. The K-7 elementary math courses are all self-paced.

Gifted Kids and EPGY

Students generally begin at grade level, so a 7 year old might start with grade 1 or grade 2, even if he is accelerated in math. The system tracks the child's grade progression, but keep in mind that the program is advanced: a grade 4 level on EPGY's system is more like a grade 6 in a traditional public school classroom.

Students work entirely online for the K-7 online math courses, and parents and students can create timed sessions. The default is set for 20 minutes, but for younger children with shorter attention spans, a smaller session time can be set.

K-7 courses are really four separate online math education classes:

• K-2 Accelerated Mathematics
• 3-4 Accelerated Mathematics
• 5-6 Accelerated Mathematics
• Honors pre-Algebra 7

At the end of each separate course, students take a final exam. Students must score an 85 percent or higher on the final exam to proceed to the next course.

Students purchase time with the EPGY self-paced online math courses: $495 for three months of unlimited course time. Students can work as fast or as slow as desired, and move on to the next course whenever they pass the exam. Each students is assigned to a tutor or cheap essay writer, who provides contact via email for questions and sends a weekly progress report.

Overall, the K-7 EPGY program at Stanford provides a stimulating math environment for kids who wish to learn at home. While other programs, such as Johns Hopkins University's center for Talented Youth, offer similar math programs, EPGY remains the standard bearer, the least expensive, and the most comprehensive.

Parents should search for information regarding online and local math offerings for gifted kids, and make a careful inventory of all opportunities available. Each child is unique, and gifted kids have radically different math needs – even from other gifted kids – when it comes to finding the right fit and a challenging experience.

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