Empowering all students to become independent, confident learners
Modern Classrooms Project Scholarship for KIPP Teachers
Now Recruiting - Apply Here by May 27th!
The Modern Classrooms Project is a non-profit whose mission is to empowers educators to build classrooms that respond to every student’s needs.
Up to 100 KIPP educators can enroll in the KIPP scholarship program and participate in the Modern Classrooms Project mentorship program. With guidance, they will transform their classroom to better meet students’ needs with self-paced lessons, blended learning, and mastery-based grading.
The Modern Classrooms Experience
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Self-Paced Lessons
At the start of class, students are shown the target lesson, which includes the “Must Do” tasks that are the most important for the day. If students are on pace, they can work on this lesson. If needed, students can catch up by working on previous lessons in the unit or they can work ahead if they finish early.
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Blended Learning & Small Groups
During class, students engage with videos, activities at various levels, and the opportunity to work with the teacher in small groups, depending on where they are in the learning progression. Students have the chance to collaborate with peers who are on the same lesson.
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Mastery-Based Learning
As students work on the activities, they show they have learned the key content of the lesson and met the objective by performing well on a “mastery check.” Once they show mastery, the teacher checks off their work and students can move onto the next lesson. If needed, they can be pulled into a small group for extra support.
What is a Modern Classroom?
From the Modern Classrooms Project:
A Modern Classroom prioritizes differentiation over a one-size-fits all approach to instruction. This looks like:
Using blended, self-paced, mastery-based instruction for a unit, lesson, or topic.
Applying Modern Classroom practices to any grade level, subject, LMS, curriculum, standards, classroom setup, or specific students' needs.
Tailoring the approach to your classroom vision, district or school priorities, and available resources.
See below for videos from Edutopia or click on the buttons above to learn more from KIPP classrooms!
What do students like about learning when they are in a Modern Classroom?
Students in KIPP New York City:
“I felt like [activities in a self-paced model] was a better pacing for me because you can complete them at my speed. You can pause it when you need it.”
“[I like] that I wasn't feeling rushed, and I was actually getting stuff done”
“The pace was very helpful for me because it didn't feel like I was going too fast or too slow.”
Students in KIPP Northern California:
“I like that I can work in my own pace without having to rush to get notes down.”
“I like that you have the ability to pace yourself because it gives me time to learn all my work if I don't finish it in one day.”
The opportunity for KIPP teachers
From the Modern Classrooms Project:
Join a community of KIPP educators who are changing education, one classroom at a time. Accepted educators will participate in the 2022 Virtual Summer Institute where they will work one-on-one with an Expert Mentor to build classroom-ready materials, and become part of a movement of educators across the country determined to rethink classroom instruction. This includes:
From the Modern Classrooms Project
Educators who complete the program will earn a $500 technology stipend to invest in their classrooms.
The Virtual Mentorship Program is a commitment, but one that is truly worth it! Most teachers find that it takes 25-30 hours to complete, spread over ~5 weeks. Additional learning and connection opportunities will also be available beyond that commitment.
Applicants for this scholarship can participate in any of the following Virtual Summer Institute cohorts:
June 13, 2022 - July 17, 2022
July 11, 2022 - August 14, 2022
For more questions or information on the program, support with recruitment, and/or initial results from participants, feel free to contact Craig Rawe, Instructional Technology Manager at the KIPP Foundation.
Watch Megan Johnson from KIPP New Orleans describe the benefit the Modern Classrooms Model has had on her and her students.
See how Nora Larson in KIPP Northern California has experienced implementing the Modern Classrooms model with her students, including results and thoughts from students.
“The Modern Classrooms Project has transformed my teaching practice and re-energized and inspired me to continue in the profession. If you've gotten "good enough" at the I Do, We Do, You Do traditional model, but feel like it's not helping you meet the needs of all your learners .... check out the Modern Classrooms Mentorship Program.”
- Nora Larson, MS ELA, KIPP Heartwood, San Jose, CA
“This training is NECESSARY to meet the needs of all of our students. We as teachers always feel like we don't have enough time in the day, enough space at our small group table, enough patience, just ENOUGH to really make a difference to all of our students, especially during this pandemic when the variety of academic levels has increased so significantly. This program really allows us to do that in a way that is engaging and fun for kids.”
- Megan Johnson, K-2 teacher, KIPP Morial Primary, New Orleans
31 KIPP educators in 13 regions participated in the Fall 2021 cohort. Educators in the program represented all grade levels and all core content areas.
Educators who participated indicated the program enabled them to better meet the needs of their students. Many indicated they have seen a profound impact on student learning and engagement. On average these educators rated the program a 9 out 10, with 91% indicating they would recommend the program to a colleague.
Here’s what graduates from all over the country say about the Virtual Mentorship Program:
From the Modern Classrooms Project
To understand more about the model, results with KIPP teachers, and to see how educators adapted their classroom, refer to the slides below or click here.