Cool Cat Teacher Talk

Want to supercharge your teaching with research-backed strategies that actually work? Join veteran educator Vicki Davis as she shares practical, real-world solutions to into spaces where every student thrives. Help and Hope for Teachers 🎙 Are you striving to improve student learning without increasing your workload? Education is changing fast, but practical, research-backed strategies can help you work smarter, not harder. Join veteran educator Vicki Davis, a full-time teacher, instructional technology coach, and award-winning podcast host, as she shares real-world insights from the classroom. Each 1-hour episode features top researchers, expert educators, and classroom teachers who are tackling today’s biggest challenges—like student engagement, AI in education, classroom management, lesson planning, and teacher burnout. ✨ What You’ll Get in Every Episode: 🎯 Cut through the AI hype—learn what works (and what doesn’t) in real classrooms 📚 Engage students in meaningful ways without overwhelming yourself 🚀 Stay ahead in teaching with research-backed strategies that make an impact 🎤 This show is a blend of expert interviews and solo discussions, designed to give you real, actionable solutions you can use tomorrow. 🏆 Why Listen to This Podcast? ✅ Named Top Podcast Host in Education (Bammy Award) ✅ Recognized as a Top Global Edruptor (ICS Research, 2022 & 2023) ✅ 23-year classroom veteran & instructional tech coach helping educators from K-3 to college ✅ AP Computer Science Principles teacher with a 100% student pass rate 🌎 Join thousands of educators worldwide who trust Cool Cat Teacher Talk for authentic insights, inspiration, and practical strategies. 📅 New episodes released every Thursday! 📲 Subscribe now & leave a review to help more teachers discover the show. 🌐 Get show notes & connect with Vicki at coolcatteacher.com Join a community of passionate teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders who believe in teaching smarter, not harder. About Your Host: Vicki Davis is a practicing classroom teacher, instructional technology coach, and creator of the award-winning 10-Minute Teacher Podcast. With over 7 million downloads and 20+ years of experience, she brings you tested strategies that help students thrive. 🔹 New episodes drop Thursdays! Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. 📌 Get full show notes and resources at coolcatteacher.com.

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ISTE Live '25 Supershare: AI, Edtech, and VR with Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth, Jaime Donally, Mike Tholfsen 06/26/2025

Expert IEP and RTI Strategies You Need to Know 06/24/2025

Expert IEP and RTI Strategies You Need to Know Learn how to master Response to Intervention (RTI) and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process to help every child succeed. RTI is a proven framework for providing targeted support to students who struggle, while IEPs are personalized plans designed to meet the unique educational needs of students with disabilities. In this episode, we explore strategies and actionable insights to optimize these essential tools, empowering teachers, parents, and administrators to support diverse learners effectively. What You'll Learn about IEP's, RTI and reaching every child: 📘 IEP Essentials: Discover the key components of creating effective IEPs, from measurable goals to collaborative planning. 📊 RTI Strategies: Learn how to implement RTI correctly to provide tiered support for every student. 🤝 Collaboration: Explore how parents, educators, and students can work together to overcome challenges and foster success. 🎓 Student Motivation: Hear a powerful story of resilience, perseverance, and the effort required to thrive academically from a former NBA player who is now working to inspire kids. Special Guest EXPERTS: Mike Mattos: Co-creator of the RTI at Work™ model, offering expert advice on systematic interventions that truly support student learning. Stephanie DeLussey: Special education veteran and author of The Intentional IEP, sharing her wisdom on how to craft IEPs that empower students and involve parents. Dean Tolson: Former NBA player who overcame illiteracy to earn a master’s degree, inspiring students to value education and effort. Why This Episode Matters As educators and parents, our goal is to ensure that every child learns and reaches their full potential. This episode sheds light on: RTI’s Correct Use: Avoid common mistakes and learn how to implement RTI as a tool for early intervention rather than a bureaucratic hurdle. Effective IEP Planning: Understand how to build IEPs that address individual student needs and align with measurable academic goals. Student Success Stories: Be inspired by a real life example of a student who overcome the odds as an adult to encourage the effort kids need to have to successfully learn (even if they are a world class athlete.) Show notes: /episode/index/show/b6558546-d196-427a-9f7e-2884050e8de0/id/36944370

30 Hot 2025 AI/Tech Wins + Hormone-Smart Weight Loss for Teachers 06/20/2025

30 Hot 2025 AI/Tech Wins + Hormone-Smart Weight Loss for Teachers This jam-packed episode covers 15 cutting-edge AI tools, 15 critical education headlines, plus essential wellness strategies specifically for busy teachers. What You'll Learn in This Episode AI Tools That Actually Matter for Your Classroom: Google Gemini's new video parsing and camera sharing features Perplexity Labs for teaching transparent AI research Claude Opus 4's breakthrough coding capabilities NotebookLM mobile app that helped my students ace their finals Critical Cybersecurity Updates: FBI warnings about AI voice scammers targeting families Essential vocabulary: smishing, vishing, LOTS attacks, deepfakes How to protect your students and establish family safety protocols Education Headlines Shaping Our Future: Why blue books are making a comeback due to AI cheating Students AI-checking their professors (and what this means for academic integrity) Job market predictions and why AI literacy is now essential Research showing AI can actually promote higher-order thinking when used correctly Educator Wellness with Jennifer Edwards: Why weight loss gets harder after 40 (it's not your imagination!) Evidence-based nutrition strategies for busy teachers The 80-20 rule for handling faculty room treats Meal planning systems that actually work during the school year Research-Based Insights: Stanford findings on "productive struggle" vs. quick AI solutions Why taking breaks every 60-90 minutes improves cognitive performance How AI integration should enhance, not replace, human connection in learning Featured Expert Jennifer Edwards, Certified Nutrition Coach and Founder of Body Balance Nutrition, specializes in helping women over 40 navigate hormonal changes and sustainable weight management. She's offering a free coaching session for podcast listeners who mention this show. Key Takeaways AI literacy and ethics education are now essential life skills Cybersecurity vocabulary is critical for student safety Educator wellness directly impacts student success Technology should enhance, not replace, human connection Rest and reflection are necessary for optimal learning Links and Resources Complete Show Notes: AI tools and cybersecurity details: Full episode blog post with Jennifer Edwards interview and research citations: Look for "Season 3 Premiere: AI Updates, Cybersecurity Essentials, and Educator Wellness" on the Cool Cat Teacher blog at Connect with Jennifer Edwards: Website: Mention this podcast for a free coaching session Where to Listen/Watch Radio: WDJY FM 99.1 Atlanta, Wednesdays at 4pm TV: Fairfax Public Access Channel 10, Pacific Coast TV San Francisco, PAC 8 New Mexico Channel 8 YouTube: Thursdays at 7pm Podcasts: Search "Cool Cat Teacher Talk" wherever you listen Next Week: ISTE 2025 highlights and breakthrough classroom technologies—whether you attended or not, you'll want to hear about the innovations shaping education's future. /episode/index/show/b6558546-d196-427a-9f7e-2884050e8de0/id/37092695

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10 Ways to Teach Coding to Today's Students 06/10/2025

10 Ways to Teach Coding to Today's Students Today, we’re exploring one of the most exciting and relevant topics in education—teaching kids to code. Featuring insights from leading computer science educators, this episode provides actionable strategies, tools, and ideas to make coding education engaging for all ages. Featured Guests This episode showcases insights and expertise from these amazing educators and leaders put together with highlights from their interviews that combine to add meaning to the topic of coding. If you want an overview on this topic, watch the whole show. If you want to dig deeper into one of the full interviews excerpted in the show, visit one below. Felinne Hermans: Discover the Hedy programming language, a free tool accessible in 50 languages. Learn more at Dr. Marina Umaschi Bers: Learn seven key strategies for introducing coding in early childhood. Visit Aditya Batura: Explore simple steps for teaching coding, including unplugged activities. Check it out at Doug Bergman: Gain insight into trends like AI, cybersecurity, and computational thinking. Full episode at Angela Cleveland: Learn how school counselors are helping more girls pursue careers in computer science. Visit Omar Shepherd: Find out how California is advancing computer science teaching. Learn more at Alfred Thompson: Discover practical teaching tips for computer science educators. See the episode at Vicki Davis: Explore 12 creative ways to teach coding during the Hour of Code. Full episode at Episode Highlights 1. Coding Across the Curriculum Explore how coding can integrate with art, science, and math, creating interdisciplinary learning experiences that engage students. 2. Unplugged Coding Activities Not all coding lessons need screens! Activities like “Code with Hot Wheels” and outdoor chalk grids are great for teaching sequencing and logic to young learners. 3. Early Childhood Coding Dr. Marina Umaschi Bers shares seven practical strategies for introducing coding concepts to preschoolers, helping to build problem-solving and logical thinking skills early on. 4. Promoting Diversity in Tech Angela Cleveland highlights ways to close the gender gap in computer science, from building awareness to creating opportunities for girls and underrepresented groups. 5. Emerging Trends in Computer Science Doug Bergman discusses how schools can prepare students for the future of coding, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and computational thinking. /episode/index/show/b6558546-d196-427a-9f7e-2884050e8de0/id/35982765