web02.fireside.fm Fri, 15 May 2026 04:31:10 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Modern Classrooms Project Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Mastery” https://podcast.modernclassrooms.org/tags/mastery Sun, 01 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Your hosts discuss the model and its implications for the future of education, along with guests including MCP implementors such as mentors, teachers, and administrators. en-us episodic Discussions on education, teaching, and learning from the perspective of the Modern Classrooms Project The Modern Classrooms Project Your hosts discuss the model and its implications for the future of education, along with guests including MCP implementors such as mentors, teachers, and administrators. no blended instruction, self-paced learning, mastery-based grading, differentiated instruction The Modern Classrooms Project zach.diamond@modernclassrooms.org Episode 268: Separating Compliance from Academic Evidence https://podcast.modernclassrooms.org/268 441ba6ff-443f-4f92-ae20-d5222a9908ae Sun, 01 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500 The Modern Classrooms Project full The Modern Classrooms Project TR is joined by Dr. Shantha Smith to talk about grading and the critical importance of assessing learning and mastery 57:44 no <p>TR is joined by Dr. Shantha Smith to talk about grading and the critical importance of assessing learning and mastery</p> <p><strong>Show Notes</strong></p> <ul> <li><p><a href="https://crescendoedgroup.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Crescendo Education group</a></p></li> <li><p><a href="https://www.perlego.com/paid/book/4260135/grading-for-equity-what-it-is-why-it-matters-and-how-it-can-transform-schools-and-classrooms-pdf?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;campaignid=16808340130&amp;adgroupid=135057994213&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=16808340130&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADN2nNLm1-cHaFRv4Ui2o9D7IRlmh&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5IW6j9r8kgMVyTMIBR2L6wWjEAAYASAAEgK_rPD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Grading for Equity</a>, by Joe Feldman</p></li> <li><p><a href="https://www.marthastewart.com/how-to-make-a-junk-journal-11863829" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Junk Journaling</a></p></li> <li><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_bbQ-WHJFTN0Y1lLePo7V7IFouBrYXiv/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Beyond the Grade</a></p></li> <li><p>Connect with Dr. Smith on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegradingshift/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">LinkedIn</a></p></li> </ul> <p><strong>Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Email us questions and feedback at: <a href="mailto:podcast@modernclassrooms.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">podcast@modernclassrooms.org</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1SQEZ54ptj1ZQ3bV5tEcULSyPttnifZV" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Listen to this podcast on Youtube</a></li> <li>Modern Classrooms: <a href="https://twitter.com/modernclassproj" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@modernclassproj</a> on Twitter and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/modernclassproj" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">facebook.com/modernclassproj</a> </li> <li>Kareem: <a href="https://twitter.com/kareemfarah23" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@kareemfarah23</a> on Twitter</li> <li>Toni Rose: <a href="https://twitter.com/classroomflex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@classroomflex</a> on Twitter and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/classroomflex/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Instagram</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.modernclassrooms.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Modern Classroom Project</a></li> <li> <a href="https://learn.modernclassrooms.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Modern Classrooms Online Course</a> <ul> <li>Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: <a href="https://twitter.com/zpdiamond" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@zpdiamond</a> on Twitter and <a href="https://www.learningtoteach.co/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Learning to Teach</a> Special Guest: Shantha Smith.</p> TR is joined by Dr. Shantha Smith to talk about grading and the critical importance of assessing learning and mastery

Show Notes

Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:

The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

Special Guest: Shantha Smith.

]]> TR is joined by Dr. Shantha Smith to talk about grading and the critical importance of assessing learning and mastery

Show Notes

Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:

The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

Special Guest: Shantha Smith.

]]> Episode 250: Visual Rubrics https://podcast.modernclassrooms.org/250 06286efc-beeb-4719-ac45-95fef479fdae Sun, 12 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400 The Modern Classrooms Project full The Modern Classrooms Project TR is joined by Eileen Ng to discuss her use of visual rubrics to enable authentic assessment, reflection, and learning 50:14 no <p>TR is joined by Eileen Ng to discuss her use of visual rubrics to enable authentic assessment, reflection, and learning</p> <p><strong>Show Notes</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Examples of Eileen's visual rubrics:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1muAF0bKajT-_MwQeSczVCjAVWGTbjT5hXIoAPXVDTkY/edit?slide=id.g344356e06f6_0_0#slide=id.g344356e06f6_0_0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Spider Web Lab Report</a></li> <li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZjNNxyNKlataj_lyaTRRnsPBGWn1mYzv/view" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Four-Level Rubric</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://edrenalinerush.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">EDrenaline RUsh</a></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://edrenalinerush.com/resources/personal-record-rubrics/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Personal Record Rubric</a></li> <li><a href="https://edrenalinerush.com/2018/08/07/spider-graphs-spider-graphs/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Spider Graph rubric, based on Dungeons and Dragons</a></li> <li>See also - <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/dd-character-sheets-go-to-grad-school/107341859#2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Lucas Blair's "Dungeons and Dragons Character Sheets Go To Grad School"</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li><p>Eileen's article on Edutopia: <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/article/representing-proficiency-progress-visual-rubrics/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">"Representing Student Proficiency and Progress With Visual Rubrics"</a></p></li> <li><p><a href="https://mastery.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mastery Transcript Consortium</a></p></li> <li><p>Connect with Eileen by email at <a href="mailto:eileen.ng@modernclassrooms.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">eileen.ng@modernclassrooms.org</a> or on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/edutopia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Edutopia Facebook page</a></p></li> </ul> <p><strong>Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week</strong></p> <ul> <li><p>Want to start building your own Modern Classroom and work one-on-one with an expert educator? If you’re an educator in Chicago, St. Louis, Alabama, or any of the districts we’re partnered with, you can sign up now for the Virtual Mentorship Program! The next session runs from October 20 to January 19, and the whole program is virtual and self-paced. See if there’s an opportunity in your area by going to [modernclassrooms.org/apply-now](modernclassrooms.org/apply-now)</p></li> <li><p>Ready to reimagine your classroom? Join Kami, ScreenPal, and MCP as we dive into The Shift to Student-Led by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak, focusing on shifting from information transfer to student-driven discovery for our first Book Club Session 1 out of 4 on October, 16, 7pm ET. Explore Workflow Shift 1: strategies to empower students as active learners and leave with fresh ideas to transform your teaching. Let’s chat, collaborate, and spark change—one page at a time! <a href="https://www.modernclassrooms.org/book-club" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Register here</a></p></li> <li><p>Cassie Fontaine and Zuzka Blasi are presenting at MassCUE on October 15-16 in Boston, MA. MCP will be exhibiting at NCTM Annual Meeting &amp; Exposition on October 15-18 in Atlanta, GA. If you’re attending, make sure to check them out and say hi!</p></li> </ul> <p><strong>Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Email us questions and feedback at: <a href="mailto:podcast@modernclassrooms.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">podcast@modernclassrooms.org</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1SQEZ54ptj1ZQ3bV5tEcULSyPttnifZV" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Listen to this podcast on Youtube</a></li> <li>Modern Classrooms: <a href="https://twitter.com/modernclassproj" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@modernclassproj</a> on Twitter and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/modernclassproj" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">facebook.com/modernclassproj</a> </li> <li>Kareem: <a href="https://twitter.com/kareemfarah23" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@kareemfarah23</a> on Twitter</li> <li>Toni Rose: <a href="https://twitter.com/classroomflex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@classroomflex</a> on Twitter and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/classroomflex/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Instagram</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.modernclassrooms.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Modern Classroom Project</a></li> <li> <a href="https://learn.modernclassrooms.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Modern Classrooms Online Course</a> <ul> <li>Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: <a href="https://twitter.com/zpdiamond" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">@zpdiamond</a> on Twitter and <a href="https://www.learningtoteach.co/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Learning to Teach</a> Special Guest: Eileen Ng.</p> TR is joined by Eileen Ng to discuss her use of visual rubrics to enable authentic assessment, reflection, and learning

Show Notes

Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week

  • Want to start building your own Modern Classroom and work one-on-one with an expert educator? If you’re an educator in Chicago, St. Louis, Alabama, or any of the districts we’re partnered with, you can sign up now for the Virtual Mentorship Program! The next session runs from October 20 to January 19, and the whole program is virtual and self-paced. See if there’s an opportunity in your area by going to [modernclassrooms.org/apply-now](modernclassrooms.org/apply-now)

  • Ready to reimagine your classroom? Join Kami, ScreenPal, and MCP as we dive into The Shift to Student-Led by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak, focusing on shifting from information transfer to student-driven discovery for our first Book Club Session 1 out of 4 on October, 16, 7pm ET. Explore Workflow Shift 1: strategies to empower students as active learners and leave with fresh ideas to transform your teaching. Let’s chat, collaborate, and spark change—one page at a time! Register here

  • Cassie Fontaine and Zuzka Blasi are presenting at MassCUE on October 15-16 in Boston, MA. MCP will be exhibiting at NCTM Annual Meeting & Exposition on October 15-18 in Atlanta, GA. If you’re attending, make sure to check them out and say hi!

Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:

The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

Special Guest: Eileen Ng.

]]> TR is joined by Eileen Ng to discuss her use of visual rubrics to enable authentic assessment, reflection, and learning

Show Notes

Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week

  • Want to start building your own Modern Classroom and work one-on-one with an expert educator? If you’re an educator in Chicago, St. Louis, Alabama, or any of the districts we’re partnered with, you can sign up now for the Virtual Mentorship Program! The next session runs from October 20 to January 19, and the whole program is virtual and self-paced. See if there’s an opportunity in your area by going to [modernclassrooms.org/apply-now](modernclassrooms.org/apply-now)

  • Ready to reimagine your classroom? Join Kami, ScreenPal, and MCP as we dive into The Shift to Student-Led by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak, focusing on shifting from information transfer to student-driven discovery for our first Book Club Session 1 out of 4 on October, 16, 7pm ET. Explore Workflow Shift 1: strategies to empower students as active learners and leave with fresh ideas to transform your teaching. Let’s chat, collaborate, and spark change—one page at a time! Register here

  • Cassie Fontaine and Zuzka Blasi are presenting at MassCUE on October 15-16 in Boston, MA. MCP will be exhibiting at NCTM Annual Meeting & Exposition on October 15-18 in Atlanta, GA. If you’re attending, make sure to check them out and say hi!

Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:

The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

Special Guest: Eileen Ng.

]]> Episode 23: Manageable Grading in a Modern Classroom https://podcast.modernclassrooms.org/23 a85352b9-c504-4fec-b5d2-9e7a17df431d Sun, 31 Jan 2021 08:00:00 -0500 The Modern Classrooms Project full The Modern Classrooms Project In this week's episode, we discuss systems and strategies Modern Classroom educators employ to make mastery-based grading sustainable in their classrooms. 52:32 no <p>In this week's episode, we discuss systems and strategies Modern Classroom educators employ to make mastery-based grading sustainable in their classrooms. </p> <p>Read a summary of this episode on the <a href="https://www.modernclassrooms.org/blog/manageable-grading-in-a-modern-classroom" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Modern Classrooms Project blog</a></p> <p><strong>Show Notes</strong></p> <p><em>Submit your questions for our upcoming Q&amp;A episodes <a href="https://modernclassrooms.org/askmcp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">here</a> or tweet @modernclassproj with #askMCP and we may discuss your question on a future episode!</em></p> <ul> <li><p><a href="https://modernclassrooms.org/events/2021/1/25/webinar-mastery-based-grading-in-a-modern-classroom" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Upcoming MCP Webinar on Mastery-Based Grading</a> (Thursday, February 25th, 7:00-8:00 PM EST)</p></li> <li><p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AoPmcMs9ITVZXLcUy9iCKQweXeV-qcq-RpN6loeCoJI" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mastery based grading: what does the research say?</a> </p></li> <li><p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WmkCm5wgpTOfmi6qtz8iy_bGQBXRZCQyxX2UhUC7oxM/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Multiple studies on feedback &amp; student learning</a> (see Best Practices 2 and 3!) </p></li> <li><p><a href="https://talkingpts.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Talking points app</a></p></li> <li><p><a href="https://yamm.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Y.A.M.M.</a> (Yet Another Mail Merge) - great for sending progress reports to parents from spreadsheet-based pacing trackers</p></li> </ul> <p><strong>Follow us online and learn more:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj</li> <li>Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter</li> <li>Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter</li> <li>[The Modern Classroom Project](<a href="http://www.modernclassrooms.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.modernclassrooms.org</a>)</li> <li>[Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org) <ul> <li>Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><em>The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and <a href="https://www.learningtoteach.co/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Learning to Teach</a></em></p> mastery-based grades, education, assessment In this week's episode, we discuss systems and strategies Modern Classroom educators employ to make mastery-based grading sustainable in their classrooms.

Read a summary of this episode on the Modern Classrooms Project blog

Show Notes

Submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A episodes here or tweet @modernclassproj with #askMCP and we may discuss your question on a future episode!

Follow us online and learn more:

  • Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
  • Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
  • Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
  • [The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
  • [Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org)
    • Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!

The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

]]> In this week's episode, we discuss systems and strategies Modern Classroom educators employ to make mastery-based grading sustainable in their classrooms.

Read a summary of this episode on the Modern Classrooms Project blog

Show Notes

Submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A episodes here or tweet @modernclassproj with #askMCP and we may discuss your question on a future episode!

Follow us online and learn more:

  • Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj
  • Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter
  • Kate: @gaskill_teacher on Twitter
  • [The Modern Classroom Project](www.modernclassrooms.org)
  • [Modern Classrooms Online Course](learn.modernclassrooms.org)
    • Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!

The Modern Classrooms Podcast is edited by Zach Diamond: @zpdiamond on Twitter and Learning to Teach

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