10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Jennifer Cronk helps us empower those with special needs. She shares her treasure chest of favorite edech tools for those with special needs. This show is a must-listen for special needs teachers. In today's show about special needs edtech tools, Jennifer Cronk shares: Why speech recognition empowers students How to help students guide their eyes in online reading Accessibility tools Why we should help students select tools and empower their learning A full edtech treasure chest for special needs students Jennifer Cronk is an Assistant Manager of Emerging Technologies for the Southern Westchester BOCES in New York. She currently oversees and strategically plans the Google Apps transformations of several school districts in Westchester County. Jennifer began her career in 1996 as a computer teacher and passionately pursued the ed tech field for twenty years. Jennifer presents nationally at instructional technology conferences, and workshops on integrating Google Apps and other emerging technologies into learning. She is a Google Certified Innovator and Google Education Trainer. Also, Jennifer is also certified: administrator, English teacher, elementary teacher and educational technology specialist. Jennifer also blogs about "digital parenting," professional development and educational technology at www.transparentlyteaching.com and is a co-host of the blab.im show "Positively Special Ed." A full transcript of this show and the show notes are available at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast as well as details on entering this month's giveaway contests.

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life" Mary Oliver. Joan Flaherty, the author of Rest and An Approach to Rejuvenating our Teaching and Ourselves, talks about how we can combat emotional fatigue. Teacher, you have one wild and precious life. Our students do too. We need to use it well. In today's show on emotional fatigue, Joan discusses How we should center ourselves in the classroom Some counterintuitive thoughts on our relationship with students Focusing on our learning from everything Advice for teachers who are burning out Encouragement for all you teachers working so hard Bio from Joan Flaherty: I'm a faculty member in the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management at the University of Guelph, Canada, where I teach communications. My research is in the area of teaching and learning. A full transcript of this show and the show notes are available at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast as well as details on entering this month's giveaway contests.

Want to help students learn and be more refreshed. Students need breaks too. That is why brain breaks are becoming so popular. Teacher Rob Donatelli @DTown_MrD talks about the Brain Breaks phenomenon and gives teachers five ideas he uses in his classroom for brain brains in his high school class. Take a brain break today! Rob will share five ideas today including the: Backwards classroom race 60-second pitches Face off Smartphone ping pong Penny catch Plus, a 40-second pitch to teachers about the reasons they need brain breaks in their classroom. Have some fun! Take a break! You might need these especially as kids are taking high-intensity tests to help kids refresh and gear back up. (I am not crazy about the tests but I am crazy about kids and when I feel things getting too intense, I take brain breaks with my students.) A full transcript of this show and the show notes are available at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast as well as details on entering this month's giveaway contests.

How much time on devices is too long? Should kids put up their smartphones and talk to each other and parents sometimes? Are we using technology too much as parents? Today, for Thought Leader Thursday, Weston Kieschnick @wes_kieschnick and I have a conversation about digital parenting. There aren't easy answers, but one thing is sure, we won't find answers without having the hard conversations. In today's show, Weston and I discuss: Digital overuse and digital deserts and the need for balance The dangers of letting kids have devices during time for sleep The challenges faced by parents in today's digital age Questions for parents to consider about moderation Experiences and observations about digital overuse and misuse A full transcript of this show and the show notes are available at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast as well as details on entering this month's giveaway contests.

African Step, based on the African Gumboot Dance, has an American version with a competition. Junior Bernadin @JBernadin is one of the STEP coaches at 3-time national champion winning Ron Clark Academy. Learn about this marvelous type of song/ dance and its role in African American culture. Also, hear about Junior's commitment to excellence and what students learn from competing in this dance competition. In today's Wonderful Wednesday, Junior shares: The origins of step How step came to Ron Clark Academy What students learn from step competition His students' story from beginning step to winning the national championship What students learn from step and the competition Junior Bernadin is a Dean of Students and IT Director at the highly-acclaimed Ron Clark Academy (RCA). In addition to his daily roles at RCA, he currently serves as one of the coaches of the current 3-time National Step League Middle School Champions, the Essentials Step Team. A full transcript of this show and the show notes are available at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast as well as details on entering this month's giveaway contests.

Richard Byrne @rmbyrne discusses the edtech tools he's most excited about today. From video tools, creation tools, to app creation, you'll hear about the tools and ideas that Richard is most excited about in edtech today. In today's show, Richard shares: Live video streaming tools and why he's moving to YouTube Live Blogging and creation tools Why app creation will soon be in the reach of every student Dealing with naysayers and blocking Why he's not as excited about quizzing tools and heading towards creation tools Richard Byrne is a former high school social studies teacher best known for developing the award-winning blog Free Technology for Teachers. He has been invited to speak at events on six continents and would gladly speak in Antarctica too. Richard's work is focused on sharing free resources that educators can use to enhance their students' learning experiences. Richard is a five-time winner of the Edublogs Award for Best Resource Sharing Blog. Richard became a Google Certified Teacher in 2009. 2012 saw Richard receive a Merlot Classics Award from chancellor's office of California State University. In 2010 he was a finalist for ACTEM's (Association of Computer Teachers and Educators in Maine) educator of the year award. Tech & Learning Magazine named Richard one of their "people to watch" in their 30th Anniversary celebration. On a daily basis, Richard's blog Free Technology for Teachers reaches more than 100,000 educators. In addition to writing Free Technology for Teachers, Richard also maintains iPadApps4School.com and PracticalEdTech.com. Richard's print work includes a monthly column for School Library Journal, contributing author to What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media, and contributions to Teacher Librarian. Richard lives in Maine with his daughter Isla and loyal dogs Max and Mason. A full transcript of this show and the show notes are available at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast as well as details on entering this month's giveaway contests.

Empowering special needs students with technologies is one of the greatest ways to motivate and ignite their learning. Jennifer Cronk @jenniferacronk shares two tearful but joyful stories of people with special needs unleashed (including her own.) Let's start this Monday motivation remembering the joyful opportunity we have to help every child with technology! In today's show, Jennifer shares How to empower special needs students to champion themselves Examples of alternative assessment and contribution for those with special needs How Jennifer motivates students and teachers to unleash learning A breakthrough story of Jennifer's son who wanted to honor his teacher The moving thing that happened last week to Jennifer with a special needs teacher Jennifer Cronk is an Assistant Manager of Emerging Technologies for the Southern Westchester BOCES in New York. She currently oversees and strategically plans the Google Apps transformations of several school districts in Westchester County. Jennifer began her career in 1996 as a computer teacher and passionately pursued the ed tech field for twenty years. Jennifer presents nationally at instructional technology conferences, and workshops on integrating Google Apps and other emerging technologies into learning. She is a Google Certified Innovator and Google Education Trainer. In addition, Jennifer is also certified: administrator, English teacher, elementary teacher, and educational technology specialist. Jennifer also blogs about "digital parenting," professional development and educational technology at www.transparentlyteaching.com and is a co-host of the blab.im show "Positively Special Ed." A full transcript of this show and the show notes are available at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast as well as details on entering this month's giveaway contests.

Digital citizenship is a challenge. In today's episode, Alice Chen shares five things every student should know about digital citizenship. A full transcript of this show and the show notes are available at www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast as well as details on entering this month's giveaway contests.

Classroom management can be a challenge in any classroom. In this episode, I share my secrets and tips for managing my computer lab classroom. I hope it helps.

Karen McCallum is a special ed elementary teacher in Alberta, Canda. She has specialized in special education and behavior support programming. Today she tells a heartwarming but powerful story about how two puppets are helping transform the social emotional learning of elementary special needs kids. Karen will share: How she decided to use puppets to reach a nonverbal student Modeling appropriate and inappropriate behaviors How 15 minutes a day with the puppets can transform behavior Calming special needs kids using puppets Some funny and powerful stories of using Matts and Penny to help kids learn appropriate behaviors Karen McCallum's Bio I am a elementary vice principal and kindergarten teacher in Okotoks Alberta. I am in my 33rd year of teaching. My entire career has been in the primary area. I have my Master's degree in Special Education and have spent half of my career working in special education and behavior support programming.