Podcasts about cool cat teacher

Ready for a deep dive into the latest AI tools and education headlines? In this special extended news episode, Vicki Davis shares 15 cutting-edge AI tools including Gemini's new video parsing capabilities, Claude Opus 4's powerful features, and Perplexity Labs' research tools, plus 15 critical news stories every educator needs to know. From AI ethics and security warnings to practical classroom applications, this episode delivers real classroom tech use insights you can implement immediately. Subscribe for weekly teacher-tested edtech tips and join the conversation at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e904  I'm also including vocabulary and links at the show notes. This week's show includes the vocabulary: smishing vishing multimodal conversational AI deep fake rage-bait cinema LOTS (Living off Trusted Services) attack Passkeys Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) This vocabulary and links to resources are included to help educate you and to give you a resource that you can use with students about this particular topic.   A Personal Update from Vicki As school got out, my son got married and I had quite a few speeches here in Georgia, so I ended up with 2-3 weeks of news/tool content to share, so I just put them together on my radio show this week and for you on this longer-than-normal episode. I appreciate the grace while I'm in the summer months and recovering and I hope you take care of yourself and recover as well. We need the rest so we can be our best! And stay tuned next week for some amazing ISTE 2025 episodes - whether you're going or not, I want you to see the cool things happening! As always, I want you to feel included, informed, and helped to keep up in practical ways as things are changing.

with Audrey Watters | Episode 903 | Tech Tool Tuesday Are we racing toward an AI future without asking the right questions? Author and ed-tech critic Audrey Watters joins me to show teachers how to hit pause, get thoughtful, and keep classroom relationships at the center. Sponsored by Rise Vision Did you know the same solution that powers my AI classroom also drives campus-wide emergency alerts and digital signage? See how Rise Vision can save your school thousands: RiseVision.com/10MinuteTeacher Highlights Include Why “human first” still beats the newest AI tool: Audrey explains how relationships drive real learning. Personalized learning myths busted: How algorithmic “solutions” can isolate students. Practical guardrails for AI: Three reflection questions every teacher should ask before hitting “assign.”

Looking for ideas to engage your students in conversation? In this week's quick news roundup, I give you stories about: The impact of overwork on the teacher's brain, An idea for an energy drink experiment for science teachers around the chemical "taurine" NASA and the tectonic plates of Venus YouTube's new "Peak Points" Advertising strategy as an AI article to discuss with students ChatGPT 4 going away? And how I teach students to test different models of AI and share their results How some people are installing local LLM's on their machines New AI guidance for teachers and common patterns I'm noting Google's AIME and the future of medical chat bots DuoLingo goes AI, and A Star-Wars themed personality test gone to the dark side? Once a week, I work to share news articles and stories with you that I'm using. I want you to have quick ideas for turning headlines into a warm-up, debate, or story starter. Show notes and links: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e902 Sponsor: Rise Vision Do you want to know how I have students share their prompts and test various models of AI? I use my Rise Vision Board! When teaching AI, seeing how each student uniquely interacts with technology is essential. Rise Vision's screen sharing solution turned my aging display into a modern wireless hub without replacement costs. I can now securely moderate which student screens appear—perfect for AI demonstrations and collaborative learning. The Rise Vision system is incredibly user-friendly and costs just a fraction of new interactive displays. I'm saving my school money while enhancing our tech capabilities! Visit Rise Vision to see how you can refresh rather than replace your classroom displays. Link: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/risevision/    

Do you want to help students truly understand and enjoy math? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Erin Krupa shares her powerful research and practical classroom strategies that have helped boost student math achievement. From project-based challenges to integrating meaningful tech tools like Geometer's Sketchpad, Erin brings the research to life in ways every K–12 teacher can use. She discusses how to spark students' mathematical identity, create engaging tasks, and avoid turning math into a dry, procedural subject. Whether you're a math teacher or school leader, you'll walk away with practical strategies and renewed encouragement. Sponsored by Solution Tree For over 25 years, Solution Tree has helped teachers and leaders improve student learning with research-based professional development. Discover how real schools are seeing big results in reading and math.

From rogue AI behaviors to Google Gemini's web-building skills, this week's 10 Minute Teacher Podcast is your fast, fun roundup of the most classroom-worthy education and technology news!

What does the science actually say about teaching methods that work? In this episode, Nathaniel Hansford shares how you can become a more effective teacher by applying proven principles from education research. Learn how meta-analysis, spaced practice, retrieval techniques, and data-driven strategies can lead to better learning outcomes in your classroom. Nathaniel also discusses why many PD sessions fall flat—and how we can do better. Whether you're just starting out or refining your craft, this episode is full of actionable insight for educators who want to teach smarter.

On May 1, 2025, Sam Altman's identity project, now called World (formerly Worldcoin), launched iris and face-scanning locations in six U.S. cities. The goal? Prove you're human — and get a World ID in return. In this episode, Vicki Davis breaks down how the tech works, why it's free, and the serious ethical concerns for educators and parents alike. You'll learn the three major reasons this global ID push is happening: Stopping identity fraud and deepfakes Verifying age online to protect children Distinguishing humans from synthetic AI agents With connections to platforms like Match.com, Discord, and Reddit, and the backing of Visa, this story is about far more than tech — it's about privacy, control, and the future of our students.  I've included lots of links and commentary at the show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e898 

Students won't learn if they don't feel seen.

Want to get more organized as a teacher or school leader—without spending a dime? In this episode, productivity expert Dr. Frank Buck shares five free Evernote features educators can use to simplify their digital lives. From emailing notes to powerful web clipping and searchable snapshots, Frank explains how to turn Evernote into your second brain.

What do teachers need to know this week about AI, edtech tools, privacy risks, and time-saving features? In this fast-paced news update, Vicki Davis — the Cool Cat Teacher — shares teacher-tested headlines that impact the classroom. From Google's bulk grading feature to concerns about AI eye-tracking and international AI policy, this episode is packed with insights that matter. Also, a huge health concern with touching the receipts of many of your local retailers.

Can grammar really be fun? Yes! In this episode, literacy coach and author Patty McGee shares fresh, playful ways to teach grammar that actually work—and won't leave kids groaning. If you've ever struggled to make grammar stick, you'll love these shame-free, curiosity-fueled strategies that bring joy and purpose back into your language lessons. (And personally I also like that there can be alternatives to diagramming sentences.) Solution Tree

In this inspiring episode, Vicki Davis, veteran educator, edtech expert, and edublogger, joins me to explore the evolving world of educational technology and artificial intelligence in the classroom. Vicki shares how she teaches students to use AI art tools with prompt stacking techniques, discusses the importance of formative assessment, and explains how educators can reach every learner. We also dive into the mindset behind servant leadership, the value of collaboration in education, and why elevating others is key to lasting impact. With over 20 years of experience in edtech, Vicki brings wisdom, humility, and a powerful message about staying grounded while embracing innovation. About  Vicki Davis: Vicki Davis, known as the Cool Cat Teacher has been teaching Computer Science since 2002 and blogging at the Cool Cat Teacher blog since 2005. She teachers AP Computer Science Principles (100% pass rate last year) and digital film classes and is an IT Coach and works with technology integration K3-12th grade. Vicki has been a long time leader in the appropriate use of educational technology with a focus on reaching every child and achieving a healthy balance between screen time and face to face relationship building between teacher and student. She does use AI in the classroom and often discusses not only the tools but the appropriate uses of AI in the classroom. Vicki is host of the 10 Minute Teacher podcast and received the BAMMY award in 2016 for the top podcast host in education. She now also hosts a radio and TV show called “Cool Cat Teacher Talk.” Vicki has keynoted more than 50 edtech conferences around the world and at places like Google and Microsoft. In 2021 and 2022 she was named by ICS research as one of the top education influencers in the world and she's been a judge for the Million dollar Varkey Global Teacher Price since its inception. Vicki has written multiple books about collaborating globally and how to teach writing for the web in the classroom. Her greatest joy is her children, husband, faith, and her kitty cat Cheeto. Follow Vicki Davis: Website: https://www.coolcatteacher.com  Twitter (X): https://www.x.com/coolcatteacher  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coolcatteacher  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coolcatteacher  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coolcatteacher/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/coolcatteacher  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/coolcatteacher.bsky.social Flipboard:

Get ready for CS4Ed Week 2024 and the Hour of Code with this special episode of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast!

This special extended episode is for family and friends to listen to in the car or around the holidays. It is from what I call my "legacy project," Cool Cat Teacher Talk, soon to be released as its separate podcast. In this, I'll tell you about the Cool Cat Teacher Talk Show project, why I'm doing it, and how it is being created and shared. Then, I'll share my 58-minute Cool Cat Teacher talk episode on Gratitude and Thankfulness. I hope you enjoy the show.  Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/talkgratitude

In their first visual podcast, Marc and Nick sit down with the one-and-only Vicki Davis, known worldwide as the Cool Cat Teacher. Topics include: the role of AI in teaching and learning, computational thinking, and the power of making meaningful connections with students. Show Notes: You can explore Vicki's insights, projects, and resources at CoolCatTeacher.com. Follow Marc on X, online, or YouTube Check out Marc's new book, CAPTIVATE

Speech-to-text, audio, personal drawings and pictures, and writing about things kids love are all part of helping kids get excited about writing. In today's show, we talk to 15-year educator Randi Ahrndt about encouraging kids to get excited about writing as we discuss interactive writing strategies and one of the best free tools for teaching writing. We also talk about an authentic project of having kids write a personal book and the various steps of making it happen. We'll explore how to leverage technology and interactive strategies to turn even the most reluctant students into enthusiastic writers. Discover how to encourage creativity and self-expression in your classroom for all grades. Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e869  Questions Answered in This Show: What are the best free writing apps for classrooms, including tools like Book Creator? How can teachers use interactive strategies to make writing more engaging? Why is sharing writing with an authentic audience crucial for student motivation? How can speech-to-text tools support struggling writers? What role does student choice play in creating excitement for writing projects? How do graphic organizers help students overcome writer's block? How can teachers balance the demands of teaching foundational skills with writing practice? Key Takeaways: Free Apps for Writing: Explore tools like Book Creator, Canva, and Google Docs to enable multimodal storytelling and provide accessibility options such as speech-to-text. Interactive Strategies: Foster excitement with activities like project pitches, peer feedback, and sharing stories with family or classmates. Practical Tips: Encourage frequent writing through journaling, passion projects, and low-pressure feedback to build confidence. Authentic Experiences: Showcase student work with tools like eBooks, digital displays, and class libraries to celebrate their creativity. Sponsor: Book Creator Book Creator is my favorite tool for teaching writing and promoting student creativity! With its user-friendly platform, students can create vibrant eBooks featuring text, images, audio, and even video. ✅ Get 3 months FREE of Book Creator Premium with the code COOLCATTEACHER!

Al is joined by Vicky Davis, aka Cool Cat Teacher. Together they discuss the ethical use of AI in education.The key takeaways are:- AI is a powerful tool that can be used to save teachers time, but it should not be used without supervision.- Teachers need to be aware of the limitations of AI and how to use it effectively.- AI should not be used to replace teachers, but rather to supplement their teaching.- It is important to teach students how to critically evaluate information from AI sources.- AI can be a great tool for leveling the playing field for students who do not have access to traditional resources.- AI is a rapidly changing field, and it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments.- The use of AI has ethical implications that need to be considered, such as privacy, data use, and copyright.- The use of AI can also have a global impact, such as on energy consumption.Vicky shares her experience of using AI tools in the classroom, such as creating custom chatbots to teach specific content and using AI to help students with formative assessment. She also discusses the importance of teaching students about the limitations of AI and how to critically evaluate information from AI sources.

All platforms and past episodes: https://coffeeforthebrain.com/podcasts/Slidedeck of her ideas to explore as we did not get to them allhttps://1drv.ms/p/s!AqtnAB8NPT2-8kpLZWCCEThXQepGYouTube VideoTakeawaysVicki Davis believes that students should be at least 17 or 18 years old before getting cell phones.She emphasizes the negative impact of unrestricted cell phone access on students' mental health, sleep patterns, and social interactions.Vicki recommends watching the AI Dilemma YouTube video to gain a better understanding of AI technology and its ethical implications. Autonomous weapons raise ethical concerns and the need for human accountability in AI decision-making.Understanding AI ethics and the impact of technology is crucial for shaping the conversation and making informed decisions.AI education should focus on the process rather than just tools, and educators should address the ethical use of AI.Addressing knowledge gaps in math education is essential to ensure students have a solid foundation for future learning.Creating custom GPTs can be a valuable tool for personal and classroom use, but it should be supervised and used ethically.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background03:22 Vicki Davis' Journey in Education28:44 Recommendation: AI Dilemma YouTube Video33:21 Ethics of Autonomous Weapons34:19 Ethics of AI and Accountability35:18 Ethics and the Impact of Technology36:38 Balancing AI Education and Tool Usage37:35 The Challenge of PD and AI Education38:28 Teaching the Writing Process and Ethical Use of AI39:24 Teaching Research Process and Avoiding AI Cheating40:13 Addressing Knowledge Gaps in Math Education43:34 The Importance of Conversations and Awareness about AI46:17 Creating Custom GPTs for Personal and Classroom Use54:06 The Craft of Teaching and Surrounding Yourself with Positive Influences Resourceshttps://www.coolcatteacher.com/When I was lucky enough to be on her show!From 2013: ECM Show #13: Teacher Aaron Maurer https://go.shr.lc/4brPIB8From 2017: 5 Ways to Improve STEAM Learning at Your School - https://go.shr.lc/44SUaGBFrom 2019: 25 Days of Making: When Educators Make, Create, and Have Fun - https://go.shr.lc/3KbmlqQChange. Improvement. Technology. Productivity. How her book impacted me.....and reference to Vine(remember that?) Blogging: Why It Matters To Develop The Student Brand 

Welcome to today's episode, where I will bridge the gap between AI in my classroom and your ears! If you've been following my blog, you know I want to bring practical, innovative teaching strategies to life. But today, I'm doing things a bit differently on the show for an extended episode with me, your host, Vicki Davis. Sponsor: Modern Classrooms Project will help you bring engaging, exciting teaching to your classroom with their free online course and community. Go to coolcatteacher.com/modern right now to sign up for the Modern Classrooms essential course for free where you will learn about the strategies, research, and resources that can drive student-centered, self-directed learning in your classroom. They can show you have to use technology to unlock deeper student relationships with your students. So many people ask me how to respond to Artificial Intelligence and my response is always, that we need to shift our pedagogical practices into the classroom to the time-tested research-based best practices. You get that with Modern Classrooms, so go to coolcatteacher.com/modern today and sign up. You'll be glad you did. I'll guide you through how I use AI in my classes. I teach eighth grade through an AP Class with seniors, and we're finding amazing ways to use AI, from advising us on a trip project to providing feedback on logos and user interfaces for our app-building project to testing AI tutors. It's all real and all right now. There is no theory here, just lots of learning and some bumps along the way. (Recently, a custom GPT I created started calling me Melissa, sigh. Someone explain that to me!) And for a bit of fun, meet CAT GPT, my very own Content AI Taskhelper - a personal assistant I've created with a blend of my own educational beliefs and research-backed best practices. I have it interview me on the way to school (and sometimes back), and it helps me create content for you. I always link to it, so I'll share how I do that too. And, since I've given two weeks off to my son, John, so he can ace his finals, I understand the frustration with AI-generated transcripts (thanks, southern accent!), so while there's o polished transcript available just yet, you can check out the auto-captions on the Cool Cat Teacher YouTube channel for a pretty good transcript. And if you need a more accurate version, don't hesitate to reach out via email -- I'm committed to making my content accessible to all. This episode is more than just a podcast; it's a glimpse into the future of education with AI. So whether you're a seasoned educator or just AI-curious, tune in, laugh along, and prepare to form your own opinions about AI. Let's continue this AI adventure together as we work to improve our classrooms and educate a successful generation for tomorrow. This extended episode sponsored by Modern Classrooms will help me share about the pedagogical changes that can happen in schools that want to advance learning in an AGE of AI.

In this 146th episode, I share my daily reflection posted on Twitter @bryoncar, from Nov 13th to 17th, 2023 Check out the WHOLE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST I put together with all the listens mentioned below: bit.ly/SpotifyFreshAirAtFiveE146Playlist I reflect on these podcast episodes from my listens on the: 13th: House of EdTech E236 "Moving AI Forward In Education"; Tech Tools for Teachers E165 "Let's Draw It!" 14th: The Generative Age E10 "AI and HI + AI in the Classroom with Cool Cat Teacher, Vicki Davis - Part 2" 15th: Got Teched E150 "Edtech Appsmashes, Templates, and Gamification Tools to Spark Creativity within the Classroom"; Behind The Mic - Voices of the EPN E6 "With the HiTech Podcast" 16th: The Optimalist E30 "Taking Care of Teachers, Adaptability, & Making a Lasting Impact w/ Meghan Lawson"; Teach Happier S4E11 "4 Circles of Happiness" 17th: The Embrace The Messy E6 "Lisa Baylis Embraces the Messy" ---------------------------- Track: Know Myself - Patrick Patrikios ( NoCopyrightMusic ) | My Audio Library | Background Music Bumper: Black Brown Bilingue - Lissette Jacobson --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freshairatfive5/message

In this 145th episode, I share my daily reflection posted on Twitter @bryoncar, from Nov 6th to 10th, 2023 Check out the WHOLE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST I put together with all the listens mentioned below: I reflect on these podcast episodes from my listens on the: 6th: Evolving with Gratitude E78 "Fusion that Causes Synergy with Guest Talisa Sullivan"; The Generative Age E9 "The Importance of AI + HI (Human Intelligence) with Cool Cat Teacher, Vicki Davis - Part 1" 7th: #NewToMePodcast Everyone Comes from Somewhere Trailer; Everyone Comes from Somewhere E1 "Introduction"; Everyone Comes from Somewhere E2 "Jody's Story" 9th: The Optimalist E29 "What is higher order curiosity and how might we foster it?"; Evolving With Gratitude E79 "Embracing the PheMOMenal Teacher Within with Guest Annick Rauch" 10th: Teaching Champions E202 "Legacy of Learning with Meghan Lawson"; Teach Happier S4E10 "Be Purple" ---------------------------- Track: Know Myself - Patrick Patrikios ( NoCopyrightMusic ) | My Audio Library | Background Music Bumper: https://www.edupodcastnetwork.com/show/9thgradeexperience/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freshairatfive5/message

Reading instruction can be challenging when a teacher has many different ability levels in her classroom. Furthermore, kindergarten and elementary grades are fundamental. Reading expert, Laura Robb breaks down excellent reading instruction from kindergarten through fifth grade. Dr. Robb has written more than 25 books on reading but also takes 3-4 months each school year as a classroom teacher. From how to form reading groups, how to reach individual children, and how to communicate with parents, Dr. Robb's advice is practical and extensive. This is an extended, 38-minute episode that covers everything about differentiating instruction with reading and is designed to be a complete overview to help every teacher working with young or struggling readers. This episode also includes a transcript on differentiating instruction. Show notes and transcript: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e791 sponsor: Thank you eSpark for sponsoring today's show. eSpark is a differentiation and intervention tool that helps teachers of kindergarten through grade five save time by providing ready-to-go, standards-based reading and math activities that students love. eSpark is free for teachers.Each Quest includes a pre-quiz, framing videos, instructional videos, practice activities, critical thinking challenges, a post-quiz, and an optional student recording. I love that for activities to remain in the eSpark catalog that it must have a high student engagement rating based on a student chosen thumbs-up or thumbs-down. You can even import NWEA or STAR data to give students a more differentiated experience from the first log on. Oh and did I say it is free for teachers! So, go to go.eSpark.app forward slash cool cat teacher - that's g-o dot e-spark dot a-p-p forward slash Cool Cat Teacher and sign up today for eSpark. You'll be glad you did. Laura Robb - Bio as Submitted Author, teacher, coach, and international speaker, Laura Robb has completed more than 43 years of teaching in grades 4-8, and she returns to teach striving readers each year. Robb received the Richard W. Halle Award for outstanding middle level educator from NCTE as well as the Friends of Literacy Award from the Nassau Reading Council. Laura Robb has written more than 30 books for teachers. Recently she has completed two books with her son Evan Robb, a middle school principal. TeamMakers: Positively Impacting the Lives of Children through District-Wide Dreaming, Collaborating, and Change, published by Dave Burgess Publishing was published in 2019. Schools Full of Readers: Tools for Teachers, Coaches and leaders to Support Students, is also from 2019.  In 2016, two books were published: The Reading Intervention Toolkit, by Shell Education and Read Talk Write: 35 Lessons That Teach Students to Analyze Fiction and Nonfiction, published by Corwin Literacy. Corwin Literacy also published Robb's Vocabulary Is Comprehension: Getting to the Root of Complex Texts. Her newest for Heinemann is a First Hand Curriculum: Smart Writing: Practical Units For Teaching Middle School Writers, and a professional book, Teaching Middle School Writers: What Every English Teacher Needs to Know. For Scholastic, Robb has completed several best sellers including the first and second editions of Teaching Reading in Middle School, Differentiating Reading Instruction, Teaching Reading in Social Studies, Science, and Math, and her newest, Unlocking Complex Texts. Robb is a keynote and featured speaker at conferences and leads workshops all over the country and in Canada. She writes articles for education journals and blogs. She is a regular contributor to www.therobbreviewblog.com and has a series of podcasts with Evan Robb that you can access on https://therobbreviewpodcast.podbean.com. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Blogger, speaker, author, YouTube, podcaster, and teacher. Explore all of these roles with Vicki Davis of Cool Cat Teacher. With hundreds of thousands of subscribers and followers, learn more about Vicki's career journey, and hear her words of wisdom for teachers who are starting to learn computer science. MORE Read Vicki's blog: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/ Listen to the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast/ Subscribe to Vicki's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/coolcatteacher Follow Vicki on Twitter: https://twitter.com/coolcatteacher

Acceleration research can teach us how to accelerate learning. Dr. Douglas Fisher, co-author of the best-selling book Rebound, Grades K-12: A Playbook for Rebuilding Agency, Accelerating Learning Recovery, and Rethinking Schools. Instead of learning loss, Dr. Fisher is advocating how we can accelerate learning. He reflects on what we have learned and how we can move forward together as we work to emerge (hopefully) from the pandemic. Show Notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e768 Today's episode is sponsored by Tract. Tract will empower your students to develop 21st-Century Ready skills through project-based peer-to-peer learning. For a limited time, you can pilot Tract's on-demand project-based classes and clubs free in your classroom. I am a project-based learning classroom and have joined the pilot. Request free access today at teach.tract.app with the access code COOLCATTEACHER. If you have students aged 8 or older, you'll want to bring students into this self-directed project-based platform that will rock your classroom and their world.  See my review, 10 Ways to Personalize Project Based Learning with Tract. Try out Tract today! Related Episodes A 4 Part Distance Learning Framework that Works with Dr. Douglas Fisher Successful Distance Learning for Young Kids with Nancy Frey Dr. Douglas Fisher - Bio as Submitted Doug Fisher is professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High in San Diego, CA. He is the co-author of The Distance Learning Playbook, along with several other books. Blog: www.fisherandfrey.com Twitter: @DFISHERSDSU Youtube Channel: Fisher and Frey - YouTube     Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” This company has no impact on the editorial content of the show.  

Digital portfolios are an essential part of the modern student's creation process. In this show Tisha Poncio shares her tips on digital portfolios and classroom teaching. Learn how to plan ahead to allow for project based learning and digital portfolios and best practices for implementing them in the classroom. Transcript posted on the show page: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e766 Today's episode is sponsored by Tract. Tract will empower your students to develop 21st-Century Ready skills through project-based peer-to peer learning. For a limited time you can pilot Tract's on-demand project-based classes and clubs free in your classroom. I am a project based learning classroom and have joined the pilot. Request free access today at teach.tract.app with the access code COOLCATTEACHER. If you have students aged 8 or older, you'll want to bring students into this self-directed project based platform that will rock your classroom and their world.  Try out Tract today! Tisha Poncio - Bio As Submitted Tisha Poncio, M.S. Learning Technologies/Instructional Design, has served in education for the last 21 years. She has led students in the classroom teaching English, Web Design, Graphic Design, Business Computers, Programming, and Broadcast Journalism. She has also coached educators, students, and administrators as a digital learning specialist for 12 years. She is a Google Certified Trainer, and a Flipgrid, Wakelet, and Buncee Ambassador. Her biggest accomplishment to date has been the creation of a student-led technology leadership group that helps her present globally on student voice, digital citizenship, and the #studentsCANlead movement.

Vicki Davis is a teacher, blogger, podcaster, author and mother. She's been a technology teacher for over 20 years helping her students build websites and learn how to code. Vicki is transforming the way people think about teaching by sharing stories from her BYOD classroom. Vicki blogs at the popular Cool Cat Teacher Blog and made Mashable's Top 10 list of "Teacher Rock Stars on Twitter" in 2014 and named Onalytica's top female edtech twitter account in 2017. Vicki's goal is to help educators teach with better results, lead with a positive impact, and live with greater purpose by helping educators build their PLN and find and share best practices.Follow on Instagram ➡️ @lifeofa_podcastListen on Spotify ➡️ https://spoti.fi/2YkAcD1Listen on Apple Podcasts ➡️ https://apple.co/2YkApWPCheck the website out ➡️ www.lifeofapodcast.com___________________________________________________________________________Check out Vicki's Instagram ➡️ @coolcatteacherCheck out DJ Scruffy's Twitter ➡️@coolcatteacherCheck out Vicki's website ➡️https://www.coolcatteacher.com/Check out Vicki's podcast, The 10-Minute Teacher ➡️https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/10-minute-teacher-podcast/id1201263130?mt=2&app=podcastCheck out Vicki's Youtube ➡️https://www.youtube.com/user/coolcatteacher

Most importantly, Vicki is a classroom teacher and Instructional Technology director in southwest Georgia. She is into her eighteenth year of teaching at K12 and taught adults for five years before that. She graduated first her in Management Class at Georgia Tech in 1991 and has traveled the world talking about technology and reaching every student. Her philosophy to “innovate like a turtle” has transformed teachers around the world. Vicki's heart is for today's students and today's teachers – both of whom have unique challenges of their own. Because two of her three children have learning differences, children who struggle have a special place in Vicki's heart and she loves to find technologies to unlock each child's full potential (and each teacher's.)Top Education Blog. Vicki Davis has been writing the Cool Cat Teacher blog for 15 years and has been an Edublog award finalist for Best Teacher Blog. This blog is listed in the top 50 blogs in education and has more than 100,000 unique visitors who read this blog each month.Top Twitterer. Vicki was voted a top 5 twitterer in education by the Edublog awards in 2015, and named by Mashable as one of Twitter's Top 10 Rockstar teachers. Recently, Onalytica named Vicki as the top female edtech influencer on Twitter in December 2017 according to their statistical research.Top Podcast. Vicki hosts and self produces the podcast the 10-Minute Teacher show since February 1, 2017. Within one week of launch, it hit the top 10 in the k12 store in iTunes. With 600 episodes, the show now has over 3 million downloads. It is a 5-day a week show for busy teachers. Vicki's prior show Every Classroom Mattershad over 300 thousand downloads a month. In 2014, Vicki won the BAMMY Award for Best Education Talk Show Host in 2014.

Google Classroom has been the tool of choice for many schools. Did you know that you need to "close out" the school year to set yourself up for success in the fall? In this episode, Kasey and I discuss how to effectively close out the school year. Check the blog post for more links to Kasey's material on this important best practice for Google Classroom. www.coolcatteacher.com/e670   Sponsor: My friend Kasey Bell writes the Shake Up Learning Blog. Kasey is who I turn to when I need to train my teachers on Google Classroom and the Level 1 Google Classroom Teacher Certification Training. Right now, Kasey is offering her Google classroom master class 50% off. That’s a great deal, especially now, if you’re in the middle of distance learning or upping your Google Classroom ability. Go to googleclassroomcourse.com  and use the coupon code “homelearning” to get 50% off and take advantage of that great price and sign up for Kasey’s Google Classroom Master Class. If you need training for your entire school, like I did, check out gsuitetrainingforschools.com. Tell her Vicki Davis, the Cool Cat Teacher, sent you. Kasey rocks -- and she’ll help you become a better distance learning teacher now. Kasey Bell - Bio as Submitted Kasey Bell is a former middle school teacher turned award-winning digital learning coach, international speaker, author, blogger, and podcaster with a Texas-sized passion for technology and learning. Kasey is the author of the Shake Up Learning blog and book, host of The Shake Up Learning Show Podcast and co-host of The Google Teacher Podcast. As a skillful facilitator, Google Certified Innovator, and Google Certified Trainer, Kasey has led a variety of digital learning workshops across the globe and helped thousands of educators to transform their classrooms! Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored podcast episode. The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Today Joseph Fatheree, award-winning teacher and thought-leader talks about the conversations administrators, policymakers, and teachers are having about what "the Fall" looks like in K12 education. There are so many scenarios that could be possible but Joseph shares his thoughts. I hope you'll share your thoughts on Twitter as we talk about this. www.coolcatteacher.com/e669  Sponsor: My friend Kasey Bell writes the Shake Up Learning Blog. Kasey is who I turn to when I need to train my teachers on Google Classroom and the Level 1 Google Classroom Teacher Certification Training. Right now, Kasey is offering her Google classroom master class 50% off. That’s a great deal, especially now, if you’re in the middle of distance learning or upping your Google Classroom ability. Go to googleclassroomcourse.com  and use the coupon code “homelearning” to get 50% off and take advantage of that great price and sign up for Kasey’s Google Classroom Master Class. If you need training for your entire school, like I did, check out gsuitetrainingforschools.com. Tell her Vicki Davis, the Cool Cat Teacher, sent you. Kasey rocks -- and she’ll help you become a better distance learning teacher now. Joseph Fatheree - Bio as Submitted Joseph Fatheree is an award-winning author, educator, and filmmaker. He has received numerous educational awards, including Illinois Teacher of the Year and the NEA's National Award for Teaching Excellence. He was recently named one of the Top 10 Teachers in the World by the Varkey Foundation. He has served as the Director of Strategic Projects for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year in Washington, D.C. and is the instructor of creativity and innovation at Effingham High School in Illinois. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored podcast episode. The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

During distance learning, some teachers have found a new way to engage students -- Boom Cards. Mary Howard is one of those teachers. She says it excites her sixth grade students in New York and gives us the low-down on why Boom Cards are so exciting and how she uses them for assessment and learning. www.coolcatteacher.com/e667  Sponsor: My friend Kasey Bell writes the Shake Up Learning Blog. Kasey is who I turn to when I need to train my teachers on Google Classroom and the Level 1 Google Classroom Teacher Certification Training. Right now, Kasey is offering her Google classroom master class 50% off. That’s a great deal, especially now, if you’re in the middle of distance learning or upping your Google Classroom ability. Go to googleclassroomcourse.com  and use the coupon code “homelearning” to get 50% off and take advantage of that great price and sign up for Kasey’s Google Classroom Master Class. If you need training for your entire school, like I did, check out gsuitetrainingforschools.com. Tell her Vicki Davis, the Cool Cat Teacher, sent you. Kasey rocks -- and she’ll help you become a better distance learning teacher now. Mary Howard - Bio as Submitted Mary is a 6th grade ELA and Science teacher from Grand Island, New York has found success using digital tools that not only make learning fun for her students, but encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and create a life-long passion for learning. Whether the digital experience is related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or promotes literacy, Mary believes passionately in the potential that technology has for reaching and engaging ALL learners. In pursuit of this passion, Mary has spent the past 10 years presenting at a dozens of technology conferences across New York State and has become a globally recognized speaker on the topics of augmented reality and virtual reality in the classroom. Mary shares her strategies through her blog, http://www.yoursmarticles.blogspot.com and was featured as a NYSED New York State EdTech Innovator in October, 2018. She has published numerous educational technology articles and has as provided webinars on Virtual Environments, Virtual Reality, 3D Design, QR codes and engagement strategies and is excited to share these experiences with the Engineering Design and the Middle Level Science PLT. Mary’s accolades include recognition as the 2018 International Society for Technology in Education’s Virtual Pioneer of the Year and a Silver Presidential Volunteer Service award. She was a New York State Teacher of the year finalist for 2018 and 2020. When Mary isn’t elbows deep in her technology initiatives, she is a mother of 3 boys and devotes her free time to refereeing youth hockey and volunteering within the hockey community. She is an avid runner and hiker and is just a few peaks away from becoming an Adirondack 46er. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored podcast episode. The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

We can tackle sustainability issues by empowering students. I would also think that this could apply to helping students be part of the solution for health in their communities and schools. Let's face it, if we're going to solve hard problems, we need lots of minds, hands, and feet involved in moving towards the solution. I recorded this some time ago, but you'll get some ideas (like I did) for what we can do now. www.coolcatteacher.com/e668  Sponsor: My friend Kasey Bell writes the Shake Up Learning Blog. Kasey is who I turn to when I need to train my teachers on Google Classroom and the Level 1 Google Classroom Teacher Certification Training. Right now, Kasey is offering her Google classroom master class 50% off. That’s a great deal, especially now, if you’re in the middle of distance learning or upping your Google Classroom ability. Go to googleclassroomcourse.com  and use the coupon code “homelearning” to get 50% off and take advantage of that great price and sign up for Kasey’s Google Classroom Master Class. If you need training for your entire school, like I did, check out gsuitetrainingforschools.com. Tell her Vicki Davis, the Cool Cat Teacher, sent you. Kasey rocks -- and she’ll help you become a better distance learning teacher now. Michael Walker - Bio as Submitted Michael Walker is a Teach for America alumnus and holds a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology. He has been involved in research and education since 2005 and has taught a wide array of science courses from middle school through university. His research expertise is on climate change and how it affects both social and natural systems, with an emphasis on plant physiology and development. Michael now leads the environmental sciences and student sustainability initiatives at the Village High School in Houston, TX. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored podcast episode. The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

New Hampshire State Teacher of the Year 2020, Kim Piper, works within the prison population of the state. She shares what she has learned from her time working with some amazing students in the prison system and compares it to what she learned as a middle school teacher as well. What she's discovered can help us all become better teachers who give second chances and more to those who struggle and need our love more than they need our condemnation. www.coolcatteacher.com/e666  Sponsor: My friend Kasey Bell writes the Shake Up Learning Blog. Kasey is who I turn to when I need to train my teachers on Google Classroom and the Level 1 Google Classroom Teacher Certification Training. Right now, Kasey is offering her Google classroom master class 50% off. That’s a great deal, especially now, if you’re in the middle of distance learning or upping your Google Classroom ability. Go to googleclassroomcourse.com  and use the coupon code “homelearning” to get 50% off and take advantage of that great price and sign up for Kasey’s Google Classroom Master Class. If you need training for your entire school, like I did, check out gsuitetrainingforschools.com. Tell her Vicki Davis, the Cool Cat Teacher, sent you. Kasey rocks -- and she’ll help you become a better distance learning teacher now. Kim Piper - Bio as Submitted An educator since 1994, Kim taught middle school ELA for the majority of her career. In 2015, she began teaching ELA to adults in the care of the New Hampshire State Prison for Men, and the New Hampshire Correctional Facility for Women. The program, Granite State High School, provides courses in English Language Arts, math, science, and social studies, as well as career and technical classes. Kim tells her students at the beginning of each term, "In this room, you are a student and I am your teacher. Education is a way to reshape your identity." Kim is the 2020 NH Teacher of the Year. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored podcast episode. The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Oregon was one of the earliest states to have to release students to learn from home. How are teachers handling things during coronavirus distance learning? Today, Oregon teacher Tyler Cienfuegos shares what is happening in Oregon and how they are working through issues in his state and at his school. What is your school doing, please share with me at @coolcatteacher on Twitter or on Facebook. Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e648 Episode Sponsor: Advancement Courses has a free micro-course  - Launching Online Learning. Register for this free micro-course. Now is the time we all need to educate ourselves on effective online teaching and I recommend this course as a great place to start. Thank you, Advancement Courses for sponsoring this show.    

As part of #LoveTeaching week, I recorded some thoughts on why I love teaching. But I also have to share some of my heart about teaching, our future, and all of the amazing things our profession does for the future. Please share your story for #LoveTeaching week too! www.coolcatteacher.com/e629 Vicki Davis - Host Vicki Davis is a full-time classroom teacher and Instructional Technology Director. She has been blogging at the Cool Cat Teacher blog since 2005 and has traveled the world and written two books about edtech and collaborative technologies. She has hosted the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast since 2017 where she interviews many of the most remarkable educators on the planet about what matters to K12 educators.

One of my favorite EdTech gurus is Cool Cat Teacher herself Vicki Davis. She's a classroom teacher who has implemented full-scale project learning. She's also an instructional technology director.   Quick announcement: I will be doing a LIVE recording of the Shake Up Learning Show at ISTE! Join me on Tuesday, June 25th at 11:00 AM in the Flipgrid booth! If you will be attending ISTE and want to be a contributor on the show, fill out the form to get in the lineup! Details are here.   I’d like to give a huge shoutout to Amanda Casamento for her review on The Google Certified Educator Level 1 Academy, today, June 4th, 2019 is your last chance to sign up for the summer.   This episode is sponsored by Pear Deck which brings powerful learning moments to life through presentations. They are also part of Be Internet Awesome and integrate with Google Apps for Education. Shake Up Learning listeners can try Pear Deck Premium for 60-days for free.   Vicki Davis is one of my friends and mentors. She is on her 500th episode of her 10 Minute Teacher Podcast and her passion for learning and teaching is contagious. She teaches technology, blogging, photography and more. She is also the IT director at her school.   When she goes home, she blogs and podcasts. She also has three kids and several cats and dogs. You could either say she works all the time or that she never works, because she is living her passion through her work. It is such a pleasure to have her on the show today.   We talk about how Vicki brings her students passions to light by using technology to get them to create projects based on things that they are actually interested in. We talk all about project based learning and innovative ways to teach using technology, some of the amazing projects her students have worked on, and our shared passion for teaching.   In This Episode: [06:02] Vicki teaches grades seven and eight. She teaches keyboarding, digital film, and blogging. She teaches introduction to computer science to ninth graders. This where they program apps, make , and record podcasts. [06:29] She also teaches digital film, and is the IT director at her school Sherwood Christian Academy. [06:41] She works with teachers to help them with their technology integration. At night, Vicki blogs and podcasts and she is a mom of three. [07:50] Vicki teaches regular photography. Then she tries to get her kids to understand the power of the closeups. They put tiny people on pictures on a high quality monitor. [09:28] These tiny people could be used as story starters. [11:17] It's Vicki's goal to find the strengths of every student and to point those out. She also records her lessons and puts them in Edpuzzle. [12:30] She wants her students to understand how to learn and pick up new skills using things like YouTube. [13:11] Using Edpuzzle allows Vicki to clone herself. She also uses Nearpod. [14:18] Technology can be used for learning, assessment, and feedback. [15:41] Videos should only be for four to six minutes, because it takes longer to work through them with pauses. [16:12] Vicki keeps it all about the kids and what they are interested in, but she also uses VR, AR, and 3D to really drive the point home. [16:23] She had some kids in her class who really love to fish, so they are making an app about fishing. [17:02] It's amazing to see what kids will do when you sparked their interest. [17:24] Kids have to ideate to come up with app names, but the whole model is based upon their interests and what their personal masterpieces are. [19:09] Project-based learning is learning while you do the project. [20:19] Since these kids have been working on apps that they care about, they're more positive and energetic about school, learning, and life in general. [21:03] Let kids pitch their ideas. Using the principle of the growth mindset, give them a yellow light, where they can move ahead once certain requirements are met. Production starts after getting the green light. [22:37] Differentiate instruction with technology. This consists of rubrics, milestones, and checkpoints. [24:24] There will be positive and negative checkpoints often wrapped in a compliment sandwich. [25:32] Project-based teaching and learning is a very engaged process. There are also project managers who report at the beginning of the class. [26:30] Vicki uses everything for her feedback loop from verbal comments to Google comments. [28:08] Podcasting is some of the greatest professional development. Vicki has the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast. Teachers need knowledge and encouragement. Her 500th episode is also coming up. [29:30] Vicki's strategy is to innovate like a turtle or take small baby steps every day. [32:36] We should make our world a little brighter by doing what inspires us. [34:09] Vicki began blogging, but was surprised when people actually started reading her work. She is building a source of inspiration and pride. [37:03] We need to encourage the power to share our voices. Podcast Question of the Week: How do you unleash the passions of your students? How can you and your students “innovate like a turtle” and use Vicki’s tips? Post your answers in the Shake Up Learning community or on your favorite social platform. Google Certification Courses Open May 21 If you have ever thought about getting Google Certified, but are unsure where to start, or overwhelmed with the content, I can help!   I have three online courses to help you reach your Google Certification goals.   (1) The Google Certified Educator Level 1 Academy (2) The Google Certified Educator Level 2 Academy (3) Become a Google Certified Trainer Online Course   These courses are designed to walk you through the process and give you everything you need to know to pass the exam. I have helped THOUSANDS get Google Certified, and I want to help YOU!   But don't miss this opportunity! These courses only open twice a year.   Enrollment opens on May 21st for a limited time.   If you miss this window, you have to wait until November!   But wait...there's more!   SAVE BIG WITH BUNDLES!   Opening all of these courses at once also gives you another advantage–bundling! If you want to purchase multiple courses at once, you can save BIG TIME!   Learn more at http://GetGoogleCertified.com Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode: The Shake Up Learning Show The Shake Up Learning Community on Facebook Join the Shake Up Learning Book Study! Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning from Static to Dynamic by Kasey Bell Education Podcast Network LIVE Recording of The Shake Up Learning Show with Flipgrid at #ISTE19! Cool Cat Teacher Cool Cat Teacher Newsletter @coolcatteacher on Twitter 10 Minute Teacher Podcast House of #EdTech Podcast Pear Deck Be Internet Awesome Pear Deck Premium for 60-days for free Little People Doing Big Things Edpuzzle Nearpod The Buck Institute

Vicki Davis has been writing the Cool Cat Teacher blog for more than 12 years and has been an Edublog award finalist for Best Teacher Blog for most of those. Her blog is listed in the top 50 blogs in education and has more than 100,000 unique visitors who read this blog each month. Vicki was voted a top 5 twitterer in education by the Edublog awards in 2015, and named by Mashable as one of Twitter's Top 10 Rockstar teachers. Recently, Onalytica named Vicki as the top female edtech influencer on Twitter in December 2017 according to their statistical research. Vicki hosts and self produces the podcast the 10-Minute Teacher show since February 1, 2017. Within one week of launch, it hit the top 10 in the k12 store in iTunes. It is a 5-day a week show for busy teachers. Vicki's prior show Every Classroom Matters had over 300 thousand downloads a month and was produced by BAM Radio Network. In 2014, Vicki won the BAMMY Award for Best Education Talk Show Host in 2014. Vicki is well known for her creation of more than twenty global collaborative projects including the Flat Classroom Project which won ISTE's Online Learning Award in 2006 and the MAD About Mattering Project in 2016 and 2017. Vicki is known for her speeches on differentiating instruction, being an excellent 21st-century educator. Her work with classrooms across the world has taken her and her students around the world- to China, India, Qatar, Dubai, Hawaii and here in the continental US where she has shared more than 100 keynotes and spotlights. Vicki's books  Reinventing Writing and Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds, empower teachers to connect their students to technology and the world. Vicki writes for Edutopia and is one of Cathy Rubin's Global Search for Education Top 12 Teacher Blogs. Vicki has 138K Twitter followers (and growing) and more than one hundred thousand unique visitors read Vicki's blog every month. Vicki's on Tumblr, Flipboard, and Facebook, too. Vicki is a Discovery STAR educator and a Google Certified Innovator. She has spoken at Google, Microsoft, and other technology companies about innovative classroom technology use. Her classroom was named one of the most top 10 Financially Literate classrooms in the US by the H&R Block Budget Challenge in 2014. Vicki has 3 three children, 4 dogs, 3 cats, 105 students, and 1 husband and now one more person who has read her bio — and for that — she's most grateful. She is honored to count many of the finest educators on the planet as her friends. ———————————————————————– Kelly Croy is an author, speaker and educator. If you'd like to learn more about Kelly, or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly's other podcast, The Future Focused Podcastand subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcastwith over 115 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly's website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school's opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly's book, Along Came a Leaderfor a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

Nicola Giardina, author of The More We Look, the Deeper It Gets: Transforming the Curriculum Through Art shares five ways we can incorporate art into our teaching. www.coolcatteacher.com/e450 Check out the Cool Cat Teacher weekly newsletter at www.coolcatteacher.com/newsletter 

The impossible, dangerous, counterproductive, or experience are perfect experiences for virtual reality. Teacher Steven Sato shares with us the kinds of virtual reality experiences that are useful in the classroom. www.coolcatteacher.com/e432 The Teacher’s Guide to Technology 2019 is here! See www.coolcatteacher.com/guide  to learn more about this handy, useful guide from Jennifer Gonzalez.

Tom Murray reflects on his first 1:1 program seventeen years ago with Palm Pilots. He's concerned that we often celebrate low-level learning. "Just because something is digital does not mean it is any good," says Tom. www.coolcatteacher.com/e431  The Teacher’s Guide to Technology 2019 is here! See www.coolcatteacher.com/guide  to learn more about this handy, useful guide from Jennifer Gonzalez.

Dyane Smokorowski talks about Virtual Valentines, a Doodle project, and a fun trip with teachers to the San Diego Zoo this summer. Dive in! www.coolcatteacher.com/e421  Get the weekly newsletter with free resources and ideas for your classroom from the Cool Cat Teacher at www.coolcatteacher.com/newsletter. 

Online content must be riveting, interesting, and should educate students. Andrew Pass @apasseducation talks about trends in online education and shares the trends we should understand as educators. www.coolcatteacher.com362 Sponsor: From now until September 28, Advancement Courses, an online provider of professional development for K-12 teachers, is donating 10% of their sales to funding DonorChoose.org projects. Go to advancementcourses.com/give to submit your project today. AND, if you are in need of PD, 10-Minute Teacher listeners get 20% off any online courses with code COOL20. With this coupon, a 3 grad credit course for continuing education, salary advancement, or recertification is only $359. So, go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat to learn more and use the coupon code COOL20. Never stop learning!

  Teaching motivation and metacognitive principles is challenging.  While he started as a journalism teacher, now Chris Holmes @cholmes66 works with students to try to help them understand motivation and success principles. He will share with us what works (and doesn’t) and also will tackle misconceptions and misapplications of the word “grit.” You can’t just tell students to “have grit” but there are things you can say instead. www.coolcatteacher.com/e361 Sponsor: From now until September 28, Advancement Courses, an online provider of professional development for K-12 teachers, is donating 10% of their sales to funding DonorChoose.org projects. Go to advancementcourses.com/give to submit your project today. AND, if you are in need of PD, 10-Minute Teacher listeners get 20% off any online courses with code COOL20. With this coupon, a 3 grad credit course for continuing education, salary advancement, or recertification is only $359. So, go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat to learn more and use the coupon code COOL20. Never stop learning!

Helping first-year teachers learn and grow is a challenge facing education systems worldwide. Today we take a peek into the second part of a 2 part series highlighting the relationship between Lindsay George and Stephanie Goldman. Not only do they use Google Docs to plan, but they have a positive personal relationship. It isn’t just luck -- this is personal. Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e321 SMART’s Give Greatness contest is today’s sponsor. SMART wants to recognize educators across the globe who inspire greatness in their students, peers or community. Nominate your favorite educator at coolcatteacher.com/greatness. Each nominee and nominator will be entered to win a classroom technology package.  The winning nominator and his or her nominee each win a $20,000 package including one 7000 series SMART Board and SMART Document Camera, 30 Chromebooks, and SMART training and implementation. Enter a great teacher today.

Ever thought about trying project based learning but didn’t know where to start – or whether it was worth the time & effort?  Join us as Vicki Davis (aka the Cool Cat Teacher) shares why project based learning is so powerful, how to get started, and tips to do so effectively. Get notes & links at www.teach4theheart.com/pbl Grab your copy of Take Heart & Teach at www.teach4theheart.com/takeheart  

STEM and Computational Thinking go together. Today’s guest is a PhD, Biomedical engineer and STEM Teacher. Stephanie Zeiger helps us see the potential of STEM and computational thinking. Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e290 Legends of Learning has awesome free science games and activities to celebrate earth day on April 22.  coolcatteacher.com/earth Check out their NGSS aligned Science games for grades 3-8.

Mike Daugherty is helping connect the parents at his school to the digital lives of students. How can schools connect with parents to relate better to students? We learn how today. Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e281 This week I'll be sharing the 7 Pedagogical Shifts That Make Interactive Displays a Key to a Student-Centered Classroom on the Cool Cat Teacher blog sponsored by SMART Technologies. Shift #1 is that Students are collaborators. My interactive display is the common workspace for the whole class.

Patti Duncan shares some of the common mistakes she finds that schools implementing  Next Generation Science Standards make. If you’re implementing NGSS in your school or state, this is a must listen. Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e275   Sponsor: Legends of Learning has amazing game based science experiences for students in 3-8 aligning with Next Generation Science and select state standards. Go to coolcatteacher.com/science and sign up for your free account now.

Marc Seigel, a contributing author to Flipping 2.0, talks about an innovative flipped science classroom. How do lessons flow? What are common mistakes? How do students make progress? Learn all this and more in this quick, 10-minute show. Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e273 Sponsor: Legends of Learning has an amazing game based science experiences for students in 3-8 aligning with Next Generation Science and select state standards. Go to coolcatteacher.com/science and sign up for your free account now.

Leah LaCrosse shares six edtech ideas science teachers can start using today to improve learning and excite students about science. Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e272 Sponsor:  Legends of Learning has an amazing game based science experiences for students in 3-8 aligning with Next Generation Science and select state standards. Go to coolcatteacher.com/science and sign up for your free account now.

Elementary Math can be exciting. Check out these five ideas to use technology to make math exciting. Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e265 This week I'll be sharing the 7 Pedagogical Shifts That Make Interactive Displays a Key to a Student-Centered Classroom on the Cool Cat Teacher blog sponsored by SMART Technologies. Shift #1 is that Students are collaborators. My interactive display is the common workspace for the whole class. I use it as a digital workspace, to display any screen for the whole class to see, as a large multi-touch drawing and brainstorming space and so much more. My interactive display is a must-have device. I wouldn't want to teach without one. Recent research shows that large interactive displays are vital to the classroom ecosystem.