Opening and Closing Routines
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 learners. In this episode, Toni Rose is joined by Jess Bille to discuss how well-structured opening and closing routines can support a self-paced learning environment.
Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:
Setting Clear Routines: Jess emphasizes the significance of setting clear routines, especially in an elementary classroom. These routines help young learners navigate self-paced learning effectively. Jess uses a daily check-in during opening routines to gauge student progress, provide support, and encourage goal setting. This practice helps students stay on track and feel more in control of their learning journey.
Acknowledging Feelings and Building Relationships: Toni Rose and Jess stress the importance of acknowledging students' feelings as they enter the classroom. By creating an environment where students can openly express their emotions, educators can foster a more comfortable and collaborative learning space. This practice also helps in building positive teacher-student relationships.
Effective Use of Progress Trackers: Jess discusses her use of progress trackers, both individual and public, as tools to keep students on track. She highlights that the public progress tracker can be empowering when students view it as a guide rather than a competitive measure. It facilitates peer collaboration and support, helping students work together to achieve their goals.
The podcast underscores the flexibility of the Modern Classrooms model, emphasizing that there are multiple right ways to implement it, allowing educators to tailor the approach to their students' needs. Jess's experience demonstrates that well-established routines, clear communication, and progress tracking can make self-paced learning successful in an elementary classroom.
Discussion questions for PLC and PD:
How can educators adapt and implement well-structured opening and closing routines to facilitate self-paced learning effectively, especially in elementary classrooms?
What strategies can teachers employ to create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable acknowledging and expressing their feelings, and how can this positively impact the learning experience?
The podcast highlights the use of progress trackers as essential tools. How can educators strike a balance between using these trackers to guide and motivate students without creating competition or feelings of inadequacy?
Our Host
Toni Rose taught MS English for 10 years and will forever identify as a teacher. Toni Rose strives to be the teacher that they never had growing up, so they focuses on anti-bias, anti-racist work and wants to create a brave space for everyone around them. As a queer Filipinx, they understand just how important it is to be represented, be valued, and belong. They especially love being a thought partner for and celebrating teachers.
Our Guest: Jess Bille
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