Teaching students with new tools, enthusiasm, and belief that teaching is a noble calling.
I've moved the blog!

Friday, May 31, 2019
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/5-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-summer/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer
Linda Kardamis talks about how we can make the most of our summer. Get ready to rock summertime with these five ideas.
Blog Post/ Podcast Sponsor: Advancement Courses
Now is the time to plan your summer! Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to get 20% off your summer PD courses. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can take courses on helpful topics like social-emotional learning, classroom management, teacher wellness, special education classes and more. You have over 240 graduate-level courses to choose from in 19 different subject areas. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat today and use the offer code COOL20. Tell your friends and plan your PD today!
Linda Kardamis - Bio as Submitted
Linda Kardamis provides practical advice and Biblical encouragement for Christian teachers on her website Teach 4 the Heart (http://teach4theheart.com/). She is also the author of Create Your Dream Classroom (http://teach4theheart.com/dreamclassroom) and the creator of Classroom Management 101 (http://teach4theheart.com/cm101) and Teach Uplifted (http://teachuplifted.com).
Blog: http://teach4theheart.com/
Twitter: @LindaKardamis
Thursday, May 30, 2019
20 Ways to Have a Summer That Matters
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/20-ways-to-have-a-summer-that-matters/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
20 Ways to Have a Summer That Matters
Today I want to challenge your thinking about your summer. So, I’ve collected twenty of the best ways to make this summer one of learning. This is a blog post / podcast simulpost. You'll find the same content in slightly different form so you can read or listen to this content. Enjoy!
Blog Post/ Podcast Sponsor: Advancement Courses
Now is the time to plan your summer! Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to get 20% off your summer PD courses. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can take courses on helpful topics like social-emotional learning, classroom management, teacher wellness, special education classes and more. You have over 240 graduate-level courses to choose from in 19 different subject areas. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat today and use the offer code COOL20. Tell your friends and plan your PD today!
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
How to Amplify Kindergarten and Elementary Voices
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-to-amplify-kindergarten-and-elementary-voices/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
How to Amplify Kindergarten and Elementary Voices
First grade teacher Danielle Moore has worked with early elementary and kindergarten students as she helps them amplify their voice. Yes, young children have something to say to the world! Danielle shows us how.
Sponsor: Advancement Courses
Now is the time to plan your summer! Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to get 20% off your summer PD courses. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can take courses on helpful topics like social-emotional learning, classroom management, teacher wellness, special education classes and more. You have over 240 graduate-level courses to choose from in 19 different subject areas. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat today and use the offer code COOL20. Tell your friends and plan your PD today!
Danielle Moore - Bio As Submitted
Danielle has been an elementary teacher who has taught kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. She currently teaches in Midlothian ISD in Midlothian, Texas. She is a fearless trailblazer for innovation and collaboration. Danielle loves being an advocate for her students in amplifying their voice! Technology is not just a tool used in her classroom to pass the time but it is used to transform learning and experiences beyond what pencil and paper can do.
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
10 Tips for Awesome Digital Citizenship
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/10-tips-for-awesome-digital-citizenship/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
10 Tips for Awesome Digital Citizenship
Tech Coach Penny Rayhill shares ten tips for awesome digital citizenship. If you're looking for some sites to explore - here they are!
Sponsor: Advancement Courses
Now is the time to plan your summer! Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to get 20% off your summer PD courses. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can take courses on helpful topics like social-emotional learning, classroom management, teacher wellness, special education classes and more. You have over 240 graduate-level courses to choose from in 19 different subject areas. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat today and use the offer code COOL20. Tell your friends and plan your PD today!
Penny Rayhill - Bio As Submitted
Penny Rayhill is a Technology Coach at Pinch Elementary School in Elkview, WV. She is a Common Sense Digital Citizenship Certified Educator, Seesaw Ambassador, Apple Teacher, and Kanawha County Schools Apple Vanguard Coach.
Twitter: @PennyRayhill
Monday, May 27, 2019
16 Fast, Fun Things to End on An Up Note – 🎶
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/16-fast-fun-things-to-end-on-an-up-note-%f0%9f%8e%b6/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
12 Fundamentals of Success – Write Your Own Story
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/12-fundamentals-of-success-write-your-own-story/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
12 Fundamentals of Success - Write Your Own Story
Jon Barth, author of the 1% Journal: 366 Challenges for Your Journey to Success encourages us teachers to write our own story. As we reflect this summer upon our past school year, now is a great time to adopt some of these principles.
Sponsor: Advancement Courses
Now is the time to plan your summer! Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to get 20% off your summer PD courses. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can take courses on helpful topics like social-emotional learning, classroom management, teacher wellness, special education classes and more. You have over 240 graduate-level courses to choose from in 19 different subject areas. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat today and use the offer code COOL20. Tell your friends and plan your PD today!
Jon Barth - Bio As Submitted
My name is Jon Barth and I’m a mentor, coach, and writer who loves to write stories and create resources to help you Write Your Own Story.
I believe success is the process of striving to achieve excellence, which is living up to our full potential so we can make a positive impact on the world. This journey involves giving it our best shot each day to improve in body, mind, and soul. I have developed The 12 Fundamentals of Success to help people develop the proper mindset and inspire them to take action to Write Their Own Story.
Friday, May 24, 2019
How I Overcame Adversity
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-i-overcame-adversity/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
How I overcame adversity
Many people are destroyed by bullying, teasing, and the challenges of youth. Over the years, I've often contemplated why my story was so different. Why did I overcome? Why wasn't I broken beyond repair?
Today, we celebrate 500 episodes. And I've been asked these questions many times when I share a peek of the story to friends and acquaintances. So, in a spirit of authenticity, I share the story as it happened.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Rocking TpT This Summer
Want to start working with Teachers Pay Teachers this summer? Pam Olivieri from Rockin' Resources tells us how to get started.
Pam Olivieri - Bio As Submitted
Pam Olivieri is dedicated to creating a standards-based curriculum that follows her vision to MOTIVATE, EDUCATE, DIFFERENTIATE. With her 26 years of classroom experience, a Master's Degree, and a National Board Certification, she is trusted by thousands of teachers for advice on language arts instruction. Pam also offers her services as a writing coach and professional development. Why Rockin Resources for a business name? She loves 80's rock music! Connect with her via https://rockinresources.com/ or social media! You won't be disappointed!
Blog: https://rockinresources.com/
Twitter: @rockinresources
A message from Pam... I developed a writing curriculum 6 years ago for Grades 1-8. It is trademarked as Step-by-Step Writing Program. I am now launching a professional development training on how to teach writing for Grades 3-5. It is called Reluctant Writers to Rockstar Writers. It takes teachers through the writing process, sentence structure, paragraph writing, narrative writing, opinion writing, informative writing, revising, editing, and progress monitoring. I offer a free webinar for teachers on writing strategies and my secret to writing success. Here is a link that will take your audience to the webinar, special offers for the writing course, and for a freebie: https://rockinresources.com/coolcat
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Rocking TpT This Summer
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/rocking-tpt-this-summer/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Research Spotlight: Student-Centered Blended Learning
Dr. Regina Giraldo-GarcÃa shares her research on what makes effective blended learning.
Dr. Regina Giraldo-GarcÃa Bio as submitted
Dr. Regina Giraldo-GarcÃa is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow and an Adjunct Professor of Educational Research, Evaluation, and Psychological Foundations of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Foundations at Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio. Her research interest includes, but is not limited to, minority students’ academic achievement, the role of mentors, parental involvement, critical thinking, and social justice in education.
Blog: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-giraldo-garc%C3%ADa-ph-d-0a46b830/
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Research Spotlight: Student-Centered Blended Learning
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/research-spotlight-student-centered-blended-learning/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
How to Promote Deeper Learning with the 4 Shifts
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-to-promote-deeper-learning-with-the-4-shifts/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
How to Promote Deeper Learning with the Four Shifts
The four shifts is a new education technology paradigm shared in the book Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning by Scott McLeod and Julie Graber. On today's show, Julie discusses these four shifts and how it compares to other models such as SAMR. She gives examples of effective design using technology and where many programs are falling short.
Julie Graber's Bio as Submitted
Julie Graber is an instructional technology consultant
on a technology innovation team for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency in Iowa where she supports educators with effective teaching, learning, leading, and technology practices. She is a passionate educator who is most interested in seeing teachers and administrators improve authentic learning experiences for students. Her many areas of expertise include deeper
thinking with technology, authentic learning, curriculum design, and performance tasks and assessments. She spent thirteen years as a technology coordinator and business and computer
teacher. Julie is an Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) coach and has coached elementary, middle, and high school teams of teachers on how to use the framework in order to increase the level of intellectual demand as well as the authenticity of the work that students are asked to do. She has
served on several state leadership teams, including the North Central Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Hub Advisory Board and the Design Team for the Iowa Competency-Based Education Collaborative, and has provided guidance for schools to increase STEM education in their classrooms and move them toward competency-based and personalized
learning. Julie is a Defined STEM, a K–12 curriculum resource curriculum with engaging project-based lessons that are based on real-world scenarios. She is also a consultant for Jay McTighe's consulting group, McTighe and Associates, where she conducts workshops for educators using the Understanding by Design curriculum framework. Julie is the co-creator of the 4 Shifts discussion protocol and a regular local, state, and national presenter focusing on authentic work and student-centered, personalized and project-based learning.
Monday, May 20, 2019
What’s New in Digital Leadership version 2 with Eric Sheninger
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/whats-new-in-digital-leadership-version-2-with-eric-sheninger/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
What's New In Digital Leadership version 2
Eric Sheninger has rewritten his popular book Digital Leadership. In this show, learn what he added and what has changed. With over half the book being rewritten and changed, you'll want insight into what trends are important if you're going to be a digital leader in schools.
Get Version two of his book now - https://amzn.to/2VNSldT
Eric Sheninger's Bio as Submitted
Eric is a Senior Fellow and Thought Leader on Digital Leadership & Learning with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE). Prior to this, he was the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership, his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implementation of several sustainable change initiatives that radically transformed the learning culture at his school while increasing achievement.
Blog: ericsheninger.com
Twitter: @E_Sheninger
Instagram: esheninger
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricCSheninger
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/NMHSPrincipal
Saturday, May 18, 2019
SmartBrief: The Newsletter for Informed Educators
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/smartbrief-the-newsletter-for-informed-educators/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Friday, May 17, 2019
5 Ways to Create a Culture of Inquiry in Your Classroom Now
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/5-ways-to-create-a-culture-of-inquiry-in-your-classroom-now/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
5 Ways to Create a Culture of Inquiry in Your Classroom Now
To create a classroom culture of inquiry, we can follow these five techniques. Connie Hamilton, author of Hacking Questions: 11 Answers That Create a Culture of Inquiry in Your Classroom.
SmartBrief
Keeping up with the news is challenging. Today’s sponsor, SmartBrief, has some email newsletters that will help you stay current. Whether you want to follow education technology, special education, math, or just teaching best practices, SmartBrief has an email newsletter for you. Check them out at coolcatteacher.com/smartbrief and sign up today.
Connie Hamilton - Bio as Submitted
Connie Hamilton Ed.S. has 25 years in education as teacher, instructional coach, elementary/secondary principal and K-12 district administrator. She is currently the curriculum director in Saranac Community Schools, is an international educational consultant and presenter, and the author of two books, including her latest, Hacking Questions.
Teachers describe her workshops as meaningful and engaging as she models quality instructional methods that can be used in the classroom tomorrow. She applies her deep understanding of pedagogy in workshops such as Questioning, Gradual Release of Responsibility, Student Engagement, Feedback, and more.
Connie spends most of her year facilitating classroom observations in a collaborative setting so teachers can learn from one another as they implement new strategies with students. She brings these experiences to her workshops to help teachers put research into practice in ways that make sense. Visit Connie's webpage at https://conniehamilton.net/ or find her on Twitter @conniehamilton.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Talking to Kids About Poverty
Jaime Casap, Google's Education Evangelist, grew up in poverty. Today, he shares his story and encouragement to help teachers reach children from a variety of backgrounds. You'll want to listen to this encouraging show!
Today's Sponsor: SmartBrief
Keeping up with the news is challenging. Today’s sponsor, SmartBrief, has some email newsletters that will help you stay current. Whether you want to follow education technology, special education, math, or just teaching best practices, SmartBrief has an email newsletter for you. Check them out at coolcatteacher.com/smartbrief and sign up today.
Jaime Casap - Bio As Submitted
Jaime Casap is the Chief Education Evangelist at Google. Jaime evangelizes the potential of digitalization as an enabling capability in pursuit of promoting inquiry-based learning models. Jaime collaborates with school systems, educational organizations, and leaders focused on building innovation into our education policies and practices.
In addition to his role at Google, Jaime serves as an advisor to dozens of organizations focused on learning, skill development, and the future of work. He is the coauthor of “Our First Talk About Poverty,” as a way to talk to children about poverty. Jaime helped launch the Phoenix Coding Academy, a public high school in Phoenix, AZ, focused on computer science as part of an inquiry-based learning model. He teaches a 10th-grade communication class at the school. He also guest lectures at Arizona State University.
He speaks on education, digitalization, innovation, generation z, and the future of work at events around the world. You can follow and reach him on Twitter at @jcasap and watch his YouTube career advice videos at www.youtube.com/jaimecasap
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
How to Talk to Kids About Poverty
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-poverty/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
The Future of 5G in Education
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/the-future-of-5g-in-education/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
How to Set Goals for Your Library This Summer
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-to-set-goals-for-your-library-this-summer/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
How to Set Goals for Your Library This Summer
While we have to finish well, those of us who are returning to another year as an educator have to look forward to plan. Today, media specialist Amanda Johnson talks about the massive success of some new sections she added to the library last summer and how she's going to improve her library even more this summer. The goal is to encourage students to read and what Amanda is discovering might surprise you.
Today's Sponsor: SmartBrief
Keeping up with the news is challenging. Today’s sponsor, SmartBrief, has some email newsletters that will help you stay current. Whether you want to follow education technology, special education, math, or just teaching best practices, SmartBrief has an email newsletter for you. Check them out at coolcatteacher.com/smartbrief and sign up today.
Amanda Johnson - Bio As Submitted
Amanda Johnson is the media specialist at Meadow View Elementary in Henry County, Virginia. As a first year librarian, Amanda has hit the ground running with her students, setting up the library in Henry County's new elementary school.
A 2015 graduate of Mary Baldwin College with a degree in English with minors in education, coaching & exercise leadership, and history, Amanda went on to receive a Masters in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from Louisiana State University in 2018.
Amanda strives to be an innovative educator in a 1:1 iPad school, embracing the wide array of technology available in the media center. Wanting the library to be an enhancement and extension of the classroom, Amanda has tried to incorporate and further classroom lessons in the library through virtual reality, circuitry experiments, coding, green screen video production, and more. As a lifelong learner, every day is an adventure for Amanda and her 670 elementary school students!
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Martians in Your Classroom, STEM, and Making Makerspaces Accessible
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/martians-in-your-classroom-stem-and-making-makerspaces-accessible/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Martians in Your Classroom, STEM, and Making Makerspaces Accessible
The first person to walk on Mars has already been born and is in our classrooms today, so the experts tell us. He or she could be in your classroom or mine. The question is if we're equipping that child and the others to go behind them with the knowledge and intuitive exploration of making things work together for success through rich making and STEM spaces. Today we talk to Rachael Mann, author of The Martians in Your Classroom: STEM in Every Learning Space.
Today's Sponsor: SmartBrief
Keeping up with the news is challenging. Today’s sponsor, SmartBrief, has some email newsletters that will help you stay current. Whether you want to follow education technology, special education, math, or just teaching best practices, SmartBrief has an email newsletter for you. Check them out at coolcatteacher.com/smartbrief and sign up today.
Related Resources
- The Martians in Your Classroom: STEM in Every Learning Space
- "The Spaces You Will Go" by Rachel Mann
- How Does STEM Bring the Real World Into the Classroom?
- Other Podcasts with Rachael Mann
I will curate a Wakelet collection to go along with the podcast: https://wakelet.com/@RachaelEdu
Rachel Mann - Bio as Submitted
Rachael Mann is the founder of #TeachlikeTED and coauthor of The Martians in Your Classroom. She speaks and writes about the future of education and helps educators rethink the learning spaces of today. Prior to #TeachlikeTED, Rachael was the Network to Transform Teaching and STEM Professional Learning Director for Northern Arizona University’s AZK12 Center and State Director for Educators Rising Arizona. A former high school Career and Technical Education teacher and hailing from a family of educators, she has 14 years of classroom teaching experience. Rachael is a Google Certified Educator with a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She is a founding member of the Council on the Future of Education, President-Elect for the NCLA Executive Board, and serves on the Region V Policy Committee.
Blog: https://rachaelmann.co/
Twitter: @RachaelEdu
Monday, May 13, 2019
22 Top Tips for Better Classroom Management
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/22-top-tips-for-better-classroom-management/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Dr. Alec Couros on Spearfishing, Citizenship, and Lateral Reading
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/dr-alec-couros-on-spearfishing-citizenship-and-lateral-reading/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Alec Couros on Spearfishing, Citizenship, and Lateral Reading
Schools are being targeted with "spearfishing" attacks - a new form of phishing that is quite deceptive. Citizenship encompasses digital citizenship and the importance of lateral reading are three of the motivating topics tackled today with education thought-leader Dr. Alec Couros.
Sponsor: SmartBrief
Keeping up with the news is challenging. Today’s sponsor, SmartBrief, has some email newsletters that will help you stay current. Whether you want to follow education technology, special education, math, or just teaching best practices, SmartBrief has an email newsletter for you. Check them out at coolcatteacher.com/smartbrief and sign up today.
Dr. Alec Couros - Bio as Submitted
Alec Couros is a professor of educational technology and media at the Faculty of Education, University of Regina, in Saskatchewan, Canada. An award-winning educator, Alec helps his undergraduate and graduate students take up the incredible affordances of our connected world through the integration of educational technology in teaching and learning.
Alec is also a well-recognized scholar and researcher who has given hundreds of keynotes and workshops around the globe on diverse topics such as connected/networked learning, digital citizenship, social media in education, and critical media literacy, providing educators, students, and parents with the knowledge necessary to take advantage of and thrive in our new digital reality.
Finally, Alec is a passionate advocate of openness in education and demonstrates this commitment through his open access publications, considerable digital presence and contributions, and highly successful MOOCs and open boundary courses.
Blog: http://couros.ca/
Twitter:@courosa
Friday, May 10, 2019
5 Ways to Leverage Play In Your Class Today
Play belongs in every classroom. Today, Jill Vialet shows us how.
Bio as submitted
Jill Vialet is the Founder and CEO of Playworks, the leading nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children's social and emotional health. For more information, visit: www.playworks.org.
Blog: https://www.playworks.org/about/staff/meet-ceo-founder/
Twitter: @jillvialet
5 Ways to Leverage Play In Your Class Today
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/5-ways-to-leverage-play-in-your-class-today/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Thursday, May 09, 2019
Music Teachers of Excellence with the CMA Foundation
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/music-teachers-of-excellence-with-the-cma-foundation/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
PBIS, Discipline, and Compassion Fatigue
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/pbis-discipline-and-compassion-fatigue/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Music Teachers of Excellence with the CMA Foundation
Music education helps students engage with learning and has many positive benefits. Today's guest, Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director of the CMA Foundation talks about remarkable music teaching and their quest to recognize the top music teachers in the United States.
Related Resources
- Music education gives students an exciting and creative reason to be in the classroom. Student engagement in music class creates better attendance, which translates to higher test scores and graduation rates.
- There is significant data proving the positive impact music has on a student’s ability to retain, learn, and articulate information. This is seen especially in reading – without an improvement in literacy alone, our country will not be able to properly support this generation.
- Some of the benefits of music education include higher graduation rates, a greater chance of post-secondary success, social and emotional development, and shaping the next generation to be collaborative, creative and forward-thinking leaders.
Previous Shows Relating to This Topic
Seesaw in the Elementary Music Classroom with Amy Burns
K-6 Educational Music Videos: Selecting the Right Videos for Learning
Making Music with iPads and #edtech
Tiffany Kerns - Bio as submitted
A common thread throughout Tiffany Kerns’ career has been her dedication to creating meaningful change and advocacy for nonprofit organizations. Paired with a steadfast focus on improving the philanthropic model of giving, Kerns has lead the Country Music Association (CMA) Foundation in their mission of enriching music education programs across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music.
Established as the philanthropic arm to the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation has invested over $25 million into music education programs across all 50 states. As executive director, Kerns is responsible for the growth, development, and execution of the nonprofit’s charitable investments by creating strategic partnerships, working with policy leaders and implementing an impact-driven grant process.
Kerns works with each and every grantee organization to provide strategic planning, compliance, project management, and community impact. She oversees advocacy efforts for the CMA Foundation at the state and federal level, which includes working with more than a dozen community partners to elevate the cause.
Kerns also oversees the CMA’s collegiate program CMA EDU, which currently has 25 collegiate chapters nationwide and works to educate students on the music industry by providing opportunities to hear from industry professionals and participate in a hands-on work experience alongside marketing and tour production.
Before joining the CMA Foundation, Kerns was the director of development at The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For over six years, Kerns filled various roles in special events and development. Driven by her passion to grow the organization and fueled by her exceptional leadership skills, single-handedly, Kerns implemented new fundraising initiatives and opportunities across the Southeast and Pacific Northwest regions. After expanding her footprint in nonprofit management and learning the biotech industry in San Francisco, Kerns moved to Nashville to develop and strengthen the donor portfolio for CFF which ultimately led her to CMA.
Kerns is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where she received a BA in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration.
Blog: https://www.cmaworld.com/foundation/
Twitter: @cmafoundation
Wednesday, May 08, 2019
PBIS, Discipline, and Compassion Fatigue
When I shared a USA Today Article on PBIS on my Facebook page, teachers started responding and yelled volumes about mis-implementation mis-understandings and mis-use of discipline -- specifically PBIS -- in their schools. So, Melissa Man, special education teacher with her Master's in Counseling agreed to come on the show and talk about the topic. What do you think?
Melissa Mann's Bio as Submitted
Melissa Mann is a special education teacher with the Madison County School System. She has taught both self-contained and collaborative students in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade. Melissa is dual certified in Elementary Education and Special Education. She also has a Master's in School Counseling and is a certified school counselor. Melissa presented at ISTE in 2015, and she has presented for the past eight years at Alabama's state technology conference and at various local conferences. Melissa is also a trainer with Simple K-12. Her portfolio can be found at: www.bit.ly/TechTreasures
Blog: https://techtipsforthek-6classroom.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @mnmann
Tuesday, May 07, 2019
Raspberry Pi Guy, Rocketboards, and Robots
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/raspberry-pi-guy-rocketboards-and-robots/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Raspberry Pi Guy, Rocketboards & Robots
Matt Timmons-Brown is the "Raspberry Pi Guy" on Youtube. If you don't know what the Raspberry Pi is, it is an amazing small computer from which you can make amazing things. Matt is the author of Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi. This 19-year old student at the University of Edinburg talks about how he interested himself in Computer Science and shares his insight on how to engage his generation in a powerful career.
Matt Timmons-Brown - Bio as Submitted
Matt, The Raspberry Pi Guy YouTube channel, author of Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi, available now: http://mybook.to/raspirobots, BEng Computer Science & Electronics Undergraduate at The University of Edinburgh
Monday, May 06, 2019
How to Build Trust with Your Students
Students need to trust their teachers. The result is better relationships, better learning, and a better quality of experience for everyone -- teachers and students included! Today's featured educator is CJ Reynolds, a teacher in West Philadelphia. CJ shares how to build relationships with students in some unconventional and cool ways. He also talks about why his YouTube channel has become so popular and how teachers can get motivated every day (not just Mondays.)
CJ Reynolds - Bio As Submitted
CJ Reynolds teaches high school literature and The History of Hip-Hop in West Philadelphia. He is also the creator of the YouTube channel, Real Rap with Reynolds which aims at helping new and burned out teachers be the teacher they always wanted to be.
Blog: https://www.realrapwithreynolds.com/
Twitter: @realrapreynolds
Sunday, May 05, 2019
How to Build Trust with Your Students
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-to-build-trust-with-your-students/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
Friday, May 03, 2019
5 Ways to Overcome Being Overwhelmed
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/5-ways-to-overcome-being-overwhelmed/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
5 Ways to Overcome Feeling Overwhelmed
This time of year is a challenging one for educators. It is easy to feel overwhelmed. Today's show will encourage and help you to overcome that overwhelmed feeling with 21-year educator Jon Harper.
Bio as Submitted
Jon is the author of My Bad: 24 Educators Who Messed Up, Fessed Up and Grew, the host of My Bad and the co-host of Teachers’ Aid. During his 21 years in education, Jon was a nationally board certified teacher, a math coach and is currently an assistant principal at Sandy Hill Elementary School in Dorchester County.
Twitter: @Jonharper70bd
Thursday, May 02, 2019
How to Transform the American High School
Dr. Sarah Fine, co-author of In Search of Deeper Learning, The Quest to Remake the American High School talks about her research into remarkable high school experiences. Also, check the show notes for a transcript.
Dr. Sarah Fine, Bio as Submitted
Dr. Sarah Fine is an educator, ethnographer, and the co-author of In Search of Deeper Learning: The Quest to Remake the American High School. She currently directs the High Tech High Graduate School of Education's Teaching Apprenticeship Program and also serves as a Lecturer in Education Studies at the University of California San Diego. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, Education Week, and a range of academic journals.
Twitter: @sarahmfine
Wednesday, May 01, 2019
How to Transform the American High School
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-to-transform-the-american-high-school/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
How to Give Effective Feedback that Works
From https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-to-give-effective-feedback-that-works/
via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.
How to Give Effective Feedback that Works
Teachers spend hours giving effective feedback only to have students not respond or use it to improve. In this case, one could argue that the teacher isn't giving effective feedback because it is not being used to learn. Twelve-year English teacher turned principal Jordan Catapano helps us have more effective feedback that actually works to improve learning.
Jordan Catapano - Bio As Submitted
Jordan Catapano taught English for twelve years in a Chicago suburban high school, where he is now an Assistant Principal. In addition to being National Board Certificated and head of his school’s Instructional Development Committee, he also has worked with the Illinois Association of Teachers of English and has experience as a school board member for a private school. You can follow him on Twitter at @BuffEnglish.
Twitter: @BuffEnglish