The Middle School Modern Classroom

Abstract

This chapter describes how The Modern Classroom Project model, a blended, self-paced classroom format with mastery-based grading practices, is ideal for young middle school students. The chapter narratively outlines a case study of four middle school teachers implementing and validating The Modern Classrooms model at DC International School. The chapter will provide recommendations for blended learning, self-paced classroom, and mastery-based grading practices. The following section argues how this model is ideal in the middle school classroom because it allows teachers better to serve students with a broad range of maturity levels; rather than focusing only on instructional delivery, middle school educators can focus on developing students' self-management skills. The authors also discuss how the model benefited their teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the authors' experience implementing The Modern Classrooms Project model, they conclude that it is an effective structure for teaching and learning in middle school.