10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Sometimes when we try to speak words of encouragement for struggling students it can backfire. When a teen is hurting but they won't talk, what do you say? Lawrence C. Harris, a 20-year-old youth speaker and teen author, sat in our classrooms not long ago. He tells us what helped him and what made him pull away.
Lawrence shares the well-meaning phrases that shut struggling students down, the words that keep the door open, and one small thing you can do at the start of class this week.
What you'll learn:
The two phrases teachers mean kindly that make a struggling teen retreat
What to say when a student is clearly struggling but won't open up
Why the student who seems happiest in class might be hiding the most
The "one pebble a day" idea for a student who feels overwhelmed
The decision that turned Lawrence's life around
A start-of-class routine that gives students something to look forward to
Full show notes, transcript, and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e1016
If this episode helped you, please leave a rating or review wherever you're listening. It helps other teachers find the show.

Classroom Engagement is something all teachers can struggle with. Does it ever feel like kids can't pay attention anymore? Do you feel like attention spans are shorter than ever? Whatever you think about attention spans, we still have to engage the students sitting in front of us. Dr. Michael McDowell, an 18-year public school educator who served as a math and science teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent, shares classroom engagement strategies that can help!
Michael is the author of The Attention Gap. He walks us through a math lesson built in short intervals, and two routines you can try in any K-12 class tomorrow.
What you'll learn:
Why splitting a lesson into I do, we do, you do can wear students out
What the attention research measured, and what it means for your class period
The one question that tells you if students are with you
A silent routine that has students watching your every move
What one dot on a piece of student work can teach the whole class
The well-meaning teacher habit that widens the attention gap
Full show notes, transcript, and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e1015

If an AI site promises it won't "share your data," should you believe it? Well, first of all, there's a reason I put that in quotes! Our guest today, Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth, is an attorney with a law degree from Duquesne University, a classroom teacher with a doctorate in instructional technology, and the author of 10 books. Her answer is no, and she explains why.
Today we dig into safety, protecting students by protecting their personally identifiable information (PII), and making smart use of AI.
What you'll learn:
The one thing Rachelle checks before she trusts any "we don't share your data" promise
The surprising details that count as personally identifiable information
Whether what you type into AI really stays in your account
How far back one school data breach turned out to reach
Who could be liable when a teacher accidentally shares student information
Why educators are in the best position to teach students what not to type
Disclaimer: This episode is general information, not legal advice. Listening does not create an attorney-client relationship with our guest or with Cool Cat Teacher, LLC. Laws vary by state and situation, so talk with your school or district's legal counsel about your specific circumstances. Our guest's views are her own.
Full show notes, transcript, and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e1014
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Schools are funny. The weirdest things happen. But even in the midst of all of that hurry and scurry, we still have jobs to do, and AI for teachers can help get things done. Maurie Beasley, author of Teachers Have Bigger Fish to Fry, has some great perspectives to share with teachers.
Maurie is a former teacher, counselor, and assistant principal who now directs technology for a rural Texas district. She shares how you can still figure out the best uses of AI even when you have bigger fish to fry!
What you'll learn:
What happened when a snake fell out of the air conditioning vent onto a teacher's desk
The difference between efficiency AI and opportunity AI, and which one to start with
Why her book skips the AI's bad answers, and what she printed instead
The question Maurie says AI is finally making us ask about being human
Who should be in control when the laptop lid goes up
Show notes and full transcript: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e1013
If this episode helped you, please leave a rating and review. It helps other teachers find the show.

I asked Gemini Notebook (formerly known as NotebookLM) a dress-code question, and it gave me the answer and the page number from our handbook.
Vickie Echols says the turning point for her was when she was barreling through the hallway and the teacher she was with stopped and asked her, "Ms. Echols, do you always walk this fast?" That moment was a turning point for Vickie, and when she saw AI, she wondered how she could save time on tedious tasks to make more time for human moments, so she wrote AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters.
Vickie has lots of ideas, including how to fix tone in emails, how a superintendent used Gemini Notebook (formerly known as NotebookLM) to summarize meetings for board members, and the usefulness of Gemini Notebook when you're answering handbook questions (this tip is for teachers and administrators!).
Show notes, the full transcript, and links: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e1012
In this episode, you'll learn:
The hallway question that changed Vickie Echols's decisions for how she would lead as an administrator
How to get a fast, straight answer with page numbers from your school handbook or policy manuals
The board-meeting trick one superintendent uses with NotebookLM
The one thing to do before you send anyone an AI-generated podcast
Where AI notetakers might cross a line in schools
How one teacher fixed her tone that caused her to be confrontational in her emails (without meaning to)