10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Learn how project-based learning in math classes can create memorable learning experiences for students and increase engagement. The speaker shares examples of projects, such as probability games and building bottle rockets, that empower students and encourage learning from mistakes. Discover the effectiveness of project-based learning in math class for student retention and engagement, and get tips for getting started with PBL. Explore the limitations of traditional test-based learning and hear personal anecdotes of long-lasting student engagement and retention through project-based learning.

Students, parents, and teachers have social emotional learning skills that are needed in today's climate. Dr. Amy Cranston helps us understand how we can help our children (and families and schools) make it through this difficult time. www.coolcatteacher.com/e662 Sponsor: In today’s challenging times, we know how critical it is to make sure kids are equipped with social and emotional learning skills to cope with the world around them. That's why I’m excited to highlight the WE Schools Program, made possible by The Allstate Foundation. It brings social and emotional learning together with service-learning, helping children build key skills such as resilience, empathy, perseverance and problem-solving. Whether you're an educator looking for ways to integrate SEL into your lesson planning, or a parent looking to support your kid's remote learning at home, go to WE.org/SEL for helpful educational resources and tips. Our friends at The Allstate Foundation and WE are committed to providing you with the resources you need to get started. Dr. Amy Cranston - Bio as Submitted Dr. Amy Cranston is a 20-year veteran educator specializing in Social Emotional Learning (SEL). She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization SEL4CA, and the author of "Creating Social and Emotional Learning Environments" (Shell Education pub, 2020). To learn more, visit SEL4CA.org. 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 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."      

The current education climate has created unique social-emotional challenges for students, parents, and teachers alike. Today, Dr. Amy Cranston helps us understand how to create effective social-emotional learning environments online. As we move forward and plan, we need to make sure that the environments we create for learning help children thrive educationally and emotionally. Here's advice to help us have these important conversations. www.coolcatteacher.com/e661  Sponsor: In today’s challenging times, we know how critical it is to make sure kids are equipped with social and emotional learning skills to cope with the world around them. That's why I’m excited to highlight the WE Schools Program, made possible by The Allstate Foundation. It brings social and emotional learning together with service-learning, helping children build key skills such as resilience, empathy, perseverance and problem-solving. Whether you're an educator looking for ways to integrate SEL into your lesson planning, or a parent looking to support your kid's remote learning at home, go to WE.org/SEL for helpful educational resources and tips. Our friends at The Allstate Foundation and WE are committed to providing you with the resources you need to get started. Dr. Amy Cranston - Bio as Submitted Dr. Amy Cranston is a 20-year veteran educator specializing in Social Emotional Learning (SEL). She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization SEL4CA, and the author of "Creating Social and Emotional Learning Environments" (Shell Education pub, 2020). To learn more, visit SEL4CA.org.   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 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This past year, I turned 50, lost 50 pounds, and ran a half marathon. So much has happened recently. Challenges, ups and downs, and joys. We all have them and so do I. However, the discipline to lose the weight and to run 19.3 miles in 2 days has prepared me for this time in which we live. So, let's go on a journey of inspiration and conversation about what I'm thinking on this year's birthday! www.coolcatteacher.com/e660 Sponsor: See 10 Professional Development Courses to Improve Your Online Classroom which I shared recently on my blog. I share 10 important concepts we need to level up as we transition to online learning. Today’s sponsor Advancement Courses has courses you can take in each of these areas. See these and 280 online graduate-level PD courses at advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to save 20% off your courses. Use this time to level up learning. Host Bio. Vicki Davis is a classroom teacher and an Instructional Technology Director. She blogs at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog and hosts this podcast. See www.coolcatteacher.com/bio for her full bio.

Schools spend time, resources, and focus on security. Now, that security is moving online. What was once relegated to the IT department is now everybody's business. In today's show, I share four security issues that are on my mind. First, video conferencing security. Second, encouraging parents to conduct a security audit in the content management or learning management system you are using. Third, I talk about increasing awareness of social media manipulation by countries. Finally, I share what I think will be the next attempt to steal information from your students and teachers through spearphishing. See links to articles in the shownotes at www.coolcatteacher.com/e659  Sponsor: See 10 Professional Development Courses to Improve Your Online Classroom which I shared recently on my blog. I share 10 important concepts we need to level up as we transition to online learning. Today’s sponsor Advancement Courses has courses you can take in each of these areas. See these and 280 online graduate-level PD courses at advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to save 20% off your courses. Use this time to level up learning.   Vicki Davis is a classroom teacher and an Instructional Technology Director. She blogs at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog and hosts this podcast. See www.coolcatteacher.com/bio for her full bio. 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."

Today I share the tool kit and tips that have helped streamline distance learning at my school. Check out the shownotes for the list of tools and links. www.coolcatteacher.com/e658 Sponsor:See 10 Professional Development Courses to Improve Your Online Classroom which I shared recently on my blog. I share 10 important concepts we need to level up as we transition to online learning. Today’s sponsor Advancement Courses has courses you can take in each of these areas. See these and 280 online graduate-level PD courses at advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to save 20% off your courses. Use this time to level up learning. Vicki Davis is a classroom teacher and an Instructional Technology Director. She blogs at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog and hosts this podcast. See www.coolcatteacher.com/bio for her full bio. It is her "birthday week" this week, so she's doing some solo episodes to share some up-to-date resources from how she's helping lead her school with instructional technology that works.

As students learn from home, pundits and parents alike ask "is this really learning?" Yet, in every circumstance, students (and teachers) are learning something. What is it?  www.coolcattecher.com/e657  Sponsor: See 10 Professional Development Courses to Improve Your Online Classroom which I shared recently on my blog. I share 10 important concepts we need to level up as we transition to online learning. Today’s sponsor Advancement Courses has courses you can take in each of these areas. See these and 280 online graduate-level PD courses at advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to save 20% off your courses. Use this time to level up learning. Vicki Davis is a classroom teacher and an Instructional Technology Director. She blogs at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog and hosts this podcast. See www.coolcatteacher.com/bio for her full bio.

On a Friday, we had school in our physical building. By Monday, we had more students in our online school that we had on the previous Friday. In this episode, 10 Minute Teacher host, Vicki Davis, talks to production editor Vicki Morgan about the story at her school as the students began distance learning due to #covid19 stay at home requirements. You'll learn the tips for onboarding, orienting, and teacher professional development that can help you as you also do this for your school. Sponsor: See 10 Professional Development Courses to Improve Your Online Classroom which I shared recently on my blog. I share 10 important concepts we need to level up as we transition to online learning. Today’s sponsor Advancement Courses has courses you can take in each of these areas. See these and 280 online graduate-level PD courses at advancementcourses.com/coolcat and use the offer code COOL20 to save 20% off your courses. Use this time to level up learning. Vicki Davis is a classroom teacher and the Instructional Technology Director at Sherwood Christian Academy in Albany, Georgia. She blogs at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog and hosts this podcast. See www.coolcatteacher.com/bio for her full bio.

High school junior Jameson Cohen was looking forward to Spring Baseball Season. When he found out he’d be spending it at home, he turned it into a season of giving back. Not only was he able to feed and connect with people in need, he created a special organization called “Circle of Friends” -- designed to encourage children of HealthCare workers right from his own home. This is one example of how students are giving back for National Volunteer Week April 20-25. How are you connecting? www.coolcatteacher.com/e655  Disclosure: Today's guest is also a guest on the Let's Volunteer now event from today's sponsor. All opinions are my own and that of the guest. Sponsor: The WE Schools Program, made possible by the Allstate Foundation, is kicking off National Volunteer Week with Let’s Volunteer Now! Join this free online event to help discover how virtual volunteering can help your students build SEL skills. It will be hosted on Friday, April 17 at 1pm EST on the @Wemovement Facebook channel with special guests SEL expert Dr. Amy Cranston and her brother award-winner actor Bryan Cranston, and joined by remarkable students and WE Volunteer Now campaign participants, Tyler and Jameson. Jameson Cohen - Bio As submitted Jameson is 17 years old from New York City. He is passionate about taking action in his community and wants to ensure he is doing everything he can to continue to spread light and positivity in the world. In light of what is happening in the world and the high demand and pressure on medical professionals, Jameson is focusing his efforts supporting health care professionals who bravely work everyday to ensure the rest of us are safe and feel protected in our homes. He has been supporting a local restaurant package and deliver meals to hospitals around New York City. As part of National Volunteer Week (April 20 - 25), Jameson is giving back thorough the WE Volunteer Now campaign (https://www.we.org/en-CA/our-work/we-schools/we-schools-campaigns-and-curriculum/service-learning-campaigns/take-action/we-volunteer-now) -- encouraging his peers to take action and volunteer in their communities . Jameson has started “Circle of Friends”, a volunteer program that provides virtual programming to medical professionals, educators and parents who need help keeping their children engaged and excited during this uneasy time. Circle of Friends pairs a family with a volunteer over the age of 16 and arranges a 30 minute session focusing on an array of activities. From helping with homework, partaking in a “private yoga lesson” or even having a fun conversation about sports. Jameson hopes this platform is a way to support parents whilst also instilling a sense of hope within young people to continue to pursue their passions and interests during this time.

Research says that when students are engaged in service-learning, their immune system, heart rate and sense of well-being improves dramatically. Children are happiest when they feel a sense of purpose. Here are ten tips to help kids experience these positive benefits -- even while stuck at home. www.coolcatteacher.com/e654  Disclosure: Note that today's guest is an advisor for today's sponsor. All content and opinions are my own and that of the author. Sponsor: The WE Schools Program, made possible by the Allstate Foundation, is kicking off National Volunteer Week with Let's Volunteer Now! Join this free online event to help discover how virtual volunteering can help your students build SEL skills. It will be hosted on Friday, April 17 at 1pm EST on the @Wemovement Facebook channel with special guests SEL expert Dr. Amy Cranston and her brother award-winner actor Bryan Cranston, and joined by remarkable students and WE Volunteer Now campaign participants, Tyler and Jameson. Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl  - Bio as Submitted Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl is an expert advisor for the WE organization’s WE Schools program, which is accessed by over 18,000 schools across North America – with a special emphasis on social and emotional learning and mental wellbeing. Dr. Kim is known as a world-renowned, American expert in the area of social and emotional learning (SEL) and sits on CASEL’s Board of Directors.   Within the realm of SEL, Dr. Kim’s studies have covered the following topic areas:  The correlation between social and emotional competence (SEC) and academic achievement in early adolescence (click here for 2018 research)  The identification of the processes and mechanisms that foster positive human qualities such as empathy, compassion, altruism and resiliency in children and adolescents  How volunteer action helps develop caring, altruistic behaviors and promotes emotional and physical well-being (click here for 2018 research)   The use of mindfulness in the classroom to foster a stress-free environment (click here for 2016 research)  Projects that examine the effectiveness of classroom-based universal SEL programs (i.e. Roots to Empathy, MindUp)  Dr. Kim has over 100 publications in scholarly journals, book chapters, and reports and has edited two books on mindfulness in education, including a co-edited book (with Dr. Robert W. Roeser) published by Springer Press in 2016 titled “Handbook of Mindfulness in Education: Integrating Theory and Research Into Practice.” She has presented her research at over 200 scholarly conferences and has given over 300 presentations on the topic of children’s social and emotional development and social emotional learning.   Dr. Kim’s research has been highlighted in several magazines and newspapers across the US, and internationally, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Le Monde, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Scientific American Mind, Neurology Now, The Huffington Post, The Telegraph, The Atlantic and many more. Her research on the Roots of Empathy was profiled on the PBS Newshour special, the American Graduate.