STEAM classroom ideas that actually work — from AI literacy to garden-based science. Nine expert educators share hands-on strategies you can use in your classroom this week.

This is Part 2 of the STEAM Super Series on Cool Cat Teacher Talk. In this episode, you'll learn:

- How Code.org's Hour of AI gives every teacher a free starting point for AI literacy — including unplugged activities with no computers needed
- Why a student who never engaged in traditional math built a working scale model of a TI-84 calculator — and what that means for project-based learning
- How Stephen Ritz grows 50,000 pounds of vegetables indoors with students in the South Bronx
- How Fortnite Creative (with no guns) becomes a physics lab where gravity is 3x stronger than Earth's
- How Desmos sliders give students instant visual feedback on math relationships

Full show notes, guest bios, and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/steamaction
Part 1 — The STEAM Mindset: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/steammindset

Featured guests: Karim Meghji (Code.org), Tinashe Blanchet, Stephen Ritz (Green Bronx Machine), Dr. Erin Krupa, Karen Bosch, Andrew Vanden Heuvel, Dan Meyer (Amplify/Desmos), Adrian Gordon, Terra Tarango (Van Andel Institute for Education)

Sponsored by: Van Andel Institute for Education and their Educator's Studio. Use COOLCAT to get 50% off. All opinions are that of each guest and not that of the sponsor.

Hosted by Vicki Davis | coolcatteacher.com

What happens when teachers stop starting with answers and start with questions instead?

In this first episode of our two-part STEAM Super Series, twelve educators share how shifting to an inquiry-driven, curiosity-first approach transforms science, math, art, and every subject in between. Sponsored by the Van Andel Institute for Education and their new Educator Studio.

In this episode you'll hear from:

• Terra Tarango — Inquiry-based science and flipping the lesson order
• Dan Finkel — Math as play and starting with questions
• Susan Riley — Creativity as a brain-based bridge to deeper learning
• Tim Needles — Building creativity through constraints and community projects
• Dr. Michael Rousell — The surprising science of life-changing moments
• Liesl McConchie — Releasing the "parking brake" before students can learn
• Dr. Lidia Gonzalez — Productive struggle and the power of "yet"
• Dr. Sam Nix — How leadership language shapes school culture
• Dr. Justin Reich — Small experiments for big change
• Patti Duncan - STEAM in Practice
• Stephanie Zeiger — STEAM in practice

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Van Andel Institute for Education
• Educator Studio — Free STEAM resources for teachers
• Show notes and all resources

One in five children in the U.S. is neurodivergent, yet one in three educators believes learning disabilities are just laziness. In this episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, host Vicki Davis sits down with two remarkable guests who are changing how we think about neurodiversity in the classroom. Dr. Sue Fletcher-Watson from the University of Edinburgh shares the neurodiversity paradigm, the double empathy problem, and why the quiet room that never gets used might be the most powerful support you can offer. Then Vanessa Castañeda Gill, diagnosed with autism and ADHD at 14, shares how one teacher's harsh words kept her from raising her hand until college — and what every teacher can do differently.

In this episode, you'll learn how to:

• Understand the neurodiversity paradigm and why it matters for every classroom
• Apply the double empathy problem to rethink communication breakdowns with students
• Use monotropism and flow states as strengths rather than problems to manage
• Give neurodivergent students processing time, transition warnings, and flexible seating
• Create safe spaces that students may never need to use — because they exist
• Help students build self-advocacy skills that last a lifetime

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/neurodiverseclass

Nearly half of teachers say their students show little to no interest in learning. In this episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, four educators from around the world share what actually works to build classroom culture that transforms learning. From student motivation to productive struggle to teaching thinking on purpose, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can use right away.

In this episode, you'll learn how to:

• Build student motivation by getting to know your students and being vulnerable with them
• Help students embrace productive struggle using James Nottingham's Learning Pit
• Teach thinking explicitly with routines like See, Think, Wonder
• Create school cultures where every voice can speak honestly without apology
• Celebrate small wins to build momentum for bigger victories

Dr. Tracee Perryman, James Nottingham, Daron "Coach Frank" Franklin, and Alice Vigors light up this show with their expertise and motivation to help all of us improve the culture in our classrooms today.

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/culture2026

Why are students forgetting everything you just told them? How do class rosters make or break a school year? This Epic Elementary Supershow brings together seven expert educators to tackle the challenges elementary teachers face every day. From executive functioning to differentiated math instruction to a remarkable story of 91% reading proficiency, this episode delivers research-backed strategies you can use right away.

Guests featured in this episode:

• Dr. Sarah Oberle — Executive functioning in the elementary classroom
• Carrie Hetzel — Class rostering for balanced classrooms
• Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson — Differentiated math instruction
• Malia Hollowell — Science of reading practices
• Jennifer Burns — Reading and writing instruction
• Heather Marrs — Classroom gamification
• Ezera Washington — New Jersey Governor's Educator of the Year, reading instruction and classroom transformation

In this episode, you'll learn how to:

• Reduce hidden cognitive demands on students by simplifying instructions and using visual reminders
• Make rostering decisions that set teachers and students up for success
• Differentiate math instruction using flexible grouping and pre-assessment data
• Support struggling writers with sentence stems while building independence
• Gamify your classroom to boost engagement without losing instructional focus
• Circulate and give real-time feedback during independent work instead of waiting to grade papers later

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/elementary

This episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk focuses on a challenge many teachers face right now: keeping student attention strong while navigating the rise of artificial intelligence in classrooms. We explore how learning science, memory strategies, and thoughtful AI use can help students focus, remember more, and think more deeply. With insights from Blake Harvard and Mary Ehrenworth, this conversation connects research-backed teaching practices with real classroom needs. If you want practical ways to strengthen learning without losing the human heart of teaching, this episode is for you. What You'll Learn In this episode, you'll learn how to: Use retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and pretesting to strengthen student memory Apply formative assessment and feedback to move students from "I heard it" to "I can do it" Reduce distractions and design classroom routines that protect attention Support reading, vocabulary, and writing while keeping thinking student-centered Use AI as a learning tool and thought partner without replacing student effort Episode Link

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/attention2026

Loneliness. Hopelessness. A search for purpose. These are some of the deepest struggles we face today. But what if the answer isn't found in accomplishments, possessions, or fleeting distractions? What if the answer is found in a

relationship with the One who knows you, loves you, and created you with a purpose? This Christmas, I'm stepping aside from our regul

ar episodes to share something deeply personal: how I talk about Jesus in my classroom. As a Christian educator, I believe every child is a masterpiece, and I strive to teach in a way that reflects the love and truth of Christ. In this special episode, you'll hear incredible stories of how God is working in the lives of everyday people-friends, students, and even in my own life.

Jesus isn't just a figure in history; He's alive, He's personal, and He cares deeply about each of us.

Featuring heartfelt accounts from Leandra, Myrna, Kenny, Anna, and a unique student story from Sophie, this episode reveals the beauty of a relationship with Jesus. I also share my own story of middle school bullying and not fitting in as well as my mom's last words of encouragement and hope that she wrote and we read at her funeral in January 2021. If you've ever felt alone, uncertain about your purpose, or simply curious about what it means to know Jesus, this episode is for you. Let's talk about the greatest story ever told-and how it brings hope to the hearts of ordinary people like you and me. Next week, we'll return to our usual episodes, but t

oday, join me for a heartfelt reflection on faith, purpose, and the message of Christmas. Show notes: www.coolcatteacher.com/talkjesus

Subscribe to this channel to get classroom news, ideas, and ethical technology ideas. Subscribe to the Cool Cat Teacher Classroom Newsletter for weekly tips and ideas delivered to your inbox every Tuesday morning at www.coolcatteacher.com/newsletter See you later, educator!

The science of attention explains why learning cannot happen without focus—and why one teacher can make all the difference.

In this episode, host Vicki Davis sits down with Myriam Da Silva, AI ethicist, neuroeducation leader, and CEO of CheckIT Learning, to explore how attention actually works in the brain and what that means for today's classrooms.

Rather than telling students to "just pay attention," this conversation breaks down the different states of attention, why sustained focus is biologically limited, and how teachers can design lessons that align with how the brain learns best. You'll hear practical, research-based strategies teachers can use immediately, including how to start class with a strong hook, leverage the attention curve, build in attention resets, reduce distractions, and teach students to self-regulate their focus.

The episode also features the powerful classroom story "Sue and Mrs. Scruggs," illustrating how a teacher's intentional attention can change a student's confidence, trajectory, and life.

Myriam also shares insights from her work in ethical, human-centered AI, including how neuroeducation-informed tools can support teachers while preserving the essential teacher–student relationship at the heart of learning.

This episode is ideal for educators, school leaders, parents, and anyone interested in learning, child development, and the future of education.

Show notes and resources:
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/attention