Joyful Disruption with Marvin Reed
Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Toni Rose Deanon is joined by Marvin Reed to talk about how he disrupts traditional approaches to teaching while prioritizing joy in his classes.
Marvin shares his passion for infusing joy into every aspect of teaching, emphasizing the importance of access to education and self-pacing for students. He rejects traditional teaching methods in favor of scaffolding learning experiences and fostering authentic relationships with students.
Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:
Prioritize joy and authenticity in education, creating a more human-centered learning environment.
Provide access to education for all students and allow them to self-pace their learning journeys.
Scaffold learning experiences to meet students where they are and foster deeper understanding.
Marvin reflects, "There's no excuse why you can't be successful today. And you are the CEO of your learning." He advocates for creating authentic relationships with students, because “if you [as the teacher] can get to their friends, and then you become that cool, but strict, crazy, good teacher." This dialogue highlights the transformative power of joyful disruption and its potential to revolutionize education for the better.
Discussion questions for PLC and PD:
How can educators prioritize joy and authenticity in their teaching practices to create more human-centered learning environments?
What strategies can educators implement to ensure access to education for all students and promote self-pacing in their learning journeys?
In what ways can educators scaffold learning experiences to meet students where they are and foster deeper understanding while maintaining a balance between structure and flexibility?
Our Host
Toni Rose taught MS English for 10 years and will forever identify as a teacher. Toni Rose strives to be the teacher that they never had growing up, so they focus on anti-bias, anti-racist work and wants to create a brave space for everyone around them. As a queer Filipinx, they understand just how important it is to be represented, be valued, and belong. They especially love being a thought partner for and celebrating teachers.
Our Guest
Marvin Reed resides in the Bay area and is an educator at Rosa Parks Elementary School (Berkeley Unified School District). He holds a B.A. in Sociology, M.A. in Higher Education and Leadership Policies, and a Multiple Subjects Teaching and Administrative Service Credential. He is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership from California State University, Sacramento, where he was the Hornet Marching Band Drum Major. Marvin has judged and been a leadership consultant for many prestigious Marching Band programs around California (Granite Bay, Amador Valley, Foothill (Pleasanton), Homestead, Roseville, John F. Kennedy, Ayala, American Canyon, Liberty, Elk Grove, Washington Union, Antelope, Laguna Creek, California, and Ponderosa HS.) Marvin served on the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps Board of Directors. Currently, he serves as the Corps Director of Blue Devils "B."
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