Zach Diamond  0:00  
Steve, 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 students. We believe teachers learn best from each other, so this is our way of lifting up the voices of leaders and innovators in our community. This is the modern classrooms project podcast.

Toni Rose Deanon  0:28  
Hello and welcome to episode 183 of the modern classrooms project podcast. My name is Tony rose Deanna, and they them pronouns, a designated high person here at MCP and y'all, I am so excited because we have a sophomore in high school, so we have a student perspective here as a guest, Soraya College, and so I'm just so so so so excited to have this conversation, because I love students and I love hearing your experiences. So welcome, Soraya. It is so exciting to be in this space with you. And thank you. Thank you so much for saying yes the podcast.

Sarahya College  1:05  
My freshman year was very, very easy. I've always been a really hard worker and always wanted to pursue to be the best. And I didn't like setting for, like, mediocre standards, or any of that. And I always would reach for the A or reach for 100% and when I wouldn't get that, I'd be very, very upset. I got to sophomore year, and wow, did things change. Testing got so much harder. The learning was a lot more fast paced. And I was honestly very, very overwhelmed at the beginning of the year, and I slowly just had to realize, yeah, I'm not perfect. And I just had to accept that and realize, yeah, no, I can just accept the best I can do.

Toni Rose Deanon  1:49  
Okay? So you have seven courses, right? And then you also have all of your extracurricular activities that you are participating in. How are you balancing your time? Like that's a lot.

Sarahya College  2:00  
Um, that's a really good question, because the beginning of the school year, I was a mess. I did not know how to balance anything out. I would come home have to do my homework for two hours and then get like, five hours of sleep. Um, throughout the middle of the second quarter, I realized, okay, this is a mess, and I need to realize that I can't keep doing it this way because my grades were dropping and all this. Honestly, I really invested in a planner and just learning how to schedule everything out evenly so that I can have time for work, have time for both of my sports, and then have time for school. And I would set timers throughout the afternoon for when I want to set specific time for school so that I'm not overworking or, like doing too much of one thing, and that I have time to rest as well.

Toni Rose Deanon  2:51  
So listeners, this episode is all about serious perspective. And so your mom and I were talking. And so your mom works for the school district as well. And so, you know, she was one of like, our Trailblazers to get really modern classrooms into the schools that she's at. And so your mom mentioned that you were a bit hesitant about our model at first, you know, and you were just like, Oh my gosh. What is this mess? Why are we doing this? So tell us about that experience.

Sarahya College  3:17  
Yeah, so I'm a visual learner, and I've always been like that, if a teacher isn't right in front of me showing me physically how to do it, I would not get in and be like, I don't get this. I'm not even gonna try. And when I started my freshman year and they told me that I would have to do things, learn things from videos, I was like, There's no way, because I I'm somebody who asks a lot of questions. Like, I'm always going up to the teacher and asking more and more questions. If I don't get the slightest thing, then I'm like, out of whack, and nothing makes sense. So I was just like, there's no way this student work. I need a teacher to be in front of me. I was complaining. I'd come home and be like, Mom, I can't do this. They want me to watch a video and then have to show it in my test, or all this. And I was like, why are they doing this? It didn't make any sense. But then I slowly realized it kind of is kind of good. Like, there's not really a negative factor of any of it. So,

Toni Rose Deanon  4:05  
and how did you determine that? Because this is often what we so I work with a lot of educators, right? And I often hear from educators like, oh, it's videos. It's videos like, this is not really teaching students. And also, like, I have a lot of students who don't want to do this, who don't want to watch the video. So then how did for you as a student, like, tell us about the moment that it shifted to where you were like, oh, wait a minute. This is actually pretty cool. This is something that I actually kind of like, how did that shift for you? When did it shift for you?

Sarahya College  4:36  
I would say the middle of first semester, freshman year, honestly, I had a teacher who very much enjoyed the videos, and she's done them for like, probably a few years now, and she was my math teacher, actually, and she would give us, like, two videos a day to watch. And I was like, Okay, this is really fast. I can't do this. This was a little overwhelming. And then I realized. Realized that with the videos and the fact that the mastery check was super short, and all that I would come home and be able to do things way faster, and I realized I can get things done at my own pace, and that I don't need to wait for a teacher to show me how to do it if I want to do it, I can learn it right now. And I think it was really eye opening, because I realized with my busy schedule, I have time to do this whenever I need to. Instead of waiting for a teacher to slowly show me all this stuff or come right in front of me and show it to me, and the videos really just, I don't even know how to explain it, they tell the lesson way quicker. Yeah.

Toni Rose Deanon  5:42  
How did you create a process for you where you are watching the videos and you're asking questions?

Sarahya College  5:47  
Yeah, so honestly, what I would do is I would watch the video, and as I'm watching the video, write down the questions I have on like a notebook next to me or something, if I was doing it at home, so I could bring it to school the next day, while I'm in person with my teacher and say, Hey, I had a question on this one subject. Could you help me with that? And then she helped me out on that, and then I can bring it back to my work, or like the video, and be like, Okay, now I get it.

Toni Rose Deanon  6:11  
Okay, so there's still a process, so you're still able to ask your questions. Yes, okay, good, good, because we don't want you to not ask questions. And I'm glad that you're able to kind of find that balance so that you can continue interacting with your teachers as well.

Sarahya College  6:28  
When you're in a classroom that has modern classroom and that you're watching the videos, almost every student or friend that I know liked it because they kind of switched their perspective on it. Because in middle school, when we weren't doing any of this, we were like, No, I don't want to watch a video. I need a teacher in front of me showing me how to do this. And then freshman year, when it switched, and the second semester, we actually had a teacher in math who taught right in front of us. We were like, we want to go back. This is so much slower. It seemed like we weren't learning anything as well. And we're just like, this is way too slow. It doesn't even feel like school anymore, and we wanted to go back.

Toni Rose Deanon  7:04  
We hear that time and time again. Sarai like our students would say, No, we want to go back to traditional teaching. And then they are, like, 10 minutes into a traditional set, and they were like, never mind. We hate it. We hate it. We hate it. Stop. We want to go back. I

Sarahya College  7:22  
think it really shows the amount of like, individuality you have to have and motivation in yourself, because you're not always going to have a teacher coach telling you all the time to get this done, like you have to do it right now. You're like, you're just going to get thrown at it, and you just have to know how to do it without somebody watching right over you and telling you everything to do. Like, if you go to a job that for a training, they're not going to, like, watch every single little move and have you restart like, you're just going to go and you just have to hope that you know how to do it. Basically, yeah,

Toni Rose Deanon  7:52  
and we have so much information in front of us already, right? And so if you really wanted to learn a skill, you could, you just have to, like, be passionate about it, interested, curious and also, like, motivated to continue learning that skill, right? And so I love this thing about the individuality part, right? Like, okay, I get to really cater to, like, my learning style and continue learning without hindering anyone else. Like I am going on my speed and so that that itself is just so powerful. Because, sorry, I'm an adult now, and I feel like I'm still working on these skills, and I think I'll forever be working on these skills, because I just started out so late, like I was in school when, you know my my teachers and my professors would literally just talk for 45 minutes straight and then be like, Okay, have fun. Good luck. So I'm learning how to chunk it, like you said, right? Learning how to, like, prioritize the tasks that I need to do, the whole must you should do and aspire to do, has really helped my own life as an adult. So I'm really excited, you know, to have you as a sophomore being like, oh, I can. I can now like, prioritize. I can now manage my time, and I can also figure out what questions I need to ask and advocate for myself so that I still get those the guidance and support and the answers that I need.

Sarahya College  9:18  
I 1,000,000% think that there's way less homework, because when you have the videos and you're in class, it's so much easier to get through it quicker. If you have a teacher that's teaching right in front of you, a lot of times, they take up the whole class period. Then you go home to do all this homework, and you can't ask any questions, if you have the videos and all of that, you can get it done quicker. And then you then you can ask questions in class still, and then you have most of the time free time as well. And then the teacher doesn't have to go up to every single individual student answer all of these questions, and they don't have to waste all their time standing in front of you, teaching you, and waiting for the kids to raise their hand and have. To call on everyone individually, it's just a lot smoother, quicker, lighter, and they definitely enjoy it, probably more.

Toni Rose Deanon  10:09  
Oh, man, I yeah, I know definitely, like I always had fun in the classroom as a teacher, but that was it. Like I could tell what my students really liked as human beings, but then I couldn't tell you what they were able to do academically, because there were just so many different types. And then I implemented the model, and I was like, wait a minute, I know exactly what student A and Student B needs. And so it becomes such a like, I, like, you said, I could breathe a little better, like, it was just like, a nice refresher of just like, oh, I can sit back. I can, like, really take in all the learning that's happening, and then I can go sit with like Student A and, like, just share stories and really, and maybe distract them for like, five minutes because I'm bored and I have nothing to do, but then it doesn't distract anyone else. And so I really, Yes, awesome that this is really good to hear from a student's perspective too. Because I again, wholeheartedly believe that, like when teachers are happy, students are happy.

Sarahya College  11:09  
Do not just throw this at your students without you kind of looking into it at first. You have to, I think if you connect to it first and try to do a little example to see how you react to it. And then you're like, hey, this is actually kind of easy. And then you give it to your students, and slowly but surely, they're starting to like it. I think in the beginning they're definitely can be like, Nope, I don't want this. Can we just go back? You have to be like, No, this is good. I understand that. It's going to turn out well. And then you're going to be able to connect with your students more and just get on a better level with your students. And I think if you're talking in front of them for the whole time, you'll probably look around and notice that your students, maybe there's somebody sleeping in the back, or it's just taking too long, and just kids are ready, like I'm ready to go the next period. Oh my gosh, I can't handle this. When it's fast paced. Kids say more engaged, and they're not as they're not dreading it as much to go to your class.

Toni Rose Deanon  12:07  
And how can educators nurture these students to like basically, to empower them and own their learning. What do you think educators can do?

Sarahya College  12:17  
I think depending on the student. If you kind of, let's say the rest of students are getting it. They understand it, if you kind of just sit down with them and maybe they play the video while you're next to them, just so that you know that there's a teacher there, if I don't understand this, and just kind of push them just a little bit, but while you're with them and understanding like, hey, they might, may not like this. So I'm just gonna pay a little bit more attention to them, just so that they can get going

Toni Rose Deanon  12:41  
Yes, acknowledging, acknowledging the fact that, like, hey, you know what. You don't like this. Let's talk about why you don't like this. And also, I am here as a support if you need to, if you need to ask questions like you said, right that. Thank you. If you could tell educators anything, anything doesn't have to be about self pacing, what do you think it would be? What would you tell educators who are listening to this podcast? I mean, school leaders are also listening. What are you What? What would you tell them as a student, as a sophomore, as a student, athlete,

Sarahya College  13:19  
I would say the biggest thing is get to know your students, because everyone has their different ways of learning. And there might be this one kid that gets it done super duper fast. They never have questions. They're insanely smart. They love it. But then you could see somebody that is a little quiet in the corner. You can tell they're struggling, but you're not going to go up to them if you know that student. Well, you might know, Hey, maybe I just come around ask them a few questions if they need help or anything, because if you don't know your students, what's the point of teaching them if you're going to be a teacher without actually knowing the person? You're not really succeeding in what you're trying to prove and being a good teacher. In my opinion,

Toni Rose Deanon  14:01  
you and I both have the same opinion.

Sarahya College  14:08  
I think, in the future, just to have school not being as much of a drag like you get to school and you're excited because you will have all this free time after watching all these videos and like doing all these the shorter learning, and you can kind of just connect everything together in the end, and then you see students more excited to come to your class. They're talking more. They're not in their little desks in rows, just sitting there with the paper, with paper and pencil, just like I don't like the idea of school being just you're sitting there learning you go home to do more school after those eight hours. We're learning I want, like, more rest, more relaxation, more liking your teachers, talking to your teachers, talking to your friends, and it's just lighter on you, I

Toni Rose Deanon  14:53  
think. And we're gonna, we're gonna, we're gonna do that. We're gonna manifest that. Yeah.

Zach Diamond  15:02  
Announcer, thank you so much for listening. You can find links to topics and tools we discussed in our show notes for this episode, and remember. You can learn more about our work@www.modernclassrooms.org and you can learn the essentials of our model through our free course@learn.modernclassrooms.org you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. At modern class proj, that's P, R, O, J, we are so appreciative of all you do for students in schools. Have a great week, and we'll be back next Sunday with another episode of the modern classrooms project podcast. You

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