10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Too many bright, high-achieving students hit a wall because they lack access, know-how, and the "network advantage" that makes college applications feel possible. In this episode, I talk with Zak Adams, a junior at Harvard University, about how mentorship can help high-potential, low-opportunity students pursue "dream universities" they might not otherwise consider. We discuss Project Access, an international, UK-registered charity that pairs students with mentors connected to their target universities. If you work with juniors right now, this conversation will help you see practical next steps you can take to support students who need a roadmap.
In this episode, you'll learn how to:
Recognize when a high-achieving student needs mentorship, not just encouragement

Identify "high-potential, low-opportunity" indicators that can signal a need for added support

Refer students early and plan ahead for deadlines that often arrive around September

Understand why mentor matching connected to a target university can provide "network advantage"

Encourage students by helping them build a plan when they don't know where to begin

Show notes and resources:
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e925

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What You'll Learn In this episode, you'll learn how to:
Ask students what name they prefer and ensure it is pronounced and used correctly

Learn about a student's previous school experience to better understand literacy and learning needs

Partner intentionally with English Language Learner teachers to plan supports and accommodations

Recognize that limited English does not equal limited intelligence

Ask families which language they prefer for school communication instead of making assumptions

Maintain a learner's mindset by continuing to grow through collaboration, conferences, and shared practice

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e924

Speakable: Today's Sponsor

This podcast is sponsored by Speakable. Want to bring daily speaking practice to your classroom without adding prep or grading?

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Opening Paragraph
In this episode, we tackle the challenges educators face as uncertainty around AI, demographic shifts, and evolving student futures continue to reshape schools. Teachers are feeling the pressure to personalize learning for every student, and we explore how AI might assist rather than overwhelm us in that work. Jennifer Womble, Conference Chair for FETC, joins us to unpack trends that matter now and in the years ahead. Whether you're attending FETC or not, this conversation will help you make sense of what's next in education.
What You'll Learn
In this episode, you'll learn how to:
think about the implications of today's kindergarteners graduating in 2035 and what shifting demographics mean for schools

reframe AI as an assistant to support teaching and learning rather than a threat

recognize why learning as a human-centered, relational skill remains essential

consider how schools and teachers can respond to change with clarity and purpose

Episode Link
Show notes and resources:
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e923

Many teachers are frustrated when AI gives great results one day and confusing or unreliable responses the next. This episode explores why that happens and how it affects both teachers and students in real classrooms. I sit down with Rob the AI Guy to unpack a key concept that explains much of this inconsistency and helps educators use AI more wisely. If you want clearer results and better classroom conversations about AI, this episode will help.
In this episode, you'll learn how to:
Understand why AI responses can drift or become unreliable over time

Use simple strategies, like starting fresh conversations, to get better results

Explain the idea of a context window to students in clear, age-appropriate ways

Help students avoid overtrusting or misusing AI tools

Emphasize critical thinking when working with AI in the classroom

Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e922

The science of attention explains why learning cannot happen without focus—and why one teacher can make all the difference. Learn how to understand the science of attention and help students learn.
This episode is an extended episode shared from my other podcast/radio/TV show: Cool Cat Teacher Talk. I'm sharing it because it is helpful, but also because I share a very special story at the end. - I hope you enjoy! - Vicki
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