Cool Cat Teacher Blog is at coolcatteacher.com

If you want to know how to start an eSports program in your school. Or if you want to know why so many schools are getting eSports programs, this episode is a must-listen for you. Welcome to another episode of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast, where today we're diving into the game-changing world of scholastic esports. Our guest, Danielle Johnson, Executive Director of the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation, shares how esports is not just about gaming but about boosting student engagement, improving academic performance, and building a more inclusive school community. Esports are rapidly growing in schools across the country. The reasons are not only that they are fun but they are making a positive impact on a generation of students whose favorite sport is video games. If you're skeptical, we'll speak to your concerns as well.  Tune in to discover why esports might just be the missing piece in your educational toolkit and how you can start a program at your school. Show S...

ViAs we start this year, each of us is in different circumstances. I rebel against anyone with a "one size fits all" plan that works for everybody. Each of us has a different approach to life and planning. As I do my planning, I spend time learning from others. You can also plan your year in a new way as I share what I do. Over the past twenty years, I've created an annual planning system that works well for me. For the first time, I've put together a podcast sharing how I plan my year, along with some free forms you can use to plan your year. In this podcast, I include 28+ questions I ask myself each year. How I used two one-page forms to review last year, and I plan to change everything this year. A "time budgeting" spreadsheet that helps me make a big-picture time budget for the year. I also describe how I modify and improve my plan for the year as I grapple with life's hard questions. You can download these forms at www.coolcatteacher.com/annualplan ...

"In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Jay Schroder, author of "Teach From Your Best Self, A Guide to Thriving in the Classroom." With this in mind, we dive into a critical yet often-neglected aspect of teaching—teacher well-being. Join us as we explore high-impact, low-effort teaching strategies crucial for bringing your best self to the classroom and forging a sustainable, rewarding career. 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 how 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 i...

Welcome to a treasure from my ISTE 2023 vault. This is a podcast for all education trailblazers seeking the cutting edge of professional growth. As a teacher committed to improving teaching and improving our professional development, I'm thrilled to share this conversation about how professional development can and is improving.  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 how 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...

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</strong> 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 classr...

In this episode, we welcome Billy Krakower, a nationally recognized educator with 16 years of experience and a passion for bringing technology and creativity into the classroom. As a current STEM teacher in North New Jersey and a Google Certified Trainer, Billy focuses on implementing cutting-edge instructional design and co-authors "Connecting Your Students with the Virtual World."  We'll uncover practical, engaging strategies for integrating the four Cs -- Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication -- into your teaching. From engaging mystery location calls to the innovative use of Google Art and Culture for creative exploration and the impactful use of AI in education, Billy shares actionable techniques to transform your classroom into a hub of global learning and collaboration. Sponsor: This show is sponsored by Microsoft. Check out their  new AI Course . All opinions are my own.  Check out this episode!

In today's episode, we're joined by Dr. Justin Reich, an associate professor at MIT and the author of 'Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in Schools.' We dive deep into teachers' crucial role in driving innovation and improvement in education. Suppose you've ever wondered how to bring meaningful change to your school or classroom. In that case, this episode offers actionable insights into teacher leadership, classroom experimentation, and the power of doing less to achieve more. Sponsor:  Modern Classrooms is sponsoring a free webinar with Dr. Justin Reich, today's guest, on November 14, 2023. Don't worry, you can also listen to the recording. In this webinar, guests will dive deep into the strategies that drive meaningful change in instructional approaches and student learning, and learn the hallmarks of top-notch professional development experiences that support educators along the path toward classroom innovation. Join our experts, DC-based principal ...