The Ultimate Teacher-Growth Program: Modern Classrooms Project [S5 E177]

Listen to the full episode below:

Teaching and learning is not a one-size-fits-all, which is why we need to redesign our classrooms in order to meet the needs of all our students. Today’s guest will give you a dose of inspiration to help you thrive in today’s teaching climate.

Kareem Farah, co-founder and CEO of the Modern Classrooms Project, is a former teacher who recognized the need for a teaching model that meets the diverse needs of his students. Fueled by his desire to make a difference, Kareem and others developed an instructional approach that is now being scaled across the country…the blended self-paced mastery-based learning model.

You’ll hear Kareem talk about this learning model, how we can reengage our students, prioritizing small group and one-to-one settings, picking your battles as a teacher, opting into innovation, and more. We hope this episode empowers you to embrace new teaching methods of explore the possibilities of the modern classroom.

Meet Kareem:

Kareem Farah spent his teaching career as a math educator in Hawaii and Washington, DC. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and later received a master’s degree in secondary education at Johns Hopkins University. Instead of using a traditional lecture model, Kareem taught math through a blended model where students accessed content through his self-made videos. 

The cornerstone of his classroom was the ability for students to work at their own pace and Kareem’s ability to assess students on mastery. Kareem co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project to empower teachers worldwide to redesign their classrooms around blended, self-paced, mastery-based learning.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

  • How the Modern Classrooms Project was founded

  • What Kareem’s joys were in the classroom and how it created the urge to seek equitable experiences for students

  • Leaning into building relationships with students

  • Redefining what school is for kids

  • What the mentorship program is and how you can get involved in it

  • Recommendations for improving the satisfaction of being in the classroom and helping with emotional dysregulation

  • Amanda’s EQ Tip of the Day: Use EQs with everything, including your short story unit

Modern Classrooms Project Resources:

More Resources Mentioned:

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More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

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