What if you could achieve a 40% increase in ELA proficiency in just one school year? Teacher Ezera Washington from Paterson, New Jersey, did exactly that—reaching an astounding 91% proficiency rate with her students.

In this episode, Ezera shares her proven methods for improving reading test scores while building meaningful relationships with students. You’ll learn how to:

• Adapt teaching using real-time data and formative assessments.
• Scaffold complex content to ensure all students meet grade-level goals.
• Build strong parent-teacher partnerships to reinforce learning at home.
• Inspire struggling readers to believe in their potential.

Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned educator, this episode offers actionable strategies to boost reading proficiency in your classroom.

📄 Show Notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/e872

Get ready for CS4Ed Week 2024 and the Hour of Code with this special episode of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast! 🎉 We’re sharing 12 practical and fun coding activities that will inspire creativity and teach kids computational thinking. From gamified platforms like CodeCombat to app development with Mad Learn, hands-on robotics, and unplugged challenges, there’s something here for every educator and student.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to use CodeCombat and Code.org to engage students in coding.
• Creative ideas like Dance Party, Minecraft, and coding with Anna and Elsa.
• Hands-on activities with mBot Robots, Arduino Boards, and Hummingbird Kits.
• Unplugged coding with Hot Wheels for a screen-free coding experience.
• Why coding is an essential skill for students of all ages.

🎙️ About the Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Mad Learn, a comprehensive app-building platform that integrates the design thinking process. Learn how to inspire students with app development tools they’ll love: https://coolcatteacher.com/madlearn.

📚 Links and Resources: All resources mentioned in this episode are available at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e871

👩‍🏫 Host: Vicki Davis, the Cool Cat Teacher®, shares practical tips and tools to inspire educators worldwide. She is a classroom teacher, programmer, author, and Mom.

This special extended episode is for family and friends to listen to in the car or around the holidays. It is from what I call my "legacy project," Cool Cat Teacher Talk, soon to be released as its separate podcast. In this, I'll tell you about the Cool Cat Teacher Talk Show project, why I'm doing it, and how it is being created and shared. Then, I'll share my 58-minute Cool Cat Teacher talk episode on Gratitude and Thankfulness. I hope you enjoy the show. 

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

Speech-to-text, audio, personal drawings and pictures, and writing about things kids love are all part of helping kids get excited about writing. In today's show, we talk to 15-year educator Randi Ahrndt about encouraging kids to get excited about writing as we discuss interactive writing strategies and one of the best free tools for teaching writing. We also talk about an authentic project of having kids write a personal book and the various steps of making it happen. We'll explore how to leverage technology and interactive strategies to turn even the most reluctant students into enthusiastic writers. Discover how to encourage creativity and self-expression in your classroom for all grades.

Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e869 

• What are the best free writing apps for classrooms, including tools like Book Creator?
• How can teachers use interactive strategies to make writing more engaging?
• Why is sharing writing with an authentic audience crucial for student motivation?
• How can speech-to-text tools support struggling writers?
• What role does student choice play in creating excitement for writing projects?
• How do graphic organizers help students overcome writer's block?
• How can teachers balance the demands of teaching foundational skills with writing practice?

• Free Apps for Writing: Explore tools like Book Creator, Canva, and Google Docs to enable multimodal storytelling and provide accessibility options such as speech-to-text.
• Interactive Strategies: Foster excitement with activities like project pitches, peer feedback, and sharing stories with family or classmates.
• Practical Tips: Encourage frequent writing through journaling, passion projects, and low-pressure feedback to build confidence.
• Authentic Experiences: Showcase student work with tools like eBooks, digital displays, and class libraries to celebrate their creativity.

Book Creator is my favorite tool for teaching writing and promoting student creativity! With its user-friendly platform, students can create vibrant eBooks featuring text, images, audio, and even video.

✅ Get 3 months FREE of Book Creator Premium with the code COOLCATTEACHER!

🎨 Connect directly to Canva, personalize books, and ignite a love for writing in your classroom.

👉 Learn more about how Book Creator can improve literacy in your classroom!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. While I was compensated by Book Creator, all opinions expressed here are my own. I only share tools I personally use and believe will benefit my audience.

Sometimes, teachers can struggle to "fit it all in" when it comes to reading. What a relief it is to hear reading instructional leaders like Jennifer Serravallo talk about the artistry of teaching, how to overcome the challenges of teaching reading, and teacher autonomy and responsiveness. Jennifer also reflects on where the research is "fuzzy" in reading instruction needs more work and discusses where we go next (including the challenges of teaching children with changing attention spans). If you teach reading, Jennifer's show is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights:

•  Effective Lesson Structures: Step-by-step plans for read-alouds, shared reading, phonics, and close reading.
• Art Meets Science: How structured lessons allow teachers to bring creativity and adaptability into their reading instruction.
• Emerging Research Areas: What’s next in reading comprehension, engagement, and the role of executive functioning in literacy?

Tune in to get inspired and equipped with tools to make reading instruction more engaging, manageable, and impactful. Perfect for teachers, administrators, and anyone passionate about literacy education.

Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e868

Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley the Principal of Fairfield High School in South Carolina was named the 2025 Principal of the Year for the United States by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Today we're going to talk to her about the culture transformation at her school that improved their graduation rate and built a school pride that is promoting excellence in everything they do. She also talks about school safety and how she has approached this sensitive topic. Listen to this inspiring principal and make your school a better place too.

Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e867

This episode of The 10 Minute Teacher was a lot of fun. Not only did I get to interview my principal, Jonathan Dyal, but my film class, the "Sherwood Showstoppers," filmed the interview. (I'm so proud of how much they are learning!) After a tweet I sent out in October 2023, George Couros and Allyson Apsey invited me to write a chapter about Jonathan in their book What Makes a Great Principal: The Five Pillars of Effective Leadership out this year. (You can listen to my earlier interview with George about what truly makes a great principal and the five pillars shared in the book.)

Principal Dyal shares his philosophy of walking the halls frequently to stay connected with teachers and students, emphasizing his proactive rather than reactive philosophy. We talked about his strategies to build trust with teachers and how he uses observations positively. (I like his philosophy of observations; that is what the tweet was about in the first place.) He also discusses how he builds positive relationships with students in a way that improves student culture.

This is a unique interview in that I see this firsthand and know the positive results it has when principals leave their offices, walk the halls, and spend time in classrooms. This approach is powerful, and it works!

Show notes and transcript: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e866

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.

In today’s episode, we discuss a critical issue many schools are facing—how to help students and staff heal from trauma. Whether it's a safety event, severe weather like Hurricane Helene, or individual traumas, schools across the nation are navigating unprecedented challenges. To help students learn, we must first help them process what they've been through. As Lana Penley says, "In moments of crisis, we need to provide space for students and teachers to process what they've been through before diving back into academics."

I want to acknowledge those still in the midst of trauma, like those affected by ongoing flooding in North Carolina. We have to meet their immediate needs first, as we cannot move forward until people feel safe and supported. While my hometown of Camilla, Georgia, was spared from the worst of Hurricane Helene, I know many of you are still facing tremendous struggles, and my heart is with you.

In this episode, Lana Penley shares her powerful story of transformation. After her school burned down, she realized that test scores weren’t the primary goal—what truly mattered was creating a sense of community, connection, and healing. As her school focused on relationships, both with students and among the staff, they saw remarkable changes: teachers felt less burnout, students were more engaged, and yes, test scores went up. This episode is a resource for educators and principals who are hurting, who want to help their students, and who need to know that it’s okay to pause and heal before pushing forward.

Show notes, guest bio, and transcript: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e865

Questions Answered in this Episode

• How do you help students and teachers heal after a traumatic event in a school community?
• What are the key steps to take in the aftermath of trauma, such as a hurricane or school safety event?
• How can schools create connection and community to create a safe learning environment?
• What practical strategies can teachers use to bring social-emotional learning into their classrooms?
• How can educators balance the need for academic progress with the emotional needs of students and staff?
• What lessons did Principal Lana Penley learn from her school burning down, and how did it change her approach to education?
• Why is it important to address the emotional needs of teachers as well as students in times of crisis?
• What role does mindfulness and stress reduction play in helping students and staff recover and thrive?

In today’s episode of The 10-Minute Teacher Podcast, we sit down with well-known educator and author George Couros to dive into his latest book, What Makes a Great Principal: The Five Pillars of Effective School Leadership.

With insights from educators, principals, and contributors from around the world, George discusses how great principals build strong relationships, encourage continuous learning, and create environments that elevate both teachers and students. (I also was able to contribute a chapter about my principal and we talk about that a little as well.)

• What makes a great principal?
• What are the five pillars of effective school leadership?
• How can principals build strong relationships with their staff and students?
• Why is servant leadership important in education?
• How do principals promote a collaborative school environment?
• What is the role of vision in school leadership, and how should it be developed?
• How can principals support teachers to help them grow and succeed?
• What characteristics do the best principals and teachers share?
• How can school leaders balance autonomy and accountability for their staff?
• How does a principal’s presence in the classroom impact school culture and teacher performance?

Whether you're a principal, teacher, or aspiring leader, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on how to lead with vision, purpose, and empathy whether you're leading a school or your classroom.

Sponsor: Mirrortalk.ai - Today's show is sponsored by MirrorTalk.AI by Swivl. This incredible verbal reflection tool for students uses AI to respond in a way that will help coach my students on the task at hand. Whether they are building websites or working on teams, the feedback helps me see where students are and coaches them to higher levels of performance. Go to coolcatteacher.com/mirrortalk now to sign up for your free, 60-day trial.

Show Notes and Full Transcript: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e864 

👍 Enjoyed this podcast? Was this video helpful? Leave a review wherever you listen to shows. 

✅ WHERE TO FIND ME

🌐 Check out my blog: https://www.coolcatteacher.com

🐦 Twitter: @coolcatteacher

📘 Facebook: /coolcatteacher

📸 Instagram: /coolcatteacher

🔗 LinkedIn: /in/coolcatteacher

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."

We want our students to be engaged and to want to learn. Particularly since the pandemic, many schools have struggled to engage learners. Today's episode shows us not only how we can creatively include play in our classrooms, no matter the age group or subject, but also why it's never too late to re-engage students. 

Additionally, Dr. Nash shares fascinating data from a recent survey involving over 6,000 administrators, teachers, parents, and students that reveals the importance of student engagement and how play-based learning can drive meaningful educational experiences across all ages. Additionally, we learn how play-based learning can drive meaningful educational experiences across all ages.

Show Notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e863 

Key Questions We Answer in the Show:

•  How does play-based learning impact student engagement and educational outcomes?
• What does the latest research from LEGO Education tell us about current engagement levels in schools?
• How can teachers incorporate hands-on, playful learning even in older grade levels?
• What are some practical examples of how purposeful play can solve real-world classroom challenges?
• Why is fun important in education, and how can teachers strike a balance between fun and learning objectives?

 Key Research Insights (go to LegoEducation.com to read the full report.)

• 35% of administrators report that students are disengaged in school, leading to issues like absenteeism and poor information retention.
• 83% of attendance rates are tied directly to hands-on, engaging learning experiences.
• 84% of surveyed educators believe that hands-on learning can improve test scores.
• Only 2 in 5 students report regularly experiencing play-based learning, despite strong support from both teachers and students for its benefits.

Show Sponsor: Hands-on learning through play is backed up by research. Please go to LEGOeducation.com to see the new report on classroom engagement. To support this method of teaching, check out the full range of hands-on learning experiences you can bring to your classroom with LEGO Education.

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."