Vicki A. Davis's Blog, page 9

91% Proficiency: How One Teacher Transformed Reading Outcomes In Just One Year

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Discover how educator Ezera Washington achieved a remarkable 91% proficiency rate in ELA assessments within a single academic year, raising her students’ test scores by 40%. This transformative approach integrates relationship-building, tailored small-group instruction, and high expectations, proving that personalized, data-driven strategies can revolutionize student outcomes. If you want to improve your ELA test sc...

How to Teach Kids to Code: Strategies for Every Stage of Learning

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Today, we’re exploring one of the most exciting and relevant topics in education—teaching kids to code. Featuring insights from leading computer science educators, this episode provides actionable strategies, tools, and ideas to make coding education engaging for all ages.

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This episode showcases insights and expertise from these amazing educators and leaders put to...

12 Easy Ways to Teach Kids to Code: Hour of Code & CS4Ed Week 2024 Special

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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As we gear up for CS4Ed Week 2024 and the Hour of Code, it’s the perfect time to explore fun and innovative ways to introduce students to coding. In this episode of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast, we’re breaking down 12 exciting coding activities that kids will absolutely love. From engaging online tools like Code.org and CodeCombat to hands-on activities with robots and unplugged coding challenges, there’s something...

How Gratitude Boosts Your Health (And Your Kids’ Too!)

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Did you know that being grateful has significant health benefits? In this inspiring one-hour show, discover how gratitude can transform your health and happiness! From unlocking the health benefits of thankfulness to mastering simple gratitude exercises, we’ll explore practical ways to incorporate thankfulness into your daily life. Learn how to teach gratitude to children and help them develop lifelong habits of app...

How to Get Kids Excited About Writing

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Speech-to-text, audio, personal drawings and pictures, and writing about things kids love are all part of helping kids get excited about writing. In today's show, we talk to 15-year educator Randi Ahrndt about encouraging kids to get excited about writing as we discuss interactive writing strategies and one of the best free tools for teaching writing. We also talk about an authentic project of having kids write a pe...

Practical Tips on How to Teach Reading from Jennifer Serravallo

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Sometimes, teachers can struggle to “fit it all in” when it comes to reading. With all of the news on reading, how do we teach reading? What a relief it is to hear reading instructional leaders like Jennifer Serravallo talk about the artistry of teaching, how to overcome the challenges of teaching reading, and teacher autonomy and responsiveness. Jennifer also reflects on where the research is “fuzzy” in reading ins...

Assessments that Work: How to Create Assessments that Help Students Learn More

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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In this Cool Cat Teacher Talk episode, we will explore effective assessment strategies with Dr. Thomas Guskey, Becky Holden, Dr. Samuel Nix, Alan November, Mike Roberts, and Christie Thompson. We will talk about what makes an effective assessment and the importance of both formative and summative assessments. I'll share tools and how I use a custom GPT to give formative feedback for project-based learning. Experts a...

Lessons from a Century of Teaching: Insights from Retiring Educators

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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In this heartfelt episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, we reflect on the remarkable careers of Mrs. Grace Adkins, who retired at age 94 after 77 years in education, and Mrs. Sharon Howard, who taught kindergarten for 44 years. These veteran educators share invaluable lessons on resilience, compassion, and the love of learning that every teacher can carry into their own classroom. Listen for timeless wisdom on creating ...

School Leadership that Transforms: Practical Tips for School Principals and Administrators

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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In this episode, we dive into essential qualities of effective school leadership. From building relationships to tackling teacher burnout, our guest principals and educational experts share their strategies for creating positive, high-impact school environments. Hear from award-winning principals like Tracie Anderson Swilley and Carlos Ramirez, alongside thought leaders George Couros, Eric Sheninger, and top episode...

Resilience: Helping Kids Heal After Natural Disasters

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Welcome to Cool Cat Teacher Talk Episode 6, where we dive into the essential role of teachers, parents, and communities in helping children heal from trauma. This episode focuses on supporting children impacted by recent natural disasters and life’s storms, with insights from leading educators, child psychologists, and leaders who know firsthand the challenges and power of resilience.

Many of us will have studen...