Vicki A. Davis's Blog, page 52

3 Ways to Thank Administrators

Dr. Frank Buck on Episode 389

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Thankfulness is modeled and shown by how we appreciate those around us. In today’s show, Dr. Frank Buck gives some creative ways to thank administrators. If you’re planning ahead for the holidays, you’ll have time to work on these ideas at your school.

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Imagining the Awesome Future of Automobiles

Help Your Students Enter the U.S. Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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STEM, STEAM, and design thinking are buzzwords in education today. In addition to true STEM projects, we also work to include the arts in all subjects. The U.S. Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is the perfect contest for classrooms across the United States. Specifically, this art contest combines design thinking and the arts. Definitely, download the lesson plan and entry...Twitter

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Creating Positive Learning Environments

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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As we lay out our rooms and organize our spaces, we can make our learning environments more positive spaces to interact, collaborate and work together. Today Kevin Stoller gives us ideas to make our learning environments more positive places to interact.

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Using Comics to Teach Chemistry (and more!)

C.A. Preece shows us how to do this.

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Science can be difficult for low to average readers. Today, we’ll dig into the power of comic books to help us teach difficult subjects to students by making learning reachable and approachable. C.A. Preece works to reach every learner by working to make science approachable and understandable.

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The Golden Bell of Justice

A story to teach about caring for others

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Recently, I came across a story that my mother had adapted when she was a teacher to use to teach students about caring for others who had done things for them. During this time of Thanksgiving and approaching Christmas, it is easy for many of us (kids included) to become self-absorbed and to forget those who have done so much. So, feel free to use today’s story as you want but also to use it as a personal challe...Twitter

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5 Fast Ways to Give Positive Feedback

Principal Meredith Akers shares how to motivate and encourage others

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Have you ever made the mistake of giving other people the kind of feedback you want to receive – but it just fell flat? For example, I’m a “word” kind of person and I can float on a compliment for days. However, some people I know are visual. Others like to hear a person’s voice. Still, others really love graphics or video.

We all need to be excellent at giving quick and impactful feedback...video.

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Math Problems that Unlock Student Thinking

Robert Kaplinsky, Open Middle Math pioneer, talks about effective math teaching

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Filled with dread, some math teachers have a problem. As they give problems to students to work their students become problems. Behavior problems. Boredom problems. Sometimes the problem is that students aren’t excited by the problems. However, math can be exciting. The “Open Middle” math problem format is NOT talking about middle school math, although it applies to middle,...Twitter

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Why Kids Need Life Skills (including how to cook!)

Andrea Moore on episode 583

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Students need life skills. Some schools are adding in courses to help students cook, care for their families, manage their money and more life skills. Others have always had these courses. Today we interview a teacher, Andrea Moore, who started her career as a literature teacher but teaches many practical things to her students every day.

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20+ Ideas to Supercharge Classroom Creativity

Ideas to help you spark creativity in your classroom

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Creativity is something that we have to nurture as teachers. In this blog post and episode, I share some of the ways I believe nurture creativity in students.

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The Surprising Science of Life Changing Moments

Michael Rousell, PhD talks about his research into life change

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Have you ever had a moment when your life changed? Perhaps it was a comment or it was a moment and although it may not have seemed to be anything to others around you, you experienced a seismic shift in how you viewed yourself. Dr. Michael Rousell studies these moments and relates them to neuroscience. Today he shares the surprising science behind the commonalities in these life-changin...Twitter

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