10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

ADHD misconceptions are sabotaging your students' confidence and success. In this episode, Jheri South—a certified ADHD specialist and mom of seven neurodivergent kids—reveals the five things that actually engage an ADHD brain, the hidden emotional struggle affecting 95% of people with ADHD (rejection sensitivity dysphoria), and why "just try harder" is the worst advice you can give. Learn practical strategies for classroom engagement, how to recognize hyper-focus, and why consistency matters more than you think.
In this episode:
The difference between ADHD behaviors and ADHD neurology
The five things that engage an ADHD brain: novelty, interest, challenge/competition, urgency, and passion
Why urgency triggers hyper-focus (and why it's not laziness)
Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) and why it's often more disabling than distractibility
How classroom placement and private conversations rebuild self-confidence
Why inconsistency erodes ADHD students' self-worth
The role of project-based learning in ADHD engagement
Being a difference maker instead of a "put-downer"
Show Notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e932 
This episode is sponsored by the VAI Educators Studio from Van Andel Institute for Education. Get 50% off with promo code COOLCAT at coolcatteacher.com/vai .

Free AI literacy resources for every K-12 teacher — not just computer science. Karim Meghji, President and CEO at Code.org, shares how to teach AI in any classroom.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why AI literacy belongs in every subject, not just CS class
How to get started with Code.org's free Hour of AI activities at hourofai.org
Unplugged AI activities that work without any computers — perfect for K-5
Why teachers need to invest in their own AI education first (and a free way to do it)
Where to start by grade level: elementary, middle school, and high school resources
Karim explains that students need to understand not just how to use AI tools, but how they actually work under the hood. Code.org's Hour of AI brings together hundreds of partners offering one-hour activities across grade levels and subjects. And their new unplugged AI curriculum lets students explore generative AI through conversation and collaboration before ever touching a computer.
Show notes and all links: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e931
This episode is sponsored by the VAI Educators Studio from Van Andel Institute for Education. Get 50% off with promo code COOLCAT at coolcatteacher.com/vai .

Inquiry-based learning doesn't have to mean overhauling your entire schedule. Terra Tarango, Chief Education Officer at Van Andel Institute for Education, shares practical ways K-8 teachers can weave inquiry and hands-on science into any subject — starting small and building from there.
Sponsored by the VAI Educator's Studio from Van Andel Institute for Education.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How a 5-lesson kindergarten bee project covers science, math, ELA, and SEL
Why "Beat the Bot" is the perfect activity for teaching kids what humans do better than AI
How to flip your planning — start with what's interesting, then connect the content
What ethical PD looks like (and why Terra says theory-heavy PD is "unethical")
Small first steps: pledge forms, student pitch tanks, and flipping instruction order
Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e930
Get 50% off VAI Educator's Studio membership with promo code COOLCAT at coolcatteacher.com/vai

In this episode, Malia Hollowell shares actionable, science-backed strategies to transform early reading instruction. Learn how to organize sight words by phonics rules, leverage spoken language as your teaching superpower, support dyslexic learners, and use word ladders for real reading growth. You'll also discover why leveled readers fall short and how to find trustworthy literacy resources.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to organize sight words by phonics rules instead of random lists
Why spoken language and sound tapping beats flashcard drilling
How to support the 20% of learners with dyslexia using audio-focused strategies
Why word ladders are more effective than traditional leveled readers
Where to find trustworthy literacy sources backed by research
Free editable sight word games from Playdough to Plato
Show Notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e929
About the Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Van Andel Institute for Education. The Educator's Studio is a resource-packed platform with classroom-tested lessons, hands-on projects, professional development, and a supportive educator community. Get 50% off with promo code COOLCAT at coolcatteacher.com/vai.

Phone addiction in teens is real — and Australian psychologist Dr. Brad Marshall has evidence-based strategies that actually work from treating 2,500+ families.
Dr. Brad Marshall, known as the Unplugged Psychologist and Director of Australia's Screen & Gaming Disorder Clinic, joins Vicki Davis to share what two decades of clinical work and university research reveal about helping kids break free from phone addiction — without shame or judgment.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why parental control software fails — and the "handbrake rule" that actually works
What happened when Australia banned phones in every school
Why sleep is the number one thing to protect from screen overuse
Why expecting teens to self-regulate phone use is "neurologically ridiculous"
How to have a non-judgmental conversation with teens about their phone habits
Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e928
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