Good Neighbor Podcast: Auburn and Opelika

Ep.#46: Shaping Tomorrow's Innovators: Katie Murrah's Vision of Early STEM Education at Auburn Day School

• Susannah Hodges at Village Centre Press

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Unlock the secrets to nurturing the next generation of innovators with Katie Murrah from Auburn Day School, where STEM education is more than just a class—it's a worldview. Venture with us into a realm where toddlers are transformed into tiny techies and preschoolers into pint-sized polymaths, all through a curriculum that marries the magic of science and math with the wonder of discovery. Katie gives us an exclusive tour into a teaching philosophy that instills high-level vocabulary, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills from the earliest years, ensuring a robust foundation for lifelong learning.
www.auburndayschool.com

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Susanna Hodges.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor podcast. With me is Katie Murrah. She is with the Auburn Day School. Welcome, Katie.

Speaker 3:

Good morning Susanna. Thanks so much for having me.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. Tell us a little bit about Auburn Day School.

Speaker 3:

I'd be glad to so. Auburn Day School is a STEM school that serves ages one to five during the academic year and ages one to nine during the summers. We offer a concept-based curriculum that's rooted in STEM, which can engage all students. We offer hands-on, active, authentic and immersive instruction to capitalize on natural curiosity. We focus on building unconstrained skills, which really promotes academic success over a lifetime.

Speaker 3:

So things like high-level vocabulary, general knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, rather than just focusing on those shallow skills of can you count to 20?, can you write your name. We teach all of those things but at the same time we teach them under larger umbrellas of concepts, so the children are able to get those smaller, more shallow skills while they're really digging into those deep concepts, deep understandings and making big connections about the world. We have exceptional, professional, expert teachers. All of our morning lead teachers have degrees. We have several teachers that have master's degrees, several assistant teachers with bachelor's degrees, and our team really spans many educational fields. And then we have these amazing families, which we have very close relationships with, our families, which are highlighted by frequent communication and just a true love for our students.

Speaker 2:

So the difference, I think, between what you teach and maybe what other day schools might teach is you focus on STEM. Now tell us again what STEM means.

Speaker 3:

Oh, absolutely so. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and it's all around us. So we have a focus on mathematician, which is really formalizing children's math knowledge. So they come to us and if any of you have little babies out there, you know that they're always testing things. They're comparing groups, they're figuring out how far they can jump without falling in the hole, they're figuring out how many things they can put in their mouth, how many things they can carry, and so we're able to give them that vocabulary and say, hey, you know, you're estimating, you're making comparisons You're talking about equal groups and then also ordinality being able to count in order of that one-to-one correspondence, being able to know that each thing stands alone when you're counting it.

Speaker 3:

So we're able to really build that vocabulary and give them so many tools in their toolbox, not only in math but also in science using science tools, science terminology, really making those connections. The technology piece is really choosing tools and how you use them, and then the engineering piece we're constantly planning our ideas and then bringing them to life by having these hands-on challenges. So we kind of look through the lens of STEM. But at the same time we focus a lot on literacy. The children are learning uppercase, lowercase and the phoneme of every letter that even our four-year-olds are moving to reading CBC words this time of year. So it's really exciting that we can sprinkle all these in. But overall I would just say Auburn Day School is just really showcasing high-quality early childhood education. But we do kind of look through the lens of STEM, which is really exciting for children because they want to know everything about the world and themselves and how everything works.

Speaker 2:

Yes, now I would like for you to give me a little example of what a class would look like, because I know you, these kids are not sitting reading books, and in a classroom setting right, you have them do hands-on things.

Speaker 3:

That. That's exactly right. We do read a lot of books, especially nonfiction resources, which is something that Sometimes you know. As parents, we love a good fiction book. You know you can't beat, you know, james Marshall or a cute cartoon bunny. But we do try to focus on nonfiction resources here as well, to really build that knowledge. But yes, so we have. For example, right now, our concept is systems, and so we just are finishing.

Speaker 3:

Today is our last day of human body systems, and these children, ages one through five, have learned about the digestive system, the respiratory system, circulatory system, the integumentary system, nervous system and, within all these systems, they are building models of the lungs. They're looking at red and white blood cells. They are modeling the heart, um, and the muscles, and how the arteries and veins move oxygen in the, the blood cells. Yeah, the body, they're actually doing it. So these children are, you know, building real, you know real, tangible things. They are working with their teachers to, oh my goodness, do everything from sensory experiences to fine and gross motor experiences, literacy, math, science, um.

Speaker 3:

We try our best to just get elbows deep into everything we teach. We want it to be Authentic as much as we can. So not a simulated worksheet, but we really want them to be doing the work as authentically as they can. They're very young, but they use pipettes and they use Microscopes and they use scales. They actually know. They use Thermometers, they use rain gauges, so they're really using the tools of the trade and then, at the same time, they're so engaged because they are really doing what needs to be done. We're going into solar system next, so they will build volcanoes of venus, get to walk on the moon, they will simulate, you know, um, the texture of the of mar, how they'll be able to build that. So we just try our best to bring the learning to life, to make it and make it fun. It's fun, of course, and so it's joyful. The kids love being here, which makes us very happy.

Speaker 2:

Well, tell me a little bit about you. I know you have an incredible background. What brought you to opening alburn day school?

Speaker 3:

Well, that was very kind of you to say so my background is in gifted education, so I have my master's degree from the university of virginia Curry school of education and I was a gifted specialist. So I was in the classroom as a teacher at k-5. My very first job was actually working in preschool way, way back before that, and then I Taught an intensified time program right after I'd gotten my bachelor's degree, which was in the two below city schools. Then I went and got my master's in virginia and then I worked in the classroom for five years and then worked as an administrator in a private school pre k8 for gifted kids. I was the Director of admissions and marketing, so I really worked more with parents at that point. But it was really fascinating Because the little precious acorns come from these amazing parents too.

Speaker 3:

So I really enjoyed working with these brilliant parents and creative and thoughtful parents, just like I loved working with the children. And so, moving here to auburn, my husband works at the university and we both love education and um, I just really looked around and said In an academic town I know there are lots of parents like myself that are looking for high quality early childhood education where Not a moment of instructional time is wasted, where we really understand that. You know High quality educators, that that know that 90 percent of brain development happens between zero to five. These are pivotal years. This is when you invest, this is when you really Are building that foundation. And I just knew there would be families and lo and behold, there were lots of families.

Speaker 3:

That absolutely so, it's been exciting to watch auburn day school grow and to see so many wonderful families and so many children benefit From this incredible team. I invite anybody to come and see this team Not me, but come see the teachers, because there they are experts and agents.

Speaker 2:

So what is thinking over? You know you've been in business several years now. What is one thing that you wish people knew about what you do, about the school, that they may not realize?

Speaker 3:

You know, I really think it's about what high quality early childhood education looks like. And thinking about children. I think that's the thing that sometimes there's a traditional view of hey, it's not important, or hey, you know, you can just watch some TV, or that'll be, you know that'll do it, or we'll just, we'll wait. It'll start in kindergarten. But really, zero to five research really shows that the foundation is set and at kindergarten entry. It's much, much harder past kindergarten entry to make big changes. I mean the brain like.

Speaker 3:

I said, the brain is developing zero to five at such a rapid rate. They are taking in their feelings about school. They're taking in feelings about themselves as learners they are and, not to mention, you want to challenge them in every way possible, I think, and you want to expose them to as much vocabulary as you can. You want them to have as many opportunities to learn and to grow you know academically, of course, but also socially and emotionally. And that's what we're seeing here. And if you really invest in one to five, it will pay dividends.

Speaker 3:

There's research that shows at kindergarten entry, you can make predictions as far out as eighth grade when it comes to reading and math performance. So really setting that foundation early on for them to be successful and can just make a world of difference. So I think that's really the thing that I would say is invest early and also stay away from the screens. You know, really talk with children, build those communication skills, build those fine motor skills. Really, they want to talk to you because when you speak to them, you know what questions they have. You can address that. You know the world they live in. You can help them make connections to their world rather than them watching something where you're just letting it pass over you from someone else's world.

Speaker 3:

You can really make it come alive. But those would be the things that I think. Sometimes people think that early childhood education is not as important, but really it's the most important, very important.

Speaker 2:

So you've got some exciting things coming up. Summer programs are a lot of fun, so tell us a little bit about what's coming up.

Speaker 3:

Okay, great. So summer 2024 at Auburn Day School is going to be our fourth summer and our best yet. We have a morning program that is a 10 week program from May 28 to August 2nd, and that is for ages one to nine. We did open February 1st, so we are wait list now for ages one to five, but if you are, if you've completed kindergarten to third grade, we still have some spaces available for our 10 week morning program. Then, additionally, we have our STEM camps, which you can access all of this information on our website at Auburn Day School dot com.

Speaker 3:

But in the afternoons you can choose a different camp every week. So music lab, junior veterinarian camp, space camp, little bakers camp, spy camp, business boss camp, junior medical doctor camp, candy chemistry, minecraft and let's go camping. So a great run down with all the descriptions on our website and you can pick and choose those camps based on what your summer plans look like. So it's exciting, you can do all day. And then also Label Dance Company is working with us and offering dance camps after school all the way until five o'clock. So we have opportunities from 730 in the morning until five o'clock this summer. This is the largest fan of programming we've ever offered. But we have a lot of a la carte option so families can build the schedule that works best for them.

Speaker 2:

Now you have. You know, I've known you since you started and you started off kind of small and you've expanded and now you're about to have another expansion. What are the expansion plans?

Speaker 3:

Believe it or not, yes, we are so fortunate to be able to add three new classrooms and we're adding bathrooms, a teacher work room, we're adding teacher bathroom, a lot of storage, a lot of things. But the important thing for parents to know is we're adding three new classrooms and almost a mini imagination station, which, if you're not familiar with Auburn Day School, downstairs, in addition to five classrooms, two outdoor spaces, our nature trail and our outdoor classroom, we also have this amazing indoor imagination station, which is a lot like just kind of a mini hands-on STEM space, kind of a mini museum with a light lab, a flight lab, engineering wall, gross motor development marketplace just so many cool things to explore that we can flex, and so we're adding some of those experiences. Upstairs, with our expansion, we're adding a new loft and we're adding some up to the night table, some really cool activity spaces in addition to the classrooms. So we're excited. We have so many amazing families and we're so glad to be able to welcome even more to the ABS family.

Speaker 2:

Wonderful. Well, tell us a little bit how to get in touch with you. If you have someone's out there listening and has a child and they're like I want to try this out, how do they get in touch?

Speaker 3:

with us. Yes, thank you. The best way is just first, please visit our website, auburndayschoolcom. There you'll be able to find the link. If you're interested in our academic year programs 2425, you can click that link. We have very, very few spaces available, but please let us know, because you never know. And then also our summer information. Is there, our link for summer? But then if you want to just give us a call, chat with us. Our number is 334-209-0460, and then you're also welcome to email our office manager, linda, at LROCH, l-r-o-a-c-h at AuburnDaySchoolcom. Or, of course, please email me, kmura, k-m-u-r-r-a-h. At AuburnDaySchoolcom. But the best thing to do visit the website AuburnDaySchoolcom. Everything's there and we can't wait to meet you.

Speaker 2:

Well, that sounds wonderful, Katie. Thanks so much for joining me today. I've had a fun time talking to you and really enjoyed learning about AuburnDaySchool.

Speaker 3:

Thank you, susanna. It's always a joy to talk with you. You're wonderful Well thank you.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast Auburn. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPauverncom or call 334-429-7404.