
Modern Classrooms Project Podcast
Your hosts discuss the model and its implications for the future of education, along with guests including MCP implementors such as mentors, teachers, and administrators.
Latest episodes

Jun 6, 2021 • 46min
Episode 41: Q&A from the Community #6
In our 6th Q&A Episode, Kareem and Zach answer questions about starting out with implementation, addressing pushback from parents, addressing academic dishonesty, and starting PLCs with other teachers implementing the model.
Show Notes
MCP Podcast Episode #39 on returning to in-person learning
Research on the impact and effectiveness of MCP, as well as the Johns Hopkins Report Kareem mentioned
Edutopia Video
Exemplar units
Modern Classrooms Project Free Course Guide
PLC Resources
School and District Partnerships
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
The Modern Classroom Project
Modern Classrooms Online Course
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

May 30, 2021 • 51min
Episode 40: Lessons Learned from Year One
This week, Kareem chats with MCP implementors and mentors Amanda Arbuckle and Noah Beigelmacher about the lessons they've learned in their first year teaching with the model.
Show Notes
Backwards planning (Understanding By Design)
Eduprotocols
Making Thinking Visible
Flipped Classroom
Edpuzzle (and the MCP Edpuzzle Tutorial)
Game Board Pacing Trackers
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
The Modern Classroom Project
Modern Classrooms Online Course
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

May 23, 2021 • 48min
Episode 39: Returning to In-Person Learning - Two Teachers' Experiences
Zach is joined by a DC International School colleague, Alexa Arboleda, to talk about their recent return to in-person learning, some of the challenges it has presented and some of the benefits they've found to being back in the building with students.
Show Notes
Distinguished Modern Classrooms Educator credential
Urban Teachers
Weather check do now
Alexa’s game board
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
The Modern Classroom Project
Modern Classrooms Online Course
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

May 16, 2021 • 53min
Episode 38: Innovators in Education pt. 2 - Quim Sabria of Edpuzzle
For the second episode in our Innovators in Education series, Kareem is joined by Quim Sabria, cofounder and CEO of Edpuzzle, to discuss their approaches to educational change and share thoughts about the future of instruction.
Show Notes
Edpuzzle (and MCP Tutorial)
Edpuzzle on Social Media:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
Edpuzzle’s Blog
Edpuzzle's Self-Paced Classroom Microcredential (brought to you by MCP!)
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
[The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
[Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org)
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

May 9, 2021 • 49min
Episode 37: English Language Arts in a Modern Classroom
This week, we're joined by Jackie Durr, Alayne Milton, and Alicia Cordero to talk about how they implement blended learning, self-pacing, and mastery-based assessment in their ELA modern classrooms.
Show Notes
Distinguished Modern Classroom Educator credential
Teaching ELA in a Modern Classroom webinar
Manga Classics - Alicia's source for graphic novel and manga versions of novels
Flipgrid
Game board pacing tracker
Nearpod and Modern Classroom tutorial
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
[The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
[Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org)
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

May 2, 2021 • 42min
Episode 36: Q&A From the Community #5
Kareem and Zach field questions from listeners on handling ungraded assignments, structures for supporting kids outside the classroom, and potential red flags that may indicate the need to refine one’s implementation of the model, among other topics.
Show Notes
Submit a question for us to answer on a future episode!
Edutopia video
Teacher tips video about discussion bags
MCP Podcast episode on data-driven instruction and pacing/progress trackers
Zach’s blog post on automating parent communication with YAMM
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
[The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
[Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org)
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond (who this week had to record away from home, and apologizes for his audio quality!): @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

Apr 25, 2021 • 46min
Episode 35: Coaching Teachers in Modern Classrooms
In this episode, we hear from Lisa Doty and Jamie Forshey, two educators who coach and support teachers in their school districts who are implementing the Modern Classroom instructional model.
Show Notes
Virtual Mentorship Program
Screencast-o-Matic and Modern Classroom tutorial
Modern Classroom resources
Modern Classroom webinars
School and District partnerships, including Expert Consultation sessions
Making Thinking Visible by Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, Karin Morrison and Lisa’s infographics:
Chalk Talk
Connect-Extend-Challenge
Micro lab protocol
See, Think, Wonder
I used to think... Now I think
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
[The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
[Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org)
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
Editing and music by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

Apr 18, 2021 • 49min
Episode 34: Monitoring Student Progress in a Modern Classroom
This week, we're joined by Allura Pfeister to talk about how we monitor self-pacing, diving deep on the strategies and types of progress trackers we've used in our elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.
Co-hosted by Kate and Zach
Modern Classrooms Virtual Summer Institute
Submit a question for a future Q&A Episode here!
Show Notes
Allura’s student-facing tracker
Zach’s public-facing tracker
Kate’s public-facing tracker
Kate’s Do Now
Zach’s YAMM blog post
Kanban board
Collection of student-facing progress trackers
Collection of public-facing progress trackers
Framing a public progress tracker in the classroom
Public progress trackers and FERPA
MCP Podcast episode on organic collaboration
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
[The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
Modern Classrooms Online Course
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

Apr 11, 2021 • 48min
Episode 33: Innovators in Education: Transcend Education
In this week's episode, the first in our Innovators in Education series, we are joined by Dr. Jennifer Charlot, Partner at Transcend Education, to discuss the importance of supporting whole child development and 21st century skills through innovative instructional approaches.
Show Notes
Transcend Education
Jennifer on Instagram
Transcend's Ten Leaps
Van Ness Elementary’s Whole Child Design
RevX (and on Instagram)
Project Based Learning (and our webinar and episode of the MCP Podcast on PBL)
Edutopia video on Kate’s SEL Do Now
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
[The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
[Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org)
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

Apr 4, 2021 • 44min
Episode 32: Project Based Learning in a Modern Classroom
This week, we discuss how the Modern Classrooms model can be combined with the Project Based Learning approach to truly empower students with autonomy, independence, and authentic, relevant learning experiences.
Remember to take the MCP Educator survey before May 1st!
Show Notes
Project-Based Learning in a Modern Classroom webinar
Taking a Modern Approach to Project-Based Learning by Kristen Moore
Kristen’s pacing tracker
Zach’s pacing tracker
PBLWorks
Setting the standard for project based learning
Follow us online and learn more:
Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
[The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
[Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org)
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!
The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach