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 sophomore student Sarahya College who talks about the transformative impact of a self-paced learning approach on her learning experience.

Sarahya shares her firsthand experience as a student navigating this model, emphasizing the importance of individualized learning and teacher-student relationships. She highlights how self-paced learning reduces homework load, fosters engagement, and eases teacher stress.

Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:

• Self-paced learning reduces homework load and enhances student engagement.

• Understanding students' learning styles and providing ongoing support are crucial for success.

• Building strong student-teacher relationships fosters a supportive learning environment. Sarahya states, “If you don't know your students, what's the point of teaching them?"

Sarahya urges educators to understand their students' diverse learning styles and provide ongoing support. Toni Rose echoes this sentiment, stressing the need for educators to create a supportive environment and empower students to advocate for themselves. Sarahya envisions a future where school is exciting and collaborative, promoting success and personal growth. "I want to be more open to more opportunities and be able to look back on my high school career and be like, 'yeah, it was fun. It was worth it. And it was helpful, and it helped me be the person that I am now.'" This conversation underscores the value of student-centered approaches and meaningful student-teacher connections in fostering a positive learning experience.

Discussion questions for PLC and PD: 

• How can educators effectively implement self-paced learning environments in their classrooms to reduce homework load and increase student engagement, as highlighted in Sarahya's experience?

• In what ways can educators cultivate strong teacher-student relationships to better understand students' individual learning styles and provide necessary support, as emphasized by both Sarahya and Deanon?

• Reflecting on Sarahya's vision for a future where school is exciting and collaborative, how can educators adapt their teaching practices to create a more supportive and dynamic learning environment that promotes student success and personal growth?

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: Sarahya College

Sarahya is a sophomore at Armstrong High-School. She plays volleyball and runs track. She enjoys studying math and English. When she is older, she would like to do anything involving either interior design or journalism.

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