When an A Isn’t Everything: Redefining Success for High-Achieving Students
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 Deanon is joined by Jocelyn Hieatzman, a fifth-year implementer and veteran teacher, to discuss supporting advanced students in a self-paced learning environment.
Jocelyn addresses the emotional impact of high-achieving students receiving their first B, emphasizing the need to reframe success beyond traditional letter grades. She highlighted the importance of open communication with both students and parents, sharing an instance of comforting a student crying over a B. "Getting a B is mastery. That's success."
Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:
Reframe the concept of success to emphasize mastery over solely achieving A's. This is crucial when supporting advanced students in self-paced learning.
Clear communication, consistent implementation, and building trust with students and parents are essential in addressing pushback and concerns about the Modern Classroom model. Jocelyn finds the model incredibly beneficial, especially for neurodivergent educators like herself, due to its clear structure. "I'll never go back," she affirms.
Intentional design of video content and collaborative activities can differentiate the Modern Classroom experience from negative associations with emergency remote learning. Jocelyn acknowledges the association some students make with distance learning due to COVID, stressing the need for engaging and personal video content and intentional collaboration opportunities.
Looking ahead, Jocelyn aims to continue refining her teaching practices and hopes to see wider adoption of the Modern Classroom model. She values connecting with students and embracing new approaches throughout her career.
Discussion questions for PLC and PD:
How can educators proactively address the emotional concerns of high-achieving students who may struggle with a shift in grading philosophy towards mastery in a self-paced environment? What specific strategies can be implemented in the classroom and during communication with parents?
What are some practical ways educators can clearly articulate the benefits and structure of a Modern Classroom model to students, parents, and administrators to mitigate resistance or misunderstandings, particularly in relation to past experiences with remote learning?
In what ways can educators intentionally design learning experiences, including video content and collaborative tasks, to ensure engagement and differentiate the self-paced model from potentially negative associations with emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic?
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 focus 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
Jocelyn Hieatzman
Jocelyn has 21 years in the classroom teaching everything English Language Arts, from grade 6 through graduate school. Her current position is in 8th-grade ELA, and it is her 5th year as a Modern Classroom educator. She also loves hiking, horror movies, and binge-watching Community.
If you like what you hear in this episode, share it with a friend or subscribe to get updates when new podcasts are published.