Successfully Implementing in High School Math
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 Sabrina Monserate-Lindsay, a high school math teacher who has successfully implemented the Modern Classrooms Project model in her classroom in the early years of her teaching.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of predictive structure, gaining confidence in learning the skills, and teaching students how to stay organized.
Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:
Predictive classroom structure is essential for student engagement. By establishing clear routines and expectations, teachers can create a predictable environment where students know what is expected of them, reducing anxiety and promoting focus. Sabrina emphasizes the importance of a quick three-minute warm-up at the start of class and a clear transition to independent work. Sabrina shares, "I think a big part of it is just being real with my students about why I have my classroom set up the same way, right? Just being totally honest that I'm giving you videos because I want to be supportive to you and have one-on-one conversations."
Mastery checks without notes can help students build confidence and independence. Sabrina uses mastery checks as a formative assessment tool to determine if students truly understand the material. By removing notes, she forces students to rely on their own knowledge and understanding. Sabrina states, "Notes in mathematics - it’s definitely a security blanket. But I want them to shift their trust from their notes into themselves. I want them to feel like they have the confidence to get it done."
Organization is key for both teachers and students. Sabrina emphasizes the importance of teaching students how to be organized, as it can significantly reduce stress and improve learning outcomes. She provides tips for creating a structured classroom environment and using tools like folders and pacing trackers to help students stay organized.
Discussion questions for PLC and PD:
How can we effectively balance independent work with collaborative learning in a MCP classroom?
What are the challenges and benefits of doing mastery checks without notes?
How can we effectively implement a predictive classroom structure in our own classrooms?
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 Guests
Sabrina Monserate-Lindsay
Sabrina is on her sixth year as a high school math teacher and has been implementing the model in her Foundations of Math 1 classroom since 2021 with great success. Fun fact about Sabrina is when she is not lesson planning or grading, she is a competitive speed puzzler!
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