🎥 Just shared on YouTube 👉 Nearly half of teachers say their students show little interest in learning. But four educators from around the world have practical answers. In this episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, you'll hear strategies for building classroom culture that transforms learning — from motivation and productive struggle to teaching thinking and empowering every voice. Watch or listen to the full episode: coolcatteacher.com/culture20… In this episode, you'll learn how to: 👉 Build student motivation through relationships and vulnerability 👉 Use the Learning Pit to help students embrace productive struggle 👉 Teach thinking explicitly using See, Think, Wonder routines 👉 Create school cultures where every voice matters 👉 Celebrate small wins to build momentum for learning Teaching and learning practices discussed: 🧠 Relationship-building strategies for the first week of school 🧠 The Learning Pit and desirable difficulties in learning 🧠 Thinking routines and scaffolds for critical and creative thinking 🧠 Empowering women leaders and solution-focused school culture 🧠 Keystone habits and action plans for students Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:34 Coach Frank on Student Motivation and Relationships 08:17 Helping Students with Mental Health Challenges 13:53 James Nottingham on the Learning Pit 20:27 Introducing the Learning Pit to Students 27:19 Alice Vigors on Teaching Thinking Explicitly 33:29 Trends in Education Podcasting 42:08 Dr. Tracee Perryman on Elevating Women Leaders 48:48 Stop Apologizing: Building Authentic School Culture 54:02 Final Reflections and Takeaways About the guests: This episode features four educators and thought leaders from around the world sharing research-based, classroom-tested strategies for building transformational classroom culture. If this episode helps your teaching or thinking about learning, consider subscribing and sharing it with a colleague. Check the show notes to learn about our guests at coolcatteacher.com/culture20… #classroomculture #studentmotivation #learningpit #teachingthinking #productivestruggle #teacherpd #edchat #coolcatteacher #womeninleadership #growthmindset #visiblelearning #educatorwellbeing youtube.com/watch?v=YTvRBAiX…

This #DSD2026, we shifted mindsets by centering on the why: #DLEducation, #ProductiveStruggle #LearningPit #JamesNottingham & #TextComplexity #InstructionalRigor is all about high expectations, challenging tasks, scaffolds & planned CFU to adjust instruction. #oracy #writing

Thank you, James Nottingham 🎤 for your keynote at #GOCSD Innovation Summit. We now understand why going through the #LearningPit is a good thing. Overcoming challenges is more satisfying than completing easy tasks. bit.ly/GOInnovate #GOInnovate25 @JamesNottinghm

Really looking forward to these events in WA in May. You’re very welcome to join us if you’re in the vicinity. #questioning #LearningPit @TheLearningPit

There are #LearningPit posters and then there are whole walls! 🤩 On a connected note, I’m delighted to say I’ve been invited by @beckycarlzon to lead a masterclass series of webinars about challenge & the learning pit. Would love for you to join us at learningpioneers.co/challeng…

Would love to hear your #LearningPit stories 🤩

4/ This is an absolute favourite of mine - from Sunnyside International School in Gifu, Japan If you have a version of the #LearningPit that you’d like to share then please tag @TheLearningPit and me so that we can repost it.

3/ Here’s another of my favourite illustrations of the #LearningPit. This one has gained a lot of traction through the years. #EduChat

Nova Scientists grappled with @LearningPit at our recent trust conference. Thank you Session Facilitators from @NewarkAcademyUK @GaribaldiSchool @TootHillBingham @UniofNottingham @NottinghamFree @OfficialNUSA @MeltonValeSFC

Year 2 enjoyed using their Welsh knowledge to write a poster about Pembroke Dock. Great persevering skills and not giving up. The learning pit was definitely used well 😀 a great selection of homework being shared with their peers too. Keep aiming high ✨@HeadPdcs #learningpit

So many brilliant #learning logs to highlight why our ethos of P.E.R.S.I.S.T is so important. Love how this one links so well to @LearningPit @JamesNottinghm

Wow! We worked super hard today! We partitioned tens and units and found patterns in numbers. We were in the #learningpit but we helped each other by working together and persevered until we understood the problem. Well done everyone!

This is fabulous! 🤩 Love, love, love the photos. Thanks for sharing #LearningPit @TheLearningPit

We delved deeper into the Learning Pit, discussing tools to use when we get stuck. We wrote motivational phrases, created tools like rockets, trampolines, and ladders to help us climb out, and designed class tools for our toolbox. #learningpit #growthmindset

Some Learning Pit ideas here @Boness_Academy @ViewforthHS @LasswadeHSC @ArmadaleAcademy @WestCalderHigh @Beath_HS @StColumbas2016 @JamesNottinghm #learningpit

These look great! Thanks for tagging me, Carmel! 😊 #LearningPit @TheLearningPit

Fab that you like our animated #LearningPit video! We also have a newer one on the home page of our website: LearningPit.org

In Personal Development we have looked at the @NoOutsidersUK book Just Because. We thought about how everyone is welcome in our classroom and watched some paralympic sports. Today we considered how we can encourgae someone to complete a difficult task. #cuddingtonpd #learningpit

I will be presenting on Stage 1 of @WorldEdSummit on Monday 18 March at 15.00 GMT. Have you got your tickets? worldedsummit.com/product/wo… Would love for you to join me. Building #Efficacy Through the #LearningPit

Very few people like listening to themselves (myself included) but this is really good podcast about the #learningpit Huge thanks to @coolcatteacher for the invitation and for hosting so brilliantly! And to @SolutionTree for the introduction 🤩 coolcatteacher.com/james-not…