10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Latest Episodes:

Math Problems that Unlock Student Thinking Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

Filled with dread, some math teachers have a problem. As they give problems to students to work their students become problems. Behavior problems. Boredom problems. Sometimes the problem is that students aren't excited by the problems. However, math can be exciting. The "Open Middle" math problem format is NOT talking about middle school math, although it applies to middle, high school, elementary, and even college math just the same. Robert Kaplinsky, a math teacher and author on the "open middle math" talks about how math teachers can unlock student thinking and interest in how problems are posed to students. Busy math teachers can listen to this quick episode to get an introduction to open middle math and see if they want to dive deeper. Math can be exciting!

www.coolcatteacher.com/e584

Check out these resources from Robert for math teachers. Robert says, "I created these free Depth of Knowledge matrices that teachers love: https://robertkaplinsky.com/tag/dok-matrix/"

Add Robert Kaplinsky to your PLN (Bio As Submitted)

Robert Kaplinsky has worked in education since 2003 as a classroom teacher, teacher specialist for Downey Unified School District, instructor for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and presenter at conferences around the world. He created the #ObserveMe movement, wrote the book Open Middle Math is president of Grassroots Workshops and co-founder of the website https://www.openmiddle.com/.

Blog: https://robertkaplinsky.com

Twitter: @robertkaplinsky

Instagram: @robert_kaplinsky

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertkaplinsky

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/robertkaplinsky/

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a "sponsored podcast episode." The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. 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."

Why Kids Need Life Skills (including how to cook!) Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

Students need life skills. Some schools are adding in courses to help students cook, care for their families, manage their money and more life skills. Others have always had these courses. Today we interview a teacher, Andrea Moore, who started her career as a literature teacher but teaches many practical things to her students every day.

www.coolcatteacher.com/e583

Sponsor: The U.S. Toyota Dream Car Art Contest invites youth, ages 4-15, to submit their original hand-drawn artworks that answer the question, "If you could design a car to make the world a better place, what would it look like?" Artwork submissions for this free youth art contest are accepted this year from November 1, 2019, through January 31, 2020. Teachers can download a FREE K-12 standards-aligned lesson plan on car design that includes STEM concepts and art. Go to www.ToyotaDreamCarUSA.com/CoolCat to download artwork guidelines, an entry form, official rules, and the lesson plan today. Encourage your students to create Toyota Dream Car artworks today. Challenge Does your school teach life skills? Do your students know how to cook? Have conversations with your students and among your staff if your school is equipping students for real life. Andrea Moore - Bio As submitted Andrea Moore is in her 16th year of teaching at Twin Cedars Jr./Sr. High School near Bussey, IA, where she is currently teaching Family and Consumer Sciences and Health to 7-12 graders. She lives with her husband of 27 years and has two grown children. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a "sponsored podcast episode." The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. 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."

20+ Ideas to Supercharge Classroom Creativity Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

Creativity is something that we have to nurture as teachers. In this blog post and episode, I share some of the ways I believe nurture creativity in students.

See the show notes at www.coolcatteacher.com/582

Sponsor: The U.S. Toyota Dream Car Art Contest invites youth, ages 4-15, to submit their original hand-drawn artworks that answer the question, "If you could design a car to make the world a better place, what would it look like?" Artwork submissions for this free youth art contest are accepted this year from November 1, 2019, through January 31, 2020. Teachers can download a FREE K-12 standards-aligned lesson plan on car design that includes STEM concepts and art. Go to www.ToyotaDreamCarUSA.com/CoolCat to download artwork guidelines, an entry form, official rules, and the lesson plan today. Encourage your students to create Toyota Dream Car artworks today. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a "sponsored podcast episode." The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. 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."

The Surprising Science of Life Changing Moments Oct 28, 2019

Show notes

Have you ever had a moment when your life changed? Perhaps it was a comment or it was a moment and although it may not have seemed to be anything to others around you, you experienced a seismic shift in how you viewed yourself. Dr. Michael Rousell studies these moments and relates them to neuroscience. Today he shares the surprising science behind the commonalities in these life-changing moments. As teachers, we hope to be part of these moments.

You could say these small but very epic life-changing moments are the seconds that could take years of relationship building and effort to cultivate and then, light a bolt of lightning - it happens - and a child is transformed for the good. You'll want to learn to understand these moments as a teacher. This is one of those episodes to share and discuss due to the exciting impacts it can have in the life of children.

www.coolcatteacher.com/e581

Most moments that transformed people were in moments that surprised people.
Flattery doesn't work and seems to be "empty calories for kids. "
When you deliver a comment, make it declarative so it doesn't sound empty.
Learn how to share comments in a way that can transform how a child views him or herself.
What is a surprise from a neuroscience perspective and how does it help children change their views?
How to pain struggles in the landscape of life.

Michael Rousell, Ph.D. - Bio as Submitted

I'm a teacher, associate professor, psychologist, and author. I taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. As an academic, I study formative moments, those events that instantly change what you believe about yourself.

My next book is titled, The Power of Surprise: How Our Brain Secretly Changes Our Beliefs, (not yet published).

My slogan: Whoever learns the most wins. You can see my recent TEDxSalem talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5O6mFWpgZo

Blog: michaelrousell.com

Articles:

5 Ways to Empower Girls Oct 27, 2019

Show notes

Lynn Colón, co-author of Empowering Girls: Opening the Door for Girls to Achieve More, helps us understand what schools need to be doing to intentionally empower their female students to achieve more. Lynn shares some of her journey and the nuances of understanding girls today.

www.coolcatteacher.com/e580

Lynn Colón - Bio As Submitted

Lynmara Colón brings the perspective of a teacher, assistant principal, and principal positions she has held since joining education in 2003 to her work in literacy. As principal of Mary Williams Elementary School in 2014, she served over 1,000 students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade and was able to increase reading engagement by leading a culture of literacy.

She now heads the office that provides comprehensive registration services to English learners and immigrant children, including translation and interpretation services, to a school division serving over 90,000 students. These students represent 124 countries and 149 languages. Colón holds two master's degrees: a degree in curriculum and instruction, and the other in educational leadership. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in education through Old Dominion University.

Book: Empowering Girls: Opening the Door for Girls to Achieve More

Blog: leadwithmagic.com

Twitter: @TheColon_s

Instagram: LynmaraCosme

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.

Self Care Tips and Advice to Be Your Best Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

Take care of yourself! We often tell each other this as teachers and rightly so. I once read that teachers work the same amount of time in ten months that most people work in a year. Teaching is not for the faint of heart or weak of the back but we must rest and stay strong to be our best. But how? Today, Mandy Froehlich gives us advice for self-care.

www.coolcatteacher.com/e579

Challenge

Press pause and take a few minutes after listening to this show to evaluate how you are doing with self care. If you do not change something, what will be the result of the direction you're heading with your health? Make one change.

Mandy Froehlich - Bio As Submitted

Mandy Froehlich passionately encourages educators to create innovative change in their classrooms. A former Director of Innovation and Technology, technology integrator, and teacher, she has experience at many levels of the organizational structure. Her interest lies in reinvigorating and re-engaging teachers back into their profession, as well as what's needed to support teachers in their pursuit of innovative and divergent thinking and teaching. She consults internationally with school districts and post-secondary institutions in the effective use of technology to support great teaching, mental health support for educators, and how to create organizational change. Her first book, The Fire Within: Lessons from defeat that have ignited a passion for learning, discusses mental health awareness for teachers. Her second book, Divergent EDU, is based on an organizational structure she developed to support teachers in innovative and divergent thinking.

Blog: www.mandyfroehlich.com

Twitter: @froehlichm

Free Self Care Course: divergentedu.thinkific.com

Instagram: @divergentedu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadershipinnovationanddivergentteaching/

How to Design Learning Spaces in Libraries Oct 23, 2019

Show notes

Many schools are reimagining the learning spaces that some call libraries or media centers. Carolyn Foote takes us to the center of this trend to take us inside how she redesigned her learning space and the thought process behind it. As you plan your school's strategy, you'll want to have conversations about this show.

www.coolcatteacher.com/e578

Carolyn Foote - Bio As Submitted

Carolyn Foote is a techno-librarian, fascinated by the confluence of technology, students, and libraries. A White House Champion of Change in 2013, and recipient of the AASL Library Collaboration Award in 2019, she is a leader in the library field, especially on 1:1 technologies, library design, and student voice. Her blog can be found at Not So Distant Future http://www.futura.edublogs.org.

Twitter: @technolibrary

Favorite Hashtags: Follow the #TXLCHAT and #TLCHAT hashtags for all things libraries!

Instagram: @technolibrary

Getting past STEM Labels into real STEM Learning Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

Lots of things are labeled "STEM" these days but many of them are just rote instructions for students to follow. Is this truly STEM learning? Taylor Ryan is STEM coordinator for his school as they work to integrate STEM into every class. He shares what he's learned about true STEM learning in the past year in this role. Hear about STEM from the trenches of a school that is doing it.

www.coolcatteacher.com/e577

Challenge

Have conversations about the STEM learning at your school. Is it authentic STEM learning? What could you apply from this podcast in terms of longer-term or shorter projects? How about cross-curricular?

Taylor Ryan - Bio As Submitted

Taylor is a teacher and STEM Officer at Fulford Academy, a private school in Brockville, Ontario.

School Website: https://fulfordacademy.com/

Overcoming Your Fears (and Helping Kids Do It Too) Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

Tara Martin has written a book to help children (and adults) face their fears called Cannonball In! Today, we talk about a powerful metaphor and the risks of life and how sometimes we have to jump! Enjoy!

www.coolcatteacher.com/e576

Your Challenge

I have a saying in my office by Eleanor Roosevelt that says "do something every day that scares you." Again, we're talking rational risk and getting out of our comfort zone. So, that's your challenge – get out of your comfort zone today.

Tara Martin - Bio As Submitted

Tara Martin is an enthusiastic educator, speaker, and author. Her ambition is to lead a culture of innovative change and to motivate others to become the best they can be, all while staying REAL-- Relatable Exposing Vulnerability Always Approachable, and Learning Through Life.

Blog: http://www.tarammartin.com/

Books:

5 Ways to Greet Your Students Oct 18, 2019

Show notes

Thom Gibson has fun ways to greet students as he walks around campus. He shared them on Twitter recently and I started using some of them and it adds a whole element of fun and engagement while interacting with students. Learn about these ideas and become the kind of person that kids love to greet!

www.coolcatteacher.com/e575

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For more on how Thom greets his students, listen to his narrative about it here.

Five Ways Thom Greets His Students

Merry Mini Fist Bump Monday
Happy Two Thumbs up Tuesday
Waving Wednesday
Thankful Thursday - shake hand and asks what they are thankful for that day
High 5 Friday

I've adopted some of these and have adapted my own. I do Happy Fist Bump Friday and Happy Thumb Wrestle Thursday.

Thom Gibson - Bio As Submitted

Thom Gibson is a two-time teacher-of-the-year educator in Austin, TX, teaching math, robotics, YouTube Video Production, and the esports elective. He's the creator and host of the 'Stories from the Classroom' podcast, he posts weekly teacher vlogs / teaching tip videos on his YouTube channel, and is the creator of the 'Create & Manage A Classroom Economy' course for teachers.

Outside of education, he's a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, learner of Mandarin, an avid runner, a chicken wing connoisseur, and is actively involved in his church. I created a course for teachers on how to create & manage a classroom economy. http://thomgibson.com/classroomeconomy

Blog: http://thomgibson.com

Twitter: @gibsonedu

Instagram: @gibsoneducation

Facebook: http://facebook.com/gibsonedu

YouTube: http://youtube.com/gibsonedu

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/thomgibson