Ignite a Love for Reading: Top Tips Every Teacher and Parent Must Know

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter

How do we teach students to read? When it comes to teaching children to read, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We need to equip educators with the tools and the expertise (and the freedom) to teach reading and customize it to every child. This episode of Cool Cat Teacher focuses on the best practices for teaching children to read and what we know now. It also highlights some of the controversies of reading education. Furthermore, I give parents the research on why their involvement is so important for children to learn to read and some tips on what they can do to help their children read.

Every child learns to read differently. I love the patterns between these three experts that resonate with me how each teacher needs the tools, the expertise, and the freedom to tailor instruction to each individual child. It can be done! I love what today's guests had to say!

Meet the Experts on How to Teach Students to Read:

• Ezera Washington: A New Jersey teacher who helped her fifth graders achieve a remarkable 40% improvement in reading achievement in just one year, working with students at reading levels from kindergarten to advanced.
• Jennifer Serravallo: Best-selling author of The Reading Strategies Book, sharing her latest insights into literacy instruction and her favorite strategies for helping students succeed.
• Nathaniel Hansford: Author of The Scientific Principles of Reading Instruction, who presents findings from a meta-analysis of what truly works in classrooms and demystifies controversial literacy debates.

This episode dives deep into what makes reading instruction effective, offering tips that are practical, research-backed, and impactful for both teachers and parents.

Other Resources About Teaching Kids to Read

• 91% Proficiency: How One Teacher Transformed Reading Outcomes in Just One Year
• Practical Tips on How to Teach Reading from Jennifer Serravallo
• How to Teach Better: Master Reading Differentiation Strategies
• Teach Reading with WORD Force: Fun Games Kids Love
• Remarkably Simple Ways to Teach Kids to Read with Pam Allyn
• See all of my resources for ELA Teachers here

Resources Mentioned in the Show

• Research on the Importance of Parents and a Child's Reading Success
• Free Reading Reflection form from Jennifer Serravallo

🎙️Listen to the Episode on FM Radio

This episode will air on WDJY FM 99.1 in Atlanta at 4pm on Wednesday, February 12. 🎙️Listen live.

▶️ Watch the Episode on YouTube

This episode will air on YouTube on Thursday, February 20 at 7pm. Click “notify” on YouTube to get notified when it goes live.

What You'll Learn in This Episode About How to Teach Reading

In this episode, Ignite a Love for Reading: Top Tips Every Teacher and Parent Must Know, you’ll explore critical strategies, research, and insights into reading instruction. Here’s what we cover:

For Teachers

• Strategies to address the challenges students face when learning to read.
• Differentiated instruction techniques to support students with diverse needs.
• Classroom management tips for fostering growth and building confidence in young readers.

For Parents

• 10 actionable tips to inspire a love of reading at home.
• The pivotal role parents play in shaping their child's reading success.
• Simple, effective strategies to make reading fun and rewarding for kids of all ages.

Key Research and Controversies

• Why many experts are moving from text levels to skill progressions.
• The heated debate over “balanced literacy” and its implications for teaching reading.
• Research insights into what works (and what doesn’t) when teaching students to read.

Bios as Submitted

Nathaniel Hansford: Author, The Scientific Principles of Reading Instruction

Nathaniel Hansford, author of books analyzing the meta-analysis of works in teaching reading

Nathaniel Hansford has taught every grade from preK to 12 in many interesting and diverse locations—from South Korea to the subarctic of Quebec. He specializes in using meta-analysis research to help teachers implement proven methodologies.

Blog: www.teachingbyscience.com

Twitter: @NateJoseph19

Podcast: Pedagogy Non Grata https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pedagogy-non-grata/id1448225801

Books:

• The Scientific Principles of Teaching: https://amzn.to/40OmaJV
• The Scientific Principles of Reading Instruction: https://amzn.to/40Om6Kb

Jennifer Serravallo: Best Selling Reading Instruction Author

• 🎙️Practical Tips on How to Teach Reading from Jennifer Serravallo
• 🎙️How to Teach Better: Master Reading Differentiation Strategies

Jennifer Serravallo, best selling reading instruction author

Jennifer Serravallo is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning educator, literacy consultant, frequent invited speaker at state and national conferences, and former member of the Parents Magazine editorial board. In 2023, she launched her podcast To the Classroom: Conversations with Researchers and Educators. Jen is best known for creating books and resources rooted in research that help make responsive, strategic, differentiated literacy instruction possible for all teachers.

Her newest books are THE READING STRATEGIES BOOK 2.0 (2023), TEACHING WRITING IN SMALL GROUPS (March 2021), A TEACHER'S GUIDE TO READING CONFERENCES (2019), and UNDERSTANDING TEXTS AND READERS (2018). Her books and resources are used around the world: THE WRITING STRATEGIES BOOK (2017) and THE READING STRATEGIES BOOK (1st edition) (2015) have have been translated into French, Chinese, and Spanish.

Her comprehension assessment and teaching resources, COMPLETE COMPREHENSION: FICTION and COMPLETE COMPREHENSION: NONFICTION, help teachers make sense of comprehension, especially in whole chapter books and book-length nonfiction texts. They were released in Spring 2019 and are available through Heinemann (Learn more: hein.pub/cc).

Jen holds a BA from Vassar College and an MA from Teachers College, where she has also taught graduate and undergraduate classes.

Blog: www.jenniferserravallo.com

Twitter: @jserravallo

Facebook: Literacy Strategies Community

Ezera Washington: Award Winning Classroom Teacher

🎙️91% Proficiency: How One Teacher Transformed Reading Outcomes in Just One Year

Ezera Washingon is an award-winning teacher in Patterson, New Jersey

Ms. Washington is a dedicated and transformative educator born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. As the eldest of seven children, Ms.Washington developed a strong sense of responsibility and a passion for education early on, recognizing it as a powerful pathway to economic mobility.

Currently serving as the K-5 Supervisor in Paterson, Ms.Washington is driven by a commitment to empower students and ensure they are prepared for academic success, from the early grades through to college and beyond.

A proud graduate of Montclair State University, Ms.Washington earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, becoming the first in the family to graduate college with the support of the Educational Opportunity Fund. This personal journey exposed Ms.Washington to the academic challenges faced by students from underserved communities, motivating a lifelong commitment to strengthening educational equity in Paterson.

Inspired by a promise she made to herself, to ensure no student from Paterson feels unprepared, Ms.Washington dedicated her career to empowering future generations through transformative teaching and leadership. She believes through high expectations and good relationships all students can succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Beginning her teaching career at School 13 in Paterson,

Ms.Washington quickly expanded her impact, moving on to teach fourth-grade Math and English Language Arts (ELA) in Newark for four years. Here is where she became a highly effective educator and instructional leader. During this time, Ms.Washington earned a Master’s in Elementary Education while working full-time, further developing expertise in instructional strategy, student engagement, and peer mentoring. Returning to Paterson, Ms.Washington continued to excel as a fifth-grade ELA teacher at College Achieve, where her dedication to student success led to notable improvements in test scores, earning her the 23-24 Governor’s Educator of the Year award.

As a supervisor, Ms.Washington champions a collaborative, co-teaching model to elevate instructional quality across the district. Supporting curriculum writing and network professional development sessions for the network. Through consistent modeling and coaching, Ms.Washington develops teachers who are equipped to inspire and support each student’s unique potential. Today, Ms.Washington remains steadfast in her mission to create equitable learning environments where all students are prepared to excel in every space, especially in college, fulfilling a lifelong vision of opportunity and success for Paterson’s youth. Ms.Washington believes in the Thru and Thru mission of all of her students.

Get More Tips and Resources

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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.

The post Ignite a Love for Reading: Top Tips Every Teacher and Parent Must Know appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/talkreading/

Can AI That Lets Kids Struggle Productively Be Better?

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter

Some research out of Stanford​ by Rose E. Wang and Megha Srivastava points out the nuances of using AI to help students learn and that sometimes the tools that promote productive struggle are the better option even if students think they are less helpful. (I've written about the need for productive struggle in math on Edutopia, and so much of this research resonates with me.)

One exciting direction is using AI to help human educators create better moments of productive struggle for their students. In earlier research, we observed that novice educators have difficulties helping struggling students, particularly under time pressure.
. These educators were not sure how to nudge students and come up with the right thing to say on the spot. Without guidance on how to effectively foster productive struggle, they frequently defaulted to providing the solution to the student. This meant missed opportunities to turn a student’s struggle into meaningful learning!
The Stanford AI Lab Blog “Productive Struggle: The Future of Human Learning in the Age of AI”

“Tutor CoPilot out of stanford gives real time suggestions for tutors on how to help struggling students. These suggestions follow expert-informed strategies, like asking a guiding question or providing a hint.”

This research paper overviewed a tool they created called Tutor Co-Pilot, designed to help teachers and tutors. They found that beginning tutors often gave the answer instead of more nuanced approaches as done by more expert teachers when faced with student struggles. This tool prompted the tutors to learn how to help students (without giving the answer). This may be far better for helping education than just giving everyone chat GPT.

📚​Read the overview of this study.

The Evaluation Paradox

The section of the paper talking about our traditional paradigms for evaluating AI systems points out a major flaw in what we're doing: using. user satisfaction ratings doesn't give an accurate measure of if the tool actually helps students learn more.

Here's what they discovered

In our work on evaluating interactions between humans and AI systems 
 —in this case, language models—for information-seeking tasks like question answering, we also observed a disconnect between users’ views of helpfulness and their task performance: the language models which users self-reported as helpful were not always the ones that led to higher task accuracy 

From looking at the research it looks like our evaluation methods need to change and the research of our colleagues in higher education is more important than ever.

“Foster Productive Struggle by Empowering Teachers”

Now, if I could take one headline out of this article and share this one, it would be it!

Teaching is an art.

Kids who struggle will often go for the tool that gives them the answer but doesn't help them with the process of getting the answer.

Great teachers know how to help kids through the struggle in terms of motivation, encouragement, asking great questions, and helping kids celebrate when they win.

No AI can do that.

AI Can Empower Teachers But Cannot “Fix” The Systemic Shortage

I'll never forget the moment I saw a major tech company state that their AI was going to solve the teacher shortage problem.

Solving the teacher shortage problem involves respecting teachers, honoring their artistry, empowering them with the tools they need, supporting them and their students, and understanding that kids who struggle need extra help.

This week's radio show on Cool Cat Teacher talk is on the current state of what works in reading instruction and one of the things that came through loud and clear is that every child is different and great teachers know how to use the tools and tactics for individual children's needs.

This is the kind of research I want to read more of. Take time to read the article and discuss it with your team!

The post Can AI That Lets Kids Struggle Productively Be Better? appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/ai-productive-struggle/

7 Reasons to Host a Teacher Work Sprint (And How to Do It)

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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As teachers, our to-do lists just grow and grow. Sometimes, I want to be with my colleagues and friends. Some of my dearest friends through the years have been at school. It is not surprising that they just “get” me. We enjoy being together even if we're working in the same room.

Recently, as we were working on accreditation, we decided to get together and work at the behest of my co-worker, Dawne. And wow, we just cranked out the work. It was awesome.

So, when I was editing Desiree Alexander's podcast 11 Simple Hacks for Teachers to Save Time that debuted this week, she said something that piqued my interest. She mentioned that you could get together with your friends at work and all work on tasks at the same time. The light bulb went on as I recalled seeing some apps that have focus time — and they even host zoom meetings – where people have a “sprint” and work on tasks. Everyone is there and just working.

I just love this idea. I've done it before. When I looked at the research behind why the “sprint” works, I was shocked and actually a bit excited. (Could I get excited about grading? I love lesson planning but sometimes grading is a bit much for me.)

Wasn't that what we did that I loved with accreditation? So, here we go, I'm wanting to add work sprints to part of my weekly appointment schedule. As I've reviewed the research, it is quite astounding.

Nuance of using this word: Now, as I wrote this, I came across “a teaching sprint,” where teachers focus on teaching something, and the Teaching Sprints process for learning new software. Both of these are names of a method. In this post, I'm talking about applying the “sprint” method from agile software development to working by having a “sprint” be ONE meeting or ONE session that comes from the “Scrum Sprint” used in software development defined as

“A sprint is a short, time-boxed period when a scrum team works to complete a set amount of work.” Atlassian Software Development

Now, I've always talked about how multitasking is a myth. However, this may be different if you're in the same room with people and are working together, as I am reviewing the information on it. Work Sprints are a productivity method that is already used in education. Still, maybe we need to self-organize it and use it for ourselves more, as Dr. Alexander suggested in this week's podcast.

1. Work With Others (But Stay Focused)

• Studies show that “body doubling” (working alongside others) increases productivity and accountability. I even found that those with neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety, and perfectionism can be helped by this method as well as those with ADHD.
• This is not a meeting! There is no pressure to chat or talk. You have work to do!
• The specific project, time to do the work and accountability to another helps improve your output (I'm so doing this with grades!)

2. Get More Done, Faster

• Parkinson's Law says “work expands to fill all the time available.” By giving a short sprint, I feel like I'm forcing efficiency.
• Instead of spreading tasks across random pockets, a dedicated sprint can help us power through work in a set time frame. This timeboxing approach helps overcome Parkinson's Law so you won't be grading until midnight at the end of the grading period.

3. Reduce Procrastination and Decision Fatigue

• My problem is when I only have time at the end of the day to grade or plan lessons. I'm just so tired I will just want to head home and then I'm behind the next day and getting up early.
• Having an appointment and a plan – “I will grade every Thursday at 3:45 with my teacher work sprint group”

4. Fewer Interruptions

• This is counter intuitive but when we got together for our accreditation time, I was shocked at how people came by the room, looked in, and left. They didn't want to interrupt us.
• This is great! (As long as we don't interrupt each other!)

5. Built-In Support for Quick Questions

• If we are doing this for lesson planning (isn't this what collaborative planning is about) we can ask quick questions and have ideas.
• I think asking a colleague is far better than Googling, Asking AI, or just flying blind. Use the room's wisdom when you're grappling with an issue. We are truly better together.

6. Less Work Creeping into Personal Time

• If I'm going to get work done, I'd rather do it at work. I want boundaries with my personal time.
• I want to free up more time for weekends and rest.

7. You Finish Tasks Instead of Juggling

• So, if you can have a sprint to stay LOCKED IN ON ONE TASK, so instead of 10 half finished things, I have one big thing done. (Like grading, ok I need to finish this post and go grade. Aruggg. It never ends and that is the point, it never ends, so I'm thinking a standing appointments.)

How to Run a Teacher Work Sprint

🕒 Step 1: Pick a Time Block & Commit

• Decide on a sprint length: 30, 45, or 60 minutes (long enough to be productive but short enough to stay focused).
• Who says you can't have a quick email triage for 15 minutes? This is your group and your time! Tackle your issues.
• Block it on your calendar—treat it like an appointment! (Even better set a standing appointment once a week — don't overuse this.)
• Name your time (see above.)

👥 Step 2: Gather a Group (Or Fly Solo!)

• Invite colleagues to join in person or via Zoom—working in the same space makes it feel more structured.
• If solo, use a productivity app like Flow or Focus@Will for accountability.
• Encourage each person to bring their favorite drink or snack for this – sometimes the pick me up helps you focus and gives you a treat to look forward to. (And it doesn't need to have calories – I do love my Limoncello LaCroix drinks!)
• Sometimes you may want to have different people “host” the “event” – we need to get in each other's rooms sometimes.
• Don't turn it into a chat or gripe session. People will stop coming and it will defeat the purpose! If someone wants to do that, encourage them to step into the hall or go to the teacher's lounge or set rules for it.

🎯 Step 3: Set a Goal Before Starting

• “By the end of this sprint, I will… [grade 10 papers, answer 20 emails, create next week's lesson plans, etc.].”
• Give fun names to your gathering if you don't like Teacher Work Sprint:
  • Grading (Grade & Gather, Focus & Finish, Grade Grind, Mark & Mingle, Paperwork party, Coffee & Corrections, Grading Gauntlet)
  • Getting ahead for next week (Fast Track Friday or Focus Friday)
  • Lesson planning (Teach & Tackle, Plan & Prep Power Hour, Map & Master, Prep-a-thon, Plan-a-Palooza, Coffee & Curriculum)
  • Meeting with your teaching team (Grade-Level Grind, Mastermind Monday, Teacher Think Tank
  • Email (inbox power hour, inbox intervention, Email Escape room, Coffe and Clicks, Email & Espresso, Inbox Club, Send & Sip, Digital Detox, Digital Declutter Crew)
  • Ok besides the coffee theme (I know many of us love our coffee), think of a fun way to get together.
• Avoid vague goals like “get some work done”—specific targets = more success.
• Use a tech tip. Open with a quick tip like teaching how to use Sweep for Outlook or Mailstrom or another tool for Gmail to give people tools to do their task better and save time.

⏳ Step 4: Start the Sprint—No Distractions!

• Set a timer and begin working—this is deep focus time (no multitasking, no checking your phone!).
• Use noise-canceling headphones or background music if needed.
• Set some guidelines for the group. They can make a list of questions to ask or you can decide what things are working talking to the group about.

🔄 Step 5: Take a Quick Break, Then Repeat

• After the sprint, take a 5-10 minute break—grab coffee, stretch, or chat.
• Decide if you want to do another sprint (or celebrate what you’ve accomplished!).
• Decide not to even do another sprint. That way people don't feel guilty and know they have done it!

Warning: Prevent Sprint Fatigue

Sprint is not a new thing and as I read up on what it is and how it works, sometimes software groups using this method report they can have “spring fatigue.” So, I'm wondering if maybe a week off every so often, or sometimes just having a party or something fun (maybe even an outing) so when we get together we aren't ALWAYS working. This blog post had some good ideas.

This is really a self-organizing team, so you can work like you want to just remembering that your goal is to work at work and be home when you are at home.

Ideas for What to Do in a Teacher Work Sprint

Here are some ideas I had for teacher work sprints.

🔲 Grade a set number of assignments
📧 Inbox clean-up (learn to use tools to clean up email)
📖 Lesson planning for next week
🎙️ Prep for upcoming lectures or recordings
✍ Write recommendation letters
📑 Organize digital files or clean up your Google Drive
📝 Draft rubrics or create assignments

Learn More in This Week's Podcast

Thanks Dr. Desiree Alexander for these awesome ideas!

The post 7 Reasons to Host a Teacher Work Sprint (And How to Do It) appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/teacher-work-sprint/

Teachers Can Save Time with These 11 Simple Hacks!

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Are you tired of wasting precious time on tedious tasks and wishing you could focus on what matters most—your students? In this episode, discover 11 simple yet effective time-saving hacks that will transform your daily routine. From clever organization ideas to multitasking tips, these strategies will help you regain control of your time and energy. Watch or listen now to start your journey toward better productivity!

Hit play below to listen to the full episode or scroll down to watch the YouTube video. You’ll walk away with practical ideas to save time and reduce stress!

Listen to the Show

Stream by clicking here.

Subscribe to the Show

Watch the Show on Time Management Hacks from YouTube

11 Time Management Hacks for Teachers

You'll want to listen to the show to dig deep into these. I love the “multitasking moments” idea and I'm going to recruit some friends to do that with me this week!

Created from the transcript using Napkin

Classroom Organization Tips:

⏳ 1. Get Organized (01:24)
Declutter your workspace and avoid the dreaded “stack of death.” Set up a simple and functional filing system to make paperwork more manageable.

📂 2. Use a Simple Filing System (01:45)
Whether digital or paper, having an easy-to-use system will keep your materials accessible and prevent last-minute scrambling.

📝 3. Empower Students to File Their Own Work (02:15)
Save time by letting students take responsibility for filing their assignments. This simple step fosters organization skills and lightens your workload.

Personal Productivity Hacks:

📅 4. Plan Lessons Early to Reduce Last-Minute Stress (03:02)
Gather resources ahead of time—copies, books, manipulatives—to avoid scrambling when the copier inevitably breaks right before class.

👥 5. Have Multitasking Moments to Socialize and Get Work Done (05:03)
Balance productivity with connection! Grade papers or file documents while chatting with colleagues, so you don’t have to take as much work home.

🚪 6. Close the Door and Minimize Distractions (05:54)
Find a quiet space to focus during planning periods, so you can get work done efficiently without unnecessary interruptions.

🏡 7. Protect Your Peace and Work-Life Balance (06:10)
Your well-being matters. Set limits on how much work you bring home, and make time for family, rest, and hobbies.

Technology and Task Management Tips

✅ 8. Use the Answer, File, Delete (AFD) or Three D’s (Delegate, Dump, Do) Method (06:50)
Prioritize your tasks by immediately answering, filing, or deleting emails. If it doesn’t need your attention, delegate or dump it!

📧 9. Use Email Tools Like Sweep to Stay Organized (08:03)
Leverage email automation tools like Sweep to clear out old emails, filter messages, and keep your inbox manageable.

Important principles to remember as you manage your time

💡 10. Put People First When Prioritizing Tasks (09:30)
Before diving into your to-do list, check in with students and colleagues. Prioritizing people builds stronger relationships and improves your day.

🚧 11. Set Boundaries and Say No (10:21)
Educators are natural people-pleasers, but overcommitting leads to burnout. Practice saying “no” and protect your time.

Books Mentioned

• Boundaries by Henry Cloud
• Time Tactics of Very Successful People by Dr. Eugene Griessman

Dr. Desiree Alexander – Bio as Submitted

Dr. Desiree Alexander advises teachers on productivity and time management and other practical classroom helps.

Dr. Desiree Alexander is an award-winning, multi-degreed educator, speaker, and author who has been in the educational field since 2002. She is the Founder CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, LLC and the Deputy Director for the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana. She consults with members of several schools/businesses and presents at conferences globally.  

Dr. Alexander is lifetime certified in Louisiana in Secondary English Education, as a Reading Specialist, as a School Librarian, as an Educational Technology Facilitator, as an Educational Technology Leader and in Educational Leadership 1. She is certified in Texas as a Principal, in English Language Arts and Reading for grades 4-8 and grades 8-12, as a Reading Specialist for grades EC-12, and as a School Librarian. She holds multiple technology certifications, including, but not limited to, IC3 certification, Google Certified Trainer, Innovator and Partner, Apple Teacher, and Microsoft Office Specialists.  

She holds a Bachelor, a Master + 30, and an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University, a Master of Library Science from Texas Woman’s University and a Master of Educational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Technology Leadership from Nicholls State University. She also holds a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.  

She is the author of Ready to Be an Educational Leader: Your Guide for Passing the SLLA 6990, a 2024 Illinois Digital Educators Alliance Conference (IDEAcon) Thought Leader, 2023 Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators (LACUE) Conference Featured Speaker, 2022 & 2021 Texas Computer Education Association Conference (TCEA) Featured Thought Leader, 2020 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Featured Voice, 2020 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) Featured Presenter, 2019 Customer Commitment Award Honoree from Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Torch Awards for Ethics, a 2019 Shreveport National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Mover and Shaker, a 2017 Young Professional Initiative 40 Under 40 Awards Honoree, 2017 Center for Digital Education Top 30 Technologists, Transformers & Trailblazers, 2017 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Learning Media Digital Innovator for Louisiana, 2016 Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana Member of the Year, 2015 Librarian of the Year for Louisiana Librarian Association, 2015 Campus Teacher of the Year in the Zachary Community School District and 2014 Leader of the Year for Region 2 Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators.

Learn more at www.educatoralexander.com.  

• Blog: https://www.educatoralexander.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/educatoralex
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EducatorAlexander
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/educatoralexander
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/EducatorAlexander

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.

The post Teachers Can Save Time with These 11 Simple Hacks! appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e879/

RTI and MTSS: A Powerful Blueprint To Help Every Student Thrive

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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In this episode of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast, internationally recognized educator Mike Mattos shares practical strategies for implementing RTI (Response to Intervention) and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) effectively.

Discover actionable tips to ensure every student thrives, avoid common mistakes, and build a framework for success in your school.

Episode Highlights about RTI and MTSS:

• What Are RTI and MTSS? Mike Mattos explains their importance and purpose.
• Avoiding Common Mistakes: Practical strategies to overcome typical challenges in implementation.
• Supporting Every Learner: Insights on building a system that helps every student thrive.
• Actionable Takeaways: Steps educators can take to bring RTI and MTSS into their schools effectively.

Listen to the Show: RTI and MTSS Explained by Mike Mattos (Audio)

Stream by clicking here.

Subscribe to the Show

Watch the Show on YouTube (Video)

Mike Mattos – Bio as Submitted

Mike Mattos, co-creator of the RTI at Work™ Framework

Mike Mattos is an internationally recognized author, presenter, and practitioner. He co-created the RTI at Work™ approach to systematic interventions. Mike is also a thought leader in professional learning communities (PLCs) and the PLC at Work® process, advancing the work of his mentors Richard DuFour and Robert Eaker.

In 2024, the Global Gurus organization recognized him as one of the thirty most influential educational thought leaders in the world. Mike is proud of the twenty-three years he served on-site as a history teacher and, later, an administrator. He is former principal of Marjorie Veeh Elementary School and Pioneer Middle School in California. At both schools, he helped create Model PLCs, improving learning for all students.

In 2004, Marjorie Veeh, an elementary school with a large population of youth at risk, won the California Distinguished School and National Title I Achieving School awards. A National Blue Ribbon School, Pioneer is among only thirteen schools in the United States that the GE Foundation selected as a Best-Practice Partner and is one of eight schools that Richard DuFour chose to feature in the video series The Power of Professional Learning Communities at Work: Bringing the Big Ideas to Life.

Based on standardized test scores, Pioneer ranked among the top 1 percent of California secondary schools and, in 2009 and 2011, was named Orange County's top middle school. For his leadership, Mike was named the Orange County Middle School Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators.

Mike has coauthored many best-selling books focused on multitiered systems of supports (MTSS) and PLCs, including:

• Taking Action:  A Handbook to RTI at Work
• Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work
• Simplifying Response to Intervention: Four Essential Guiding Principles
• Pyramid Response to Intervention: RTI, Professional Learning Communities, and How to Respond When Kids Don't Learn
• Uniting Academic and Behavior Interventions: Solving the Skill or Will Dilemma
• It's About Time:  Planning Interventions and Extensions in Secondary School
•  It's About Time: Planning Interventions and Extensions in Elementary School
• Best Practices at Tier 1: Daily Differentiation for Effective Instruction, Secondary
•  Best Practices at Tier 1: Daily Differentiation for Effective Instruction, Elementary
• The Collaborative Administrator: Working Together as a Professional Learning Community.
• Concise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Learning Communities at Work

To learn more about Mikes work, visit AllThingsPLC (https://allthingsplc.info) and www mikemattos.info, or follow him @mikemattos65 on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Blog: mikemattos.info Twitter: @mikemattos65

You can help every student thrive with TRI and MTSS frameworks as explained by cocreator Mike Mattos

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.

The post RTI and MTSS: A Powerful Blueprint To Help Every Student Thrive appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/rti-mtss/

How to Find Trusted News: AI Art, Social Media Chaos, and AI Privacy

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter

Season 2, Episode 3 of Cool Cat Teacher Talk tackles some big challenges we educators face in 2025: finding trusted news amidst social media chaos, navigating AI privacy concerns, and teaching students with cutting-edge tools like AI art generation. Join Vicki Davis (that's me 😊) as we explore the rise of platforms like Blue Sky and Flipboard in the Fediverse and share how educators can curate reliable content while staying ahead of the curve with digital literacy.

Discover practical tools like Feedly, Flipboard, Blue Sky, Canva, Adobe Express, and Mastodon to stay informed and teach responsibly in an AI-driven world. Special guests include William ‘Coach' Jeffrey, host of the Flipboard Edu Podcast, discussing the fediverse and new opportunities for educators, and Laurel Aguilar-Kirchhoff, an expert on student data privacy and digital citizenship, offering critical insights into AI ethics and privacy. All resources and links are on the blog post for this show at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/talknews2025.

This show will debut on YouTube on Thursday, January 30, 2025

What You'll Get from This Episode

• Insights into navigating social media chaos, including TikTok bans and the decline of Twitter (now X).
• Practical tools like Feedly, Flipboard, and Mastodon for curating trusted news sources.
• Guidance on teaching AI art generation using Adobe Express and Canva.
• Strategies for protecting student data and ensuring ethical AI use in schools.
• Tips for organizing your digital life with the “Second Brain” method using Evernote.
• Advice on creating a personal learning and innovation plan for educators.
• An understanding of federated platforms like Blue Sky and Mastodon, and their impact on educators.
• Expert interviews with William ‘Coach' Jeffrey on Flipboard and the fediverse, and Laurel Aguilar-Kirchhoff on AI privacy and digital citizenship.
• Why newsletters and local newspapers remain vital in 2025.
• Tools to leverage AI responsibly, including Google AI Studio and Gemini

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

1. Blue Sky
   • Alice Keeler's #edusky List – https://tinyurl.com/edusky
   • My handle on Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/coolcatteacher.bsky.social
2. Mastodon Profile
   • Vicki Davis’s Mastodon handle: @coolcatteacher@techhub.social – https://techhub.social/@coolcatteacher
3. News Aggregation Tools
   • Feedly – Organize and curate news from trusted sources.
   • Flipboard – Create and share magazines for curated content.
   • Link to my flipboard profile and magazines – https://flipboard.com/@coolcatteacher
4. Fediverse Platforms
   • Blue Sky – Federated social media platform.
   • Mastodon Servers – Explore Mastodon servers.
5. Digital Organization Tools
   • Evernote – Capture and organize digital notes.
   • Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte – Book Details.
6. AI Art Generation Tools
   • Adobe Express – Create and explore AI-generated art.
   • Canva – Design and experiment with AI tools.
7. AI and Privacy Resources
   • Google AI Studio – Explore AI tools for educators.
   • Jason Thacker’s Book on AI Ethics – The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity Details Here.
8. Newsletter Subscription
   • Subscribe to Vicki Davis’s newsletter: coolcatteacher.com/newsletter
9. Show Notes and Previous Episodes
   • Show Notes for this episode and all 2025 News episodes: coolcatteacher.com/talknews2025

The post How to Find Trusted News: AI Art, Social Media Chaos, and AI Privacy appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/news2025e2/

Breaking the Algorithm: How Flipboard and the Fediverse Empower Educators

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter

In today’s world, algorithms dictate much of what we see online. But what if there were tools to help educators break free from these filter bubbles? In this episode, William “Coach” Jeffery shares how tools like Flipboard and the Fediverse enable educators to take control of their professional learning and curate content that truly matters.

Whether you’re a teacher looking for reliable resources or an administrator seeking ways to enhance professional development, this episode offers practical strategies and inspiration for leveraging technology to empower educators.

You’ll learn how to:

• Escape algorithmic constraints using Flipboard.
• Curate human-driven, meaningful content for your professional learning network.
• Use the decentralized power of the Fediverse to share and connect.

This episode is a must-listen for educators aiming to harness technology for growth, collaboration, and innovation.

Key Takeaways for Educators:

1. Breaking Free from Filter Bubbles: Understand the impact of algorithms and how to overcome them with curated tools like Flipboard.
2. Human-Curated Content: Tips for creating and managing your own professional learning hub to access diverse, relevant resources.
3. Exploring the Fediverse: Learn about decentralized platforms and their potential for expanding your digital reach and sharing meaningful content.
4. Practical Applications for Professional Development: Use these tools to inspire collaboration and growth in your school or organization.
5. Empowering Educators Through Innovation: How embracing these technologies can transform teaching and learning.

Links

• Flipboard EDU Podcast on Flipboard by William “Coach” Jeffrey
• Education, Teaching and Tech Magazine by Vicki Davis

Note: Podcast episodes for the 10 minute teacher go live every Monday morning at 3 am Eastern. They go live on YouTube at 9 am Eastern on Mondays.

Watch the YouTube Video to Learn How to Get Human Curated News Content Using Flipboard

Listen to Episode 877 and Learn About the Fediverse

Stream by clicking here.

Subscribe to the Show

Dr. William “Coach Jeffery (Bio as Submitted)

William “Coach” Jeffrey runs the flipboardEDU Podcast

William “Coach” Jeffery is an experienced educator and administrator in Texas. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology pre-med and a master's in counseling education from Prairie View A&M University, along with a second master's in educational administration from Stephen F. Austin University. Coach Jeffery served as principal of Columbia High School in Columbia-Brazoria ISD before becoming Director of the Aspiring Assistant Principal Academy in Houston ISD.

He is a member of the 2023 cohort in Harvard Graduate School's leadership development program sponsored by the Charles Butt Foundation. An award-winning innovator, Coach Jeffery is an ambassador for ISTE and ASCD and has received honors from Microsoft and Corporate Visions Magazine. He hosts two successful education podcasts, “I Want To Speak To The Principal” and “Flipboard EDU Podcast.”

Coach Jeffery also writes the Flipboard Educator’s Blog on Flipboard.com. Coach Jeffery resides in Richmond, Texas with his family Laura, Reese, Ella, Defense and Rebound. 

Blog: https://flipedupodcast.com/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjeffery

Podcast: https://flipboardedu.substack.com/

The post Breaking the Algorithm: How Flipboard and the Fediverse Empower Educators appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e877/