10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

You can solve problems by going Upstream. Dan Heath, the author of the new book Upstream, talks about the principles the Chicago Public School system used to go from a 52% graduation rate to one close to 80% in just a few years. Some of the same principles were used in Rockford, Illinois to be the first city that eradicated homelessness. Dan shares four strategies to move upstream to solve problems in schools and in our world today. www.coolcatteacher.com/e639 Today's Sponsor - Free Classroom Management Webinar: On Monday, March 16 at 8 pm learn from classroom management expert Linda Kardamis how to regain control of your classroom even this late in the school year. Go to coolcatteacher.com/getcontrol to learn more and sign up for this free webinar on classroom management. Dan Heath - Bio As Submitted Dan Heath and his brother, Chip, have written four New York Times bestselling books: Made to Stick, Switch, Decisive, and The Power of Moments. Heath is a senior fellow at Duke University's CASE center, which supports entrepreneurs fighting for social good. He lives in Durham, North Carolina. The Heath brothers' books have sold more than three million copies worldwide and have been translated into thirty-three languages. Blog: https://heathbrothers.com/ Disclosure of Material Connection: This episode includes some affiliate link. This means that if you choose to buy I will be paid a commission on the affiliate program. However, this is at no additional cost to you. 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.

Robert Kalman's middle schoolers are designing in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). In this episode, Robert gives us his insights and tips into the best tools and tips in AR and VR today. From Google Tour Creator, CoSpaces, Merge Cube (with Tinkercad) and Panaform - Robert will share simple tools you can start using with your students today. www.coolcatteacher.com/e638 Today's Sponsor - Free Classroom Management Webinar: On Monday, March 16 at 8 pm learn from classroom management expert Linda Kardamis how to regain control of your classroom even this late in the school year. Go to coolcatteacher.com/getcontrol to learn more and sign up for this free webinar on classroom management. Tools Robert Discusses in the Show Google Tour Creator CoSpaces Merge Cube Tinkercad Note: Smithsonian Artifacts have just been added to Tinkercad as part of their open access initiative Panoform Robert Kalman - Bio as Submitted Robert Kalman is a middle school Digital Design Teacher and Technology Coordinator/Integrator for the Ramsey School District in New Jersey. Robert loves working with teachers to incorporate effective educational technologies, and students to experiment with innovative tools, such as physical computing, game design, 3D/AR/VR applications, and web design/coding platforms. Blog: robertkalman.com Twitter: @robert_kalman Instagram: @robert_kalman Disclosure of Material Connection: This episode includes some affiliate link. This means that if you choose to buy I will be paid a commission on the affiliate program. However, this is at no additional cost to you. 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.

If you're using the Google Suite for Education, Google App Scripts can save you time. Alice Keeler talks about how she programs Google App scripts, some add ons she's made, and some you can use to help improve what you're doing in your classroom! www.coolcatteacher.com/e637 Today's Sponsor: On Monday, March 16 at 8 pm learn from classroom management expert Linda Kardamis how to regain control of your classroom even this late in the school year. Go to coolcatteacher.com/getcontrol to learn more and sign up for this free webinar on classroom management. Alice Keeler Teacher and mom of 5, Alice Keeler is the Google-crowned "Queen of Spreadsheets", an international speaker on teaching and EdTech integration, co-author of 5 books, Google Certified Innovator, Google Apps Developer, founder of #coffeeEDU, and has degrees in Mathematics and Educational Media Design and Technology. Alice shares her expertise through online workshops at alicekeeler.com/goslow, blogs at alicekeeler.com and tweets @alicekeeler. (bio as submitted)

As the Coronavirus spreads, so does the news about it. Some stories are accurate. Some stories are not. And some stories are full of half-truths. All designed to get people to read and for the clicks to come. Today's guest, Darren Hudgins is co-author of Fact VS Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking In The Age of Fake News (ISTE 2018). He helps us understand triggers, news literacy, and how we can help our students effectively analyze news in a world where health issues and news tend to go viral. We have to help our students live in this world. Have the conversations now. www.coolcatteacher.com/e636 Darren Hudgins Bio As Submitted Darren Hudgins is the CEO of Think | Do | Thrive and the co-author of Fact VS Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking In The Age of Fake News (ISTE 2018). In both capacities, he works with educators, school leaders, districts, and school organizations to help them build experiences that promote thought, play, and innovative strategies. He believes these strategies strengthen human capacity efforts, drive action, and inspire the souls of social servants so that all students can thrive. Learn more about his 20 plus years in education at about.me/darren_hudgins. Twitter: @dhudgins Instagram: @dhudgins Free Resource on this topic: Darren's Free News Literacy Resource (Presentation) Disclosure of Material Connection: This episode includes some affiliate links. This means that if you choose to buy I will be paid a commission on the affiliate program. However, this is at no additional cost to you. 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.

Some districts and schools use test scores to hold teachers "accountable." But what if this practice is hurting the very kids it is trying to help. Teacher and columnist Jody Stallings shares what he uncovered when he looked at this practice and why using test scores to evaluate teachers is a very bad idea. www.coolcatteacher.com/e635 Jody Stallings - Bio As Submitted Jody Stallings has been an award-winning public school teacher in Charleston, South Carolina, since 1992. He is director of the Charleston Teacher Alliance and an adjunct professor with the American Public University System. He writes the weekly "Teacher to Parent" column for which he is the recipient of the 2018 first place award in column writing from the South Carolina Press Association. https://www.facebook.com/teachertoparent Twitter: @stallings_jody

Heather Wolpert-Gawron surveyed over two thousand students from every US state and type of school to find out what engages them in learning. She discovered some surprising trends that will impact how we teach teachers to teach and how we look at a school altogether. Variety may not only be the spice of life but it may be the spice of learning! www.coolcatteacher.com/e634 Heather M. Wolpert-Gawron - Bio as Submitted Heather Wolpert-Gawron is an award-winning middle school teacher and 21st Century Learning & PBL coach. She is the author of Just Ask Us: Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement (Corwin/AMLE), which shares the results of a nationwide survey of 6th-12th graders and what engages them as learners. She is also the author of DIY for Project Based Learning for ELA and History (Taylor & Francis) and DIY for Project Based Learning for Math and Science (Taylor & Francis). She is a staff blogger for Edutopia, a proud member of the California Writing Project, and a National Faculty member for PBLWorks (formally the Buck Institute for Education). Heather is passionate about Project Based Learning and believes the Maker Movement for teachers is in curriculum design. Heather believes curriculum design itself should tell a story, and she helps her students craft the tale. Heather lives with her husband and two boys in Los Angeles where they play Dungeons & Dragons every week, building their cross-over stories and adventures together.

Creating the culture in your classroom can help you be a better and happier teacher and can help your students learn better and be happier too. Today's guest, Elisabeth Bostwick takes us into her classroom to share how she creates a luminous learning environment where learners are empowered by authentic learning that unleashes their potential. Get motivated to reach every child! www.coolcatteacher.com/e633 Elisabeth Bostwick - Bio As Submitted Elisabeth Bostwick is a multi-award-winning educator who is passionate about creating the conditions to spark curiosity and unleash creativity to empower learning. She is the author of, Take the L.E.A.P.: Ignite a Culture of Innovation and co-author of Education Write Now, Volume II: Top Strategies for Improving Relationships and Culture. As an innovative teaching and learning consultant and instructional coach supporting K-12 teachers, Elisabeth works alongside educators to create inclusive and equitable classroom cultures where every learner thrives. Elisabeth is driven to deepen learning; leveraging highly effective strategies that engage and empower all learners to maximize growth. With her passion for creating a long-lasting, positive impact on education, Elisabeth inspires others to identify how we can cultivate systemic change and develop essential success skills to ensure learners are future-ready.

Edtech coaching can be improved with "walkarounds" and interaction between edtech coaches and teachers. Adam Juarez talks about organic edtech coaching and how to cultivate those relationships. www.coolcatteacher.com/e632 Adam Juarez - Bio as Submitted Adam Juarez is a 6-12 Technology Integration Coach for Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District. He leads teachers in implementing technology into their lessons through one-on-one coaching, demo lessons and professional development. He is the founder of the Cardinal Innovation Center: A Student-Centered Virtual and Physical Learning Space Designed to Empower. In addition, he is a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator, 2017 CUE Leroy Finkel Fellowship Finalist and co-founder of the Twitter chat #CVTechTalk. He frequently presents at ISTE, CUE, EdTechTeam and Krause Center for Innovation (KCI) events.

Take risks in education to build relationships, have difficult conversations, and make progress. Kristen Nan, a third-grade teacher, co-authored a book with her assistant superintendent. It was a risk, for sure, but Kristen talks about the risks she is and has taken in her classroom and how it has improved learning for everyone. Get inspired to take your own risks. www.coolcatteacher.com/e631 My Productivity Secrets: I make my own planner pages. If you want a copy of them and information on how I stay organized, buy the Do What Matters Book and resources. I sell them direct for $9.95 because I've included over 100 templates that I have used at some point in my life and career (including those when I was a stay at home.) Kristen Nan - Bio As Submitted An educator for the last 23 years, Kristen Nan's passion for building relationships with her students, colleagues, and community continues to ignite change for the better! Kristen has served as an emotional support teacher, learning support teacher, and classroom teacher from Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to her current role as a 3rd-grade teacher, Kristen is an author, national speaker, consultant. With keeping a future-ready mindset at the forefront for every child, she has been recognized as an award-winning educator for innovative practices. Kristen's recent release, "ALL IN, Taking a Gamble in Education" is co-authored by Jacie Maslyk and focuses on the importance of risk-taking, chances, and building relationships between teachers and administrators. Kristen Nan - Bio As submitted An educator for the last 23 years, Kristen Nan's passion for building relationships with her students, colleagues, and community continues to ignite change for the better! Kristen has served as an emotional support teacher, learning support teacher, and classroom teacher from Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to her current role as a 3rd-grade teacher, Kristen is an author, national speaker, consultant. With keeping a future-ready mindset at the forefront for every child, she has been recognized as an award-winning educator for innovative practices. Kristen's recent release, "ALL IN, Taking a Gamble in Education" is co-authored by Jacie Maslyk and focuses on the importance of risk-taking, chances, and building relationships between teachers and administrators. Twitter: @nankr1120 https://kristennan.com/

How do you build staff morale? Brad Shreffler has five ideas to help us as you work to build bridges of trust and relationship with your colleagues at school. Enjoy coming to school because you love working with your colleagues. www.coolcatteacher.com/e630 Today's sponsor: Advancement Courses. Choose from over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 subject areas that are self-paced with up to six months to complete. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and save 20% off each course by using the code COOL20. That's just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can also receive graduate credit through CAEP and regionally accredited university partners for continuing education requirements. Never stop learning! Brad Shreffler - Bio as Submitted Brad Shreffler is an instructional technology coach from Central Florida. He is also the host of the Planning Period Podcast, where he talks with other education stakeholders about education, teaching, and the problems facing the field. He is passionate about changing the shape of education for the betterment of students and teachers. Find his podcast at https://www.bradshreffler.com. Twitter: @BradShreffler Planning Period Podcast - https://www.bradshreffler.com