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Yes, 2020 has been a year like no other, and today's guest, Pamela Livingston Guadet, interviewed a wide variety of school tech directors to hear their stories of triage teaching during the COVID-19 emergency. Today, she shares their wisdom, including the positives, negatives, the things that shocked her, and what her research shows that everyone should know about moving forward in 2021. Pamela is the author of the book, “Like No Other School Year: 2020, COVID-19 and the Growth of Online Learning." Sponsor:  It’s a new year and time to plan your professional development with Advancement Courses. They offer over 280 online graduate-level PD courses in 20 subject areas. They are online and self-paced, so you can take them anywhere, any time with up to six months to complete. Receive graduate credit through CAEP and regionally accredited university partners or for continuing education units that meet your state requirements. And right now, you can save 20% off each course with the code COOL20 -- that’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat  and use the coupon code COOL20.  www.coolcatteacher.com/e717 Pamela Livingston Gaudet - Bio As Submitted Pamela (Livingston) Gaudet is the author of “Like No Other School Year: 2020, COVID-19 and the Growth of Online Learning”  For the book, Pamela interviewed public, independent and international school technology directors to hear their stories of triage teaching during the COVID-19 emergency including what was important and what is still needed for online learning. Pamela was a technology director and teacher at public, charter and independent schools and then moved to education technology companies where she built products used by millions of students in K-12 schools. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

One of the most popular shows of 2018 was with Tom Mullaney on Google Jamboard so we've updated it for 2021! In this show, Tom shows us how teachers are using Google Jamboard, why it is so popular, and how you can use it to teach. Let's Jam! Sponsor:  It’s a new year and time to plan your professional development with Advancement Courses. They offer over 280 online graduate-level PD courses in 20 subject areas. They are online and self-paced, so you can take them anywhere, any time with up to six months to complete. Receive graduate credit through CAEP and regionally accredited university partners or for continuing education units that meet your state requirements. And right now, you can save 20% off each course with the code COOL20 -- that’s just $120 per graduate credit hour or $160 for 50 clock hours. Go to advancementcourses.com/coolcat  and use the coupon code COOL20.  www.coolcatteacher.com/e716 Tom Mullaney - Bio As Submitted Tom Mullaney is a Digital Learning Integration Designer for the San Francisco Unified School District. Tom’s education experience includes Special Education, Social Studies, and educational technology coaching in New York, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. He is a Google for Education Certified Innovator and Trainer. Tom hosts the Sustainable Teaching Podcast where he interviews teachers about their careers and passions. Connect with him on Twitter, @TomEMullaney. Blog: https://tommullaney.com/

School counselors and teachers are working to creatively and authentically connect with students in both face to face, distance, and hybrid environments. Even in face to face, we're still at a distance. School counselor Emma Tagariello is working to connect with her students using virtual bulletin boards and other technologies. In today's show, she's sharing what being a school counselor looks like now and how she's working to help kids every day. These ideas will be great to use with upcoming holidays and seasons. www.coolcatteacher.com/e715 Sponsor: Educaplay is inviting all educators to try their platform. You can create your own crossword puzzles, memory games, map games, scrambles, matching, and more educational activities on this versatile website. Go to www.educaplay.com, sign up for a free account. Then the fun begins! Not only can you create and share, but you can also search for activities created by other teachers and easily share them to Google Classroom. You can even win a free premium account when you share your review of Educaplay with the hashtag #EducaplaywithUS. Try out Educaplay today! Post financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). A way of making Europe. Emma Tagariello Emma Tagariello is a Licensed Associate Counselor and National Certified Counselor from Madison, New Jersey. She works as a Student Assistance Counselor in the Butler, New Jersey school district, working primarily with middle school students. Emma is passionate about connecting with students and creating a safe space as they learn to navigate through adolescence. @RBSTagariello Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Sometimes our own beliefs can limit our ability in the classroom - these are called self-limiting beliefs. Today's guest, Dr. Brandon Beck, helps us learn how to face our self-limiting beliefs, appreciate the positive things we have done, and move forward to a brighter future. www.coolcatteacher.com/e714 Sponsor: Educaplay is inviting all educators to try their platform. You can create your own crossword puzzles, memory games, map games, scrambles, matching, and more educational activities on this versatile website. Go to www.educaplay.com, sign up for a free account. Then the fun begins! Not only can you create and share, but you can also search for activities created by other teachers and easily share them to Google Classroom. You can even win a free premium account when you share your review of Educaplay with the hashtag #EducaplaywithUS. Try out Educaplay today! Post financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). A way of making Europe. Dr. Brandon Beck's Bio as Submitted Dr. Brandon Beck is a National Board Certified teacher and Award Winning Professional Soccer Coach. He is the author of the new book "Unlocking Unlimited Potential" released from Codebreaker in December 2020. He also holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. His primary purpose as an educator and teacher leader is a simple one: “To inspire people (adults and kids) to have faith in themselves and believe in their inner genius.” He has been an elementary teacher for 20 years, a monolingual, dual language teacher, and holds a wide range of educational experience in versatile settings. He is also a Professor at Manhattanville College, NY, an editor and reviewer for AASA Journal of Scholarship & Practice, a regular presenter at state, regional, and national conferences, a motivational speaker for students and educators, a life coach, and an education consultant. As a speaker, author, educator, and consultant his areas of expertise include: Rediscovering Your “Why” Self-Efficacy & Growth Mindset Social-Emotional Learning English Language Learners Culturally Responsive Teaching Therapeutic Animals in schools Dr. Beck is a Mutt-i-grees National Trainer. Mutt-i-grees is a program designed by Yale University’s School for the 21st Century in partnership with North Shore Animal League of American and the Pet Savers Foundation. The Mutt-i-grees curriculum is an innovative Pre-K – Grade 12 social-emotional learning program that brings adopted shelter dogs into schools. Dr. Beck is also an entrepreneur, ex semi-pro soccer player, and a professional soccer coach. He is currently a nationally certified instructor for the United States Soccer Federation. In addition, he has coached High School and Premier soccer teams that have won numerous state, regional, and national championships. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Many of us are learning to traverse between online and in-person learning environments. Our guest Aaron Johnson, author of Online Teaching with Zoom, shares with us how to better engage students through Zoom, so we can all teach effectively at a distance. www.coolcatteacher.com/e713  Sponsor: GoGuardian The State of Engagement Report 2020 has valuable classroom research and information on distance learning best practices. This must-read report is funded by GoGuardian and includes a meta-analysis of best practices in engaging distance learning. We can improve engagement with our students - no matter where they are learning. Thank you GoGuardian for sponsoring this podcast and the report. Download the State of Engagement Report 2020 now! Aaron Johnson - Bio as Submitted Aaron Johnson is Associate Dean of Educational Technology at Denver Seminary, a graduate school in Littleton, Colorado. As a veteran online educator, Mr. Johnson's goal is to support teachers transitioning to the online classroom and those who want to improve their teaching skills. His books have become go-to resources for colleges, universities, and K-12 school districts. Their to-the-point style and practical ideas make them easy to read and immediately applicable. Readers describe the series as "useful," "helpful," "applicable," "reassuring," and "accessible." His background includes work as a junior high and high school teacher, instructional designer, and faculty developer. During the initial days of COVID, Mr. Johnson was a sought-after aid to institutions that needed help transitioning their faculty to online delivery. Books: Online Teaching with Zoom: A Guide for Teaching and Learning with Videoconference Platforms (Excellent Online Teching Book 2) Online Teaching: Effective Strategies for a Successful Semester Online Blog: excellentonlineteaching.com  Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." All opinions on this show are my own and those of my guests on the show and are not necessarily endorsed by the show's sponsor.  

Our focus on the frontlines of education is to keep students engaged. We can never get enough ideas on how to help our students stay excited, engaged, and learning. Our guest today Mariana Aguilar is going to share with us four key factors for student engagement that she has come across in her research. www.coolcatteacher.com/e712 Sponsor: GoGuardian The State of Engagement Report 2020 has valuable classroom research and information on distance learning best practices. This must-read report is funded by GoGuardian and includes a meta-analysis of best practices in engaging distance learning. We can improve engagement with our students - no matter where they are learning. Thank you GoGuardian for sponsoring this podcast and the report. Download the State of Engagement Report 2020 now. Mariana Aguilar - Bio as Submitted Mariana Aguilar leads the Research team at education technology company, GoGuardian. In her role, she seeks to understand the relationship between the digital learning experience and student outcomes. Mariana began her career in education as a Teach for America corps member teaching 3rd grade in South LA. Since then, she has worked with various education non-profits including Murmuration and Citizens of the World Los Angeles.  Twitter: @MarMarAguilar Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." All opinions on this show are my own and those of my guests on the show and are not necessarily endorsed by the show's sponsor.  

David "Creative Dave" Dubczak is a middle school teacher who sparks creativity. In today's show, he defines creativity and the two kinds of creative thinking to understand: divergent and convergent thinking. Then, he gives us three ways to activate "Genius Mode" and spark creativity in our students along with examples of what he's doing in his classes. We can spark creativity even at a distance! www.coolcatteacher.com/e711 David "Creative Dave" Dubczak - Bio as Submitted David Dubczak, a.k.a Creative Dave, loves helping people be more creative. He believes everyone has their own secret “Genius Mode,” and creative thinking is the key to unlocking it. David has been a teacher for the past 10 years at Indianola Middle School in Indianola, Iowa, teaching Computer Science. Away from school, he is a creativity coach and consultant, helping people and businesses increase their creativity. As an educator, his passion is teaching kids to fail. In research and development industries, the ability to fail and learn from failure is incredibly important. Schools today don't share that view, and he’s trying to change it. David is also an award-winning playwright, and his video productions have won several awards with organizations such as the Iowa Motion Picture Association, Broadway World, and the Festigious International Film Festival Los Angeles. David earned his Bachelor of Science in Education at Drake University and his Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology at Iowa State University. He loves to speak and workshop on creativity and productive failure. Book him at www.CreativeDave.net, and see his other productions at www.ConjunctionMedia.com.

With 2020 and everything going on, there are countless reasons why being kind is important right now, both in and out of the classroom. In this episode, I sit down with fellow kindness advocate Houston Kraft, public speaker, curriculum developer, and co-founder of CharacterStrong. Houston will talk with us about the value of kindness, 5 ways to be kind right now, and where to start. www.coolcatteacher.com/e710  Houston Kraft - Bio as Submitted Houston is a speaker, curriculum developer, and kindness advocate who has spoken at over 600 schools or events internationally. In 2016, he co-founded CharacterStrong - curriculum and trainings that transform the way schools teach social-emotional learning, character education, and Kindness. To date, they have worked with over 2500 schools globally serving over 1 million students. In 2019, his face was featured on Lays BBQ chip bags as someone who helps "spread smiles.” In 2020, his first book, Deep Kindness was released. His mom is his hero and her best life lesson is to “hug like you mean it.” Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." All opinions on this show are my own and those of my guests on the show and are not necessarily endorsed by the show's sponsor.

Teaching online is challenging for many teachers. In this show, we talk about best practices to re-engage students, the common mistakes districts are making, and teachers' importance right now. You'll find this show encouraging, challenging, and relevant to right now - and you'll get some new ideas! www.coolcatteacher.com/e709 Sponsor: Hāpara Google Classroom is great, but as education standards evolve, there are a few things lacking. Admin teams require better analytics. Students need a one-shot view of their tasks and want everything on one page. And as you know, teachers desperately need better monitoring capabilities. All of this is possible with the Hāpara Instructional Suite that organizes teaching and learning workflows in G Suite and Google Classroom seamlessly. Go to www.hapara.com/coolcatteacher to learn more about how Hāpara can help your school. Resources Mentioned on the Show 10 Google Classroom Tips for Remote Learning - Shake Up Learning

Today, I'm giving you another peek into my classroom, this time, to share tips for getting the most out of your Google Classroom. In this episode, you'll hear 15 better practices when using Google Classroom, from habits to technical tools. The full transcript is available on the show's blog post at: www.coolcatteacher.com/e708 Sponsor - Hāpara Google Classroom is great, but as education standards evolve, there are a few things lacking. Admin teams require better analytics. Students need a one-shot view of their tasks and want everything on one page. And as you know, teachers desperately need better monitoring capabilities. All of this is possible with the Hāpara Instructional Suite that organizes teaching and learning workflows in G Suite and Google Classroom seamlessly. Go to www.hapara.com/coolcatteacher to learn more about how Hāpara can help your school. Resources Mentioned the Show: Harry Wong's The First Days of School Alice Keeler Planboard Text Expander Quizziz IXL Google Classroom Duo Bootcamp with Alice Keeler Vicki Davis - Bio Vicki Davis is a classroom teacher and an Instructional Technology Director. She blogs at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog and hosts this podcast. See www.coolcatteacher.com/bio for her full bio. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

We've updated the popular show from the spring with current research in October 2020 with Dr. Eric Rossen, the Director of professional development and standards for the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) which has created a recent COVID19 Resource Center. In today's show, Dr. Rossen helps us understand how we can help children wherever they are learning and wherever we are teaching. www.coolcatteacher.com/e707 Sponsor: Impero Teachers are often a first line of defense when it comes to looking out for students’ wellbeing.  I’ve discovered an amazing FREE tool from Impero Software that can help.  Impero back:drop is a free, cloud-based solution that helps schools manage and record student health information such as mental health, behavioral or health issues (including COVID-19 symptoms) or other concerns. Impero back:drop eliminates the need for paper-based reporting, plus provides a safe and secure place to record and store information about student safety concerns. I love Impero back:drop because it really helps inform educators about a student’s health, from first aid, to sickness, to more complex mental health issues they may be experiencing. It’s FERPA, COPPA and HIPAA compliant, plus information can only be shared with permitted staff members. I hope you’ll check out Impero back:drop. You can sign up at imperosoftware.com/us/coolcatteacher. Resources Mentioned on the Show 10 Trauma-Informed Principles for Educators Now with Dr. Eric Rossen March 2020 Show COVID19 Resource Center Dr. Eric Rossen - Bio as Submitted Dr. Eric Rossen is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, a licensed psychologist in Maryland, and a credentialed National Register Health Service psychologist. Dr. Rossen is currently the Director of Professional Development and Standards with the National Association of School Psychologists which has created a recent COVID19 Resource Center. He has worked in public schools and in independent practice and has served as a college instructor and adjunct faculty at the University of Missouri and Prince George’s Community College. He has presented across the US and internationally, and published dozens of articles and book chapters related to school psychology, school safety, and trauma. He is most recently the editor of Supporting and Educating Traumatized Students: A Guide for School-Based Professionals, 2nd Edition, and coauthor of the book Applying a Trauma-Informed Framework to The IEP Process: From Referral to Development. You can learn more about Dr. Rossen on his website: www.ericrossen.com; and follow him on Twitter: @E_Rossen Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

In this episode, I give you a peek into my classroom. I take a topic that isn't super simple -- databases -- and show how I teach it with 2 simple projects, some game based learning, concrete examples, and how my students all master the topic in five days. While you might not be interested in Big Data or Databases, it is part of your student's future and so it is good to be introduced to the topic. Of interest to most of you, however, will be how I plan lessons. I design ahead for common mistakes, use concrete examples, use formative assessment and don't test but have mastery from all my students. This may sound impossible but it can be done. I hope this helps and encourages you and it also helps show how I reach kids who are at home as well. www.coolcatteacher.com/e706 Sponsor: Planboard & Chalk As we prepare to teach in a blended or distance learning environment, a rock-solid lesson planner is a must. I use a free program called Planboard for my lesson planning. My school uses Planboard with Chalk.com’s curriculum planning tool. This powerful tool links with standards -- and gives us the ability to do some timesaving, efficient reporting and tracking. The best thing about Planboard is I can plan my lessons anywhere - on my Mac, PC or iPad. Wherever I work, my lesson plans are with me. And as I said, Planboard is FREE for teachers. I hope you’ll check out Planboard now! Vicki Davis - Bio Vicki Davis is a classroom teacher and an Instructional Technology Director. She blogs at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog and hosts this podcast. See www.coolcatteacher.com/bio for her full bio. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Rachelle Dene Poth shares 9 of her favorite EdTech ideas that you can easily use now, no matter what your classroom environment requirements are. Teachers are looking for easy and helpful resources, and right now with so much going on searching for the best solutions can be overwhelming, and Rachelle is a great resource to tap into for all things EdTech. www.coolcatteacher.com/e705  Sponsor: Planboard & Chalk As we prepare to teach in a blended or distance learning environment, a rock-solid lesson planner is a must. I use a free program called Planboard for my lesson planning. My school uses Planboard with Chalk.com’s curriculum planning tool. This powerful tool links with standards -- and gives us the ability to do some timesaving, efficient reporting and tracking. The best thing about Planboard is I can plan my lessons anywhere - on my Mac, PC or iPad. Wherever I work, my lesson plans are with me. And as I said, Planboard is FREE for teachers. I hope you’ll check out Planboard now! Resources from the Podcast: Buncee Zigazoo Nearpod Edpuzzle Formative Wakelet Gosynth Gimkit Quizziz  Rachelle Dene Poth - Bio as Submitted Rachelle Dene Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. Rachelle teaches Spanish and STEAM: What’s nExT in Emerging Technology at Riverview Junior Senior High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle has a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. She is a Consultant and Speaker, owner of ThriveinEDU LLC Consulting. She serves as the past-president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network and serves on the Leadership team of the Mobile Learning Network. At ISTE19, she received the Making IT Happen Award and a Presidential Gold Award for volunteer service to education. She is also a Buncee Ambassador, Nearpod PioNear and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. Rachelle is the author of four books, ‘In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking,” “Unconventional Ways to Thrive in EDU” (EduMatch) and “The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead,” Rachelle Dene’s latest book is with ISTE “Chart A New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s World." Rachelle is a blogger for Getting  Smart, Defined Learning, District Administration, NEO LMS, and the  STEM Informer with Newsweek.  Follow Rachelle on Twitter @Rdene915 and on Instagram @Rdene915. Rachelle has a podcast, ThriveinEDU available at https://anchor.fm/rdene915 Her books are available at bit.ly/Pothbooks She has a weekly show on LearningRevolution.com, ThriveinEDU Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Erica Boomsma is in South Dakota where they have been teaching in face to face school for the last four weeks. She talks about the fears she had in going back, the protocols they are using and the positive experiences they are having amidst the masks and shields. Face to face school may be a better alternative than many imagine - even those who struggle with worry. Listen to Erica's experience and figure out how you can prepare yourself and your students for the day you walk back into your classroom. www.coolcatteacher.com/e704  Sponsor: Planboard & Chalk As we prepare to teach in a blended or distance learning environment, a rock-solid lesson planner is a must. I use a free program called Planboard for my lesson planning. My school uses Planboard with Chalk.com’s curriculum planning tool. This powerful tool links with standards -- and gives us the ability to do some timesaving, efficient reporting and tracking. The best thing about Planboard is I can plan my lessons anywhere - on my Mac, PC or iPad. Wherever I work, my lesson plans are with me. And as I said, Planboard is FREE for teachers. I hope you’ll check out Planboard now! Erica Boomsma - Bio as Submitted Erica Boomsma is a dedicated 4th Grade Teacher with 18 years of experience teaching a culturally diverse student population in Huron, South Dakota. Striving to meet the needs of her students, she absolutely loves her job because for her it is her dream come true - she is a teacher! Twitter: @ericaboomsma  Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Megan Padden-Shin has successfully built a tutoring and teaching company during the past two years. She talks about the challenges of building her business and how she's now arrived at a place where she's making more money than she did as a teacher in a traditional school. She talks about what her day looks like, gives advice to educators starting their own business, and success tips on making it through the first year of starting your business. For many educators who find themselves unable to return to face-to-face schooling, this can be a great option. www.coolcatteacher.com/e703  Sponsor: Trilogy Mentors Teachers, things are different for us right now but there are many opportunities for you to tutor and help students in your communities. Today’s sponsor, Trilogy Mentors is dedicated to bringing relationship-based learning online. Trilogy Mentors is THE all-in-one platform for tutors to manage your business online. Engage with your students in their online classroom and manage your business with Trilogy’s scheduling, billing and administrative tools. With Trilogy Mentors, you’ve got integrated back-office tools to let you easily manage admin tasks to grow your business and connect with students on the same platform from home or wherever you find yourself teaching. Visit coolcatteacher.com/tutor, sign up for a demo and use the coupon code COOLCAT50OFF for 50% off your first month. I recommend Trilogy Mentors because they not only have an outstanding platform but offer the training, educational content, and technical support to help you easily transition online. Megan Padden-Shin - Bio as Submitted Megan Padden-Shin has been in the field of education for nearly 15 years. She is the owner of O.W.L. Educational Services and recently launched her own online 6-12 school called Our Wisdom Leads Academy. Website: www.OwlEducationalServices.com  Twitter: @educated_owl Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Dr. Matthew Rhoads is teaching at a distance and coaching other teachers to improve their teaching as well. Based in San Diego, Dr. Rhoads talks about how to integrate instructional strategies, have a teacher toolbox, how to show teachers technology, using Google Jamboard to brainstorm, how to observe and model online teaching for teachers. Additionally, he shares thoughts on how to use Zoom effectively (and not too much) and how to engage students. Finally, he reflects on attendance issues and how to help students who need it most. www.coolcatteacher.com/e702  Sponsor: Planboard & Chalk As we prepare to teach in a blended or distance learning environment, a rock-solid lesson planner is a must. I use a free program called Planboard for my lesson planning. My school uses Planboard with Chalk.com’s curriculum planning tool. This powerful tool links with standards -- and gives us the ability to do some timesaving, efficient reporting and tracking. The best thing about Planboard is I can plan my lessons anywhere - on my Mac, PC or iPad. Wherever I work, my lesson plans are with me. And as I said, Planboard is FREE for teachers. I hope you’ll check out Planboard now! Dr. Matthew Rhoads - Bio as Submitted Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D. is an Educational Specialist at a secondary school in a school district located in North San Diego County. He is also a lecturer at San Diego State University on Educational Technology and Instruction as well as a student teacher supervisor for the Dual Language and English Learner department. Dr. Rhoads is also an educational consultant with Discovery Source. His new book is Navigating the Toggled Term: Preparing Secondary Educators for Navigating Fall 2020 and Beyond, which discuss how schools can navigate online, hybrid learning, and traditional classroom settings by moving interchangeably between each of these educational settings with the online instructional infrastructure and the toggled term instructional model. Navigating the Toggled Term also provides chapters on selecting edtech tools, edtech tools and their instructional applications, differentiating instruction, Special Education case management and online IEPs, reopening schools and refining reopening school plans, and instructional and organizational frameworks that can help schools and districts toggle between online, hybrid, and traditional educational settings. Website: www.matthewrhoads.com  Twitter: @mattrhoads1990 Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Dr. Brianna Kurtz, classroom teacher and researcher, studied "global practices in returning to formal schooling after interruptions in education due to natural disasters." She studied students displaced after Hurricane Maria and what helped them resume schooling successfully. Today, she shares what we can learn from her research as well as some emerging research on best practices for teaching during the pandemic. www.coolcatteacher.com/e701  Sponsor: Planboard & Chalk As we prepare to teach in a blended or distance learning environment, a rock-solid lesson planner is a must. I use a free program called Planboard for my lesson planning. My school uses Planboard with Chalk.com’s curriculum planning tool. This powerful tool links with standards -- and gives us the ability to do some timesaving, efficient reporting and tracking. The best thing about Planboard is I can plan my lessons anywhere - on my Mac, PC or iPad. Wherever I work, my lesson plans are with me. And as I said, Planboard is FREE for teachers. I hope you’ll check out Planboard now! Dr. Briana Kurtz - Bio as Submitted Dr. Brianna Kurtz has been an educator in high school and community college mathematics classrooms for fifteen years. Her research focuses on global practices in returning to formal schooling after interruptions in education due to the effects of natural disasters. Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Today's 700th-anniversary message is a gift to teachers, educators, and parents everywhere. This show is a lifeline for those who need an anchor of purpose. Teachers have been confiding in Vicki that in such a turbulent time as this, many of them feel like they're careening along in a raft, in level five waters, with no end in sight. You can make it. Today is a special anniversary episode - a little longer than our usual one but from Vicki's heart to yours. Teachers, you matter! Your job is important!  Sponsor:  Today’s sponsor, Trilogy Mentors is dedicated to bringing relationship-based learning online. Trilogy Mentors is THE all-in-one platform for tutors to manage your business online. Engage with your students in their online classroom and manage your business with Trilogy’s scheduling, billing and administrative tools. With Trilogy Mentors, you’ve got integrated back-office tools to let you easily manage admin tasks to grow your business and connect with students on the same platform from home or wherever you find yourself teaching. Visit coolcatteacher.com/tutor, sign up for a demo and use the coupon code COOLCAT50OFF for 50% off your first month. I recommend Trilogy Mentors because they not only have an outstanding platform but offer the training, educational content, and technical support to help you easily transition online. Show Notes from Today's Show Mastering the 7 Decisions by Andy Andrews Dr. Michael Catt @michaelcatt Be The Leader You Were Meant to Be by LeRoy Eims Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Helicopter Scene (warning: I don't recommend this movie - listen to the podcast to know why we laugh) Be Educator's Overcomers Movie Jeff Galloway 10K App 10 Fingers for God by Paul Brand The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard Chadwick Boseman's Tribute to Denzel Washington Days After a Funeral in a Georgia Town 'Coronavirus Hit Like a Bomb' in the New York Times Malachi Russell's Story Thank you so much for making episode 700 possible! Hear from my heart what I'm learning in this time!

Sean Thompson, author of Creativity is Everything, talks about his first day back at school and how he is bringing creativity, physical and emotional wellbeing to his students. He also shares free courses you can use with your students and ways you can bring creativity into your classroom now. Sponsor: Wipebook Flipchart Wipebook is an excellent solution for educators, no matter where you’re teaching. Check out Wipebook Flipchart at www.wipebook.com/coolcatteacher. These flipcharts make it SO easy to snap a picture and upload it to your Google Drive or Dropbox for quick sharing with your students and they are reusable dry erase surfaces you can use again and again. Features like dark, easy-to-see borders and the Wipebook Scan App make it simple to use. Go to wipebook.com/coolcatteacher right now -- and receive 30% off your order. Wipebook flipchart is a fantastic addition to your classroom teaching toolkit - especially if you’re teaching from home. www.coolcatteacher.com/e699  Sean Thompson - Bio as Submitted Sean is an educational technology specialist at Sacred Heart International School in Tokyo. He travels extensively across southeast Asia speaking, presenting and participating in discussions regarding the effective integration of technology in an educational setting. In 2014 he partnered up with DEEP Learning to support the team with the development, promotion and execution of professional development conferences for teachers worldwide. Sean is also an Apple Distinguished Educator, an International Baccalaureate Educator Network Workshop Leader , a Google education Trainer and a Certified Google Educator available for professional development at your school. Website: https://www.creativityiseverything.net/  Twitter: @seansensei  Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Feedback is important. But how do teachers give it frequently and in ways that help students learn? How can teachers have time and get this done with all that is going on this Fall 2020? Today, Matthew Johnson, author of Flash Feedback, shares his advice to help get close to kids through feedback and connections in our digital classrooms. It can be done! www.coolcatteacher.com/e698  Sponsor: The Wipebook Workbook is designed for everything from sketching to notetaking and includes a graph, ruled, and blank pages. It is foldable but also stands up so each student’s whiteboard can be seen in your online classroom. You can purchase the Wipebook Workbook in packs of 25. That way, every student at home or in the classroom has their own dry-erase surface to help them visualize and work things out. These cost-effective dry erase surfaces are must-use tools for STEM Teachers. Go towww.wipebook.com/cctpromo   and receive 30% off your order. Matthew Johnson - Bio as Submitted Matthew is a high school English language arts teacher from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also a writer and speaker who has spent much of the last decade in pursuit of a white whale: Feedback practices that are both effective and efficient. His journey to find more meaningful and sustainable feedback and teaching can be found on his weekly blog www.matthewmjohnson.com and in his new book Flash Feedback: Responding to Student Writing Better and Faster -- Without Burning Out. When not reading, writing, or teaching, Matthew can be found in his garden, in the kitchen, or in transit between the two with an armful of fresh produce. Twitter: @a2matthew Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."