Vicki A. Davis's Blog

Teaching Tips: Lesson Planning, Productivity, and Stressing Less

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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When I sat down to record this episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, I knew I wanted it to be practical, encouraging, and full of wisdom from some of the best people I know.

We start with Dr. Barbara Blackburn, one of my favorite experts on rigor. She reminds us that rigor isn’t about piling on work — it’s about raising expectations and giving students the support they need t...

What Every Teacher Needs to Hear! You Can Be Assertive!

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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So many of us teachers are agreeable people. We want to please. We want to help things work better. But what happens when our “yes” to everyone else becomes a “no” that is destroying us. This is a show I wished I heard earlier in my career and is something that every teacher needs to hear.

Dr. Brad Johnson, author of Becoming a More Assertive Teacher, shares advice that ...

Teaching Every Child: Early Years, ELL Strategies, and Behavior That Works

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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I love when I do interviews how conversations come together with a message of caring, empathy, and excellence in education. Today's show is like that. We have so many different needs and diverse learners. In today's show we talk about the importance of early childhood education, how to reach English Language Learners from the first day, how to reach every student using maste...

AI Presentation Workflow – Today’s DeepDive@5

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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This week I created a new presentation “from scratch” and documented every step of the way. So, today's “DeepDive@5” will cover this. We start at 5 and go until we're done, but I don't expect it will be longer than 20-30 minutes. It will be recorded on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. You can also pose questions from YouTube and Facebook for me to answer. I hope it helps ...

How I Set Up My AI Projects: Join Us Today

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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One thing people ask me a lot is “how do I set up projects” in their AI tool of choice. Well, whether it is Claude, ChatGPT, or Google Notebook LM there are some similarities and differences. So many people (including my students) just type in prompts and use AI like “Google Search” and this doesn't always give you accurate results at all. In fact, even Google Search, which ...

A Cool Secret for Helping Kids Understand Math

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Math doesn’t have to feel like endless drills. In this episode, Tinashe Blanchet shares how project-based learning can transform math class into a place where creativity drives engagement and understanding.

3 Takeaways:

Scale models make abstract math real.Projects build measurement, ratio, and geometry skills.PBL can be integrated in small steps, even with pa...

Smart Ideas for Teacher Prep, Reading, Writing, and Screen-Free Fun

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Teaching is at a crossroads. On one hand, schools face a teacher certification crisis that impacts student learning. On the other, we have incredible, research-backed strategies for teaching reading and writing. We'll also share fresh ways to reduce screen time while engaging students.

In this episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, we're bringing you four conversations that ma...

Preparing AI-Ready Graduates for Future Challenges with Richard Culatta

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD, argues that AI didn’t break assessment—it simply revealed what was already broken. From assessments to bias, Culatta shares a vision for preparing AI-ready graduates who thrive with human-centered skills.

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Building Cybersecurity Skills in Schools: The Student SOC

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Schools are prime targets for cyber attacks, yet most students graduate without real-world cybersecurity skills. Jay James shares how Auburn University built a student-led SOC—and how K-12 can adapt the model.

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3 Takeaways:

• Curiosity and passion matter more than prior experience.
• AI ca...

Transform Your School Culture with Steve Bollar

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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“Stand Tall” Steve Bollar has some incredible ideas to boost school culture. He not only offers a 7-week challenge that can transform your school, but also a framework that administrators can give their teachers and staff to improve decision-making and morale.

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