10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Project-Based Learning is a powerful tool. Today's show gives us ideas for where we can find new and innovative project ideas and create them ourselves. Dr. Jennifer Pieratt, author of "Keep it Real with PBL" for both elementary and secondary students, shares how she finds many of the project ideas that she creates and shares at crafted curriculum. www.coolcatteacher.com/e605  Today's Sponsor is Advancement Courses. Now is the time to plan your professional development with Advancement Courses. They offer over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 different subject areas. These online classes can be taken anywhere, anytime with up to six months to complete. You can save 20% off each course with the code COOL20. That's just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. Go to www.advancementcourses.com/coolcat.   Jennifer Pieratt - Bio As submitted Jenny Pieratt, Ph.D. is an international educator and expert in Project-Based Learning. Jenny is an author, business owner, and mother, and lives in Cardiff by the Sea, CA. Blog: https://craftedcurriculum.com/ Twitter: @crafted_jennyp Instagram: @crafted_jennypieratt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftedjennypieratt PBL Resources: https://craftedcurriculum.com/project-based-learning-ideas/   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."  

Elizabeth Peterson was learning about SEL and as an art teacher, she knew she could teach Social Emotional Learning with the arts. So, she did. Then, she called it SEAL. Learn what she did, how it impacted students and her thoughts on this method of teaching social emotional learning. www.coolcatteacher.com/e604  Today's Sponsor is Advancement Courses. Now is the time to plan your professional development with Advancement Courses. They offer over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 different subject areas. These online classes can be taken anywhere, anytime with up to six months to complete. You can save 20% off each course with the code COOL20. That's just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. Go to www.advancementcourses.com/coolcat. Elizabeth Peterson - Bio As Submitted Elizabeth Peterson is a teacher, author and professional development provider through her website www.theinspiredclassroom.com. An arts integration specialist, she has provided workshops, retreats and online courses for educators for over 14 years. Elizabeth's latest work is in SEAL, Social-Emotional Artistic Learning, where she teaches a framework that empowers teachers to reach and teach their students while integrating the arts with SEL. For more information about SEAL, visit www.teachSEAL.com. http://www.theinspiredclassroom.com/ http://www.teachseal.com/     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."

Bravery, vulnerability, acceptance of others, acceptance of yourself -- these can be difficult things to teach. Today's guest, Michelle Cottrell-Williams talks about how she teaches this in her classroom. www.coolcatteacher.com/e603  Today's Sponsor is Advancement Courses. Now is the time to plan your professional development with Advancement Courses. They offer over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 different subject areas. These online classes can be taken anywhere, anytime with up to six months to complete. You can save 20% off each course with the code COOL20. That's just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. Go to www.advancementcourses.com/coolcat. Michelle Cottrell-Williams - Bio As submitted Michelle Cottrell-Williams @WakeHistory has taught in the Social Studies Department at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA since 2006. Her favorite classes to teach are Sociology and ESOL World History II. Michelle is the Social Studies Department Chair, co-Instructional Lead Teacher, and was named Teacher of the Year in 2017. She strives to model vulnerability and empathy so that her students leave her classroom each day a little braver than the day before. 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."

Sixty-seven percent of STEM jobs will be in computing. Schools and teachers have the daunting task of lining up the needs of today's workforce with what is being taught. Jorge Valenzuela, the author of Rev Up Robotics, discusses the three things schools should be teaching so students are ready. He says schools should focus less on bright and shiny things and should dig into the basics. Hear an overview of computational thinking, algorithms, and robotics with Jorge Valenzuela. www.coolcatteacher.com/e602  Today's Sponsor is Advancement Courses. Now is the time to plan your professional development with Advancement Courses. They offer over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 different subject areas. These online classes can be taken anywhere, anytime with up to six months to complete. You can save 20% off each course with the code COOL20. That's just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. Go to www.advancementcourses.com/coolcat. Jorge Valenzuela - Bio As Submitted Educational coach Jorge Valenzuela is a teacher at Old Dominion University and the lead coach for Life Long Learning Defined. His work is aimed at helping schools understand and implement computational thinking, computer science, STEM, and project-based learning. Currently, Jorge presents nationally on these topics; is an award winner, a published researcher, the author of Rev Up Robotics, an education advocate, and frequent contributor to books, academic journals, how-to blogs, podcasts, and webinars.

Communication can be challenging for many who feel invisible. In today's show, Dr. William Lane offers encouragement for those who struggle to communicate. With six simple steps, he helps us understand how to empower those who struggle to communicate by starting small. I hope this show will help educators both empathize and encourage our students (and colleagues) who struggle to communicate. www.coolcatteacher.com/e601  Today's Sponsor is Advancement Courses. Now is the time to plan your professional development with Advancement Courses. They offer over 240 online graduate-level PD courses in 19 different subject areas. These online classes can be taken anywhere, anytime with up to six months to complete. You can save 20% off each course with the code COOL20. That's just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. Go to www.advancementcourses.com/coolcat. Dr. William Lane - Bio As Submitted Dr. William Lane is a dynamic, engaging, and sought-after international speaker with a gift for sharing his own inspirational story and success strategies to create effective interpersonal communication skills. As a talented educator of those with special needs and the teachers who teach them, his knowledge was born through helping countless individuals like himself who have struggled with communication difficulties. Through Dr. Lane's proven techniques, audiences have learned how to better connect with those around them by adopting the tools he shares to initiate and maintain conversations, become more engaged, active listeners, and finally, begin to fit in. Book: Stop Being Invisible: Overcoming Communication Barriers Twitter: @drwilliamlane

Settling in the land of complacency is no place for a truly remarkable teacher. Remark-ability begins in your ability to level up and learn a little more every day. Today, Rae Hughart from #teachbetter gives us five mindsets to help us teach better in 2020.  www.coolcatteacher.com/e600  Rae Hughart - Bio As submitted Rae Hughart is a Middle-Level Math Educator in Illinois, creator of the Teach Further Model, the Director of Training & Development for the Teach Better Team, and co-author of the “Teach Better” book. Rae continues to facilitate rich discussions with educators around mastering personalized learning, providing targeted student-focused feedback, and the impact of incorporating purpose into student daily learning. Through building partnerships with local businesses, Rae continues to support educators in designing dynamic, impactful, effective, and connected content - showing the impact of teaching beyond the four walls of a classroom and altering a community into an authentic resource for developing leaders. After being inducted into The Illinois State University Hall of Fame in 2017, Rae was awarded the 2018 First Place Henry Ford Teacher Innovator Award for her innovative educational impact through the Teach Further Model. Additionally, Rae serves on several Educational Boards including the Association of Illinois Middle Schools (AIMS). Website: TeachBetter.com Twitter: @RaeHughart Instagram: @RaeHughart Disclosure of Material Connection: This episode includes some affiliate link. 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.

A surprising intervention was shown to improve grades. The intervention took one day and was a very minimal activity by most considerations. Dr. Lauren Eskreis-Winkler digs into the research and shares what they learned. www.coolcatteacher.com/e599 Dr. Lauren Eskreis-Winkler - Bio As Submitted As a researcher, Lauren tries to motivate people who struggle with goal achievement. She has developed and disseminated motivational interventions in the U.S., West Africa, Australia, Macedonia, and the UK. These interventions aim to motivate individuals across the spectrum – struggling athletes, students in grade school and college, individuals in the workforce, smokers trying to quit smoking, and unemployed individuals on the job market. Lauren has studied the science of motivation in collaboration with businesses, educational organizations, Minor League Baseball teams, the Macedonian Ministry of Education, and the World Bank.

Math shouldn't break your heart. It should excite you and your students. But how? Let's move from boring, rote, repetitive math to a math class that sparks curiosity, makes sense and ignites joy. Kyle Pearce, co-creator of mathmoments.com gives us a high-level view of how every math teacher can make math moments that matter. Then, dig into the resources that help us do it. www.coolcatteacher.com/e598  Note from Vicki: This week is a whole week of motivational podcast episodes. Our regular theme days will return next week. Enjoy and have an amazing 2020. Sponsor: Check out the free webinar for math teachers – how to transform your textbook into a curiosity machine – go to coolcatteacher.com/freemathwebinar to learn more about this free webinar being held four times in January 2020. This is a free webinar and one of the leaders is Kyle Pearce. While the webinar is free, if you choose to purchase their course, I will be paid a small affiliate fee at no additional cost to the purchaser. Kyle Pearce - Bio As Submitted Kyle is the K-12 Mathematics Consultant with the Greater Essex County District School Board, where his passion for mathematics fuels him to uncover creative ways to spark curiosity and fuel sense making through the inquiry process using tasks that are contextual, visual and concrete. He shares his most recent noticings, wonderings, and reflections in mathematics pedagogy and effective uses of technology by delivering workshops across North America and blogging on www.makemathmoments.com, www.tapintoteenminds.com, www.mathisvisual.com, on the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast, and @MathletePearce on Twitter

Some students just seem to "live" in the principal's office. How do we help those students change their behavior and connect with their classmates and teachers? Today, award-winning principal, Andy Jacks, says that he spent most of his younger years in the principal's office. Some reached him and some did not, but it has shaped the discipline practices in his school. Certainly, Andy's "non-negotiables" when it comes to discipline may challenge the status quo in many schools. As you discuss discipline and reaching children, however, he has some important points to help all educators be more empathetic to the student who just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Note from Vicki: This week is a whole week of motivational podcast episodes. Our regular theme days will return next week. Enjoy and have an amazing 2020. www.coolcatteacher.com/e597  Sponsor: Check out the free webinar for math teachers – how to transform your textbook into a curiosity machine – go to coolcatteacher.com/freemathwebinar to learn more about this free webinar being held four times in January 2020. Andy Jacks - Bio As Submitted Dr. Andy Jacks has a passion for the success of every single child ensuring that school is a place filled with meaningful relationships and support for even the most at-risk students. Andy is the principal of the award-winning Ashland Elementary School in Northern Virginia and has led their turnaround to skyrocket student achievement and eliminate suspensions. Dr. Jacks also serves on the Autism Society of Northern Virginia’s Board of Directors, is an NAESP Fellow leading the Center for Innovative Leadership, and is a national speaker. Andy and his school have received numerous recognitions including Nationally Distinguished Principal, Virginia Principal of the Year, School Bell Award, State Excellence Award, Business Partnership of the Year, and a visit by U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. Connect with him at andyjacks.co or on Twitter and Instagram @_AndyJacks. Twitter: @_AndyJacks Instagram: @_AndyJacks Disclosure of Material Connection: This episode includes some affiliate link. 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.

Every child can achieve. Children are an opportunity not an obligation. Celebrate individuality. Sacrifice together. Make no excuses. Principal Hamish Brewer will be back at his school this week skateboarding down the hallway and giving high fives as he inspires his school and students to achieve their best. Hamish, the author of the book Relentless: Changing Lives By Disrupting Educational Norms, will inspire you. www.coolcatteacher.com/e596 Sponsor: Check out the free webinar for math teachers - how to transform your textbook into a curiosity machine - go to coolcatteacher.com/freemathwebinar to learn more about this free webinar being held four times in January 2020. Hamish Brewer - Bio from His Website Hamish Brewer, the relentless, tattooed, skateboarding principal in Northern Virginia isn't your normal principal. Hamish is high octane, constantly calling on his students to "Be Relentless. Mr. Brewer has become known as an educational disrupter who transcends the status quo and typical educational norms. Mr. Brewer was recognized in 2017 as the NAESP Nationally Distinguished Principal and Virginia Principal of the year. He has also been recognized as the 2016 VAESP School Bell Award and ASCD Virginia Impact Award. In 2018 Hamish was named a Northern Virginian of the year by Northern Virginia Magazine and the 2018 Principal of the Year for the national publication - Education Dive and Prince William County Public Schools 2019 Principal of the Year. Under his leadership - his elementary school was recognized as a Nationally Distinguished Title 1 School, and Hamish has since gone on to turn around one of the toughest middle schools in the state of Virginia. Hamish spent years developing and honing his leadership and expertise as an emergency responder in the Fire and Rescue Service, working at one of the busiest Volunteer Fire Stations on the Eastern Seaboad. Mr. Brewer is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker - motivating and inspiring audiences everywhere, including being recognized as a TEDx speaker. Originally from New Zealand where he earned his first degree from the University of Auckland. Mr. Brewer is currently a doctoral student at Virginia. Mr. Brewer serves at the state level as the Federal Relations Coordinator on the Board of Directors with the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals. He is a school turnaround and school improvement specialist, working some of the most at-risk students in the United States. Mr. Brewer was highlighted as a Hometown Hero by Fox 5 in Washington, DC. With more than 32 million views and his story has become a viral sensation being highlighted on all the national news broadcasts, including with NBC and Lester Holt. Mr. Brewer is also being featured in a skateboarding humanitarian documentary Humanity Stoked.