Modern Classrooms Project Podcast
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.
Episode 281: Desmos
TR is joined by Rebecca Johnson to talk about how she uses Desmos to provide immediate, differentiated, and meaningful feedback to her math learners
Show Notes
Desmos
Rebecca's progress monitoring tracker
Amplify
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Join the Modern Classrooms Project on June 23rd for the Leadership Collaborative Summit 2026 — a free, virtual event for K-12 school and district leaders. This year's theme is "Personalized by Design," and it's built around a core belief: every student learns differently, and the best learning communities are built to ac...
Episode 280: Ready for Innovation
TR is joined by Tameko Collins and Sophia Kor to talk about the partnerships MCP is developing in Arkansas
Show Notes
Raye and her new album, This Music May Contain Hope
MCP Podcast episode 271: Building Confidence with Veronica Hebard
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Join the Modern Classrooms Project on June 23rd for the Leadership Collaborative Summit 2026 — a free, virtual event for K-12 school and district leaders. This year's theme is "Personalized by Design," and it's built around a core belief: every student learns differently, and the best le...
Episode 279: Co-Teaching
TR is joined by Amber Fletcher and Liz Khinda to talk about using MCP in co-taught classes and navigating the challenges of co-teaching
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Join the Modern Classrooms Project on June 23rd for the Leadership Collaborative Summit 2026 — a free, virtual event for K-12 school and district leaders. This year's theme is "Personalized by Design," and it's built around a core belief: every student learns differently, and the best learning communities are built to act on that. You'll hear from principals, district leaders, and coaches from across the country who are ma...
Episode 278: Joyful Trouble
TR is joined by Dr. De'Shawn Washington to talk about joyful disruption, relevant teaching practices, and empowering change makers in elementary classrooms
Show Notes
Cultivating Changemakers
De'Shawn's TEDx talk, "The Power of Joyful Trouble"
Dr. Bettina Love
The Warm Demander
De'Shawn's children's books:
CiCi's Money Seeds: Growing Big Dreams One Little Seed at a Time CiCi Waters Her Jar: Cultivating Big Dreams, One Coin at a Time CiCi's Classroom Budget: When Learning is Joyful, Changemakers GrowLearning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Join...
Episode 277: AI Guidelines
Toni Rose is joined by Vera Cubero to talk about the importance of developing guidelines for using and teaching AI responsibly as it continues to change and develop rapidly
Show Notes
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
North Carolina Generative AI Implementation Recommendations and Considerations for PK-13 Public Schools
ChatGPT
John Dewey
Bloom's Taxonomy
Gemini
Claude
Magic School
SchoolAI
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Join the Modern Classrooms Project on June 23rd for the...
Episode 276: mission.io
TR is joined by Michael Hakkarinen and Skyler Carr for a wide-ranging discussion of the mission.io platform as well as screen time, community, and technology in general
Show Notes
mission.io
Dungeons and Dragons
MCP Podcast 249: Dungeons and Dragons and Self-Pacing, with Travis Hammer
Spectrum Academy
Project Hail Mary
[Movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Hail_Mary_(film) BookChrista McAulliffe Space Center
Kahoot and Blooket
The Legend of Zelda
Series Breath of the WildNYT: Chromebook...
Episode 275: Kentucky Teacher of the Year
TR is joined by Michelle Gross, Kentucky's 2026 Teacher of the Year, to talk about how she uses the model to push and inspire her students
Show Notes
KY Teacher of the Year
National Board Certification for Professional Teaching Standards
Michelle's Dream House project
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Join the Modern Classrooms Project on June 23rd for the Leadership Collaborative Summit 2026 — a free, virtual event for K-12 school and district leaders. This year's theme is "Personalized by Design," and it's built around a core belief: every student le...Episode 274: Microschools
TR is joined by Dr. Deb Gist to talk about how microschools can cater to the individual needs and interests of learners, and the overlap that has with MCP
Show Notes
The Learner-Centered Collaborative
Getting Smart
The Public Microschools Playbook
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Help us spread the Modern Classrooms Model! Refer a Friend, Earn SWAG! Know a colleague or school leader who would love our summer learning opportunities? Fill out this form and MCP will take it from there! MCP will reach out to...
Episode 273: You Live in a World You Create
TR is joined by Dom LaCarrubba to talk about developing routines and helping students to see that they are in control of their learning and their school experience
Show Notes
Street Fighter II
More on Dom's School Board work
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Help us spread the Modern Classrooms Model! Refer a Friend, Earn SWAG! Know a colleague or school leader who would love our summer learning opportunities? Fill out this form: https://referafriend.paperform.co/ and MCP will take it from there! MCP will reach out...
Episode 272: Advocacy via Social Media
TR is joined by Elizabeth Diaz-Duncans to talk about how the MCP model helped her address challenges in her classroom and how she has used social media to connect with other educators
Show Notes
Wavio and The Wavio Pulse Tracker
Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram @ediazdunc4109
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter and Instagram The...Episode 271: Building Confidence with The Math Lady
TR is joined by Veronica Hebard to talk about how working with MCP builds both student and teacher confidence
Show Notes
MCP's short video profiling Veronica's teacher Allison
MCP Math Curriculum Resources
Veronica's questions that impact student learning
John Hattie and Collective Teacher Efficacy
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter and...Episode 270: The Model Gave Me Permission
TR is joined by Tony Napoletano to talk about implementing a modern classroom in a Montessori school and the significant overlap between the two approaches to teaching and learning
Show Notes
The Montessori Model
Maria Montessori
Eureka Math
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter and Instagram The Modern Classroom Project Modern Classrooms Online...Episode 269: Will AI Take My Job?
TR is joined by Abi Donovan and Byron Dover to talk about responsible uses of AI, and the indispensable roles that teachers have in classrooms and schools
Show Notes
MCP Resource Hub
The Wavio Pulse Tracker for MCP
Rob's auto-updating progress tracker template
MCP + Snorkl
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter...Episode 268: Separating Compliance from Academic Evidence
TR is joined by Dr. Shantha Smith to talk about grading and the critical importance of assessing learning and mastery
Show Notes
Crescendo Education group
Grading for Equity, by Joe Feldman
Junk Journaling
Beyond the Grade
Connect with Dr. Smith on LinkedIn
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter and...Episode 267: Take Time To See Where You're Going
Zach is joined by Kaitie Pait and Kendal Giacomini to talk about the supportive community in the MCP facebook group, and how Kaitie asked for and received some help with unit pacing in a post there
Show Notes
MCP Podcast episode 171: Resetting MCP (Kendal's previous appearance on the MCP Podcast)
Kaitie's post in the Facebook group
Soundtrap
Connect with Kaitie by email at kaitlin.pait@modernclassrooms.org
Connect with Kendal on Goodreads and by email at kendal.giacomini@modernclassrooms.org
Contact us, follow us online...
Episode 266: Building the Concept from Scratch
TR is joined by Joseph Lombardi to talk about the Building Thinking Classrooms framework and how it can benefit students in math classes as well as other subjects
Show Notes
Explain Everything
Building Thinking Classrooms
Joey's blog post for MCP: "Adding Inquiry to My Modern Classroom Through Building Thinking Classrooms"
The Five-E Model
Jean Piaget
Lev Vygotsky
Joey's resource
Connect with Joey:
[His website](sites.google.com/view/joeylombardi/home) [Follow him on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/authwall?trk...Episode 265: They Have People In the Building
Toni Rose is joined by Beth Pallister to talk about leadership in a supportive school environment
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter and Instagram The Modern Classroom Project Modern Classrooms Online Course 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!...
Episode 264: Let The Students Tell You
Zach is joined by Althea Carter, who shares some feedback and reflections she has received from her students since implementing her modern classroom
Show Notes
Wicked
Check out Althea's amazing Wicked shirt
Althea (The Grateful Dead)
Althea Gibson
The Wavio Pulse Tracker and our podcast episode with Dana Kravchick and Aimee Yocom on its development
Althea's punchcard incentive system
Connect with Althea by email at althea.carter@cpschools.com
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions...Episode 263: Lone Wolves and Trendsetters
TR is joined by a team of MCP staff to debrief after visits with over 40 NYC schools to talk about the incredible work that's happening in modern classrooms throughout the city
Show Notes
MCP Podcast Episode 156: Progress Vs. Grades (Paul's previous appearance on the podcast; here's a shortcast version)Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter and Instagram The Modern...Episode 262: Hot Take: Math and AI
Toni Rose is joined by Dr. Ifeoma Uzoka and Tre'Nee Uzoka to talk about how they use AI to plan more efficiently and push students' thinking
Show Notes
GaETC
Desmos
ChatGPT
Ifeoma and Tre'Nee's Padlet, "Revolutionizing the K-12 Math Class With AI"
Mathfest
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter...Episode 261: Optimizing for the Right Kind of change
Toni Rose is joined by Kareem and Rob, co-founders of the Modern Classrooms Project, to talk about what's coming for the organization in 2026 and beyond
Show Notes
Illustrative Mathematics
Eureka Math Squared
Rob's TED talk "Why American's Hate Math"
Get in touch with Modern Classrooms by email at info@modernclassrooms.org
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on...Episode 260: "Sharp That Eleven, Bob"
Zach is joined by Eric Jao and Bob Habersat to talk about digital music teaching and making music education accessible to all students
Show Notes
Mix Major
Electronic Music Elements
The Shed
Eric's Youtube channel
Soundtrap
Project based learning
Kodaly and Orff approaches to music education
The History of Calculus
Electronic Music Elements PD
Penny Ur
Connect with Eric on LinkedIn, and connect with Bob by email at bob@shedthemusic.clom and using the links...
Episode 259: Everybody's a Teacher, Everybody's a Learner
TR is joined by Cindy Wilkins to talk about how she has used the model in her work with preservice teachers in the higher education setting
Show Notes
Belhaven University
Khan Academy
The Shift to Student Led, by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak
Bloom's Taxonomy
Connect with Cindy by email at cwilkins@belhaven.edu
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook...Episode 258: Student Perspective (HS)
Zach is joined by three of his students, Hansi, Ian, and Kennedy, to talk about their experiences in his class, both when they had his class in Middle School and, currently, in 10th and 11th grades.
Show Notes
Radiohead
Ezra Weisz
Miraculous Ladybug
Zach's tracker template
DCI's student podcast, The Lair (check back here after 12/10/2025 to hear Hansi's alien invasion segment)
Adobe Audition
The New Sound, by Georgie Greep
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions...Episode 257: It's Not Best Practice, But...
TR is joined by Drea Aguirre, an instructional coach, to talk about genuine, realistic, and humanistic coaching, and the importance of intentionally modeling the techniques that best serve students
Show Notes
Drea's Core Syllabus
Connect with Drea by email at drea_aguirre@dpsk12.net
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter and Instagram The Modern Classroom...Episode 256: Live from GaETC2025
Live from GaETC2025, TR is joined by Daniel Forrester, Sarah Eiler, Nick Provenzano for a discussion of ed tech, AI, and implementing innovative approaches to teaching
Show Notes
Amitrace
Screenpal
SchoolAI
[Needlepoint](https://needlepoint.com/)
Lego
"The Promises and Perils of AI in Education" by Dee Lanier and Ken Shelton
[Lumio](https://www.mairie-lumio.fr
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms...Episode 255: Mastery-Based Learning Insights
Zach is joined by Hui Couch to talk about how she uses the model to inspire her multi-lingual learners in math class, and to talk about how she approached designing a presentation for other teachers on using MCP in math classes
Show Notes
MCP Podcast Episode 246: Math Mentor Relationship
MCP Podcast Episode 243: Math and ELL
Connect with Hui by email at hui.couch@modernclassrooms.org
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube ...Episode 254: Student Perspective
Zach is joined by Steve Schlarman and two of his students, Molly and Ella, to talk about the student experience of learning in a modern classroom and how teachers can develop modern classrooms where students can thrive
Show Notes
Steve's previous appearance on the MCP Podcast, episode 174: Planning for Multiple Preps
Connect with Steve in the MCP Educator Facebook group or on Twitter (X) @mrschlarman_fzn
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Cla...Episode 253: Elementary School
Zach is joined by Laura Campbell to talk about how she implements the MCP model in her elementary math class, and how it brings balance and sustainability to the teaching profession
Show Notes
Eureka Math
Laura's tracker
Connect with Laura by email at laura.campbell@modernclassrooms.org
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter...Episode 252: Success Criteria
TR is joined by Mike Friedberg to talk about middle school science and using success criteria to check for mastery and track student progress
Show Notes
Edutopia videos profiling MCP:
High School Elementary SchoolMike's unit plan demonstrating his use of success criteria
The Danielson Framework
Connect with Mike on Twitter/X @mfriedbergteach
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
Transform your classroom conversations! Join us for Book Club Session 2 on October 30, 7pm ET, to explore The Shift to Student-Led by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak...
Episode 251: Chesapeake Schools
TR is joined by Jataune Jones and Freddie Alarcon to talk about how they supported teachers in a district-wide rollout of the MCP model and the positive outcomes of implementing at a large scale
Show Notes
Modern Classrooms + Chesapeake Impact ReportLearning Experiences for the Upcoming Week
It often feels harder to miss school than to teach when you’re sick. But it doesn’t have to be that way! In this webinar Stress-Free Sub Planning with Insta-Lesson on October 21, 7pm ET, we’ll show you how a free AI tool called Insta~Lesson...
Episode 250: Visual Rubrics
TR is joined by Eileen Ng to discuss her use of visual rubrics to enable authentic assessment, reflection, and learning
Show Notes
Examples of Eileen's visual rubrics:
Spider Web Lab Report Four-Level RubricEDrenaline RUsh
The Personal Record Rubric The Spider Graph rubric, based on Dungeons and Dragons See also - Lucas Blair's "Dungeons and Dragons Character Sheets Go To Grad School"Eileen's article on Edutopia: "Representing Student Proficiency and Progress With Visual Rubrics"
Mastery Transcript Consortium
Connect with Eileen by email at eileen.ng@modernclassrooms.org...
Episode 249: Dungeons and Dragons and Self Pacing
TR is joined by Travis Hammer to talk about how he uses the MCP model in his Dungeons and Dragons class to teach social and soft skills through gaming
Show Notes
Dungeons and Dragons (DnD)
Balder’s Gate III
Wizards of the Coast
SchoolAI
[Example DnD Assignments](https://open.bu.edu
Not Another DnD Podcast
Dimension20
D20 Adventuring Academy
The Oregon Trail
Learning Experiences for the Upcoming Week:
Want to start building your own Modern Classroom an...Episode 248: Station Rotation
TR is joined by Catlin Tucker to talk about the Station Rotation model of blended learning
Show Notes
Catlin Tucker
NotebookLM
"The Station Rotation Model and UDL," by Catlin Tucker
Study Guide for The Station Rotation Model and UDLUniversal Design for Learning
The Four C's
"The Shift to Student Led," by Catlin Tucker
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...Episode 247: Engaging Professional Development
TR is joined by Erin Luckhardt and Kim Weaver to talk about the importance of relevant, differentiated professional development opportunities for teachers
Show Notes
Meet Every Learner's Needs, by Rob Barnett
Kareem on the Cult of Pedagogy podcast:
Everything You Need to Know About Building a Great Screencast Video How to Create a Self-Paced Classroom How to Set Up Mastery-Based Grading in Your ClassroomThe Shift to Student Led, by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak
Connect with Erin and Kim by email:
Erin: erin.luckhardt@modernclassrooms.org Kim...Episode 246: Math Mentor Relationship
Zach is joined by Candi Williams to talk about the MCP virtual mentorship experience and the value of personalized coaching and feedback in the MCP program
Show Notes
Wavio and The Wavio Pulse Tracker
Zach's anonymized progress tracker
Connect with Candi by email at candi.williams@modernclassrooms.org
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...Episode 245: Gamification in SPED
Toni Rose is joined by Dykeisha Hill to talk about using games of all types to bring joy into the classroom and connect with students
Show Notes
ArtyNerdShop - Dykeisha's Etsy
City Year
Freedom Riders
Some of the games Dykeisha mentions:
God of War Kingdom Hearts The Legend of ZeldaEd Tech tools Dykeisha mentions:
Edpuzzle Nearpod PeardeckComic book characters Dykeisha mentions
Deadpool Batman Harley QuinnA few of the anime and manga mentioned on this episode:
Demon Slayer Afro Samurai ...Episode 244: CTE Student
Zach is joined by Erin Luckhardt, Michele Deming, and their former student Eve Willoughby, to talk about CTE and using the MCP model to prepare students with real-world career experience
Show Notes
Kareem on the Cult of Pedagogy podcast: Everything You Need to Know About Building a Great Screencast Video How to Create a Self-Paced Classroom How to Set Up Mastery-Based Grading in Your Classroom MCP Podcast episode 239: Wavio (with Dana Kravchick) MCP Podcast episode 72: CTE, with Evin Jarrett DCI students' work on PBS, CSPAN: A look inside a D.C. retail village helping black businesses...Episode 243: Math and ELL
Zach is joined by Miguel Melchor to talk about his approach to working with multilingual learners and coaching teachers using the MCP model
Show Notes
Miguel's comprehensive resource "Personalized Learning for Multilingual Learners"
Screenpal
Screencastify
Mote
Universal Design for Learning
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni Rose: @classroomflex on Twitter and Instagram The...Episode 242: EduProtocols
Toni Rose is joined by Zena Brown to talk about the Eduprotocols frameworks and explore the ways Zena uses them in her Modern Classroom
Show Notes
Edutopia videos profiling MCP:
High School Elementary SchoolEduprotocols
Quizziz
Eduprotocols Resources
ChatGPT
Follow Zena on social media @zlbrownschools
Contact us, follow us online, and learn more:
Email us questions and feedback at: podcast@modernclassrooms.org Listen to this podcast on Youtube Modern Classrooms: @modernclassproj on Twitter and facebook.com/modernclassproj Kareem: @kareemfarah23 on Twitter Toni...