Academics

Brain Based Learning

Clayton-Bradley Academy teachers are trained in the Highly Effective Teaching model, built on proven strategies and methods for teaching and learning. The five principles of Highly Effective Teaching design are:

01

Intelligence is a function of experience

02

Learning is an inseparable partnership of body and brain

03

Teachers understand that a child’s personality and temperament impact learning and performance

04

There are multiple intelligences to solve problems and produce products

05

Students are pattern seekers and program builders

Project-Based Learning

At Clayton-Bradley Academy, students integrate knowledge from all content areas in order to solve real-world problems. Projects are conceived from grade-level standards and built around an open-ended question that drives student investigations. Students are able to make choices about project topics and solutions and present their findings to others, building collaboration skills, critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills for future success.

Essentials of Project-Based Learning

Key Curricular Content

Project-Based Learning is built around crucial, grade-level standards formed across all subject areas.

Driving Question

Each project is built around an open-ended, driving question that students use to form their explorations and investigations.

Inquiry Focus

Students dive into an extended timeline and process of asking questions, using resources, and developing answers.

Future Essentials

Students build experiences critical to future education and career performance, such as team collaboration, critical thinking skills, innovation, and creativity.

Student Choices

With Teacher supervision and guided development, students are allowed to make decisions on their time, product, and how they work together.

Going Public

Students share new knowledge with those outside of the classroom by presenting their solutions and findings in a public forum or medium.

Standards-Based Grading

At CBA, we use standards-based grading which focuses on student mastery of state and national standards. Students have opportunities to demonstrate their learning in multiple ways, through a variety of assessments and projects, and to show their growth over time. Students and parents receive detailed feedback showing their progress with each skill, not just an average grade for each subject. At the high school level, our standards-based grading scale is translated into a GPA and transcript that will be recognized by colleges and universities.

1-NOVICE

A beginner’s knowledge with lots of room for growth and learning but little to no evidence that shows understanding.

2-APPRENTICE

An average understanding but not enough knowledge to apply information or work independently.

3-PROFESSIONAL

Understanding of the concepts & information pertaining to the topic/standard with the ability to independently express and apply understanding.

4-EXPERT

Application of knowledge in meaningful ways; can produce, not just reproduce knowledge/information.

STEM Education

STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that removes the traditional barriers separating the four disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and integrates them into real-world, rigorous, and relevant learning experiences for students*. STEM education is driven by problem solving and discovery and places an emphasis on the process and design of solutions.

*JoAnneVasquez,etal.STEM Lesson Essentials

Pistol Creek Day

One of the ways we break down barriers separating disciplines is through projects like Pistol Creek Day. It’s a time for students to lead presentations related to the creek that circles our campus. The whole school gets involved—from preschoolers showing how to recycle and demonstrating how pollution destroys habitats all the way to high school students doing field tests on water quality and engineering their own boats.