10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Heather Wolpert-Gawron surveyed over two thousand students from every US state and type of school to find out what engages them in learning. She discovered some surprising trends that will impact how we teach teachers to teach and how we look at a school altogether. Variety may not only be the spice of life but it may be the spice of learning! www.coolcatteacher.com/e634 Heather M. Wolpert-Gawron - Bio as Submitted Heather Wolpert-Gawron is an award-winning middle school teacher and 21st Century Learning & PBL coach. She is the author of Just Ask Us: Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement (Corwin/AMLE), which shares the results of a nationwide survey of 6th-12th graders and what engages them as learners. She is also the author of DIY for Project Based Learning for ELA and History (Taylor & Francis) and DIY for Project Based Learning for Math and Science (Taylor & Francis). She is a staff blogger for Edutopia, a proud member of the California Writing Project, and a National Faculty member for PBLWorks (formally the Buck Institute for Education). Heather is passionate about Project Based Learning and believes the Maker Movement for teachers is in curriculum design. Heather believes curriculum design itself should tell a story, and she helps her students craft the tale. Heather lives with her husband and two boys in Los Angeles where they play Dungeons & Dragons every week, building their cross-over stories and adventures together.    

Creating the culture in your classroom can help you be a better and happier teacher and can help your students learn better and be happier too. Today's guest, Elisabeth Bostwick takes us into her classroom to share how she creates a luminous learning environment where learners are empowered by authentic learning that unleashes their potential. Get motivated to reach every child! www.coolcatteacher.com/e633 Elisabeth Bostwick - Bio As Submitted Elisabeth Bostwick is a multi-award-winning educator who is passionate about creating the conditions to spark curiosity and unleash creativity to empower learning. She is the author of, Take the L.E.A.P.: Ignite a Culture of Innovation and co-author of Education Write Now, Volume II: Top Strategies for Improving Relationships and Culture. As an innovative teaching and learning consultant and instructional coach supporting K-12 teachers, Elisabeth works alongside educators to create inclusive and equitable classroom cultures where every learner thrives. Elisabeth is driven to deepen learning; leveraging highly effective strategies that engage and empower all learners to maximize growth. With her passion for creating a long-lasting, positive impact on education, Elisabeth inspires others to identify how we can cultivate systemic change and develop essential success skills to ensure learners are future-ready.  

Edtech coaching can be improved with "walkarounds" and interaction between edtech coaches and teachers. Adam Juarez talks about organic edtech coaching and how to cultivate those relationships. www.coolcatteacher.com/e632  Adam Juarez - Bio as Submitted Adam Juarez is a 6-12 Technology Integration Coach for Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District. He leads teachers in implementing technology into their lessons through one-on-one coaching, demo lessons and professional development. He is the founder of the Cardinal Innovation Center: A Student-Centered Virtual and Physical Learning Space Designed to Empower. In addition, he is a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator, 2017 CUE Leroy Finkel Fellowship Finalist and co-founder of the Twitter chat #CVTechTalk. He frequently presents at ISTE, CUE, EdTechTeam and Krause Center for Innovation (KCI) events.

Take risks in education to build relationships, have difficult conversations, and make progress. Kristen Nan, a third-grade teacher, co-authored a book with her assistant superintendent. It was a risk, for sure, but Kristen talks about the risks she is and has taken in her classroom and how it has improved learning for everyone. Get inspired to take your own risks. www.coolcatteacher.com/e631 My Productivity Secrets: I make my own planner pages. If you want a copy of them and information on how I stay organized, buy the Do What Matters Book and resources. I sell them direct for $9.95 because I've included over 100 templates that I have used at some point in my life and career (including those when I was a stay at home.) Kristen Nan - Bio As Submitted An educator for the last 23 years, Kristen Nan’s passion for building relationships with her students, colleagues, and community continues to ignite change for the better! Kristen has served as an emotional support teacher, learning support teacher, and classroom teacher from Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to her current role as a 3rd-grade teacher, Kristen is an author, national speaker, consultant. With keeping a future-ready mindset at the forefront for every child, she has been recognized as an award-winning educator for innovative practices. Kristen’s recent release, “ALL IN, Taking a Gamble in Education” is co-authored by Jacie Maslyk and focuses on the importance of risk-taking, chances, and building relationships between teachers and administrators. Kristen Nan - Bio As submitted An educator for the last 23 years, Kristen Nan’s passion for building relationships with her students, colleagues, and community continues to ignite change for the better! Kristen has served as an emotional support teacher, learning support teacher, and classroom teacher from Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to her current role as a 3rd-grade teacher, Kristen is an author, national speaker, consultant. With keeping a future-ready mindset at the forefront for every child, she has been recognized as an award-winning educator for innovative practices. Kristen’s recent release, “ALL IN, Taking a Gamble in Education” is co-authored by Jacie Maslyk and focuses on the importance of risk-taking, chances, and building relationships between teachers and administrators. Twitter: @nankr1120 https://kristennan.com/      

How do you build staff morale? Brad Shreffler has five ideas to help us as you work to build bridges of trust and relationship with your colleagues at school. Enjoy coming to school because you love working with your colleagues. www.coolcatteacher.com/e630 Today’s sponsor: Advancement Courses. Choose from over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 subject areas that are self-paced with up to six months to complete. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and save 20% off each course by using the code COOL20. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can also receive graduate credit through CAEP and regionally accredited university partners for continuing education requirements. Never stop learning! Brad Shreffler - Bio as Submitted Brad Shreffler is an instructional technology coach from Central Florida. He is also the host of the Planning Period Podcast, where he talks with other education stakeholders about education, teaching, and the problems facing the field. He is passionate about changing the shape of education for the betterment of students and teachers. Find his podcast at https://www.bradshreffler.com. Twitter: @BradShreffler Planning Period Podcast - https://www.bradshreffler.com      

As part of #LoveTeaching week, I recorded some thoughts on why I love teaching. But I also have to share some of my heart about teaching, our future, and all of the amazing things our profession does for the future. Please share your story for #LoveTeaching week too! www.coolcatteacher.com/e629 Vicki Davis - Host Vicki Davis is a full-time classroom teacher and Instructional Technology Director. She has been blogging at the Cool Cat Teacher blog since 2005 and has traveled the world and written two books about edtech and collaborative technologies. She has hosted the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast since 2017 where she interviews many of the most remarkable educators on the planet about what matters to K12 educators.

In this heartwarming episode, Christie shares one of the stories of how she knows she is making a difference. She also shares encouragement for the days when teachers fall short. For 21 years, Christie Thompson has loved teaching. She's a guidance counselor and teacher of the year for her school this year in Texas. As we continue to celebrate #LoveTeaching week, remember to share your story of why you love to teach. www.coolcatteacher.com/e628  Today’s sponsor: Advancement Courses. Choose from over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 subject areas that are self-paced with up to six months to complete. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and save 20% off each course by using the code COOL20. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can also receive graduate credit through CAEP and regionally accredited university partners for continuing education requirements. Never stop learning! Christie Thompson - Bio as Submitted Christie Thompson, School Counselor A native Arkansan, I relocated to Sherman, Texas, to begin my 20-year teaching career and was awarded New Secondary Teacher of the Year for the district. I then taught English in Plano ISD and earned my Master's degree in English from SMU. I was voted Dowell Campus Teacher of the Year in 2011 by my peers and served as a campus leader in various roles, including 504 and RTI Coordinator. My transition into the field of counseling was fueled by my passion for advocating for and building relationships with students. I have a special interest in biblio counseling because I love harnessing the power of literature and its insight into the human experience. Well-written books help increase students’ self-awareness and self-esteem, build empathy, and aid in students' ability to face developmental crises. I am joining the Bennett family after serving Faubion Middle School as a school counselor for the last year and a half. At Faubion, I was able to make a positive impact and help remove barriers to students’ academic success. My mission is to provide a proactive, comprehensive, and developmentally appropriate program so that students leave Bennett ready to launch into their individual journeys to become successful, productive citizens and lifelong learners in a diverse and changing world. My husband, Julius, and I are the proud parents of two: Samantha (22) - a Davidson College '19 graduate and Jay (16) - a sophomore at McKinney Boyd High School. Blog: https://mrsthompsonliveskind.weebly.com/about-me.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/thompsliveskind 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."

Leah Juelke, 2018 North Dakota State Teacher of the Year, works with EL English and Speech in Fargo, North Dakota. She has helped children under her care tell their stories and have a voice for their experiences. Recently, some of her students help shape state policy towards refugees by telling their stories. Hear the brave, heartbreaking and heart making words of Leah Juelke and her students as we continue to celebrate why we #LoveTeaching this week. www.coolcatteacher.com/e627  Today’s sponsor: Advancement Courses. Choose from over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 subject areas that are self-paced with up to six months to complete. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and save 20% off each course by using the code COOL20. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can also receive graduate credit through CAEP and regionally accredited university partners for continuing education requirements. Never stop learning! Leah Juelke - Bio as Submitted Leah Juelke is the 2018 North Dakota Teacher of the year. She served as a medic in the Army, has taught overseas and has traveled to 27 different countries. She currently works as a high school EL English & Speech Communications teacher in Fargo, North Dakota. Leah is the president of the Dakota TESOL Organization and a founding member of the North Dakota State Teacher of the Year State Chapter and Teacher Cabinet. As a social justice advocate, Leah has worked to spread cultural awareness within her school, community and across the United States. Through her Journey to America and Green Card Voices Projects, she has helped amplify her refugee and immigrant students' voices and give them a platform to be heard so that they can work to spread cultural acceptance. She has successfully created a school environment of inclusion and has opened her doors to facilitate collaboration within the community. She has speakers, community members and university students in her class daily, working with her high school students. She strives to create active learning experiences for her students and strongly believes in 'a classroom without borders'. In addition to being a teacher and case manager, she is also an award-winning debate and student congress coach. Leah has presented at conferences around the region and continues to inspire teachers, pre-service teachers and students with her energetic personality and extensive knowledge of strategies for diverse learners. Leah's list of accolades include: ​❖ 2020 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow Award ❖ 2020 Global Teacher Prize Winner Nominee ❖ 2019 NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence California Casualty Award ❖ 2019 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence ❖ 2019 NEA Benefits Award Finalist ❖ NASDTEC 2019 Forward Fund Award ❖ North Dakota State University Horizon Alumni Award 2019 ​❖ 2019 National Sanford Teacher Award ❖ North Dakota Teacher of the Year 2018 ❖ National Teacher of the Year Nominee 2018 ❖ Education First Global Teacher Fellowship- Berlin 2018 ❖ Fargo Public Schools Teacher of the Year 2017 ❖ Comm. Speech & Theater Association of North Dakota Debate Coach of the Year 2017 ❖ CSTAND Outstanding Teacher of the Year 2017 Blog: https://ellfargosouth.weebly.com/about-ms-juelke.html Twitter: @NDTOY2018 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 can get out of education, but the kids can't. Today's students need educators who love them and who love teaching. Zest Simmons, award-winning AP Teacher and Alabama State Teacher of the Year 2019 tells the story of how she ignites learning and loves students in her classroom. We can reach every child. Zest talks about how. www.coolcatteacher.com/e626  Today’s sponsor: Advancement Courses. Choose from over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 subject areas that are self-paced with up to six months to complete. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and save 20% off each course by using the code COOL20. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can also receive graduate credit through CAEP and regionally accredited university partners for continuing education requirements. Never stop learning! Zest Simmons - Bio as Submitted Inspired to become an educator by her own teachers, Zestlan Simmons, a National Board Certified teacher, was once told by a family friend to “reconsider her options” when she shared her dream. However, for her, the joy of seeing students engaged in mastering writing skills has been the catalyst for pursuing her dream. This love of empowering students with the awareness of their capabilities led her to return to Booker T. Washington (BTW) Magnet where she once benefited from an arts education through the Carver Creative and Performing Arts Program (CCPAC), which is now BTW. In her role as an educator at BTW, she contributes to cross-curricular planning initiatives, which encourage art and academic teachers to collaborate on special projects and classroom instruction.   When her school partnered with  the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) and A+ College Ready,  she started teaching Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition in 2009 and was recognized by NMSI as the AP English Teacher of the Year for increasing the AP Language exam scores for minority students. In 2017, she pursued a certification in Instructional Leadership so that she could continue to mentor new teachers. Her greatest joy has been to see her former students become teachers in Montgomery, in Alabama, and in the nation Twitter: @ZestlanSimmons Instagram: @zsimmons99 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."

Love Teaching Week Begins Today! February 14 is the beginning of #LoveTeaching week. Each day there are challenges and prompts so check Twitter and We Love Teaching.org (https://www.weloveteaching.org/) for how you can participate. Today we start as Stacey McAdoo, Arkansas State Teacher of the Year 2019, tells her story of why she loves teaching! Get ready to be inspired. www.coolcatteacher.com/e625  Today’s sponsor: Advancement Courses. Choose from over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 subject areas that are self-paced with up to six months to complete. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat and save 20% off each course by using the code COOL20. That’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. You can also receive graduate credit through CAEP and regionally accredited university partners for continuing education requirements. Never stop learning! Stacey James McAdoo - Bio as Submitted 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year Stacey McAdoo of the historic Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, had a vision over twenty years ago that she would one day stand and speak to a crowd of millions. She interpreted that vision to mean she would change the world as a writer, educator, and an advocate for students. Today her vision is reality as she represents the voice of 34,000 educators and 500,000 students across Arkansas. McAdoo mixes passion and poetry to amplify the voices of her students, honor the history of her school, and unite her community. She has participated in several literacy/spoken word organizations such as the SanKofa Poets, Word Up! Poetry Troupe, and Foreign Tongues. McAdoo is an Educator to Educator Facilitator with AEA and the AVID (a college and career readiness program) Coordinator. Teaching Tolerance recently featured her as a student advocate. Author of “Sweet Melanin Messages” and “Baring My Soul,” McAdoo is the sponsor of the Writeous Poets, co-produced the radio show entitled “The Writeous Hour” and has published two books of her students’ works entitled: “Stage A: Where Students Think, Speak and Dream” and “A Writeous Look at the Crisis.”   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."