Certification, Teaching Reading & Writing, Screen Free Learning

Teaching is at a crossroads. On one hand, schools face a teacher certification crisis that impacts student learning. On the other, we have incredible, research-backed strategies for teaching reading and writing. We’ll also share fresh ways to reduce screen time while engaging students.

In this episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, we’re bringing you four conversations that matter:

• A warning about the risks of underprepared teachers based on what has been learned in Texas when their teacher certification standards were lowered (and how they’ve responded with recent legislation)
• Practical, brain-friendly reading tips,
• Six creative ways to improve writing instruction,
• And a look at how podcasts like Who Smarted? can spark curiosity and give kids a break from screens.

Highlights from the Episode

• Teacher Certification Crisis in Texas: Dr. Jacob Kirksey explains how more than half of first-time teachers in Texas are entering classrooms with no certification, and why this matters for student outcomes.
• Brain-Friendly Reading: Malia Hollowell shares science-based strategies that help all learners, especially those with dyslexia, thrive in reading.
• Six Ways to Teach Writing: Nancy McCabe gives teachers practical prompts, field trip ideas, and ways to keep students motivated.
• Screen-Free Fun: Jerry Kolber, creator of Who Smarted?, shows how educational podcasts are engaging 600,000 listeners a month while helping reduce screen time.

Listen to the Show

📢 Listen & Subscribe:
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Segment Guide

Segment 1 — Dr. Jacob Kirksey (Teacher Certification Crisis in Texas): Explains how more than half of first-time teachers in Texas are uncertified, the impact on student learning, and why high-quality preparation is essential to avoid de-professionalizing teaching.

Segment 2 — Malia Hollowell (Brain-Friendly Reading): Shares science-backed reading strategies such as sorting spelling words by phonics rules, tapping into auditory processing for dyslexic learners, and why leveled readers can hurt progress.

Segment 3 — Nancy McCabe (Six Ways to Teach Writing): Offers practical prompts, writing field trips, imitation exercises, and her reflections on pandemic-era writing struggles. Encourages teachers to focus on strengths and to blend “pantsing” and planning.

Segment 4 — Jerry Kolber (Who Smarted? Screen-Free Fun): Discusses creating Brain Games, Who Smarted?, and why screen-free podcasts engage students and reduce screen time. Explains how teachers use them in transitions and the value of human-made shows in an AI era.

About the Guests

Malia Hollowell

Malia Hollowell is a former teacher who knows what it feels like to be doing all the things—and still watch your students struggle to read. That all changed when she discovered the science of reading. Her students started making huge progress, she finally felt confident in her teaching, and she got her evenings back. That’s why the founder of Playdough to Plato created The Science of Reading Formula membership–to help teachers cut through the noise and use what actually works. Her research-backed strategies and ready-to-use tools have helped thousands of educators bring joy, growth, and simplicity to their reading instruction. Connect with Malia on Instagram @playdough2plato, dive into her membership at ScienceofReadingFormula.com, and tune into her podcast, The Science of Reading Formula, for quick, actionable episodes that make your teacher life easier.
🌐 Science of Reading Formula | Instagram | Podcast

Dr. Jacob Kirksey

Jacob Kirksey is an assistant professor of education policy in the College of Education at Texas Tech University. His research focuses broadly on the intersection of education and public policy to enhance educational and economic outcomes for students. His work has delved into factors influencing student well-being in preK-12 public schools, college and career readiness, and the dynamics of educator labor markets. He has published extensively on topics related to student absenteeism, teacher preparation and effectiveness, and college and workforce trajectories. His research has been highlighted in several popular media outlets, including The New York Times, Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, The Texas Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, The Austin-American Statesman, and the The Houston Chronicle.
🌐 www.jjacobkirksey.com | Twitter/X | LinkedIn

Jerry Kolber

Jerry is the creator of educational TV shows including Brain Games (Nat Geo) and Brainchild (Netflix). He and his company focus on making learning fun and accessible for everyone. His podcasts Who Smarted? and Mysteries About True Histories are used by families, teachers, and homeschoolers around the world to get kids engaged and excited about math, history, science, and more.
🌐 Who Smarted? | Facebook | LinkedIn

Nancy McCabe

Nancy McCabe is the author of nine books, most recently the middle grade novel Fires Burning Underground (Fitzroy/Regal House 2025), the comic novel The Pamela Papers: A Mostly E-pistolary Story of Academic Pandemic Pandemonium (Outpost 19, 2024), the ya novel Vaulting through Time (CamCat 2023), and the memoir Can This Marriage Be Saved? (Missouri 2020). Her work has appeared in Michigan Quarterly Review, Prairie Schooner, Gulf Coast, Salon, and Newsweek, received a Pushcart, and been included ten times on notable lists of annual Best American anthologies. She directs the creative and professional writing program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and teaches in the low-residency graduate program in writing at Spalding University.
🌐 www.nancymccabe.net