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 Katie Caster, third year Ph.D student at Teacher’s College at Columbia University, where they discuss creating inclusive educational spaces through mentorship.

They emphasize the importance of staying curious and non-judgmental, quoting Ted Lasso: "Stay curious, not judgmental." They discuss the significance of initiating difficult conversations with sentence starters like "I'm wondering" or "Can you tell me more about?”

Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:

• Embrace the messiness of life and education; it's what makes it beautiful.

• Initiate difficult conversations with curiosity and empathy.

• Disrupt the shame of making mistakes; prioritize reflection and acknowledgment of harm.

Toni Rose shares their experience with a mentor whose identity differed significantly from theirs, highlighting the value of open dialogue and self-correction. They advocate for disrupting the shame of making mistakes, emphasizing the importance of reflection and acknowledging harm caused unintentionally. Katie echoes the sentiment, expressing hope for educators to feel seen and validated in their professional journeys, stating, "I want educators to really feel seen, validated, appreciated, and to know that we see them." Together, they envision more spaces where educators can authentically be themselves without fear of judgment.

Discussion questions for PLC and PD: 

• How can educators cultivate a culture of curiosity and non-judgmental dialogue in their classrooms or professional communities, as advocated by Katie Caster? How might this approach enhance mentorship and foster inclusive learning environments?

• Reflecting on Toni Rose’s experience with a mentor whose identity differed significantly from theirs, how can educators navigate and leverage differences in identity, perspective, and experience within mentoring relationships? How might open dialogue about identity contribute to mutual understanding and growth?

• The conversation emphasizes the importance of disrupting the shame associated with making mistakes and embracing the messiness of learning and growth. How can educators create spaces where learners feel empowered to reflect on their mistakes, acknowledge harm, and engage in continuous improvement? What strategies can educators implement to foster a culture of reflection and self-correction in both students and colleagues?

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: Katie Caster

• Connect with our guest via email.

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