Struggling with Classroom Management? 8 Time Tested Tips

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Classroom management can be one of the toughest challenges educators face. Whether it’s dealing with disengaged students, preventing burnout, or finding creative ways to make learning engaging, the struggle is real. In this episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, host Vicki Davis is joined by two incredible guests.

Vicki Davis will share her eight tips for classroom management. But what if you’re a teacher and you’re not engaged and just don’t have your heart in the classroom like you need to? Michell Singh will share her wisdom on that. And let’s look at a powerful example of student engagement in a difficult STEM subject with Andrew vanden Heuvel and Fortnite physics.

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What You’ll Learn

In this 58-minute episode, you’ll discover:

Proven Classroom Management Techniques: Learn actionable tips for preventing burnout and improving classroom culture.
Engaging Students through Innovation: Discover how gamified learning tools like Fortnite Physics can make complex subjects fun and accessible.
Insights from Real Educators: Hear inspiring stories and strategies from expert guests.

Meet the Guests (Bios as Submitted)

Michelle Singh

Global Educator | TEDx Speaker | Best Selling Author | Founder | CEO Michelle Singh is a National Board Certified Teacher, the visionary founder of the Restful Teacher™️, and the dynamic CEO of LCT-E Learning Solutions®️. With over two decades of education experience, including over 20 years serving Miami-Dade County public schools as a teacher, district leader, and consultant, and over ten years as an adjunct professor of teacher education, Michelle’s unwavering commitment to fostering equity and inclusivity in education is truly inspiring. Her journey began as a 9-year-old immigrant from Jamaica, where she developed a passion for cultural understanding and empathy that has shaped her path to becoming an award-winning educator.

As the leader of LCT-E Learning Solutions®️, Michelle is on a mission to level the playing field in education by tackling the disengagement of students and teachers. Her team’s innovative teacher training programs are grounded in the EQUAL Methodology™️, designed to create a more inclusive and equitable educational experience for students, particularly Black students.

Michelle envisions a world where every child is seen, every student’s voice is heard, and every potential is realized. Her unwavering dedication to building an equitable and inclusive educational system has already impacted over 40,000 teachers globally. By leading with empathy, advocating for equity, and striving for excellence, Michelle Singh is reshaping the future of education.

Blog: https://www.lctelearning.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/msinghdisrupt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msinghDisrupt/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lctelearning/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lctelearning
Podcast: I will soon be launching a podcast called “We Wear the Masks”. We Wear the Masks is a podcast for high-achieving women of color who look like they have it all yet feel a quiet emptiness within. Host Michelle Chanda Singh shares a raw, unfiltered journey through the hidden truths and secrets that kept her feeling trapped. Each episode invites listeners to uncover insights and recognize the patterns quietly costing them their joy. Together, they’ll break cycles of disengagement, unmask obstacles, and redefine success on their own terms to finally lead from a place of true fulfillment—not sacrifice.

Andrew Vanden Heuvel

Andrew Vanden Heuvel is an astronomy professor, education consultant, and gamer dad who blends curiosity, technology, and play to explore the future of learning.

Blog: https://www.andrewvh.com/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-vandenheuvel/

Episode Highlights

0:00 – Vicki shares 8 time tested tips on classroom management
21:53 – Michelle Singh on teacher-student connections
31:40 – Gamification in education: The power of Fortnite Physics
37:45 – Andrew Vanden Heuvel on creative STEM teaching ideas
50:20 – Final thoughts and key takeaways about classroom management, teacher and student engagement

Books Mentioned in This Episode

Fred Jones’ Tools for Teachers: A must-read for effective classroom management strategies.
The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong: A foundational guide to starting the school year right.
Hidden Potential by Adam Grant: Inspiring ideas on how to uncover and develop untapped potential in students.

Why This Episode Matters

Effective classroom management is about more than discipline. It’s about creating a space where students and teachers thrive together. This episode combines research-based strategies, relatable stories, and forward-thinking innovations to help you succeed in your teaching journey.

I wanted to share my heart and record the typical conversation I have with new teachers as they approach classroom management. I have advice for new teachers and some of us who have been around a while about this subject as well as a powerful example of engaging teaching of a touch subject with Fornite Physics.

What are your biggest classroom management challenges? Share your experiences in the comments below or on social media with the hashtag #CoolCatTeacher. Let’s learn from each other!

How to Use Gamification in the Classroom
Teacher Tips for Preventing Burnout
Engage Students with Creative Teaching Ideas

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Disclosure of Material Connection: This episode includes some affiliate links. This means that if you choose to buy I will be paid a commission on the affiliate program. However, this is at no additional cost to you. 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.” This company has no impact on the editorial content of the show.

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Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis has been an educator and IT director in Georgia since 2002. Today, she also works as an instructional technology coach, staying side-by-side with active teachers and students so her work stays grounded in real classrooms.

She's a mom of three, wife of one, and loves talking about the wise, transformational use of technology for teaching and doing good in the world.

She has blogged at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog since 2005 and hosts the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast and Cool Cat Teacher Talk (radio, public access TV, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms), interviewing remarkable educators around the world. Vicki focuses on what unites us — a quest for truly remarkable, life-changing teaching and learning. The goal of her work is to provide actionable, encouraging, relevant ideas for teachers, grounded in truth and shared with love.

If you talk to Vicki for long, she'll encourage you to "Relate to Educate," to "innovate like a turtle," or to be "a remarkable teacher." She loves homemade sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls and runs half marathons with her sisters. You can usually find her laughing with her students or digging into a book.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and telling your friends about the work we do here! - Vicki

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