10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Dr. Catlin Tucker, bestselling author and blended learning expert, joins Vicki Davis to talk about how teachers can design better lessons with AI—without losing their essential human touch. From universal design for learning (UDL) to creating meaningful student choice, Dr. Tucker explains how AI can elevate lesson planning when used with intentionality and creativity. They discuss the limits of "A...

Teaching writing can feel challenging in today's world of short attention spans and AI-generated text—but it doesn't have to be! In this encouraging episode, author and professor Nancy McCabe joins host Vicki Davis (Cool Cat Teacher) to share six creative strategies that help students rediscover the joy of writing. From 10-minute free writing sessions to outdoor field trips and imitating great aut...

Learning a new language can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be! In this inspiring conversation, Spanish teacher Dawne Beck joins host Vicki Davis (Cool Cat Teacher) to share practical ways to create a l ow-anxiety, high-engagement classroom where students actually enjoy speaking another language. From using game-based learning and storytelling to integrating AI pronunciation tools like Speaka...

My students asked me about the Adam Raine wrongful death suit. Parents have asked me. So, I had to spend some time digging into the issues there and how I will be part of the solution. Part of protecting kids from their favorite 'homework helper.' We should all be concerned, and I look forward to continuing to learn and converse about the issue of our times as it relates to children. Show notes an...

Teachers often feel pressured to say "yes" to everything. Dr. Brad Johnson shares why assertiveness is the secret to avoiding burnout and thriving in your teaching career and how you can do it in a way that you're not considered negative. 3 Takeaways: • Assertiveness is about healthy boundaries, not aggression. • Saying "no" is essential to teacher self-care. • Administrators and teachers both ben...

Too many kids see math as boring or irrelevant. Tinashe Blanchet shares how creative, real-world projects like scale models can help students engage deeply with math while still hitting standards. Read more: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e913 3 Takeaways: • Scale models and PBL connect math to real life. • Measurement is often the weakest test area—but projects can fix that. • Teachers can start...

AI didn't break assessments—it revealed just how flawed they already were. Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD, shares how schools can prepare AI-ready graduates, address bias, and rethink what learning really looks like. Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e912 3 Takeaways: • Assessments weren't broken by AI—they were broken already. • An AI-ready graduate needs strong human skills like stor...

Cyber attacks on schools are growing. Auburn University's Jay James shows how student-led cybersecurity operations prepare learners and protect campuses. 3 Takeaways: • Student SOCs give real-world, hands-on cybersecurity training. • AI tools like Microsoft Security Co-Pilot mentor students in real time. • K-12 schools can start small with focused projects and grow from there. Growth Prompt: How d...

Staff morale slipping or culture feeling off? In minutes, Stand Tall Steve Bollar shares quick, no-cost moves to lift school climate, empower staff, and unite your campus. Full links + guest bio:  https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e910 . Follow the 10 Minute Teacher for weekly classroom-ready tips. 3 Takeaways • Run a 7-week student-to-staff micro-challenge to build relationships fast. • Use five lev...

This week's education news brings critical warnings every educator needs to hear. We're covering a major Apple security update, OpenAI's new Study Mode (and why a Cambridge expert gives it a C+), and most importantly - alarming findings about AI social companion apps that 70% of students are already using. Plus, concerning comments from OpenAI's CEO about the future of education. If you work with...

As we prepare to return to school and with all of the announcements over the summer, what are the things we should do right away to prepare. Should we really enable all of the things or how can we slow down and test what really needs to happen to ensure the safety of our students and the educational value we want to offer? Teacher and IT Director, Vicki Davis, gives an overview of the summer's hot...

I have three AI prompts I teach my students on the first day. Learn about why I do this and what the prompts are in this turbo tip episode! See the three prompts in the show notes and see a copy of the presentation I use to teach students to prompt: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e907  

Microsoft's Mike Tholfsen unveils game-changing AI breakthroughs for educators at ISTE 2025, including Copilot Chat for teens 13+, the revolutionary Teach module that creates standards-aligned lessons in minutes, and AI-powered study guides that transform how students learn. Discover how Learning Zone on Copilot+ PCs brings AI directly to your classroom without internet, plus exciting updates to L...

Sometimes it takes a wake-up call to transform from just being "a teacher" to being "THE teacher" who makes a difference. Math teacher and tech director Josh Korb shares three game-changing strategies from his book "Be the Cause" that you can implement immediately: Curiosity Corner spaces that spark student inquiry, energizing brain breaks using his "Jumping Jack Jam" technique, and Action Teams t...

Ready for a deep dive into the latest AI tools and education headlines? In this special extended news episode, Vicki Davis shares 15 cutting-edge AI tools including Gemini's new video parsing capabilities, Claude Opus 4's powerful features, and Perplexity Labs' research tools, plus 15 critical news stories every educator needs to know. From AI ethics and security warnings to practical classroom ap...

with Audrey Watters | Episode 903 | Tech Tool Tuesday Are we racing toward an AI future without asking the right questions? Author and ed-tech critic  Audrey Watters joins me to show teachers how to hit pause, get thoughtful, and keep classroom relationships at the center. Sponsored by Rise Vision Did you know the same solution that powers my AI classroom also drives campus-wide emergency alerts a...

Looking for ideas to engage your students in conversation? In this week's quick news roundup, I give you stories about: The impact of overwork on the teacher's brain, An idea for an energy drink experiment for science teachers around the chemical "taurine" NASA and the tectonic plates of Venus YouTube's new "Peak Points" Advertising strategy as an AI article to discuss with students ChatGPT 4 goin...

Do you want to help students truly understand and enjoy math? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Erin Krupa shares her powerful research and practical classroom strategies that have helped boost student math achievement. From project- based challenges to integrating meaningful tech tools like Geometer's Sketchpad, Erin brings the research to life in ways every K– 12 teacher can use. She discusses how...

From rogue AI behaviors to Google Gemini's web- building skills, this week's 10 Minute Teacher Podcast is your fast, fun roundup of the most classroom-worthy education and technology news! 🎙️ Today I'm sharing 15 surprising, hilarious, and serious updates that every teacher and school leader should know— from " GPT tennis" in schools to an AI that tried to be your spiritual guide ( yikes - not jus...

What does the science actually say about teaching methods that work? In this episode, Nathaniel Hansford shares how you can become a more effective teacher by applying proven principles from education research. Learn how meta- analysis, spaced practice, retrieval techniques, and data- driven strategies can lead to better learning outcomes in your classroom. Nathaniel also discusses why many PD ses...

On May 1, 2025, Sam Altman's identity project, now called World (formerly Worldcoin), launched iris and face-scanning locations in six U.S. cities. The goal? Prove you're human — and get a World ID in return. In this episode, Vicki Davis breaks down how the tech works, why it's free, and the serious ethical concerns for educators and parents alike. You'll learn the three major reasons this global...

Students won't learn if they don't feel seen. 💡 In this inspiring episode, veteran educator Dr. Lucy Lambert-Guesnard shares practical ways to build trust, connection, and authentic classroom relationships—especially with students who struggle. From real stories like "Larry with the hoodie" to "Joey with the basketball," Dr. Lucy offers compassionate strategies that help teachers turn everyday mo...

Want to get more organized as a teacher or school leader—without spending a dime? In this episode, productivity expert Dr. Frank Buck shares five free Evernote features educators can use to simplify their digital lives. From emailing notes to powerful web clipping and searchable snapshots, Frank explains how to turn Evernote into your second brain. 💼  Sponsor Message: This episode is sponsored by...

Teacher burnout is real — but it doesn't have to end your career. In this motivational Monday episode, Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson (Dr. PBJ) shares her powerful personal story and real strategies to recognize burnout early, set healthy boundaries, and find your joy in teaching again. 💼  Sponsor Message: This episode is sponsored by  Solution Tree . For over 25 years, Solution Tree has partnered w...

What do teachers need to know this week about AI, edtech tools, privacy risks, and time-saving features? In this fast-paced news update, Vicki Davis — the Cool Cat Teacher — shares teacher-tested headlines that impact the classroom. From Google's bulk grading feature to concerns about AI eye-tracking and international AI policy, this episode is packed with insights that matter. Also, a huge health...