Vicki A. Davis's Blog, page 136
April 23, 2016
2 Simple Ways Improve a Lesson Plan
Practical Tips for Rigor, Fun, and Retention
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Sometimes small changes can take a lesson plan from “OK” to “Yeah!” By improving the rigor and fun in each lesson, you can improve student learning and make your classroom more exciting. Learn practical tips from super-teacher Laura Candler that will help you make your lessons more engaging and memorable. This is a must-listen for elementary teachers.
April 19, 2016
10 Cool Ways Teachers Use Social Media to Enhance Learning
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Doing work that matters. All students should be able to be part of that. No longer working for the teacher’s wastebasket, students across the world are connecting and sharing like never before. They are led by teachers unafraid of the world but who escort their kids out to meet the future.
While a recent poll showed 9 out of 10 teachers do not use social media in the classroom, there are teachers who are. Social d...
April 18, 2016
Building a Dynasty in Debate (or Any Competition)
from a Montana teacher with 32 straight titles in a row!
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Matt Stergios has been coaching a debate team that has won their state championship in Montana since 1984.We discuss why debate is important. He also shares one of his big secrets: how he convinces key students to join the team. You’ll learn strategies that coaches can apply to any team.
Click to listen to this show on: BAM Radio Network |StitcherMatt shar...
April 13, 2016
Where the Masterpiece of Learning Really Starts
The art and craft of great teaching
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Paganini was here to play his great work “Napoleon.” His violin glistened. As he broke every string. But one. He looked to his shocked audience and held up his violin.
He yelled,
“Paganini and one string!”
Paganini proceeded to wow them with the entire piece played on just one string.
While his audience marveled, no one left the theater and redesigned the violin with one strin...
April 11, 2016
All Project-Based Learning is Not Created Equal: What Works?
Best Practices in Project-Based Learning with Suzie Boss
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Project-based learning (PBL) works, but not all project-based learning is alike. PBL Expert Suzie Boss takes us into assessment, project design, and teacher PDfor more effective, meaningful projects that improve learning.
Click to listen to this show on: BAM Radio Network | iTunes | StitcherProject-based learning should not bememorization andregurgitation....
April 7, 2016
How Innovative Educators Observe, Reflect, and Share
The Innovator's Mindset with George Couros
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Many teachers say they don’t have time to connect. I live and breathe that feeling. However, when I’m down, sometimes an idea on Twitter or a suggestion on Facebook turns my day around. I get tons of ideas from the many education superstars I write about and interview on my show and blog. If I could give you one thing that will make you completely irreplaceable as a teach...
April 6, 2016
How to Fight Bullying By Teaching Kids To Be Kind
Make Your School A Better Place
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Perhaps meanness in school happens because we don’t teach students what to do. The #tbk (to be kind) movement is spreading like wildfire among many schools.
The Schmucker Middle School National Junior Honor Society is encouraging the entire school to be kind. They heard about the program when their principal told them about Lake Bradley High School in Florida.
Teachers Caitlyn Charn...
April 4, 2016
The Journey from “Just Awful” to Great Teacher
Taking the Leap of Faith with 39-year Veteran Teacher Lou Zulli
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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Great teachers are always great. Right? Wrong. Most of us start off teaching by making mistakes — LOTS OF THEM.Lou Zulli is a pro. He’s been teaching for more than 39 years. And yet, today, he remembers the times he failed.
He calls himself the teacher from Ferris Bueller’s day off — he says he was so boring — that was then. This is now. By sharing hi...
March 24, 2016
What One Teacher Did When He Realized His Kids Weren’t Learning
How an Award Winning Teacher Went from Failure to Fantastic
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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When he started teaching, high school Spanish teacher, Matt Miller had a dirty secret: His students couldn’t speak Spanish. He didn’t want anyone to know. But he came to a breaking point.Learn what Matt did in a fit of frustration andthe incredible results his students achieved.
Matt says teachers shouldn’t mindlessly run through the curriculum but should...
March 23, 2016
Fair Grades, Dropping Grades, Grading Versus Knowledge
Advice From a Student Assessment Researcher About What is Fair and Unfair in Today's Grading Systems
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
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With almost 9,000 downloads and counting, this show is the most popular episode on Every Classroom Matters in 2016 so far. Dr. Thomas Guskey shares the current research on “fair” grading and what teachers should be doing instead. This show came from the “averaging grades” graphic (shown at the bottom) that he poste...
