10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

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Student STEM Trips That Made Students Say "I Could Do This" Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Four STEM teachers. Four trips that changed students forever. From Panama to the UK to MIT to DC.

When a student does real science in a real place, STEM stops being abstract. Miranda Grabowski's biology class planted mangroves in Panama. Angela Cannava's biomed students ran a live DNA fingerprinting experiment in London. Karen Spencer's seventh graders toured MIT and Harvard in Boston. Edith Cortez's eighth graders from Laredo, Texas competed at science museums in Washington DC.

In every story, something very cool happens: students look up at the scientists and engineers in the room and realize — "I could do this for a living."

In this episode, you'll learn: - How to align a STEM trip to what you're already teaching in the classroom - What happens when a student's classroom finally connects to what scientists actually do - Why taking students to see real labs, real campuses, and real professionals changes what they believe is possible - How teachers in different states and different budget situations made these trips happen — and why they'd do it again

Show notes and resources at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e936

Sponsor. Today's show is sponsored by EF Explore America and their STEM Tours. Lead your students on a STEM tour to places on the cutting edge of innovation to show them how STEM thinking often shows up where you least expect it. Imagine your students coding robots with MassRobotics at MIT, exploring marine ecosystems in Florida's coral reefs, or even sitting down to talk with a former spy in Washington DC. If you want to inspire your students and give them a fresh perspective on the power of STEM, visit efexploreamerica.com/STEM. All opinions are those of the teachers and the host.

If this episode moved you, leave a review wherever you're listening — it helps other remarkable educators find the show. I read every one.

AI Won't Fix Education. People will. May 21, 2026

Show notes

Jean-Claude Brizard, President and CEO of Digital Promise, joins Vicki on this Thought Leader Thursday episode of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast. From his beginning teaching incarcerated youth at Rikers Island, where he met a young man his own age who couldn't do basic math, to leading a global nonprofit that's reshaping how teachers and developers co-create AI tools — Jean-Claude shares why he's been in education for 38 years and counting.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why teachers must be "crew, not passengers" on AI
How Digital Promise is co-creating with teachers to extend a science-of-reading platform for multilingual learners
How Gen AI is letting students talk to the "average Americans" history forgot — including a Georgia housewife who captured seven British soldiers
Why mitigating AI bias requires educators in the room from the start
How to spot certified tech versus "shiny object" fluff

Full show notes, transcript, and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e935

If this episode made you think, leave a review wherever you're listening — it helps other teachers find the show. And share it with a teacher friend.

Brain First, AI Second: Teaching Writing in the AI Era May 06, 2026

Show notes

Brain first AI teaching: a new MIT Media Lab study shows students who think before they use AI have a clear advantage over those who start with AI. Philip Seyfried — Teachers College, Columbia doctoral student and co-author of AI-Enhanced Literacy — shares the brain-first framework, why AI detectors don't work, how to monitor AI use in the classroom transparently, and how to build the kind of trust that lets students tell you the truth about how they actually used the tools.

In this episode, you'll learn: • Why MIT's research shows brain-first / AI-second produces stronger writers • Why AI detectors fail — and what to do instead for academic integrity (with danah boyd's em-dash story) • Why you should push AI to your students instead of grading WITH AI yourself — Vicki's classroom approach • The "Beautiful Sentence" moment: why human teacher feedback still beats anything an algorithm can give • Why we shouldn't anthropomorphize AI — and where beginning teachers should actually start (Phil cites Ethan Mollick's "Co-Intelligence" + "three sleepless nights" with AI)

Show notes and full transcript: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e934

Today's show is sponsored by EF Explore America and their STEM Tours. Lead your students on a STEM tour to places on the cutting edge of innovation — coding robots with MassRobotics at MIT, exploring marine ecosystems in Florida's coral reefs, or sitting down to talk with a former spy in Washington, D.C. Visit efexploreamerica.com/STEM.

If this episode helped you, please leave a rating or review on this site. It helps others find the show! Thank you for your help!

Real World STEM: Real Tools, Real Clients, Real Money May 02, 2026

Show notes

What does real world STEM education look like in a high school where students run actual manufacturing contracts on industry-grade equipment, intern at MIT, and learn AI ethics alongside CAD?

Joe Fatheree (Top 10 Global Teacher Prize, Illinois Teacher of the Year) and Dr. Mark Buckner (Smart Industry Top 50 Innovator, founder of Oak Ridge High School's iSchool and Wildcat Manufacturing) take Vicki inside a $1.25 million state grant program where 26 student-run contracts with 18 companies have produced near-net-shape metal 3D printing, augmented reality experiences, and graduates already working four to five years ahead of their college peers.

This extended episode also tackles the AI conversation educators most need: where AI belongs in classrooms, where it doesn't, what neuroscience says about kids' developing brains in the attention economy, and why "just because you can does not mean you should" is the most important lesson STEM students will learn this year.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How Wildcat Manufacturing's profit-sharing model pays students for real client work
The three pathways Oak Ridge graduates take — start a business, $100K+ workforce, or accelerate into engineering
Why Mark teaches industry frameworks (Scrum, Lean, Toyota Kata, Deming) instead of "edu-ese"
Where AI helps (rapid feedback, math practice) and where it harms (Grok Annie, social companionship, attention erosion)
What the "Manhattan Project 2.0" frame means for AI policy and your classroom

Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e933

EF Explore America STEM Tours sponsored today's show. Show students how STEM impacts the world up close and in action. Students could code robots with MassRobotics at MIT or explore marine ecosystems in Florida's coral reefs or even sit down to talk with a former spy in Washington DC. Students will learn how STEM thinking often shows up where you least expect it. Inspire your students visit efexploreamerica.com/STEM

ADHD Misconceptions: What Your Students Need You to Know Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

ADHD misconceptions are sabotaging your students' confidence and success. In this episode, Jheri South—a certified ADHD specialist and mom of seven neurodivergent kids—reveals the five things that actually engage an ADHD brain, the hidden emotional struggle affecting 95% of people with ADHD (rejection sensitivity dysphoria), and why "just try harder" is the worst advice you can give. Learn practical strategies for classroom engagement, how to recognize hyper-focus, and why consistency matters more than you think.

In this episode:

The difference between ADHD behaviors and ADHD neurology
The five things that engage an ADHD brain: novelty, interest, challenge/competition, urgency, and passion
Why urgency triggers hyper-focus (and why it's not laziness)
Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) and why it's often more disabling than distractibility
How classroom placement and private conversations rebuild self-confidence
Why inconsistency erodes ADHD students' self-worth
The role of project-based learning in ADHD engagement
Being a difference maker instead of a "put-downer"

Show Notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e932

This episode is sponsored by the VAI Educators Studio from Van Andel Institute for Education. Get 50% off with promo code COOLCAT at coolcatteacher.com/vai .

Free AI Resources for Teachers: Hour of AI and Beyond Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Free AI literacy resources for every K-12 teacher — not just computer science. Karim Meghji, President and CEO at Code.org, shares how to teach AI in any classroom.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why AI literacy belongs in every subject, not just CS class
How to get started with Code.org's free Hour of AI activities at hourofai.org
Unplugged AI activities that work without any computers — perfect for K-5
Why teachers need to invest in their own AI education first (and a free way to do it)
Where to start by grade level: elementary, middle school, and high school resources

Karim explains that students need to understand not just how to use AI tools, but how they actually work under the hood. Code.org's Hour of AI brings together hundreds of partners offering one-hour activities across grade levels and subjects. And their new unplugged AI curriculum lets students explore generative AI through conversation and collaboration before ever touching a computer.

Show notes and all links: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e931

This episode is sponsored by the VAI Educators Studio from Van Andel Institute for Education. Get 50% off with promo code COOLCAT at coolcatteacher.com/vai .

Inquiry Based Learning Made Simple for K-8 Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Inquiry-based learning doesn't have to mean overhauling your entire schedule. Terra Tarango, Chief Education Officer at Van Andel Institute for Education, shares practical ways K-8 teachers can weave inquiry and hands-on science into any subject — starting small and building from there.

Sponsored by the VAI Educator's Studio from Van Andel Institute for Education.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How a 5-lesson kindergarten bee project covers science, math, ELA, and SEL
Why "Beat the Bot" is the perfect activity for teaching kids what humans do better than AI
How to flip your planning — start with what's interesting, then connect the content
What ethical PD looks like (and why Terra says theory-heavy PD is "unethical")
Small first steps: pledge forms, student pitch tanks, and flipping instruction order

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e930

Get 50% off VAI Educator's Studio membership with promo code COOLCAT at coolcatteacher.com/vai

Brain Friendly Reading Strategies That Actually Work Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Malia Hollowell shares actionable, science-backed strategies to transform early reading instruction. Learn how to organize sight words by phonics rules, leverage spoken language as your teaching superpower, support dyslexic learners, and use word ladders for real reading growth. You'll also discover why leveled readers fall short and how to find trustworthy literacy resources.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to organize sight words by phonics rules instead of random lists
Why spoken language and sound tapping beats flashcard drilling
How to support the 20% of learners with dyslexia using audio-focused strategies
Why word ladders are more effective than traditional leveled readers
Where to find trustworthy literacy sources backed by research
Free editable sight word games from Playdough to Plato

Show Notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e929

About the Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Van Andel Institute for Education. The Educator's Studio is a resource-packed platform with classroom-tested lessons, hands-on projects, professional development, and a supportive educator community. Get 50% off with promo code COOLCAT at coolcatteacher.com/vai.

Phone Addiction in Teens: What Actually Works Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

Phone addiction in teens is real — and Australian psychologist Dr. Brad Marshall has evidence-based strategies that actually work from treating 2,500+ families.

Dr. Brad Marshall, known as the Unplugged Psychologist and Director of Australia's Screen & Gaming Disorder Clinic, joins Vicki Davis to share what two decades of clinical work and university research reveal about helping kids break free from phone addiction — without shame or judgment.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why parental control software fails — and the "handbrake rule" that actually works
What happened when Australia banned phones in every school
Why sleep is the number one thing to protect from screen overuse
Why expecting teens to self-regulate phone use is "neurologically ridiculous"
How to have a non-judgmental conversation with teens about their phone habits

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e928

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Executive Function Strategies K through 3rd Grade Teachers Can Use Today Feb 14, 2026

Show notes

Executive function strategies Kindergarten through 3rd grade teachers can implement today. Dr. Sarah Oberle shares science-backed ways to support working memory, inhibition, and focus in the classroom.

Dr. Sarah Oberle is a primary educator and cognitive science expert whose upcoming book, Executive Functions for Every K-3 Classroom, translates learning science into practical classroom strategies. In this episode, she breaks down the six executive functions developing in young children and explains why they matter more than content knowledge for student success.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The six executive functions and how they develop in K-3 students (core vs. higher-order)
Why working memory is more limited than most teachers realize — and how to offload it with visual reminders, brief instruction bursts, and student-created notations
How inhibition affects not just behavior but also attention and focus
Why your classroom decor and seating arrangement may be taxing executive functions without you realizing it
The science behind why music with lyrics creates a barrier to student focus

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e927

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