Columbus Academy Day-to-Day | The CA Experience Video Library

The many dimensions of the Columbus Academy experience are captured in this collection of Education Today videos with topics ranging from the importance of play to the teaching of empathy to the role of the arts and technology in the classroom.

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CA Day-to-Day

SHAPING YOUNG MINDS FOR THE FUTURE

Assistant Director of Admissions Debbie Keeran describes a child’s formative years and how important they are to cognitive and social development.

FOSTERING A LOVE FOR LITERACY

Kindergarten teacher Krystal Mitchell providing tips to parents on how to encourage a love for reading in children.

BEFORE-CARE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Director of Special Programs Alyssa King details the before-care and after-school programs at Columbus Academy.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Pre-kindergarten teacher Lisa Spolter and first grade teacher Beth Klug discuss aspects of social emotional learning such as Responsive Classroom and CARES, as well as how and why community building is emphasized in Columbus Academy Lower School classrooms.

WALKING CLASSROOM

Third-graders listen to lessons on iPods while walking around the 231-acre campus at Columbus Academy in an activity initiated by the third-grade team that is adapted from an award-winning national program called The Walking Classroom.

INVESTING IN THE ARTS

Columbus Academy’s emphasis on providing exposure to and opportunities in both visual and performing arts is described by band director Jessica Sneeringer, who chairs the school’s performing arts department.

GOING GREEN: GROWING PLANTS AND RAISING BUTTERFLIES

Dianne Griffin explains how the natural world is incorporated into her lower school science classroom as well as the benefits of a hands-on program that allows students the opportunity to experience projects from beginning to end, such as raising and releasing Monarch butterflies.

CREATING IN 3D

Lloyd Cicetti describes how he nurtures creativity and confidence in Columbus Academy’s lower school art classroom by teaching 3D design in addition to the techniques of master artists.

WORLD PEACE GAME

Lauren Shuneson describes theWorld Peace Game as the new capstone project for Columbus Academy fifth-graders.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY

Columbus Academy Head of School Melissa Soderberg discusses the importance of play on children's overall growth and development.

TEACHING EMPATHY

Sixth-grade language arts teacher Sonam Shahani explains how she helps students understand and practice empathy as well as the importance of doing so.

HELPING STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO LEARN

Carolyn O'Brien describes her Study Skills class for sixth-graders.

SPARKING CREATIVITY

Columbus Academy’s Director of Technology Sean Cullinan describes the interactive stations in hallways and common areas throughout the school and their role in sparking creativity, often in low-tech ways.

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

Eighth-grade social student teacher Laura Miller explains how she incorporates project-based learning into her lesson plans and the benefits it has on student comprehension.

MATH IS EVERYWHERE

Middle school teacher Katie Castle uses fun activities to help Columbus Academy students apply their math skills outside the classroom.

PROMOTING PROBLEM SOLVING

Chris Bolognese, chair of Columbus Academy’s math department, explains how he fosters problem-solving skills in the classroom.

ETHICS AND CHARACTER

Science teacher Tim Leet describes how Columbus Academy distinguishes ethics from character as well as efforts to teach one throughout its curriculum and the other through the culture of the school.

IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

PE teacher and head football coach Robin Miller stresses the importance of physical education in a school’s curriculum and how its benefits to students are not just in the areas of fitness.

MAKERSPACE MOVEMENT

Eighth-grade science teacher Todd Martin takes us inside Columbus Academy’s new makerspace and explains the growing “maker” movement in education.

ROLE MODELING AND MENTORING

Dr. Andy Bezant, a middle school science teacher talks about the importance of role modeling and mentoring in schools, including such programs as advisories and the senior-kindergarten buddies at Columbus Academy.

TIPS ON ENCOURAGING YOUNG ATHLETES

PE teacher and head football coach Robin Miller suggests what families should do to encourage children participating in youth sports.

YOUNG WOMEN IN STEM

Columbus Academy senior Jasmine Lee describes her passion for STEM and her efforts to interest others in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING

Math teacher Rachael Gorsuch relates how she helps upper school students understand how math principles can be applied outside of the classroom.

DISCUSSION BASED TEACHING

History department chair Tim Morford ’79 describes how he employs the Harkness table to stimulate student discussion and promote critical thinking in his classes at Columbus Academy.

FUNDING STUDENT EXPLORATION IN TECHNOLOGY

Learn about the school’s QuestWorks program, which encourages students to pursue their passions and supports their collaborative efforts to make the world a better place.

ADVICE ON GETTING YOUR KIDS INTO COLLEGE

Director of College Counseling Darnell Heywood and Associate Director of College Counseling Jennifer FitzPatrick provide advice on how to tackle the college application process.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Director of College Counseling Darnell Heywood and Associate Director of College Counseling Jennifer FitzPatrick provides more advice on how to prepare for the college application process.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS

How the success of a student relies on the strengths of the teacher as described by Dan Olexio, Columbus Academy’s Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs.