Use Class Time Effectively
In a blended, self-paced, mastery-based classroom, students drive their own learning. So how can you, as an educator, best use your time?
This is something many Modern Classroom educators struggle with, at least initially. Once they adapt to our model, however, educators report that they are using class time more effectively than ever before. Here’s are three ways they do it.
Plan ahead.
One of the best things about using a progress tracker is that it tells you exactly what each student needs to do each day, based on their mastery of course content. So, before each class, look at your progress tracker from last class and ask yourself: “Who most needs support? What kind of support? And what can I do to provide it?” Answering those questions - and providing supports where they are most needed - can help you make a plan for each day. If it’s helpful, you even also make a copy of our Teacher Action Plan to use with your own students.
Go with the flow.
If you aren’t delivering direct instruction from the front of the room each day, you have a lot more freedom in terms of how you use your time. And there are many ways to use it! You can check in with individual students, deliver a mini-lesson to a small group, sit at your desk and take questions, or simply circulate around the room to see what’s on your students’ minds. You know better than anyone what helps your students learn. If it’s helpful, print our checklist of all the things that you - and your students - can now do during class.
Emphasize connection.
Thanks to your videos, students can now learn content on their own time - which means you can use time in class to build relationships and create community. It’s often said that students won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care… so show them! Take a few extra minutes each day to learn about your students, or share something about yourself - these are the kinds of interactions that inspire students to learn. If it’s helpful, you can read about the results MCP Expert Mentor (and podcast host) Zach Diamond saw when he started to focus on relationships.
We’ve put together a guide to using class time effectively that you can reference throughout the school year.