Vicki A. Davis's Blog, page 7
February 22, 2025
New Tools. Old Complaints. Why AI Won’t Kill Education or Fix it
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
AI won’t kill education. But will it kill learning? The challenge isn’t AI itself—it’s whether students can still think for themselves when the answers are always one click away.
Cheating isn’t new. The only change is how fast students can find the answers without questioning if such a thing is really a good idea.
One of my students put it best when they told me…
She: “Mrs. Davis, if I get older and need ...
February 19, 2025
How to Make Math ENGAGING
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
We all know the struggle. We see the moment a student's eyes lose focus as the sight of a tough math problem or the whispered, “I'm just bad at math” that breaks our hearts. But what if we can transform these moments? What if we can make math the exciting subject we dream for it to be.
In this week's episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, we're beginning a three episode journey into the heart of math education, uncove...
February 17, 2025
Teaching Writing in an AI World: A Practical Guide
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
So many things have shifted in writing instruction. With AI tools embedded into student devices, many teachers are left wondering:
“How do we even teach writing anymore?”
In this episode, I sit down with my colleague (and friend across the hall!) Dawne Beck to discuss honest, practical strategies for teaching writing in today’s AI-driven classroom.
In today's show we'll talk about ELA teaching in the writin...
February 12, 2025
Ignite a Love for Reading: Top Tips Every Teacher and Parent Must Know
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
How do we teach students to read? When it comes to teaching children to read, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We need to equip educators with the tools and the expertise (and the freedom) to teach reading and customize it to every child. This episode of Cool Cat Teacher focuses on the best practices for teaching children to read and what we know now. It also highlights some of the controversies of reading ed...
February 11, 2025
Can AI That Lets Kids Struggle Productively Be Better?
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
Some research out of Stanford by Rose E. Wang and Megha Srivastava points out the nuances of using AI to help students learn and that sometimes the tools that promote productive struggle are the better option even if students think they are less helpful. (I've written about the need for productive struggle in math on Edutopia, and so much of this research resonates with me.)
One exciting direction is using AI t...
February 10, 2025
7 Reasons to Host a Teacher Work Sprint (And How to Do It)
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
As teachers, our to-do lists just grow and grow. Sometimes, I want to be with my colleagues and friends. Some of my dearest friends through the years have been at school. It is not surprising that they just “get” me. We enjoy being together even if we're working in the same room.
Recently, as we were working on accreditation, we decided to get together and work at the behest of my co-worker, Dawne. And wow, we ju...
Teachers Can Save Time with These 11 Simple Hacks!
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
Are you tired of wasting precious time on tedious tasks and wishing you could focus on what matters most—your students? In this episode, discover 11 simple yet effective time-saving hacks that will transform your daily routine. From clever organization ideas to multitasking tips, these strategies will help you regain control of your time and energy. Watch or listen now to start your journey toward better productivit...
February 5, 2025
Expert IEP and RTI Strategies You Need to Know
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
Learn how to master Response to Intervention (RTI) and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process to help every child succeed. RTI is a proven framework for providing targeted support to students who struggle, while IEPs are personalized plans designed to meet the unique educational needs of students with disabilities. In this episode, we explore strategies and actionable insights to optimize these essential...
February 3, 2025
RTI and MTSS: A Powerful Blueprint To Help Every Student Thrive
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
In this episode of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast, internationally recognized educator Mike Mattos shares practical strategies for implementing RTI (Response to Intervention) and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) effectively.
Discover actionable tips to ensure every student thrives, avoid common mistakes, and build a framework for success in your school.
Episode Highlights about RTI and MTSS:What ...January 30, 2025
How to Find Trusted News: AI Art, Social Media Chaos, and AI Privacy
From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis
Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter
Season 2, Episode 3 of Cool Cat Teacher Talk tackles some big challenges we educators face in 2025: finding trusted news amidst social media chaos, navigating AI privacy concerns, and teaching students with cutting-edge tools like AI art generation. Join Vicki Davis (that's me 😊) as we explore the rise of platforms like Blue Sky and Flipboard in the Fediverse and share how educators can curate reliable content while...
