Discover how to revolutionize student support with RTI (Response to Intervention) and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) in this expert-led episode. Mike Mattos, an internationally recognized educator, author, and co-creator of the RTI at Work™ model, shares proven strategies to help schools ensure every learner thrives. Drawing from decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and thought leader in professional learning communities, Mike breaks down practical tips, common mistakes to avoid, and insights for building a powerful framework of student success. Whether you're a teacher, principal, or district leader, this episode is packed with actionable advice to make RTI and MTSS work in your school.

Learn more about Mike Mattos, his books, and resources at www.coolcatteacher.com/rti-mtss.

Discover how to break free from algorithmic echo chambers and reclaim your personalized news feed. In this episode, William “Coach” Jeffery, an experienced educator and innovator, shares insights on using tools like Flipboard and the Fediverse to curate reliable, authentic, and diverse content for educators. Learn how to overcome filter bubbles, follow relevant hashtags, and amplify your professional learning with human-curated tools. Whether you're an educator or someone curious about alternative approaches to consuming news, this episode is packed with actionable strategies and inspiring discussions.

Episode Highlights Include:

• How Flipboard supports personalized, algorithm-free content curation.
• The role of the Fediverse in expanding digital reach and connectivity.
• Practical tips for educators to curate professional learning resources.

Perfect for K–12 teachers, administrators, and EdTech enthusiasts who want to stay informed without algorithmic constraints.

Listen now and start breaking the algorithm today!

Show notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e877

In today’s ever-evolving educational landscape, technology is redefining how we teach and learn. With the release of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia, students and educators now have AI tools at their fingertips, embedded in everyday devices and apps.

In this episode of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast, Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher will cover:

• How Apple Intelligence integrates into apps, web browsers, and writing tools like Google Docs.
• A comparison between Apple Intelligence and Google's Gemini AI in education.
• Practical classroom applications, tips, and strategies to harness these tools effectively.
• Why thoughtful use of AI matters for encouraging meaningful learning experiences.

Join host Vicki Davis as she navigates the opportunities and challenges of integrating Apple’s latest AI tools into your classroom.

🔗 Show Notes: For links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit coolcatteacher.com/e876.

• The functionality and accessibility of Apple Intelligence.
• How students are already using AI tools in their devices (and how schools need to adjust)
• Steps educators can take to supervise and guide effective AI use in schools.

🎧 Listen now to stay ahead in education and leverage cutting-edge tools for your students!

🌟 Leadership is not about ego; it’s about transformation. 🌟

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Samuel Nix, award-winning educator and Chief Academic Officer of Duncanville Independent School District, shares actionable strategies for transforming school culture, rebuilding trust, and leading with humility. Whether you're striving to improve assessments, foster thriving school environments, or grow as a leader, this episode is packed with insights you can use immediately.

🔑 What You'll Learn:

• How to shift from being a results-only leader to one who inspires trust and connection.
• Practical ways to create a school culture where teachers, students, and parents thrive.
• Why formative assessments are tools for growth, not just grades.
• The role of language in leadership and how it fosters problem-solving mindsets.
• Strategies for recovering and growing after leadership setbacks.

Don’t miss these key insights to transform your leadership and school culture!

👉 Watch the full episode and find the show notes here: www.coolcatteacher.com/e875

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Servant Leadership: Recognize when ego is holding you back and how to lead with humility.
• Rebuilding Trust: Learn strategies to rebuild your reputation as a leader.
• Feedback & Growth: Create an environment where students and teachers can thrive through meaningful feedback.
• Vision-Driven Leadership: Focus on solutions and possibilities instead of barriers.

✨ Subscribe for More: Hit the subscribe button for more episodes of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast, where we bring you actionable tips and inspiration for school leaders and educators.

In this episode of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast, I sit down with Jordan Shapiro, author of The New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World. We tackle one of the most pressing challenges for parents and teachers today: how to help kids develop healthy relationships with their devices. From cell phone bans to managing screen time, we dive into the heart of the frustrations many adults face when navigating technology with children.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why kids struggle with device self-regulation and how adults can help them develop this critical skill.
• The concept of Joint Media Engagement (JME) and how sharing screen time with children can lead to healthier habits.
• A balanced perspective on the debate over cell phone bans in schools and what might work best for your classroom or district.
• How to encourage kids to engage critically with technology rather than passively consuming content.
• The role of AI tools like ChatGPT in education, including their limitations and how to guide students toward deeper, creative thinking.

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Introduction and Background
• 03:20 – The Importance of Joint Media Engagement (JME)
• 07:04 – The Debate on Cell Phone Bans in Schools
• 08:33 – Navigating Technology in the Classroom
• 14:59 – The Limitations of AI in Education
• 17:35 – Conclusion

👉 Listen now and access full show notes and bios at coolcatteacher.com/e874.

As a teacher, we must build our classrooms from the ground up. Today, veteran teacher and teacher coach and author of Always a Lesson: Teaching Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, Gretchen Bridgers, shares the four ways we build our classroom. From designing lessons that engage students powerfully to classroom management and student engagement, learn the fundamentals in this quick listen. And hear about the top level where all of us veteran teachers want to hang out "student ownership." Let's listen to what we can learn about building the best classroom ever!

This episode is a Classroom Spotlight episode where we focus on classroom stories of teachers and students that will inspire you. If you want to start 2025 off right, this will be the episode for you.

Show Notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e873

What if you could achieve a 40% increase in ELA proficiency in just one school year? Teacher Ezera Washington from Paterson, New Jersey, did exactly that—reaching an astounding 91% proficiency rate with her students.

In this episode, Ezera shares her proven methods for improving reading test scores while building meaningful relationships with students. You’ll learn how to:

• Adapt teaching using real-time data and formative assessments.
• Scaffold complex content to ensure all students meet grade-level goals.
• Build strong parent-teacher partnerships to reinforce learning at home.
• Inspire struggling readers to believe in their potential.

Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned educator, this episode offers actionable strategies to boost reading proficiency in your classroom.

📄 Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e872

Get ready for CS4Ed Week 2024 and the Hour of Code with this special episode of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast! 🎉 We’re sharing 12 practical and fun coding activities that will inspire creativity and teach kids computational thinking. From gamified platforms like CodeCombat to app development with Mad Learn, hands-on robotics, and unplugged challenges, there’s something here for every educator and student.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to use CodeCombat and Code.org to engage students in coding.
• Creative ideas like Dance Party, Minecraft, and coding with Anna and Elsa.
• Hands-on activities with mBot Robots, Arduino Boards, and Hummingbird Kits.
• Unplugged coding with Hot Wheels for a screen-free coding experience.
• Why coding is an essential skill for students of all ages.

🎙️ About the Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Mad Learn, a comprehensive app-building platform that integrates the design thinking process. Learn how to inspire students with app development tools they’ll love: https://coolcatteacher.com/madlearn.

📚 Links and Resources: All resources mentioned in this episode are available at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e871

👩‍🏫 Host: Vicki Davis, the Cool Cat Teacher®, shares practical tips and tools to inspire educators worldwide. She is a classroom teacher, programmer, author, and Mom.

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

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 

• 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?

• 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.

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!

🎨 Connect directly to Canva, personalize books, and ignite a love for writing in your classroom.

👉 Learn more about how Book Creator can improve literacy in your classroom!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. While I was compensated by Book Creator, all opinions expressed here are my own. I only share tools I personally use and believe will benefit my audience.

Sometimes, teachers can struggle to "fit it all in" when it comes to reading. What a relief it is to hear reading instructional leaders like Jennifer Serravallo talk about the artistry of teaching, how to overcome the challenges of teaching reading, and teacher autonomy and responsiveness. Jennifer also reflects on where the research is "fuzzy" in reading instruction needs more work and discusses where we go next (including the challenges of teaching children with changing attention spans). If you teach reading, Jennifer's show is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights:

•  Effective Lesson Structures: Step-by-step plans for read-alouds, shared reading, phonics, and close reading.
• Art Meets Science: How structured lessons allow teachers to bring creativity and adaptability into their reading instruction.
• Emerging Research Areas: What’s next in reading comprehension, engagement, and the role of executive functioning in literacy?

Tune in to get inspired and equipped with tools to make reading instruction more engaging, manageable, and impactful. Perfect for teachers, administrators, and anyone passionate about literacy education.

Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e868