Brave New Teaching: Recent Episodes
Marie Morris & Amanda Cardenas: Teachers and Education Content Creators
Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!
If you’ve ever hit May and thought, “Wait... what even happened this school year?” this team meeting is for you. I’m walking you through a simple but powerful reflection process to help you look back on your curriculum, classroom systems, and personal boundaries before summer. Together, we’ll identify what worked, what drained your energy, what needs to change, and what’s worth tackling now, over break, or next school year!
Resources:
- BNT University
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 208, Living with ADHD: Amanda’s Journey to Diagnosis
- Episode 296, Planning the End of the Year in ELA - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 295, 3 Hills to Die On - BNT Team Meeting
✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode297
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You might want your planner, a highlighter, and maybe your teacher bestie for this one, because we're not limping our way to summer...we’re finishing strong! In this team meeting episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I plan the end of the school year, starting with real instructional days, mapping out the non-negotiable musts, and then making space for the wants. I’m also sharing a surprisingly simple Canva hack, celebrating new books from T.J. Klune and Ruta Sepetys, and giving you some of my favorite end-of-year ideas!
Resources:
- BNT University
- We Burned So Bright, by T.J. Klune
- A Fortune of Sand, by Ruta Sepetys
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 10, To Make This Year End Count
- Episode 152, Giving a Voice to the Voiceless: An Interview With Ruta Sepetys (Part 1)
- Episode 153, Giving a Voice to the Voiceless: An Interview With Ruta Sepetys (Part 2)
- Episode 269, TJ Klune: A Conversation about The House in the Cerulean Sea
✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode296
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
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- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Feeling a little feisty about classroom norms? Amanda here, flying solo this week to share three teaching hills I’ll gladly die on, from why reading Shakespeare cover to cover needs a rethink, to celebrating meaningful student milestones, to why vertical curriculum alignment matters more than ever. It’s honest, thought-provoking, and all in the name of better teaching!
Resources:
- BNT University
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need The Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 290, The World is on Fire! What Can We Actually Control Right Now? - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 294, Why Students Struggle to Follow Through (And What We’re Doing About It) - BNT Team Meeting
✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode295
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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The end of April always feels like everything is happening at once. I’m in the middle of dress rehearsals for Guys and Dolls, and with multiple performances stacked back-to-back, I found myself thinking a lot about what it actually takes to pull something like this off with 80+ students. Somewhere between cue lines and costume changes, I started noticing a bigger pattern I couldn’t ignore: the way students are approaching work, responsibility, and attention to detail feels very different than it used to. In this episode, I share what I’ve been noticing in both academics and rehearsals, how shifts like constant reminders and more flexible policies are shaping student ownership, and what I’m rethinking about how we help students actually build follow-through and accountability in real time.
Resources:
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 290, The World is on Fire! What Can We Actually Control Right Now? - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 291, The 7 Stages of Grief When You Hear “Robot Teachers Are Coming” (Because WHAT?!)
- Episode 292, Low and No-Prep Activities to Have in Your Pocket for Whenever You Need Them
✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode294
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
If the end of the school year feels like everything is speeding up while your energy is running low, you are absolutely not alone in that. I’m in it right now with state testing, post–spring break exhaustion, musical rehearsals ramping up, and students just trying to make it to summer. Instead of pushing through at full speed, I’m leaning into a very intentional mindset for these final eight weeks: make it through, on purpose.
That means being honest about what’s realistic so both my students and I have space to do meaningful work without constant overwhelm. In my English classes, that looks like state testing, a tutorial-style presentation project, a Great Gatsby unit tied to the American Dream, and an adjusted pacing plan that moves presentations earlier so students can actually succeed. For finals, I’m ending with a prepared Socratic seminar instead of a heavy exam, closing the year with conversation and thinking instead of chaos!
Resources:
- Marie’s American Media Unit?
- Become a beta tester for BNT University!
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube.
- Shop Our Faves.
✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode293
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Spring break has us finally catching our breath, and in this episode we’re leaning into what it looks like to bring more ease and joy back into our classrooms when everything feels heavy. Instead of trying to do more, we’re sharing a simple shift: bringing “grandma hobbies” into the classroom! These are low-prep, hands-on activities that get students creating, talking, and using their hands again.
From playing cards and coffee bean “currency” to Legos, Magna-Tiles, friendship bracelets, simple sewing, and even using figurines for storytelling and blocking, we walk through practical ideas that can completely shift student engagement and behavior. At the heart of it all is the reminder that students thrive when their hands are busy, their brains are engaged, and the pressure to be perfect is lowered.
Resources:
- Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University!
- Rules to BS
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube.
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 279, 2026 Will Bring Uncomfortable Shifts, and That's a Really Good Thing - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 289, Warm Demander Strategies and Our Latest Book Obsessions - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 290, The World is on Fire! What Can We Actually Control Right Now? - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 291, The 7 Stages of Grief When You Hear “Robot Teachers Are Coming” (Because WHAT?!)
✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode292
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Okay but… are we really talking about robot teachers right now?! Because when I first saw that headline, I laughed, fully assuming it was an early April Fool’s joke. And then I realized… oh, we’re being serious. In this episode, I walk through my very real 7 stages of grief after hearing robots might be stepping into education, from laughing it off to spiraling to getting genuinely fired up, and what comes after all of that. Because at the end of the day, no robot is replacing the human side of this job! I’m sharing what’s still in our control as we keep showing up for our students in a world that feels a little chaotic right now.
Resources:
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 279, 2026 Will Bring Uncomfortable Shifts, and That's a Really Good Thing - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 289, Warm Demander Strategies and Our Latest Book Obsessions - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 290, The World is on Fire! What Can We Actually Control Right Now? - BNT Team Meeting
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode291
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Some days the classroom feels completely out of your control, and honestly, sometimes it is. In this solo pep talk, I focus on what we can control, from navigating student anxiety during course selection season to unpacking how post-COVID habits are impacting their coping skills. I share real conversations I’m having with students about goals and trade-offs, along with how I’m balancing my own priorities and making tough decisions in my program. This episode is all about small, practical shifts - thinking in terms of what you’re willing to invest, what you need to let go of, and how to make deposits into your energy, time, and emotional “bank account".
Resources:
- Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University.
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 281, SEL and Organic Community Really Are This Simple - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 288, Pardon Us - STOP Meeting Students Where They Are?!?! - BNT Team Meeting
✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode290
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
In this week’s team meeting, we share what we’ve been reading and swap book recommendations (and a few that didn’t quite land). Then we dive into an Edutopia reel about being a “warm demander” in the classroom, exploring how to hold students to high expectations while building strong, respectful relationships. We break down what this actually looks like in real moments, plus share tips that you can apply in your own classroom!
Resources:
- Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University.
- Edutopia’s warm demander reel
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 223, The Sherlock Society: An Interview with Author James Ponti
- Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 288, Pardon Us - STOP Meeting Students Where They Are?!?! - BNT Team Meeting
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode289
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Ever feel like every headline about teaching is trying to make you panic? That was the reaction this week when reading The Atlantic article claiming teachers should stop meeting students where they are. We unpack what it really means, share recent reads, and highlight classroom and library projects. Check out the article, and see what conversations it sparks in your own teaching!
Resources:
- Atlantic Article: Stop Meeting Students Where They Are
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 281, SEL and Organic Community Really Are This Simple - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix It - BNT Team Meeting
- Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode288
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
🔗 Grab our FREE 100% Engagement Listening Guide to get even more out of this episode!
What if 100% engagement isn’t about doing more, but about choosing differently? After two episodes with the authors of 100% Engagement, this is our real classroom debrief. We share what happened when we actually tried the strategies, from reworking Book Snaps to spark better conversations to adapting a musical chairs–style activity into a fast-paced fiction preview. We unpack engagement vs. compliance, small shifts that changed lesson energy, and why engagement is part of our professional responsibility...not a performance!
Resources:
- 100% Engagement Listening Guide (FREE!)
- Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University.
- Take our quiz, and we’ll send you an episode playlist that’s tailored just for you!
- 100% Engagement by Brian Sztabnik and Susan Barber
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves
Related Episodes:
- Episode 285, 100% Engagement (Part 1)
- Episode 286, 100% Engagement (Part 2)
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode287
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
What do you do when last period feels like it’s dragging and everyone, including you, is running on fumes? In part two of our conversation with Brian Sztabnik and Susan Barber, we share quick, high-energy strategies to reset the room, from Top Chef–inspired build challenges to two-sentence horror stories and poetry puzzles that get students moving and thinking fast.
We also talk meme projects for Pride and Prejudice, character playlists for Frankenstein, and how to build a classroom culture where it’s safe to care. Most importantly, we remind you that engagement doesn’t have to be nonstop chaos. Sometimes quiet reading and plot review are exactly what your students need, and what you’re doing already matters.
Resources:
- 100% Engagement Listening Guide (FREE!)
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 96, How to Select Choice Reading + Our 20 Favorite Classroom Books
- Episode 191, Project Based Learning: An Interview with Danielle Hicks
- Episode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix It
- Episode 284, 100% Engagement (Part 1)
✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode286
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
🔗 Grab our FREE 100% Engagement Listening Guide to get even more out of this episode!
Ever feel inspired by great teaching ideas, but they never quite make it into real lessons? In this episode, we kick off a special 3-part series with Brian Sztabnik and Susan Barber, co-authors of 100% Engagement, to share practical, doable ways to boost participation, collaboration, and authentic engagement - without a total classroom overhaul.
From their journey as co-authors to honest conversations about student buy-in and boredom, we dig into what real engagement actually looks like. You’ll also hear rapid-fire classroom scenarios and strategies that get students talking, moving, and genuinely invested.
Resources:
- 100% Engagement Listening Guide (FREE!)
- Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University.
- Take our quiz, and we’ll send you an episode playlist that’s tailored just for you!
- 100% Engagement by Brian Sztabnik and Susan Barber
- Much Ado About Teaching
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 96, How to Select Choice Reading + Our 20 Favorite Classroom Books
- Episode 191, Project Based Learning: An Interview with Danielle Hicks
- Episode 199, Lesson Plan Rescue: Not Enough Books
- Episode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix It
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode285
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Super Bowl weekend is here, and while the game is fun, we’re really here for the commercials, and how to teach them well! In this team meeting, we share book talk and a clear plan for tackling Super Bowl commercial analysis. You’ll hear practical, classroom-ready steps using tools like the Four Reading Realms and SPACE CAT to help students have stronger conversations, deeper analysis, and way more buy-in!
Resources:
- My 2026 Amazon List
- 4 Reading Realms Webinar (free!)
- Rhetorical Analysis Starter Kit
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 178, Unit Makeover: Rhetorical Analysis
- Episode 280, New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real Talk
- Episode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix it.
- Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode284
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Resistant readers are often reacting to confusion, not a lack of ability, and that’s exactly where the Four Reading Realms come in! In this episode, we walk through a framework Amanda developed to clarify the purpose behind different reading tasks, helping students understand what kind of thinking is required and why it matters. By separating reading into intentional realms (focused on identity, perseverance, efficiency, and discernment), we can set clearer expectations, build trust, and support deeper engagement, even for students who have struggled with reading in the past.
🔗 Resources:
- Webinar: The Four Reading Realms
- Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University!
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 276, Ok, but what if the secret to getting them to read is getting them to WRITE???
- Episode 280, New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real Talk
- Episode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix it.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode283
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
What if our obsession with data is actually distracting us from the real work? In this team meeting, we dig into how a “data first” or “book first” approach can miss the human side of learning and why culture and engagement have to come first. We look ahead to what teaching needs to look like in 2026, sharing a conversation-first planning workflow that starts with what students actually care about and then selects the skills and texts that support those conversations!
Resources:
- Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University!
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 221, Back to School Survival Kit for Teachers
- Episode 280, New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real Talk
- Episode 281, SEL and Organic Community Really Are This Simple
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode282
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Are you absolutely crawling through January molasses, too? I know I am! In this week’s Team BNT meeting we’re talking honestly about what happens when tired, overwhelmed students are trying (and failing) to keep everything in their heads as finals approach. I share simple, repeatable routines that help students reduce anxiety, take control of their time, and build real classroom community.
We also touch on real teacher life during this stretch, from finals grading and midyear resets to Costco snack runs, and wrap up with a sneak peek at Brave New Teaching University, our upcoming space designed to make everything we’ve created more organized, usable, and supportive for teachers in 2026 and beyond!
Resources:
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 276, Ok, But What if the Secret to Getting Them to Read is Getting Them to WRITE??
- Episode 277, Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and the Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!)
- Episode 278, Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We're Going to Help Them Remember!
- Episode 279, 2026 Will Bring Uncomfortable Shifts, and That’s a Really Good Thing
- Episode 280, New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real Talk - BNT Team Meeting
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode281
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
New year, new team meeting, and it’s Amanda behind the mic kicking off 2026 with what’s been on my mind lately. In this episode, I share updates from my move into an elementary school library role, why curated is my word of the year, and how that mindset is shaping everything from my home to my business. We also talk reading goals, audiobooks, and how my feelings about reading numbers have shifted over time. I wrap things up by zooming out to the bigger picture of teaching and leave you with one essential question every department should be asking as we plan for what’s next!
🔗 Resources:
- Amanda’s Top Reads of 2025
- My One Word Activity
- Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 275, Fine, We Can Game-ify Reading (But No Gimmicks!)
- Episode 276, Ok, But What if the Secret to Getting Them to Read is Getting Them to WRITE??
- Episode 277, Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and the Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!)
- Episode 278, Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We're Going to Help Them Remember!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode280
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
If you’re limping toward break and just trying to survive the week, this episode is a quick, honest team meeting and much-needed reality check. I reflect on how teaching has shifted since 2020, how AI and technology are changing our classrooms, and why many old strategies no longer work. This isn’t about changing everything now, but about planting seeds for a future shift and giving yourself permission to finish the year tired, steady, and still hopeful!
Resources:
- Real, Fake, or Deepfake? This Lesson Helps Students Decide
- Gen Z is Redefining Work - and Driving Their Managers Mad
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
More BNT Team Meetings:
- Episode 275, Fine, We Can Game-ify Reading (But No Gimmicks!)
- Episode 276, Ok, But What if the Secret to Getting Them to Read is Getting Them to WRITE??
- Episode 277, Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and the Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!)
- Episode 278, Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We're Going to Help Them Remember!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode279
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
If your algorithm has also been screaming “screens are ruining humanity!” at you lately, then you’re right at home with us in this week’s team meeting. We break down the tech panic, talk about why students are tech comfortable but not tech fluent, and shift the focus back to building real human skills through creativity and play. From improv to pantomime, we’re exploring simple, screen-free ways to help kids think again, plus teasing our New Year’s “Favorite Things” party where we’ll swap our go-to play-based activities for the new term.
Resources:
- Article: We Asked Executives What Skills Young Works Are Missing. Here’s What They Said
- What the U.S. Can Learn From Finland, Where School Starts at Age 7
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode278
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Screens are running the show, and we need to talk about it! Phones, Chromebooks, AI - they’re everywhere, and they’re changing how students focus, work, and just be. I (it's Marie!) break down two articles, one on how kids think we can get them off their phones, and another on how screen time is shaping education. From chaos during unstructured time to AI cheating popping up everywhere, it’s a lot to navigate. I also share a few screen-free ideas for your classroom and would love to hear how this shows up for you. Send us a DM and let's chat!
Resources:
- Article: What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones
- Article: The Screen That Ate Your Child’s Education
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- Generation Me by Jean M. Twenge
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode277
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
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In this week's Brave New Teaching team meeting, Marie's going a bit off-script with an idea that has been bouncing around her head the last couple weeks about how to get students to engage with reading and the literacy epidemic that is plaguing society at large (it's a lot, we know...). Is the secret to getting students reading actually in just getting them to try things they are resistant to? Perhaps yes, perhaps no, but we won't know until we try! All that, plus a couple ideas to try in your classroom this week!
Resources:
- Boston Globe article: Schools are accommodating student anxiety - and making it worse
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Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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Consider this your official invite to our Brave New Teaching team meeting! We’re catching you up on life, sharing what’s happening in our classrooms and libraries, and digging into why fun and whimsy are essential for bringing joy back to reading. We talk about the real challenges of getting students excited about books, our evolving thoughts on “gamifying” reading, and the gimmicks (or whimsy!) that actually work.
Resources:
- The Atlantic article: America is Sliding Toward Illiteracy
- Noa App
- Flipster App
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 250, Teachers React: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books - Part 1
- Episode 251, Teachers React: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books - Part 2
- Episode 271, Back to School: State of the BNT Union + Reading Update
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode275
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Think you’ve seen all the dystopia books out there? Think again! In part three of our “Teaching Dystopia” series, we share hidden gems, fresh picks, and classics, from middle grade survival stories to YA novels exploring climate change and government control. We highlight favorites like Alone and Station Eleven, plus TV and movie options like The Simpsons and Fringe to spark discussion and critical thinking. Want more on this topic? Join us in Happy Hour, where we’ll keep the conversation going!
Check out the show notes for the full list of books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode274
Resources:
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Teaching Dystopia Workshop
- Shop Our Faves.
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Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
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Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Have you ever felt like dystopia is the genre that just keeps on giving? In part two of our dystopia series, we focus on the essential skills that make these texts come alive in your classroom, showing why depth beats covering everything superficially. We explore how teaching students to notice author moves like juxtaposition helps them analyze tension, themes, and contrasts, keeping analysis at the heart of your unit. Plus, we share practical tips for streamlining your dystopia units, staying focused, and even embracing a little boredom to spark creativity. Hang tight for our next episode, packed with new text recommendations and ideas to refresh your curriculum!
Resources:
- NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
- Teaching Dystopia Workshop
- Shop Our Faves.
- Episode 272, Teaching Dystopia: New Essential Questions to Try
Related Episodes:
- Episode 61, Living in a Dystopian World
- Episode 81, Essential Question Workshop: Dystopia (Woohoo!)
- Episode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA Classroom
- Episode 172, 3 Secrets to Teaching Dystopia
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode273
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Ready to refresh your dystopia unit? In this episode, we explore how to make the genre feel fresh, relevant, and engaging for today’s students by rethinking essential questions and diving deeper into structure, theme, and skill connections. From moving beyond the classic “Is America a dystopia?” debate to exploring what it means to rebuild a broken world, you’ll get ideas for inquiry-driven lessons that inspire critical thinking and connection to real-life issues. This is a kickoff to our three-part dystopia series, so head back here next week!
Resources:
- NEW: Watch this episode on YouTube!
- Shop Our Faves
- Teaching Dystopia Workshop
- Join Happy Hour!
- Shop more BNT resources
- Free Training: Down with the Reading Quiz
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @wellhelloitsmarie
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Related Episodes:
- Episode 61, Living in a Dystopian World
- Episode 81, Essential Question Workshop: Dystopia (Woohoo!)
- Episode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA Classroom
- Episode 172, 3 Secrets to Teaching Dystopia
- Episode 259, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: A Fantasy Choice Unit Approach for 11-12 Grade ELA
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode272
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
In this “State of the BNT Union” episode, we’re sharing where the Brave New Teaching podcast is headed next, from a new focus on YouTube and refreshed dystopia content to better-organized resources for teachers...plus a peek at the projects we’re most excited about this year.
Along the way, we’re swapping back-to-school recommendations, current reads (with honest reviews and teaching tie-ins), favorite products, and the bookish creators lighting up our feeds. And, of course, there’s a big announcement about where one of us will be spending the school year, changing things up in the best possible way!
✨ Grab all the resources and books we mention in the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode271
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re calling it: independent reading is the back-to-school move of the year! In this episode, we’re getting honest about what it takes to build a reading culture that actually sticks, without burning you (or your students) out by October. We share the real talk on what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how our thinking has shifted post-COVID to make independent reading more joyful, flexible, and student-centered.
This isn’t just a planning convo. It’s a mindset shift. We’re talking about modeling our own reading lives, creating routines that support real growth, and designing a program that meets students where they are. Whether you’re launching independent reading right away or easing in later, this episode will help you build an experience that’s authentic and doable!
Related Episodes:
- Episode 96, How to Select Choice Reading + Our 20 Favorite Classroom Books
- Episode 110, August Dreams (September Realities) Back to School
- Episode 139, Independent Reading Series (Interview w/ Dr. Jenna Copper)
- Episode 140, Independent Reading Series (Interview w/ Abby Gross)
- Episode 250, Teachers React: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books - Part 1
- Teachers React: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books -Part 2
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode270
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
In our final episode of Camp BNT, we got to sit down with none other than TJ Klune, author of The House in the Cerulean Sea—and let’s just say, it was everything we hoped for and more! We laughed, fangirled (a lot), and had the most meaningful conversation about TJ’s journey as a neurodivergent, queer kid from rural Oregon, how teachers shaped his life, and why authentic, hopeful queer representation in books matters so much. This episode is packed with heart, inspiration, and reminders of why the stories we share—and the teachers who share them—make such a big impact.
Resources:
- The House in the Cerulean Sea: Bookshop | Amazon
- Shop more of TJ's book
- TJ's website
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode269
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’ve been wanting to bring Huda Fahmy on the podcast for a long time, and this conversation was well worth the wait! From her journey as an English teacher to bestselling graphic novelist, to the power of humor, representation, and student voice, Huda shares how her work helps young readers feel seen—and why that matters.
We talk about the themes in her Huda F series, how her books function as both mirrors and windows for students, and why letting go of perfectionism is one of the most important lessons we can pass on to young writers.
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
- Huda's Website
- Instagram: @yesimhotinthis
- Huda’s books
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode268
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Some conversations leave a mark, and this one with author Libba Bray is exactly that. From the first few minutes, we found ourselves completely pulled in by her honesty, humor, and the kind of insight that makes you pause and say, “Yes, that’s it.” What started as a chat about books quickly turned into a rich, winding conversation about creativity, teaching, storytelling, and the way young people show up in the world with fierce hope and resilience.
We dive into Libba’s newest novel, Under the Same Stars—a multigenerational story inspired by a real-life matchmaking tree—exploring how she weaves together history, structure, and emotion to spark meaningful reflection and classroom connection.
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
- Under the Same Stars: Amazon | Bookshop
- Libba's Website
- Liba's Instagram: @libbabray
More Camp BNT Episodes:
- Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1
- Episode 261, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 2
- Episode 262, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 1
- Episode 263, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 2
- Episode 264, Aaron H. Aceves: A Conversation About This is Why They Hate Us
- Episode 266, Katie Bayerl: A Conversational About What Comes After
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode267
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
If you've ever daydreamed about writing a novel between grading essays, this one’s for you. In this episode, we chat with former English teacher turned YA author Katie Bayerl about her newest book, What Comes After—a laugh-out-loud, heart-tugging story about grief, identity, and the afterlife. Katie shares her journey from the classroom to the writing world, her process for weaving humor into heavy themes, and how her novel can spark deep, inquiry-based conversations in your classroom. Plus, we’ve got ideas for book pairings and plenty of student writing tips!
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
- What Comes After, by Katie Bayerl: Bookshop.org | Amazon
- Katie's website
- Katie's Instagram
More Camp BNT Episodes:
- Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1
- Episode 261, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 2
- Episode 262, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 1
- Episode 263, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 2
- Episode 264, Aaron H. Aceves: A Conversation About This is Why They Hate Us
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode266
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
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Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
It’s Amanda here, and if you’ve ever hit the road with a car full of kids (or just your teacher brain trying to stay five steps ahead) you know that summer travel takes some serious strategy. In this solo episode, I’m sharing all my favorite tips for stress-free, memory-filled road trips. From how I set up my car to the genius packing system that saves me from digging through suitcases at midnight, I’ve got you covered.
I’m also diving into the nerdy (but fun!) extras that make our trips even better—like our go-to museum memberships that get us into spots across the country for free or at a discount. Plus, I’m sharing my must-have travel apps, kid entertainment hacks, snack solutions, and everything else that’s helped us stay sane on the road. If you’re road-tripping this summer, this one’s for you!
Resources:
- Amanda’s Amazon List
- Reciprocal Museums
- National Parks Passes
- AllTrails
- IExit
- Hoopla
- Been App
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode265
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
This episode lit us up in the best way. Amanda sat down with Aaron H. Aceves, author of This Is Why They Hate Us, for a heartfelt conversation about identity and the power of honest storytelling. Aaron’s openness about his own journey challenged us to reflect on how we, as educators, can lead with vulnerability and create space for students to do the same. His protagonist, Enrique, is messy, hilarious, and deeply real—and that kind of representation matters more than ever in our classrooms.
Aaron reminded us that books like his are more than stories—they're lifelines for students who need to see themselves in the pages they read. This conversation is a love letter to teachers everywhere, doing the work to bring authentic, diverse voices into their classrooms. We hope it leaves you feeling as inspired as it left us.
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
- This is Why They Hate Us, by Aaron H. Aceves
Connect with Aaron:
- Website
- Instagram: @aaronaceves
- TikTok
More Camp BNT 2025 Episodes:
- Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1
- Episode 261, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 2
- Episode 262, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 1
- Episode 263, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 2
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode264
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
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Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re so excited to share part two of our conversation with Aimee Phan, author of The Lost Queen! If you caught part one, you already know how rich and thoughtful this discussion is. In this episode, we dive deeper into how retellings like The Lost Queen can help students see that stories aren’t set in stone—and that they have the freedom to make stories their own. Aimee shares how the creative process can empower young writers to take risks, explore identity, and find their voice.
We also talk about the evolution of Vietnamese American literature, how to pair The Lost Queen with other powerful texts, and the deep impact that simple words of encouragement can have on a student’s life. If you’re looking for book recs, classroom inspiration, or just a reminder of the power of storytelling, this episode is for you.
Resources:
- Camp BNT
- The Lost Queen, by Aimee Phan
- Aimee's Website
- Follow Aimee on Instagram @aimeephanwrites
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode263
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
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- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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What if the legendary queens of Vietnamese history were reborn as modern-day teens in California? In this episode, we chat with author and educator Aimee Phan about her brand new YA fantasy novel, The Lost Queen. Aimee shares how her experience growing up as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees—and the absence of Vietnamese stories in the books she read—inspired her to create stories that center Vietnamese culture, history, and identity. From dragons and time travel to reimagined mythology, Aimee takes us behind the scenes of a novel that’s as empowering as it is imaginative.
We also dive into how The Lost Queen can open up powerful classroom conversations. Aimee reflects on why her students connect so deeply with YA and how fantasy can be a tool for exploring identity, agency, and belonging. If you’re looking to bring more diverse and empowering stories into your teaching, this episode (and this book!) is a must.
Resources:
- Camp BNT
- The Lost Queen, by Aimee Phan
- Aimee's Website
- Follow Aimee on Instagram @aimeephanwrites
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode262
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
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Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
In part two of our conversation with author Samira Ahmed, we deep dive into the genre of Internment—is it dystopian, speculative, or realistic fiction?—and why that label matters in the classroom. What starts as a conversation about shelving quickly becomes an exploration of how genre influences student thinking, how we can break down subject silos in education, and why teaching through inquiry is more critical than ever. Samira shares insights on the emotional toll of teaching today, the urgency of connecting past and present injustices, and her belief that “teaching is a revolutionary act.” This episode is a reminder of the impact educators have and the power of stories to spark resistance, reflection, and change.
Resources:
- Camp BNT
- Internment, by Samira Ahmed
- The Grace Year, by Kim Liggett
- Prophet Song, by Paul Lynch
Related Episodes:
- Episode 155, Powerful Female Voices in YA Lit: An Interview with Yamile Saied Mendez
- Episode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA Classroom
- Episode 230, Building Trong Writers: An Interview with Author Christina Schnider of The Daring English Teacher
- Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode261
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
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Camp BNT is back for year three, and we’re kicking things off with bestselling author (and former high school English teacher!) Samira Ahmed. In this episode, Samira shares how her time in the classroom shaped her writing, the inspiration behind Internment, and how educators can use essential questions to spark powerful conversations. Plus, get a sneak peek at her upcoming projects—and hear why she’s so passionate about writing for teens. This is part one of a two-part conversation you won’t want to miss!
Resources:
- Sign up for Camp BNT
- Summer Reading Rescue
- Internment, by Samira Ahmed
- Love, Hate & Other Filters, by Samira Ahmed
Connect with Samira:
- Website
- Instagram: @sam_aye_ahm
- Samira’s books
Related Episodes:
- Episode 155, Powerful Female Voices in YA Lit: An Interview with Yamile Saied Mendez
- Episode 157, Modern Folktales and Monsters: An Interview with Diana Lopez
- Episode 166, Lesson Plan Inspiration with Elizabeth Acevedo: An Interview Debrief
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode260
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson:shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re wrapping up our Hero’s Journey series with a fresh twist—this time through the lens of fantasy in eleventh-grade American Literature. Marie shares how she took a bold leap by introducing a fantasy choice novel unit, transforming student engagement and challenging traditional ideas of what counts as “American Lit.” This episode ties together our vertical alignment approach from earlier grades and emphasizes how thoughtfully crafted essential questions and genre expansion can deepen student connection and critical thinking.
We also dive into the power of student choice, sharing how Socratic seminars, rhetorical analysis, and multimedia pairings help students explore themes like escape, identity, and morality. You’ll hear our favorite supplemental texts and movies, a suggested summative assessment, and four key features to focus on throughout the unit. And if you’re a Happy Hour member, you’ll get access to this entire unit! Join us next week as we kick off another summer of Camp BNT!
Resources:
- Jib Fowles’ “Advertising’s 15 Basic Appeals”
- Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn
- House in the Cerulean Sea, by Tj Klune
- Percy Jackson, by Rick Riordan
- Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas
Related Episodes:
- Episode 63, Choice Reading 101
- Episode 96, How to Select Choice Reading + Our 20 Favorite Classroom Books
- Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design
- Episode 257, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA
- Episode 258, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying the Odyssey for 9-10 Grade ELA
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode259
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
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Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Teaching The Odyssey doesn’t have to be stuck in surface-level plot points. It can be the unit where students are guided through their own epic journeys!
In this third episode of our Hero’s Journey series, we’re diving into how we’ve completely reimagined teaching The Odyssey to ninth graders. If you’ve been following along, you know we started this series with an overview of using the Hero’s Journey as a curriculum tool, then explored what it looks like in middle school using The Hobbit. Now we’re shifting the focus to high school—and it’s not just about leveling up content, it’s about deepening the purpose.
We’re talking essential questions, student-centered analysis, and ways to move from plot summaries to powerful conversations, like whether or not you can still be a hero if you never leave home. We’re also sharing how this unit can end with a project that feels more personal, more reflective, and way more meaningful than a traditional essay or presentation.
Resources and Related Episodes:
- Freebie: Hero’s Journey Evidence Tracker
- Episode 15, To Write an Essential Question
- Episode 16, To Find Supplementory Texts
- Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design
- Episode 257, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode258
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Let’s be honest—The Hobbit isn’t always a crowd-pleaser in middle school, but in this episode, we’re sharing how to turn it into a powerful, skills-based exploration of the hero’s journey. We dive into using essential questions, shifting focus from content to critical thinking, and using tools like our favorite evidence tracker to make Bilbo’s transformation come alive. Plus, we chat about modern pairings and why it’s okay if your students don’t read every page. This one’s all about making fantasy feel relevant, engaging, and fun—for you and your students.
Resources:
- Freebie: Hero’s Journey Evidence Tracker
- The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Join Curriculum Rehab
Related Episodes:
- Episode 85, Teaching Novels When Kids Don’t Read at Home Part 1
- Episode 86, Teaching Novels When Kids Don’t Read at Home Part 2
- Episode 243, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Unit Possibilities
- Episode 244, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X
- Episode 245, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas
- Episode 246, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Supplemental and Alternative Text Ideas
- Episode 247, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Assessments
- Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Do’s and Dont’s of Unit Design
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode257
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We’re kicking off a new four-part series all about teaching the Hero’s Journey—starting with the dos and don’ts of unit design. In this episode, we share how this timeless framework can lead to deeper thinking, richer discussions, and yes… even a newfound love for fantasy (spoiler: one of us used to be a skeptic!). You’ll walk away with essential questions to anchor your units AND a free evidence tracker to help students go beyond surface-level plot.
Resources:
- Freebie: Hero’s Journey Evidence Tracker
- Join Happy Hour!
- Shop more BNT resources
Related Episodes:
- Episode 15, To Write an Essential Question
- Episode 16, To Find Supplementory Texts
- Episode 59, Essential Question Workshop: 12th Grade Lit
- Episode 81, Essential Question Workshop: Dystopia (Woohoo!)
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode256
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We’ve all had those end-of-year activities that looked great on paper—but quickly turned into chaos in the classroom. In this episode, we’re sharing some of our own “what were we thinking?” moments, along with practical strategies to help you rethink and rescue those well-intentioned lessons. From creative writing prompts that actually work to research assignments that don’t overwhelm, we’re diving into how structure and clarity can save your sanity this time of year!
Resources:
- End of Year Activity Bundle for Secondary ELA
- Build a Story: Summer Break Countdown
- End of Year Countdown - Famous Last Lines
- End of Year Time Capsule
- End of Year Station Activity
- More End of Year Resources
- Blog Post: 10 Ideas for a Fun, Reflective End of Year Activity
Related Episodes:
- Episode 254, Looking Ahead to Next Year: Fundraising Ideas for Books (Book Fairs & Read-a-Thons)
- Episode 253, Summer Reading Rescue - Part 2
- Episode 252, Summer Reading Rescue - Part 1
- Episode 144, Teacher Spring Cleaning: Curriculum & Activities
- Episode 129, Classroom Transformations & “Fun” Activities
- Episode 8 & 9, To Teach at the End of the Year
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode255
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Looking for a way to fundraise and build a love of reading in your school? In this episode, we share how a well-planned Read-a-Thon can bring in big funds for books while creating a strong literacy culture. Amanda walks through her recent experience running a successful Read-a-Thon, including choosing a platform, organizing volunteers, and getting local businesses involved. We’re also talking about the perks of hosting a book fair (yes, in high school) to set the stage for an amazing school year ahead!
Amanda has compiled her step-by-step process for hosting a read-a-thon into a resource for you, complete with text message, social media, and email prompts for families! And guess what? If you’re a member of Happy Hour, you’ll receive it for FREE! If you aren’t a member of Happy Hour, you can grab that resource here.
Resources:
- Amanda's Read-a-Thon Resource
- Get Movin’ Fund Hub
- RallyUp
- Join Happy Hour!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode254
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What if summer reading didn’t have to feel like a chore for students or teachers?
In part two of our Summer Reading Rescue series, I’m continuing the conversation about how we can reimagine summer reading programs to actually work, and even bring joy back to reading. We know the summer slide is real, and in part one, I laid the groundwork by talking about the research and the importance of having a clear PURPOSE behind your program. Today, we’re diving into the next two pillars: CHOICE and INTERACTION.
I’m sharing practical ways to give students ownership over what and how they read—think audiobooks, podcasts, themed book lists, and even reading challenges that feel more like games than assignments. Plus, we’ll explore how to build community around reading with virtual book clubs, fun incentives, and social connection that lasts beyond the summer.
If you're ready to bring your summer reading program back to life, grab the resources at bravenewteaching.com/summerreading and join the movement! 🥳
Resources:
- Watch the video version of this episode
- The First Ten Days of School: Amanda’s Walkthrough
- Bookclubs.com
- Goodreads
- StoryGraph
- Litsee
- Fable
- Episode 252, Summer Reading Rescue - Part 1
- Canva - make your own reading gameboard!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode253
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What the research tells us is clear: reading skills are lost over the summer.
And that loss is not equitably distributed among our student population. It’s estimated that low income students can lose up to two months of reading achievement over the summer - much more than more affluent students.
So we are faced with a dilemma: we know that the summer slide is real, but we also know that forcing students to read over the summer hasn’t necessarily worked for many of us.
In today’s episode, Amanda makes the case for summer reading programs that are a reimagining of what’s possible. By focusing on PURPOSE, CHOICE, AND INTERACTION, Amanda has suggestions for a revitalized program that is worth a chat with your ELA department before summer comes along.
In Part 1, Amanda will address the research behind the summer slide and designing the PURPOSE of your summer reading program.
In Part 2, Amanda will continue the reimagining of the program by discussing what CHOICE and INTERACTION could look like as the second and third components.
Resources:
- Watch the video version of this episode
- The First Ten Days of School: Amanda’s Walkthrough
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode252
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Did you catch last week’s episode? If not, listen here! In that conversation, we gave our initial reaction to the Atlantic article, The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books. Need the TL;DR? The article claims Gen Z is reading the fewest amount of books in recent history and some of the adverse effects of shifting to skill-focused learning. Today, we’re continuing the discussion, with a focus on college readiness.
The article shares the perspective of college professors who are finding their students unable to keep up with the reading. So what does that say about our high schoolers? Well, it’s not just about students struggling with books! It’s about an education system that’s set them up to prioritize achievement over learning. In this episode, we talk about the race to college, the stress that students are under, and why so many of them feel disconnected from reading.
Instead of pointing fingers, let’s figure out how educators can meet students where they are, spark their curiosity, and make reading feel less like a chore and more like an experience. We think through some practical strategies to bring reading back to life in the classroom (and have lots of episodes linked in the show notes on how to help achieve this). We’re definitely at a turning point in the history of education - and it’s not all doom and gloom! We truly feel that we’re all going to come out better on the other side of it all.
To continue this conversation, join us in Happy Hour, where we’re working together to plan and put things into practice!
Resources:
- Download your discussion guide
- The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books
- Educator Atlantic Subscription
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Are students reading less than ever before? In this episode, we dive into The Atlantic article The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books and unpack its bold claims about reading full books, attention spans, technology, and the shift toward skill-focused education. We’re asking the tough questions and sharing our real reactions!
One thing is for sure. If we want students to read, we need to be intentional about how we build our curriculum! Grab our discussion guide to reflect on this conversation, and join Curriculum Rehab for the tools to create engaging, student-centered lessons. Plus, stay tuned for part two next week, where we’ll tackle college readiness and what comes next!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/episode250
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Today we’re fully embracing the energy of spring - because what better time to refresh our bookshelves and reignite our love for reading?! We’re buzzing with excitement over all the amazing new releases coming out, from Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life to John Green’s Everything is Tuberculosis. If you’re anything like us, your TBR list is about to explode, and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way!
We’re sharing our top books that we cannot wait to read this spring, and hopefully this episode is coming your way just in time for spring break. We don’t know about you, but we’re shooting for no less than three books a day over here 😉. And we’re hoping that maybe there’s one or two we can use in the classroom as well! Send us a DM on Instagram @bravenewteaching and let us know what’s on your spring reading list.
PS: We’re not just here to talk about what we’re reading! We’ve got some homework for you, too! We’ll be diving into a two-part discussion on The Atlantic’s article The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books in our next couple of episodes. If you want to be part of that conversation (and trust me, you do), give the article a read and get ready to unpack it with us!
All the titles we talk about in the episode are listed in the show notes and you can shop all of the spring titles on Bookshop.org (Amanda’s List | Marie’s List) or Amazon.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode249
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Marie here! Did you know that I teach high school English AND theatre? From early mornings with (multiple cups of) coffee in hand to juggling English lessons and theatre rehearsals, my days as a high school teacher are anything but boring. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a typical day in my life - showing you how I bring creativity into my classroom and balance all the moving parts of being a teacher.
This day was extra special because I am transforming my English classroom into a giant cozy reading fort. I’m bringing you along as I do it and you’ll hear how my students responded to it as we kick off a Fantasy unit centered around the question “Why do we pursue escape?”. Plus I’ll share what book snaps are. Your students will love it!
Then, you’ll hear me jump into full-on theatre production mode as I wrap up the school day. It’s a 16-hour day condensed into 15 minutes of audio! If you like this type of episode and want more vlog-style episodes, send us a DM on Instagram. We would love to bring you more!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode248
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Assessments don’t have to be boring, stressful, or one-size-fits-all - and in this episode, we’re proving why! As we wrap up our Novels in Verse series, we’re diving into fresh, creative ways to assess student learning that go beyond the standard essay. Whether you love assessments or dread them, this conversation will challenge the way you think about measuring student growth.
We’re breaking down the balance between formative and summative assessments and sharing how small, intentional check-ins (like Sesame Street quizzes!) can build toward deeper, more meaningful final projects. You’ll hear how centering an essential question, like Which is more important, knowing your story or telling it?, can guide students through analysis, creativity, and self-expression. Plus, we’ll walk you through summative assessment options that allow students to showcase their understanding in a way that works best for them.
And if you’re looking for a quick, skills-focused assessment that doesn’t take hours to prep or grade, we’ve got you covered with a strategy that simplifies everything. we’re even sharing ways to mix and match different assessment types so you can create the perfect approach for your classroom. Trust us, if assessments have ever felt like a headache, this episode will leave you feeling ready to try something new!
Resources:
- Down With the Reading Quiz: Free Masterclass on Formative Assessments
- Episode 246, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Supplemental and Alternative Text Ideas
- Episode 245, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas
- Episode 244, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X
- Episode 243, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Unit Possibilities
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We’re in the middle of our novels in verse series and so far we’ve talked about the possibilities that come with a novels in verse unit, essential questions, and gateway activities.Now it’s time to get into our favorite part…supplemental ideas!
Get ready to hear creative ways to supplement The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. We focus on the essential question: Which is more important, knowing your story or telling it? And we discuss key themes that can help students connect more deeply with the novel and their own experiences.
You’ll hear a mix of literary and pop culture resources that can bring these themes to life in fresh and exciting ways. From classic texts to modern music and even moments from film and theatre, these ideas will encourage your students to think critically about storytelling, identity, and self-expression. We also talk about different approaches to integrating these supplementals into a unit without overwhelming students - or teachers!
If you have more ideas for making a novels in verse unit more dynamic and engaging, we would love to hear from you! Send us a message on Instagram @bravenewteaching and join us in Happy Hour, where we share done-for-you resources, new strategies, and a supportive community of teachers like you!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode246
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Ever struggled to get students excited about novels in verse? In this episode, we’re sharing creative, low-pressure ways to ease them into poetry analysis without the overwhelm. With engaging, hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to make storytelling through verse feel accessible and fun from day one. As we always say, a good gateway can make or break a unit! 💥
One of the biggest game-changers is meeting students where they are. By tapping into things they already love, like music and interactive learning, you can help them see the connections between poetry and storytelling in a way that just CLICKS! These strategies not only build confidence, but also set the stage for deeper analysis as the unit unfolds.
We’re also talking about fresh ways to approach perspective and text analysis - ones that get students thinking critically without feeling like another tedious assignment. Whether you’re looking to revamp your novel in verse units or just need a few easy wins, this episode is packed with ideas you can start using right away.
Resources:
- Amanda’s Romeo and Juliet Prologue Stations Activity [Close Reading Analysis]
- Freebie: Theme Snapshot Notetaking Guide
- The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Amanda’s Novels in Verse Book Recs List
Related Episodes:
- Episode 244, The Novels in Verse Collection: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X
- Episode 243, The Novels in Verse Collection: Unit Possibilities
- Episode 186, Teacher Planning 101: Our Six Best Planning Tips
- Episode 123, The Best Thing I Ever Taught
- Episode 62, Picture Book Lesson Walk-Through
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode245
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Last week, we talked about the possibilities for novels in verse and broke down two approaches to teaching these texts. Today, we’re continuing the conversation using Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X as our guide.
We’re exploring two distinct essential questions that can shape a thoughtful unit - one that focuses on the craft of language and another that taps into the journey of self-discovery. No matter which approach you take, this conversation will help you build a unit that sparks engaging discussions and critical thinking in your students.
The Poet X would be perfect as a read aloud or an opportunity for students to listen to the audiobook! We’ve even created some sketch notes for you as a free resource that students can use while listening. These notes hone in on the essential question that students are focusing on in your unit and can be used with any text.
Don’t forget to join us in Happy Hour where we’ll provide you with a unit makeover slide deck resource specific to The Poet X!
Resources:
- Freebie: Theme Snapshot Notetaking Guide
- The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode244
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Have you ever considered how novels in verse can transform the way you teach poetry and literature? In this episode, we dive into the world of narrative verse and explore how these texts, like The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, can bring poetry to life in your classroom!
With their accessible format and rich themes, novels in verse offer endless possibilities for fostering student engagement while covering essential literary skills and perspectives. We’re breaking down two powerful approaches to teaching these texts: a skill-based focus and a theme-based focus. Whether you’re filling gaps in poetry instruction or bringing underrepresented voices into your curriculum, both avenues are highly adaptable!
As always, we’re here to support your planning with our best tips and resources for making these units work in your classroom. Be sure to download our free theme notes sheet AND join us in Happy Hour, because that’s where we’ll be dropping our novels in verse unit for you. We’ll be continuing this conversation in our next episode where we’ll dig into essential questions!
Resources:
- Freebie: bravenewteaching.com/themenotes
- The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Amanda’s Novels in Verse Book Recs List
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode243
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Starting a new year in education means facing fresh challenges (and opportunities) with a renewed mindset. In this episode, we’re diving into how ELA teachers can thrive amid changing expectations and pressures.
From prioritizing self-care to balancing the demands of teaching, we’re sharing practical strategies to help you navigate today’s complex classroom dynamics. We’re also unpacking how setting boundaries and fostering strong professional relationships are KEY for self-preservation in the teaching profession.
We’ve got tips for you on making timeless texts more accessible and relevant, like focusing on universal themes and providing modern supplements! Plus, we’re discussing the importance of proactive parent communication - because keeping families in the loop can prevent misunderstandings and build strong partnerships!
Want to dig deeper into how to implement these new perspectives? Join us in our Happy Hour community!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode239
Related Episodes:
- Episode 128, Unit Makeover: The Great Gatsby
- Episode 115, Unit Makeover: Transforming Frankenstein with a Novel in Verse
- Episode 107, Teaching Short Stories: Unit Makeover
- Episode 158, Modern Folktales: A Debrief & Unit Overview
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A new year brings new opportunities to refresh and refocus in the classroom! In this episode, we’re sharing strategies to help you simplify your teaching and make a big impact, from encouraging critical thinking to refining routines that work.
Let’s start with critical thinking—it’s the foundation for preparing students to navigate today’s fast-paced, information-packed world. We’re talking about moving beyond content delivery and creating spaces where students ask questions, explore ideas, and think for themselves.
We also dig into the power of reliable routines and consistency. These simple but essential practices keep your classroom running smoothly and stress-free. Plus, sticking with what works saves you time and helps your students feel secure and supported.
If you’re ready to approach 2025 with clarity and purpose, this episode has everything you need to get started! 🥳
Catch up on the NEW YEAR AT BNT series in the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode239
Related Episodes:
- Episode 238, Looking Back/Looking Forward
- Episode 227, Code Breaking and Critical Thinking: An Interview with Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
- Episode 29, To Streamline Classroom Management
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We're two weeks into 2025, and as part of our New Year's series, we're diving into the world of tech. But before we get started, if you missed last week’s episode on new books, be sure to check it out—we left you with a bit of a cliffhanger that we’ll resolve at the beginning of this episode!
Technology is constantly evolving and is everywhere around us, so if it feels overwhelming to keep up, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Remember, tech should make your life easier, not harder. That’s why we recommend sticking with the platforms you already know and love (hello, Google Docs!). Many of these tools have received helpful updates and are more powerful than ever.
In this episode, we’ll discuss how to make the most of familiar tools, approach AI intentionally, and streamline your tech organization for better planning. Plus, we’ll share some new tech tools you should check out this year!
If you’d like more support, this month in Happy Hour, we’re going deep into teacher digital planning and organization (and sharing Trello templates!). Join us here!
Tools Mentioned:
- Google Docs
- Google Slides
- Padlet
- Edpuzzle
- CommonLit
- Pictory
- Milanote
- Google Tasks
- Trello
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode239
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Happy New Year, Brave New Teachers! 🎉
In this episode of the "Brave New Teaching" podcast, hosts Marie and Amanda chat about their reading goals for 2025, highlighting how literature can really boost both personal and professional growth. They toss around some great book recommendations like "The Poppy War" by R.F. Kuang, and they’re super excited about discovering new authors and upcoming book releases. They also explore the fun idea of starting family book clubs and the joy of sharing reading adventures with kids.
Marie's Books:
- Financial Feminist
- This is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained
- Onyx Storm
Amanda's Books:
- The Goddess of Warsaw
- Sandwich
- The Poppy War
Check Amanda's reading lists on Amazon or Bookshop.org
Check Marie's reading lists on Amazon or Bookshop.org
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Teachers, it’s the home stretch to winter break and we hope you’re hanging in there! It’s hard to believe, but this is the LAST Brave New Teaching episode of 2024. It’s been quite a year, and we want to take a moment to reflect on the challenges and triumphs from the year.
You’ll hear about our favorite podcast highlights and personal highlights from 2024, including interviewing incredible authors, featuring our kids on the podcast, and traveling to schools to offer PD to teachers. Plus, we’re sharing three big changes regarding this podcast and Happy Hour that will start in 2025.
We can’t wait to support you in the best ways possible in the upcoming months by giving you more of what you need to make your jobs easier and less “stuff” that feels overwhelming. We would love you to join us in Happy Hour, our teacher work club. Cheers to all the good things coming your way in the new year! 🥂
Related Episodes:
- Episode 236, The BNT Books of 2024
- Episode 227, Code Breaking and Critical Thinking: An Interview with Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
- Episode 223, The Sherlock Society: An Interview with Author James Ponti
- Episode 208, Living with ADHD: Amanda’s Journey to Diagnosis
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode238
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Grab our Sub Plan FREEBIE here!
We’ve all had those days. The days when something happens and you just can’t go to work. You caught the stomach bug, your child is sick, or you have an emergency. Whatever the reason, the only thing worse is knowing that you have to scramble to put sub plans together!
You don’t want your students to have a waste of a day, but you also don’t have the time to whip something together that fits into the unit you’re currently working on. Well friends, we’ve been there and today we have not just one, but several solutions for you!
We’ve collaborated with some of our favorite ELA educators to provide you with a collection of simple, effective, and FREE emergency sub plans designed specifically for middle and high school English classrooms. With these ideas, your class can run smoothly even in your absence. So CHILL, because your ELA sub plans are ready and waiting!
Head to this blog post to download ALL of the sub plans mentioned in this episode for FREE!
Sub Plan Ideas:
[09:39] - Literacy Day Choice Board | Natayle Brown
[12:18] - Any Article Literature Circles | Dr. Jenna Copper
[14:01] - Play a Podcast | Ashley Bible
[16:48] - Winter Arc Trend Debate | Abby Gross
[20:47] - Core Skill Spiral Review | Melissa Kruse
[23:55] - Silent Discussion | Betsy Potash
[26:35] - High-Interest Close Reads | Martina Cahill
[29:44] - Literacy Analysis Activities for Any Text | Danielle Hicks
[32:56] - Reflective Reading Journal | Daina Petronis
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode237
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As we approach the end of 2024, it’s the perfect time for an updated book recommendation episode. At the time of this recording, one of us is in a bit of a reading rut and the other is absolutely killing it! Whether you’re struggling to pick up a book in this season or can’t get through them fast enough, you’re in the right place.
Today we’re sharing our favorite books of 2024 - and there’s something for everyone. We have picks in all the genres from fantasy to historical fiction to YA and more. All the titles we talk about in the episode are listed below and you can shop the BNT books of 2024 on Bookshop.org (Amanda’s List | Marie’s List) or on Amazon.
Plus, we’re discussing a new favorite reading app, Fable! If you aren’t already on Fable, download it and let’s be friends! And if you have other book suggestions, send them our way on Instagram @bravenewteaching. Here’s to rounding out 2024 with some good reads and adding ideas to your 2025 TBR list!
Books Mentioned:
- A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, by Sarah Hawley
- A Kiss of Iron, by Claire Sager
- The House at Watch Hill, by Karen Marie Moning
- First Lie Wins, by Ashley Elston
- Beach Read, by Emily Henry
- Funny Story, by Emily Henry
- Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
- Stone Blind, by Natalie Haynes
- Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, by Juno Dawson
- Butcher and Blackbird, by Brynne Weaver
- House of the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune
- Serpent & Dove, by Shelby Mahurin
- Blood and Honey, by Shelby Mahurin
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna
- Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas
- The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown
- Safiyyah’s War, by Hiba Noor Khan
- The Night War, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
- Other Words for Home, by Jasmine Warga
More Resources:
- App: Fable (Find Amanda Cardenas!)
- Once Upon a Book Club
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode236
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Join us for a quick minisode as we chat about harnessing our gratitude even when the semester at school has been challenging. We're here for you and thankful for you -- always!
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In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda finishes a three-part series on teaching different types of analysis, this time focusing on scenario-based and game-based teaching methods. Amanda, a former English teacher from Illinois, leads the discussion, sharing three specific lesson ideas: Rhetoric Roll-the-Dice and The Spare Change Gameshow. The episode contains a full walk through of implementation ideas for each type of lesson, so tune in for an episode bursting with inspiration and practical next steps for a lesson you can use tomorrow!
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In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda continues a three-part series on teaching different types of analysis, this time focusing on visual teaching strategies to help students break apart a text. Amanda, a former English teacher from Illinois, leads the discussion, sharing three specific lesson ideas: Map it Out, One Pager Quote, and the Literary Polaroid. The episode contains a full walk through of implementation ideas for each type of lesson, so tune in for an episode bursting with inspiration and practical next steps for a lesson you can use tomorrow!
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Subscriber-only episode
Join us as we continue through our November Quick Wins series. These quick wins will take you little to no effort and have a major impact on your classrooms. Today we're looking at the lesson planning side of your teacher life -- let's jump in!
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Subscriber-only episode
This month we're tackling some important Quick Wins to round out the semester. Today's Quick Wins are focused on your grading and organizational teaching life. Let's jump in!
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In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda and Marie launch a three-part series on teaching literary analysis, focusing on close reading and personification. Amanda, a former English teacher from Illinois, leads the discussion, sharing insights from a summer training session. She emphasizes the importance of breaking down texts to understand how authors use personification to convey deeper meanings. The episode includes a detailed analysis of a passage from "I Must Betray You" by Ruta Sepetys, illustrating how personification enhances emotional depth in literature.
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Today's episode is a re-run of one of our MOST DOWNLOADED EPISODES of all time. We know there are still many of you that haven't heard it yet and we KNOW that this is one of the most difficult and common ELA teacher struggles: getting kids to read at home.
There is without a doubt a universal fact amongst all students throughout elementary and high school. That fact is that students do not read at home. This is not strictly related only to language arts because no matter the subject, the follow through does not happen at home.
With that being said, we are going to tell you exactly what to do when they don’t do the work. Just in case you read that quickly we wanted to emphasize that we’re not talking about if they don’t do it, but when!
The information we are providing on today’s episode is probably the most valuable advice you will ever receive. Seriously, we’re not kidding. Let’s face it, reading is such a huge part of most assignments and they’re just not going to do it.
We’re here to tell you that that doesn’t have to be the case any longer.
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Let’s be honest…teaching writing can be a struggle. We know that so many of you are seeing challenges with student engagement, confidence, and skills when it comes to writing, and let’s not even get started with AI! If you often feel like no matter what you do, writing just isn’t sticking for your students, then this episode is for you.
We’re joined by full-time English teacher and author, Christina Schnider (aka, The Daring English Teacher). Christina has cracked the code on what high school ELA teachers can be doing in the classroom to build strong writers, and it all starts with managing your expectations and meeting kids where they are.
Christina is sharing exactly how to accomplish this with her simple yet wildly effective strategies. Her tips will benefit not only your struggling writers, EL students, and special education students, but also your high flyers. After listening, be sure to run and grab a copy of her book, Building Strong Writers!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode230
Follow Christina on Instagram @thedaringenglishteacher.
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Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
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Grab your pumpkin spice latte and favorite sweater, because it’s almost Halloween and there’s no better time than now to read gothic fiction! We’re here to share some new texts with you - roundup style.
You’ll hear from us and three of our ELA friends so you can walk away with fresh stories to add to your gothic fiction archive. You can pair these newer options with the classics (Poe, we’re looking at you!).
If you enjoy these suggestions, come join us over in Happy Hour! It’s our monthly membership where we zoom in and talk more about the technical side of implementation.
You can shop all of our favorite books on Bookshop.org (Amanda’s list andMarie’s list) orAmazon.
For all resources & texts mentioned, head to the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode229
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Books are so special because they allow you to see the world from the comfort of your own home (or classroom!). Our guest today, author Violet Duncan, brings part of her world to students around the world through her storytelling. Violet is Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation and began self-publishing books when she didn’t see her family represented on bookshelves.
In this episode, Violet shares about her latest book, Buffalo Dreamer. It’s a middle-grade novel that explores Indigenous history, focusing on the legacies of residential schools and the discoveries of unmarked graves. If you are at the high school level, there is still a place for this book in your classroom, and we discuss different ways that it can be used across grades.
After you’ve listened to the interview, we would love to hear from you! Where do you see this fitting into your curriculum? How could it fill a gap that’s missing for your students? Send us a message on Instagram @bravenewteaching or an email to bravenewteaching@gmail.com.
You can shop all of our favorite books on Bookshop.org (Amanda’s list and Marie’s list) or Amazon.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode228
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We love hosting authors on this podcast, and today we have a repeat guest. It’s the one and only Ruta Sepetys, only this time she’s joined by author, Steve Sheinkin! Ruta and Steve had teamed up and co-authored a new book called The Bletchley Riddle.
The Bletchley Riddle is a historical mystery for middle grades and we’re so honored to have the opportunity to hear all the details from the authors themselves. Ruta and Steve share how this collaboration came to be, what the co-writing process was like, and how they envision students interacting with the text.
Not only is this a great episode for ELA teachers, but it would also be a fun one to share with your students. It brings important yet underrepresented history to light in an exciting and engaging way for young readers. Be sure to check Ruta’s website for an educator's guide to The Bletchley Riddle!
Resources:
- The Bletchley Riddle, by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
- Steve’s YouTube Channel: Author-Fan Face-Off
- Shop Ruta’s books
- Shop Steve’s books
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode227
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Check out Curriculum Rehab here!
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We love all genres, but our favorite by far? Dystopia! Not only does this genre tap into the natural curiosity and critical thinking abilities of students, but there’s also so much opportunity to teach it across many grade levels. And don’t get us started on all the supplemental texts you can use!
We could go on and on all day about why we love dystopian texts so much - and we will! In this episode, we’re rounding up our favorite Brave New Teaching tips as it relates to teaching dystopia in your classroom. Truthfully though, they are some of our best teaching tips, period.
Whether you’re a seasoned dystopian enthusiast or new to the genre, this episode is packed with innovative ideas to enrich your curriculum and engage your students. After listening, be sure to send this episode over to a teacher friend. That way you can plan your next dystopian unit together!
Resources:
- Cloudy Lesson plan
- Dystopia Workshop
- The Marrow Thieves: Amazon | Bookshop.org
- Episode 172, 3 Secrets to Teaching Dystopia
- Episode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA Classroom
- Episode 81, Essential Question Workshop: Dystopia (Woohoo!)
- Episode 62, Picture Book Lesson Walk-Through
- Episode 61, Living in a Dystopian World
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode226
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Ready to uplevel your classroom library this year? We’ve got just the thing for you! We’re sitting down with our executive assistant (and full-time ELA teacher) to share our top three new book recommendations. Choosing just one book each wasn’t easy, but we got it done!
You’ll hear each of our selections and why we think it deserves a spot on your shelves. From historical to fantasy, we’re confident that this list has something for everyone. They just might become some of your students' favorites this year!
For more book recommendations, follow along on Instagram @bravenewteaching. Better yet, come share your top book recommendations with us. We always love to hear what’s working in your classrooms!
You can shop all of our favorite books on Bookshop.org (Amanda’s list and Marie’s list) or Amazon. Check the links below for individual titles!
Books Mentioned:
- The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming: Amazon | Bookshop.org
- A Universe of Wishes by Dhonielle Clayton: Amazon | Bookshop.org
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode225
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Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
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There are several frequently asked questions that we get in our Brave New Teaching community and many of them center around teaching theme. For example, How can we make teaching theme easier? What are some new ways of teaching theme? What do students really need to know when it comes to theme?
It’s clear that theme is something we could all use additional support with! It’s a state standard and not going anywhere, so let’s talk about it! I recently took a magical trip to Disney with my family, and the experiences we had there taught me a lot about teaching theme. While Disney has its flaws, one thing they have absolutely mastered is the art of theming!
There are three main lessons I learned about teaching theme through the Disney lens:
- Theme is an experience that requires a beginning, middle, and end
- The details of the experience enhance and color that theme
- How important is it actually for kids to articulate a theme statement independently?
I’m breaking down each of these lessons inside this episode. And don’t worry, you don’t need to be a Disney fan to appreciate the takeaways! I have a feeling it will help you in your lesson planning and goal setting this year.
If you want to continue the conversation about teaching theme, send us a message on Instagram @bravenewteaching. Better yet, join us in Happy Hour where we have lots of detailed discussions about these topics with actionable lesson plans and resources every single month!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode224
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Teacher friends, it’s Marie here, and I’m extra excited for you to hear today’s episode. I get to sit down with middle grades author James Ponti! James is here to tell us about his inspiration behind The Sherlock Society, his journey from working in television to becoming an author, and so much more.
To top it all off, my middle school son Wyatt is acting as my co-host to help me interview James! Wyatt has read some of James’ books and is a big fan, so it’s amazing to hear the excitement in their voices when they talk to each other.
If you aren’t already familiar with James Ponti’s books, check them out after listening to this interview! We love them because of how engaging and accessible they are for the middle-grades audience. During our conversation, James even gave some ideas of how you could pair The Sherlock Society with other texts for a thematic unit.
Resources Mentioned:
- James’ website
- The Sherlock Society: Bookshop.org
- The Sherlock Society: Amazon
- More books by James Ponti
- Host a mystery at your school!
- James’ Instagram: @jamespontibooks
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode223
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Join us for our Back to School Series! www.bravenewteaching.com/backtoschool
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Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222.
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- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222.
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222.
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222.
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222.
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Our back-to-school series is in full swing, and we’ve got more for you this week! This episode is going to give you a lot to think about as you’re setting up your classroom for the year.
We’re sharing seven of our favorite must-haves (dare we say, GAME CHANGERS) when it comes to supporting neurodivergent kids and adults in your classroom. Some of these tools you may have heard of, and they may seem like small things to try, but it’s the little things that make a big impact!
And as we always say, what’s good for some is good for all! These tools will not only help your neurodivergent students, but also your neurotypical. Better yet, they are inexpensive but effective.
If you try out any of these tools in your classroom, we would love to see it! Snap a picture on Instagram and tag us @bravenewteaching so we can see it and share it with our community!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode217
Resources:
- Kitchen timer
- Jumbo 1-minute sand timer
- 24 pack of sand timers
- Reyke key finders
- Calm strips
- Desk bands
- LED lights
- Marie’s YouTube channel: The Caffeinated Classroom
Join us for our Back to School Series! www.bravenewteaching.com/backtoschool
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
Join us for our Back to School Series! www.bravenewteaching.com/backtoschool
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Theback-to-school season comes with a lot of preparation and decisions. We’re guessing that one of the big things on your mind is how to ensure that your classroom management is on point for the year ahead!
Feeling in control of your classroom and building a safe community with your students is the goal, but it’s easier said than done, especially when student behavior is challenging. Our guest today, Claire English, has such a great perspective on classroom management and is here to share lots of helpful advice with you.
Claire shares how her upbringing impacted her teaching style and desire to crack the code on classroom management. In this interview, Claire shares insights on how to set yourself up for success this year like being proactive, setting expectations, getting on the same page with parents, and establishing an authentic classroom community.
We hope this conversation leaves you feeling empowered about your classroom management and helps you to show up for your students in a way that you’re proud of! If you’re enjoying our back-to-school series, let us know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending us a quick message on Instagram @bravenewteaching!
Resources:
- Claire’s Instagram: @the.unteachables
- It’s Never Just About the Behaviou7r
- Join The Behaviour Club!
- The Unteachables Podcast
- Claire’s website
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode216
Join us for our Back to School Series! www.bravenewteaching.com/backtoschool
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already that time of year when we say goodbye to summer and gear up for a brand new school year. Our mission during this season is to get you excited about the year ahead instead of feeling completely overwhelmed.
We can’t think of a better guest to join us today than Principal Lamb! You likely know him from TikTok or Instagram as the principal with the rolling cart. He is a former teacher and has now been a principal for 15 years. Principal Lamb is what we would call a "unicorn" in the world of school administration, and you’ll understand why after hearing this interview!
We sat down to chat with Principal Lamb about what it really means to be an effective school leader, what his rolling cart has to do with his leadership style, and the goals he has at his school when it comes to supporting teachers, students, and families. This would be a great episode to share with your co-workers and administrators!
Resources:
- Back to School with BNT: Free Checklist and Planner!
- Instagram: @principal_lamb
- Tiktok: @principal_lamb
- Books by Wally Lamb
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode215
Join us for our Back to School Series! www.bravenewteaching.com/backtoschool
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
We say it each week in our podcast intro: Brave New Teaching is so much more than a podcast. We consider you part of our BNT family and that’s why we want to share a more personal episode with you today.
We recently attended the TPT conference together in sunny San Diego, California and brought our mics along so you could join in on the fun. We are bringing you behind the scenes of special moments from the trip from reuniting at the airport to touring Marie’s house and more.
We are beyond excited every time we get to see each other in person and grateful for the friendship we’ve created. We hope you are able to find YOUR person like we have found in each other.
If you love this behind-the-scenes content, hop on over to Happy Hour where you’ll find an extended episode of our trip (plus lots of other fun and helpful content!). We also have lots of incredible episodes coming up for the back-to-school season, so stay tuned!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode214
Join us for our Back to School Series! www.bravenewteaching.com/backtoschool
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
It’s not too late to join Camp BNT and follow along with us as we highlight favorite books this summer! In previous episodes we’ve shared about a PD book, graphic novels, and a powerful YA book. Now it’s time for a book written specifically for middle grades: The Night War, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
The Night War takes place in World War II France and is a story of resilience, joy, and friendship. We found that it is written in a way that sets it apart from other texts taking place in this time period. While this book is intended for middle grades, we definitely think it can also be used with your high schoolers as well.
Tune in to hear our opinions of The Night War, what surprised us about it, ideas for using it in your classroom, and more. If it sounds like a good fit for your class, grab a hard copy or listen to it on Audible and then share your review with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching. If you have other ideas of books that could pair nicely with The Night War, we would love to hear that too!
Resources:
- The Night War, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
- Join Camp BNT (free!)
- The Rose Code, by Kate Quinn
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode213
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Camp BNT is in full swing and it’s time for our YA pick: All My Rage, by Sabaa Tahir. This book is beautifully written and will be so incredibly easy for your students to connect with. At the same time, it covers some very challenging topics, so much so that one of us had difficulty getting through it.
Inside this episode, we’re sharing an overview of All My Rage, why we chose to highlight it this summer, what to know before reading, and examples of how you can use it with your students. We hope that it gives you the information you need to decide if it has a place in your classroom this year!
We would love to hear your thoughts after listening! If you decide to read All My Rage, share it with us! Send us a message or snap a photo of your favorite passages and tag us on Instagram. This will help us reach more teachers and continue the conversation.
Don’t forget to sign up for Camp BNT (free!) so you can learn and grow alongside us!
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT!
- All My Rage, by Sabaa Tahir
- Amanda’s Bookshop.org lists
- Marie’s Bookshop.org lists
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode212
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Last week we talked about our first book choice of Camp BNT, Liz Kleinrock’s Start Here, Start Now. We’re going in a different direction today as we dive into graphic texts. Specifically, we’re looking at Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America, by Ibram X. Kendi, adapted and illustrated by Joel Christian Gill.
Graphic novels are something that we haven’t fit into our curriculum as much as we’d like and we hope to change that moving forward. This type of text has the ability to convey complex historical ideas and emotions and facilitate deeper learning and empathy. Plus, the accessibility of visuals within graphic texts is so helpful for students who are visually inclined, and also helps others stretch boundaries of understanding visual text. It’s a win-win for everyone!
We hope today’s book recommendation is helpful! Be sure to join Camp BNT (free!), download the summer bucket list, and join us on social media as you’re checking things off your list.
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT!
- Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America, by Ibram X. Kendi
- Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
- Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
- Start Here, Start Now, by Liz Kleinrock
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode211
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Have you signed up for Camp BNT yet? Last week we talked through what camp will look like this summer and we hope you’ll join us! We’re diving into the first book on our list, Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community, by Liz Kleinrock.
In this conversation, we’re highlighting two specific parts of the book that can be incorporated into your teaching practice and your planning process for the upcoming school year. Start Here, Start Now will help you take the steps toward cultivating an antiracist and antibias classroom, and prepare you for the tough discussions that this work entails.
If you haven’t already purchased this book, we highly recommend doing so (or even asking your school to get it for you!). It would be a great book to read with your team. There’s no time like the present to start having difficult conversations!
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT
- Start Here, Start Now, by Liz Kleinrock
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode210
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
It’s officially summer and that means Camp BNT is kicking off! We’re back for round two of Camp BNT and we’ve made some adjustments since last year that we’re excited to share with you.
Last summer, we interviewed several incredible authors. You can catch up on those interviews and 2023 Camp BNT content inside episodes 152-166. Today, we’re beginning to think about our summer bucket lists and are encouraging you to do the same. Plus, you’ll get a glimpse at what’s lined up on our summer book stack from a YA novel to a PD book and more.
We can’t wait for you to join us in Camp BNT this year! You can sign up for Camp BNT and get the free resources here. We’d love to know what you’re up to this summer! You can share your adventures with us on Instagram or in a written review for this podcast.
Resources:
- Start Here, Start Now, by Liz Kleinrock
- Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America, by Ibram X. Kendi
- All My Rage, by Sabaa Tahir
- The Night War, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
- Amanda’s Bookshop.org lists
- Marie’s Bookshop.org lists
- Libro.fm
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode209
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Just like our students are unique and have brains that work in different ways, the same is true for us as teachers. The more information that we have about our students, and ourselves, the better we can support them and appreciate their individuality.
Today it’s just me, Amanda, and I’m taking a risk as I get incredibly vulnerable behind the mic. I’ve had suspicions that I may have ADHD and decided to start my journey towards a diagnosis so that I can figure out how my brain works and make improvements in my physical and mental health.
Statistically, there are so many high-achieving women who were never diagnosed with ADHD when they were younger and I know many of you are faced with the same challenges I am. So, I’ve decided to document my experience of being tested for ADHD.
Inside this episode, you’ll hear live snippets of each step of the process from the tests I went through to the recording of a call with my doctor where she shares my results and next-step recommendations.
While this was extremely scary to share with you, I’m proud of myself for doing it. I hope it encourages you to take similar steps if you are struggling in any way with your mental health, whether that involves ADHD or something else. Here’s to loving ourselves exactly as we are!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode208
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Do you have a text that is required for you to teach but you just do not like teaching? Curriculum rehab may be just what you need to transform your unit into one you and your students truly enjoy! Our guest today, Maegan Baker, has revamped her unit on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe into one she enjoys instead of dreads and she is sharing how Curriculum Rehab helped with the process!
In today’s episode, Maegan shares how going through Curriculum Rehab and aligning her teaching with EQs has made all the difference in how she teaches The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She is breaking down what two standards she decided to focus on, how she constructed her unit, how she helped her students begin to synthesize ideas throughout the unit, and what she found to be the missing piece in her unit thanks to Curriculum Rehab.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Follow Maegan on Instagram @mrs.bakerproductions
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode207
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Friends, we are doing something a little different. We know how crazy days can get for teachers and they seem to be especially crazy come the end of the school year. Between state testing, wrapping up the current school year, and getting things ready for next school year, the days are just packed!
Today, we are tagging along with Marie for a long 13 hour day at school. She’s checking in and sharing what she is doing from before school auditioning middle schoolers, to her crazy busy lunch period, and wrapping up her long day with rehearsals and a live Down with the Reading Quiz training. We can’t wait to share a glimpse into what the busy days look like and what we’re thinking, planning, and doing throughout the day!
We’d love to hear what you think about the episode! Come follow us on Instagram and send us a message or head over to bravenewteaching.com to send us an email or leave us a voicemail. We can’t wait to hear from you!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode206
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Have you gotten to the end of the year not knowing what kids have truly learned? You know you’re teaching. You know what some students know and really understand. But when it comes down to it, you feel like you don’t really know what everybody learned. We completely understand! That’s what it felt like for us before we started backward planning and planning our year and assessments the way we teach in Down with the Reading Quiz and Curriculum Rehab.
We know assessments are key in guiding our instruction and gauging student understanding. You’ve heard us talk quite a bit about Sesame Street Quizzes and how much we love them but there are other assessments we absolutely love for assessing student understanding, too. One of our favorites is the paragraph chunk quiz!
Today, we are diving into paragraph chunk quizzes and ways to implement them in your ELA classes. We’re sharing what paragraph chunk quizzes are, why we love them, and different ways to format them to fit what you and your students need.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Choice Reading Unit Masterclass: Foster Authentic Readers
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode205
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Send us a Text Message.
Are you tired of constant reading quizzes that you give just because you feel like that’s what you’re supposed to do? If so, you likely realize that you aren’t getting the data and information you need to know about your students’ understanding from them. We’ve been there and we get it!
Assessment is legitimately the most important part when you're looking at data and metrics of education. But in order to get actual, usable data that informs your instruction, you need aligned formative assessments that assess students along the way, making sure that their skills are being built and allowing you to adjust and readjust along the way.
In this episode, we are diving into the importance of assessments, why we need to reconsider assessments such as reading quizzes, mistakes we’ve made with assessments in our classrooms, and how you can make assessments more meaningful and impactful in your own classroom.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Check out Amanda's CAFE MODE Timers
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode204
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Send us a Text Message.
In this episode, Marie and Amanda explore the many different factors that contribute to the difficulties in teaching commentary to young writers. The episode shares actionable strategies as well as a compassionate shoulder to lean on as you make your way through your own journey as a writing teacher for secondary ELA students.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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We absolutely love hearing real life stories and examples of how you are implementing Brave New Teaching strategies and tools to make a bigger impact on your students and make your life easier! High school English teacher, Lannette Story, is back with us to walk us through what semester two looks like for her classes after she did a complete curriculum rehab last summer.
This week, Lannette is sharing how she kicks off second semester with Romeo and Juliet in an engaging and meaningful way, what her Ruta Sepetys unit looks like, and how she wraps up the school year with a Socratic seminar based on the year-long essential question.
If you’ve embarked on a curriculum rehab or have designed your curriculum to be more inquiry based and driven, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us on Instagram, send us an email, or leave us a podcast review. We want to hear more stories from you and have you share them on the podcast so feel free to reach out - we are open ears and excited to hear your journeys!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Follow Lannette on Instagram @Lanney220
- Teaching Shakespeare: Basics with the Bard
- Teaching Shakespeare: The Modern Classroom Approach
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode203
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
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Subscriber-only episode
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Have you wondered what it could look like when you actually start using the strategies and tools we talk about in your classroom? Our guest today, Lannette Story, is sharing all about how when she started implementing the concepts and strategies we share, her excitement for teaching returned and she was able to teach with less stress!
We are so excited to be talking with Lannette today about what she has been able to implement in her classes. She is sharing how she was feeling before finding Brave New Teaching, the process of how she went from what she was doing before to completely revamping her curriculum, and what her first half of the school year looks like.
In this episode, Lannette explains how she incorporates Sesame Street Quizzes, year long essential questions, and more! She had so much to share and will be back again next week where we’ll be tackling Romeo and Juliet, a Rudisill Petty's unit, and some ideas for a final summative assessment for the end of the year.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
- Medusa by Rosie Hewlett
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode202
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
How is it even possible to balance writing novels, teaching, and empowering students as a role model? That’s exactly what our guest does daily! Brave New Teaching friends, you are in for a treat today as you hear from author and middle school teacher, Marc Gregson.
In this episode, Marc shares his journey that led him to being a middle school teacher and published author and how he manages to successfully balance everything from family time to building relationships with students to writing for three hours a day! You are going to love hearing about how he engages and motivates young writers in his class while including them in his own writing and publishing journey.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Check out Marc’s website
- Connect with Marc on Instagram @MJG_Write
- Follow Marc on TikTok @MJG_Write
- Follow Marc on Twitter
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode201
Sign up for the FREE Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
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Friends, we have made it to 200 episodes of Brave New Teaching! We are so incredibly thankful for you joining us here, whether you’ve been here since we started in 2020 or are just tuning in for the first time.
In this episode, we’re featuring audio messages that you, our listeners, have sent in about what has stood out to you in our past 200 episodes. You’ll hear from veteran teachers, first year teachers, and teachers who have implemented some of the strategies we’ve discussed.
We want to continue providing you what you need in your classroom. We are always listening to you, looking for feedback and ideas on what you need, and of course, are always up for providing book recommendations! Join us over on Instagram and let us know what you need. Again, thank you for being here!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Check out Curriculum Rehab
- Sign up for Camp BNT 2023
- Visit Ruta Sepetys’ website
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode200
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the Show.
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
What do you do when you aren’t provided enough copies of books for every student? Unfortunately, this is a real problem that ELA teachers are facing. We know how incredibly frustrating and problematic this is for both teachers and students!
You want students to be engaged with the book. You know how important it is for students to read at home and dedicate class time to instruction. But access to limited materials is not allowing that to happen.
Today we’re back with a lesson plan rescue! We’re sharing creative and productive ideas to overcome this issue so you can still accomplish what you need to in your classes. We’ll look at how providing multiple ways of reading the book, decentering the novel, and layering units on top of each other can help you work around the lack of book copies.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Check out Amanda's Digital Choice Boards HERE
- Down With the Reading Quiz - Our Signature FREE Training
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode199
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Do you struggle with knowing where to start when it comes to writing essential questions? We completely understand the challenge and we’re here to help!
Essential questions play a crucial role in guiding lessons and engaging students in meaningful discussions. Knowing how to start crafting essential questions can be a challenge for some teachers. The truth is, there is no one place to start. It’s a process and you’ll likely refine your EQs year after year to make them stronger.
In this episode, we are sharing three essential questions for teaching poetry that showcase different ways for you to just start learning how to formulate your own EQs. We’re breaking down our thought process behind each EQ and how each could be used in your ELA classes.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Check out our Master Classes in the Brave New Teaching Shop
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
- Essential Question Expert: Designing EQs that Engage and Inspire Course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode198
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Does teaching poetry intimidate you or make you feel insecure about your ability to effectively teach your students? You are not alone and we’re here to help build your confidence by breaking it down and making teaching poetry a bit more accessible for you!
When we are teaching something we aren’t very confident in (like poetry!), finding engaging and effective ways to teach it can be a challenge. The good news is there are ways you can incorporate teaching poetry into your lessons that keep your students interested, engaged, and learning.
Today, we are sharing our favorite tips for teaching poetry including creative ways to find new poems, incorporating poetry into novel units, and poetry March Madness. We’re also sharing how to make analyzing poetry more approachable and accessible for all students.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Check out our Master Classes in the Brave New Teaching Shop
- Let America Be America Again on YouTube
- Poetry Analysis with The Big Six: How to Teach Beyond a Worksheet
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode197
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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This week's episode is all about the Bard! We took listener questions about Shakespeare - planning, teaching, assessing, and more - and answered them in the nerdiest teacher way we could! PLUS a big announcement - registration is now open for the 2021 Shakespeare Teacher Festival (April 5-10, 2021). This free festival includes our best teaching tips & strategies for including Shakespeare in your classroom, and you won't want to miss it! Go to www.bravenewteaching.com/shakespeare to register!
CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Do you find that your high school students have trouble allowing themselves to be creative in their writing? We have a solution for you! Enter The Inspiration Cube.
We spent a lot of time curating this resource and have yet to share it with you! The Inspiration Cube is intended to help students break past their fear and anxiety of coming up with things on their own and gives them permission to let their creativity flourish.
The Inspiration Cube is a creative writing exercise and we’re going to walk you through it in real time in today’s episode. It’s basically a no-prep way to get your students thinking creatively, working together, and dare we say…having fun! It can be used in partners, small groups, or even whole class.
Even better, you can download it for free and try it out in your classroom this week.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode195
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Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
It’s time for a reading update! Get your notebook or notes app ready because you’re about to have a new TBR list just in time for Spring reading.
We’re running through our recent reads, some we’ve enjoyed more than others. There’s a little something for everyone from memoirs to historical fiction to comfort reads and everything in between.
We hope this reading update brings some new texts your way, inspires you to take action on titles sitting on your TBR, or reinvigorates your excitement about books you’ve already read. Here’s a pro tip - try a repeat read on audio. It will feel new again!
Most of all, remember to read for what you need…not to meet some arbitrary goal.
Head to the show notes to grab the list of books we mention in this episode: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode194
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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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It’s officially Women’s History Month and we’re absolutely celebrating here at Brave New Teaching! While we firmly believe that we should be doing this work all year round, it’s still powerful to pause and have some intentionality behind what’s being celebrated this month. For us, that’s not only women’s voices, but also women’s issues, both past and present.
In today’s episode, we’re highlighting different female voices and resources that you can use with your students this month from poetry to speeches to film and more. Celebrating these voices from all different intersections of identity can spark new conversations in the classroom and help our students see beyond their own experiences and biases. This is definitely one to bookmark and share with a teacher friend!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- American Leaders' Speeches Choice Board
- Women’s History Month: Digital Choice Board
- Persephone Returns
- The Tragedy of Greek Goddesses
- How Film Changes How We See the World
- Maya Anelou’s “Phenomenal Woman”
- Phenomenal Woman Script & Notes
- Phenomenal Woman Permission Slip
- Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson
- Origin - official trailer
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode193
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
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Timothy Freitas, Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary English Education A College-
Board-endorsed AP English Language and Composition consultant, Timothy has been teaching AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition for more than a decade and a half. He has presented at the AP Annual Conference (APAC) and at the NCTE Annual Conference. He has been an AP Reader, sample-selection Table Leader, AP Question Leader, and member of the College Board’s Instructional Design Team for the current AP English Language and Composition framework. Timothy is a co-author of two of AMSCO’s Advanced Placement Edition English Language and Composition coursebooks. He has also been a consultant and professional development facilitator for multiple educational initiatives, typically working with underserved populations. Timothy teaches English and theology in Massachusetts at Whitinsville Christian School; before that he was a teacher at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School. In his free time, Timothy oversees The Garden of English— a website and YouTube channel that assists both students and teachers with planning and instruction. The Garden of English also offers the best live and online professional development for English teachers and departments. All of this happens while he works his real jobs: being a husband and father of five.
PD for the Garden of English is so well received that each time Timm or his consultants visit schools or host online workshops, veterans and new teachers alike consistently laud it as the most practical and best PD they have ever engaged with.
Whether you're looking to schedule PD, search through a myriad of resources, or find some youtube videos, you can access everything garden of english at www.thegardenofenglish.com
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
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- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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How many times have you sat through a Professional Development Training and thought “This is not the best use of my time”? As an ELA teacher with a to-do list a mile long, there’s nothing worse than feeling like your time is wasted or you aren’t walking away from a PD session with strategies you can actually use to better your instruction.
That’s where I (Amanda) come in! In 2021 I stepped away from the classroom and have been working hard to fulfill my dream of being a professional development leader, specifically in the inquiry space for the secondary ELA community. I am on a mission to reshape PD to be personalized and impactful…and I think I’m doing a pretty great job so far!
In today’s episode, I am giving you a peek behind the curtain to show how I approach Professional Development sessions. I’ll review my six non-negotiables for phenomenal and effective PD that is anything but one-size-fits-all.
PD can be great and I want you to experience that! If you like what you hear, be sure to pass this episode along to your administrators and teacher leaders who are making decisions about hiring for PD. You can learn more about my PD offerings here.
🔗 EPISODE FEATURED LINKS 🔗
- Book Amanda for PD at your school!
- Today's Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode192
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Do you enjoy assigning projects in your class, but have found that small group projects come with a whole new set of challenges? Whole-class projects may be your answer. Our guest today, Danielle Hicks, has found great success with whole-class engagement projects and is here to share about her experience.
If the thought of one big giant project brings immediate overwhelm, stick with us. Sometimes veering away from traditional approaches is exactly what we need to spark creativity and collaboration among our students! In this episode you’ll hear how this type of group learning is also personalized, the results Danielle has seen from whole-class projects, and how you can get started.
Resources:
- Join Happy Hour!
- Danielle’s blog
- Danielle’s website
- Danielle’s Podcast: Anti-Burnout for English Teachers
- Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode191
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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Do you struggle to find a solution for unproductive student work time? We hear you, and we’re here to help with a new lesson plan rescue episode!
When our precious class time is not spent the way we hope for, it throws everything off balance like our planning, grading, and student progress…which is enough to drive you crazy! There’s no one hack to combat this, but instead, we’ve discovered the need for a mindset shift.
Today we’re discussing why we need to be meeting students where they are, effective grading and assignment management, and practical classroom strategies for long-term projects. We’ll share how you can structure your work time for student success and chunk the curriculum into manageable pieces!
Resources:
- Join Happy Hour!
- Check out our Master Classes in the Brave New Teaching Shop
- C.A.F.E. Mode resources
- Episode 163, Joyful Teaching & Learning: An Interview with Dr. Deonna Smith
- Episode 113, Relationships and Behavior (Interview with Dr. Deonna Smith): Classroom Management Series Part 3
- Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode190
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
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When AI first came on the scene in a big way, there was a lot of panic. In the world of education, there were (and still are!) concerns about how it could make cheating easier for students. However, we all know it’s here to stay and we’ve learned that there are lots of positive ways that AI is changing the classroom.
Today we’re sharing four ways that you can use AI for good in the ELA classroom. It’s really exciting to think about all the ways AI can be used to better engage students, have some fun, and be creative. Instead of avoiding these tools, let’s embrace them and leverage them to empower our students!
We hope this episode gives you some ideas for new ways to use AI in your secondary classroom! Do you have a favorite way to use AI? Let us know on Instagram @bravenewteaching.com!
Resources:
- Free 30-day Audible trial
- Join Happy Hour!
- Canva AI image results
- Riffusion: Amanda’s BNT Sample
- ChatGPT
- Riffusion
- Character.ai
- Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode189
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Do you batch anything in your life? Some people like to batch their meal prep or batch laundry duties. We’re big fans of batching here at Brave New Teaching, and that includes batch planning!
Not only can batch planning save you time, but it can also keep you organized and better prepared for what’s to come in your teaching. Today we’re sharing all about what batch planning is, why it’s such a game-changer, and what it looks like in action for us, specifically when it comes to batch planning formative assessments like Sesame Street Quizzes.
If you aren’t already a member of Happy Hour, come on over and join us! When you join, you’ll gain access to so many great resources like the Google Calendar Template and Trello Templates that we mention in this episode.
Resources:
- Trello
- Happy Hour
- Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode188
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re spending 5 minutes a day for 5 days getting the rest of this year all planned out - it's going to feel SO GOOD when this is done!!
Join us to plan the rest of your school year, from now, January of 2024, through the last day of school.
In just 25 minutes, take your existing curriculum calendar from blank pages to organized and ready in just 5 minutes a day, and you’ll be able to see the forest through the trees.
We are be working right alongside you here on the podcast with step-by-step tutorial mini episodes, and on social media with demo videos so you can see every step in action!
CREATE YOUR OWN PEACE OF MIND TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONG, FEELING EFFECTIVE IN YOUR TEACHING, AND WITH A SEMBLANCE OF THAT ELUSIVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT.
We can’t wait to work with you - sign up now and grab your workbook to join in on the full experience. This challenge is only happening for a limited time, so jump on it now!
REGISTER FOR THE 5-DAY CHALLENGE
Download your Challenge Workbook
Join Happy Hour for EXTRA Bonuses!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re spending 5 minutes a day for 5 days getting the rest of this year all planned out - it's going to feel SO GOOD when this is done!!
Join us to plan the rest of your school year, from now, January of 2024, through the last day of school.
In just 25 minutes, take your existing curriculum calendar from blank pages to organized and ready in just 5 minutes a day, and you’ll be able to see the forest through the trees.
We are be working right alongside you here on the podcast with step-by-step tutorial mini episodes, and on social media with demo videos so you can see every step in action!
CREATE YOUR OWN PEACE OF MIND TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONG, FEELING EFFECTIVE IN YOUR TEACHING, AND WITH A SEMBLANCE OF THAT ELUSIVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT.
We can’t wait to work with you - sign up now and grab your workbook to join in on the full experience. This challenge is only happening for a limited time, so jump on it now!
REGISTER FOR THE 5-DAY CHALLENGE
Download your Challenge Workbook
Join Happy Hour for EXTRA Bonuses!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re spending 5 minutes a day for 5 days getting the rest of this year all planned out - it's going to feel SO GOOD when this is done!!
Join us to plan the rest of your school year, from now, January of 2024, through the last day of school.
In just 25 minutes, take your existing curriculum calendar from blank pages to organized and ready in just 5 minutes a day, and you’ll be able to see the forest through the trees.
We are be working right alongside you here on the podcast with step-by-step tutorial mini episodes, and on social media with demo videos so you can see every step in action!
CREATE YOUR OWN PEACE OF MIND TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONG, FEELING EFFECTIVE IN YOUR TEACHING, AND WITH A SEMBLANCE OF THAT ELUSIVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT.
We can’t wait to work with you - sign up now and grab your workbook to join in on the full experience. This challenge is only happening for a limited time, so jump on it now!
REGISTER FOR THE 5-DAY CHALLENGE
Download your Challenge Workbook
Join Happy Hour for EXTRA Bonuses!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re spending 5 minutes a day for 5 days getting the rest of this year all planned out - it's going to feel SO GOOD when this is done!!
Join us to plan the rest of your school year, from now, January of 2024, through the last day of school.
In just 25 minutes, take your existing curriculum calendar from blank pages to organized and ready in just 5 minutes a day, and you’ll be able to see the forest through the trees.
We are be working right alongside you here on the podcast with step-by-step tutorial mini episodes, and on social media with demo videos so you can see every step in action!
CREATE YOUR OWN PEACE OF MIND TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONG, FEELING EFFECTIVE IN YOUR TEACHING, AND WITH A SEMBLANCE OF THAT ELUSIVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT.
We can’t wait to work with you - sign up now and grab your workbook to join in on the full experience. This challenge is only happening for a limited time, so jump on it now!
REGISTER FOR THE 5-DAY CHALLENGE
Download your Challenge Workbook
Join Happy Hour for EXTRA Bonuses!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re spending 5 minutes a day for 5 days getting the rest of this year all planned out - it's going to feel SO GOOD when this is done!!
Join us to plan the rest of your school year, from now, January of 2024, through the last day of school.
In just 25 minutes, take your existing curriculum calendar from blank pages to organized and ready in just 5 minutes a day, and you’ll be able to see the forest through the trees.
We are be working right alongside you here on the podcast with step-by-step tutorial mini episodes, and on social media with demo videos so you can see every step in action!
CREATE YOUR OWN PEACE OF MIND TO FINISH THE YEAR STRONG, FEELING EFFECTIVE IN YOUR TEACHING, AND WITH A SEMBLANCE OF THAT ELUSIVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT.
We can’t wait to work with you - sign up now and grab your workbook to join in on the full experience. This challenge is only happening for a limited time, so jump on it now!
REGISTER FOR THE 5-DAY CHALLENGE
Download your Challenge Workbook
Join Happy Hour for EXTRA Bonuses!
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re teachers, and this is a teaching podcast, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have interests beyond the world of education! We want to be a consistent reminder to you that as much as we love nerding out over curriculum, and as much as we love what we do, teaching can’t be the only thing we do.
We talked about setting intentions inside episode 185 and shared a free Intention Journal that you can download. Setting intentions is going to help gently push you to think about, and follow through with, things that will help you grow in your personal and professional life.
Today’s episode is a continuation of our effort to pull you out of the curriculum for a few moments and just be people! We’re sharing some of our current favorite things with you including items that help with our health, books, travel planning, cooking, and more. What are some of your favorite things during this season of life? Share with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching!
Links to all of our favorite things are in the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode187
Resources:
- Backwards Plan with BNT
- Free Intention Journal
- Free 30-day Audible trial
- Join Happy Hour!
- Amanda’s Amazon Storefront
- Marie’s Amazon Storefront
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review onApple Podcasts
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
It’s the beginning of a new calendar year, which means planning is probably a hot topic on your mind. Today’s episode will help you get your wheels turning in terms of planning the upcoming second half of the school year, or whatever time of year may be ahead of you!
Teacher planning is a subject that we talk a lot about on the podcast, so we’ve put together some of our best tidbits from episodes in the past. Instead of just listing the episodes out for you to go back to (although you could do that too!) we’ve pulled out specific pieces that we think will serve you in your planning endeavors.
If you’re ready to dive into planning mode and want some accountability, join us for our free five-day challenge, Backwards Plan with BNT! During this challenge, you’ll have the opportunity to plan the rest of your school year with us.
Resources:
- Backwards Plan with BNT
- Free 30-day Audible trial
- Join Happy Hour!
- Download Flat Shakespeare for FREE!
- Watch Marie’s YouTube video on teaching with the picture book, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
- Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode186
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Happy 2024! It’s a new year, so we thought we’d try something new to help you really get the most out of 2024. Today we’re debuting The Brave New Teaching Challenge, and it’s all about setting intentions for your year.
Here’s the best part about this challenge. We’re doing it together one step at a time. We know from firsthand experience that we are better teachers when we are in community with other teachers who get it and when we push ourselves a little bit outside of our comfort zones.
We have six intention challenges for the entire year; one for every two months. That means this is a no-pressure situation. You have plenty of time to get this done alongside your busy schedule!
All the details of the challenges are laid out in this free Intention Journal.
These intention challenges are meant to push you (in a gentle way) to think about things that are going to help you grow in your personal and professional life. And remember, you’re not in this alone! We are doing this in real time with you.
In fact, it all starts in today’s episode. We’ll walk you through the first challenge for January and February. Download your journal and join us!
Resources Mentioned:
- Free Intention Journal Challenge
- Furiously Happy, by Jenny Lawson
- Emkfit on YouTube
- Free one-month trial of Audible
- Join BNT Happy Hour!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode185
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
In episode 183, we shared our top reads from 2023. You can probably guess what we’re going to do next. That’s right, it’s time to make our 2024 TBR list. New year, new books, new you!
If you’re new around here, you should know that we are total book nerds. We like reading books by ourselves, with our students, with our children, and in book clubs.
Hard copy, Kindle, Audible…give us all the books! We love sharing our latest reads with you and are excited to fill you in on what’s on our shelves for 2024.
We want to hear from you! What’s on your TBR list for 2024? You can share with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching. Happy reading, brave new teachers!
Resources Mentioned:
- Bookshop.org
- Goodreads
- Free one-month trial of Audible
- Join BNT Happy Hour!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
See our full 2024 TBR list in the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode184
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Friends, the time has come. Another year is coming to a close and that means it’s time for our favorite kind of yearly reflection…a recap of our favorite books read in 2023! With our new obsession of Audible, we’ve gotten through lots of great reads this year.
Today we’re sharing our top books of 2023 across all genres. You’ll hear our nominations for ‘best audiobook of the year’ and a book that was a perfect 10-star rating. If you hear a book you’re interested in reading, it can be found on Bookshop.org, Audible, and Amazon!
Most importantly, today’s episode comes with a really fun activity that we want YOU to be a part of. We’re hosting The Brave New Teaching Book Awards! It’s going to be taking place over on Instagram and via email. You can participate and vote for all categories by joining here. When you sign up, we’ll even provide you with everything you need to hold book awards in your classroom!
Check out all the books we mention in the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode183
Resources:
- Sign up for the BNT Book Awards!
- Bookshop.org
- Goodreads
- Happy Hour
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Have you ever felt a little intimidated to teach an advanced course like AP Lit? Well, after hearing from today’s guest, Gina Kortuem, we think your feelings may shift to pure excitement! Gina is someone that we’ve wanted to bring on the podcast for a while now because we see a lot of similarities in our teaching styles.
Gina brings us a reality check about what teaching advanced courses like AP Lit is really like. Yes, the content is challenging both for you and the students, but we believe that kids can learn hard things. All kids should learn hard things! It's about equipping yourself with the strategies and tools that you need to make that happen.
Inside this episode, you’ll hear about Gina’s genius bell ringers, her experience going to NCTE, all how she teaches an entire Shakespeare elective, which became the most popular class at her school!
If you aren’t already a member of Happy Hour, you’ll want to join us over there because Gina is taking over with her very own episode. Plus, Happy Hour members will receive an amazing resource from Gina too.
Resources:
- Get a week of Gina's Bell Ringers for FREE!
- Gina’s Bell Ringers on TPT
- Lit and More website
- Lit and More TPT store
- Happy Hour
- Bookshop.org
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode182
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
It’s time to unleash the sass! We’ve got another unpopular opinion episode for you today. These episodes are always popular with our Brave New Teaching audience and today some of YOU are contributing to the conversation.
If you despise the way that final exams are traditionally given, you are most definitely not alone! There is a good reason that you feel this way. Final exams are not research based or best practice. We are here to back you up and validate your feelings and you can help keep this conversation going by passing this episode along to colleagues.
For more unpopular opinions on final exams, join us over at Happy Hour! You’ll gain access to bonus podcast content, resources, Q&As, and more.
Resources Mentioned:
- Free Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass
- Grab The Ultimate Gift Guide
- Free one month trial of Audible
- Join BNT Happy Hour!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode181
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We understand the importance (and challenge) of finding engaging and effective ways to assess student learning. That’s why we created a F-R–E-E masterclass that walks you through three formative assessments that will change the way you teach reading.
In this episode, you’ll hear a snipper of this masterclass, which focuses on the one pager quiz. Generally in the world of ELA, one pagers are thought of as a summative assessment. But in this training, we share how to use them as formative assessments.
One pager quizzes are just one of the changes that we’ve made in our classrooms that have positively impacted the way that our students interact with the content. You can check out the full free masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz, here!
When you sign up for the masterclass, you’ll be sent a link right away to watch the training on your own time. You’ll also receive a workbook that you can print and take notes on. Be sure to share this episode and this masterclass with your teacher friends!
Resources Mentioned:
- Free Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass
- Curriculum Rehab Open House
- Free one month trial of Audible
- Join BNT Happy Hour!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode180
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Happy Thanksgiving, friends! We are so very thankful for YOU and all that you do to support this podcast. We wanted to do something fun for today's episode, and if you know us then it probably comes as no surprise that fun sometimes comes in the form of formative assessments! Specifically, a Sesame Street Quiz. That's right, we've got a Thanksgiving themed Sesame Street Quiz on today's show. We hope you enjoy this re-run.
Get sample Sesame Street Quizzes HERE
If you have questions about how to create engaging assessments that assess more than just student recall, head over to our FREE "Down With the Reading Quiz" Masterclass: shop.bravenewteaching.com/masterclass
SHOW NOTES:
bravenewteaching.com/home/thankful-for-sesame-street-quizzes
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We’re excited to share another installment of our unit makeover series. This time we’re delving into teaching rhetoric analysis in the classroom. We’ve noticed a pattern in the feedback we receive from you, our listeners, and we’ve decided to structure this episode as a mini-professional development session for teaching rhetoric.
You’ll hear our two main approaches to teaching rhetoric: a focus on text or a focus on skills. A text-centered approach involves using a central text and supplementing it with other texts to teach the skills of rhetorical analysis. On the other hand, a skills-centered approach involves teaching students how to deconstruct arguments and analyze rhetoric without a specific central text.
We share plenty of examples for both approaches, which we hope will give you lots of ideas to take back to your students! Is this topic something that you would like to see a live training or workshop on? Let us know by sending us a message on Instagram @bravenewteaching!
Resources:
- Rhetorical Analysis Tools
- Teaching Rhetorical Analysis: Using Film Clips and Songs to Get Started with Space Cat
- Shakespeare Workshops and more digital resources
- Join BNT Happy Hour!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode178
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Teaching and learning is not a one-size-fits-all, which is why we need to redesign our classrooms in order to meet the needs of all our students. Today’s guest will give you a dose of inspiration to help you thrive in today’s teaching climate.
Kareem Farah, co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project, is a former teacher who recognized the need for a teaching model that meets the diverse needs of his students. Fueled by his desire to make a difference, Kareem and others developed an instructional approach that is now being scaled across the country…the blended self-paced mastery-based learning model.
You’ll hear Kareem talk about this learning model, how we can reengage our students, prioritizing small group and one-to-one settings, picking your battles as a teacher, opting into innovation, and more. We hope this episode empowers you to embrace new teaching methods of explore the possibilities of the modern classroom.
MODERN CLASSROOMS PROJECT RESOURCES:
- Website
- Modern Classrooms Project Podcast
- Free course
- Kareem’s LinkedIn
MORE RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Rethink Your Short Story Unit
- Essential questions blog posts
- Audible free trial
- Sign up for our free masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode177
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Let’s paint a picture of a scenario that most of us have likely been in at one point or another. You have a list of literary terms that you want your students to learn. You’re teaching them over and over (and over) again.
You’ve given them the lists. You’ve played Kahoot and Jeopardy. You’ve done all the things, and yet, your students still can’t analyze literacy terms.
Sound familiar? Well, have you tried caring less and letting them cheat? We know it sounds crazy, but hear us out! It actually makes more sense than you think. In this episode, we’re here with a lesson plan rescue that will share several solutions for you to try in your classroom.
Resources:
- Short Story Unit: Mystery, Suspense, Tension & Turns for Secondary ELA Reading
- Text Annotation & Text Analysis Cheat Sheet
- Shop Brave New Teaching digital resources
- Sign up for our free masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode176
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Brave New Teaching friends, you are in for a treat (and lots of laughs) today! We have Gaspare Randazzo on the show. Gaspare is a history teacher and comedian who you may know from TikTok or Instagram.
Gaspare shares his journey that led to teaching high schoolers, the importance of connecting with your students, and how his teaching experience has prepared him for stand-up comedy. Without a doubt, Gaspare will bring lots of laughter to your day, and at the same time, you’ll see his unwavering commitment to his students and the world of education.
You can catch an extended episode with Gaspara over on Happy Hour!
Resources:
- Follow Gaspare on Instagram: @standuprandazzo
- Gaspare’s website
- Podcast: The Social Studies Podcast
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode175
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
We recently hosted a live training session with members of the Brave New Teaching community and let’s just say, it was pretty awesome! During this training, we focused on teaching and guiding students through the process of synthesis writing.
So today in this podcast episode, we’re bringing you part of that live session. You’ll hear us talking through writing a prompt, using essential questions, and other things to keep in mind when you are crafting a prompt for a synthesis writing assignment. Plus, we give a couple of different options for outlining.
After listening, if you want to hear more, you can access the full training where we walk through some real-life examples of writing, sentence frames, helping our students understand how to synthesize, and more. Grab the full coaching session here!
Resources:
- Join Happy Hour!
- Marie's Amazon Storefront
- Cloudy Lesson plan
- Live Coaching: Synthesis Writing
- Shop additional BNT resources
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode174
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Using picture books is one of our favorite strategies for opening up a unit or individual lesson. Without fail, it always sparks interest and gets students excited to learn about the topic at hand! Tune in to hear us walk through a lesson plan using one of our favorite picture books to introduce a unit in Dystopia.
Not only is leveraging picture books a way to level up your engagement, but it is also a great practice in inclusive instruction. It’s a fantastic way for your entire class to be able to access the same text and begin at the same level, regardless of which skills they have.
To prove this to you, we’re going to walk through a lesson plan using Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs to introduce a unit in Dystopia. This activity is so incredibly simple, and we’re even going to share how you can download the entire lesson plan for free!
Resources:
- Cloudy Lesson plan
- Dystopia Workshop
- Live Coaching: Synthesis Writing
- Amanda's Introduction to Dystopia
- Amanda's Dystopian Lit Mega Bundle
- Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
- Episode 61: Living in a Dystopian World
- Episode 60: Making the Case for Wonder
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode62
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
What time is it? Dystopia time! We all know how important it is to engage our students with relevant and thought-provoking content, and dystopia is the perfect genre to do just that. Today we’re sharing three secrets to teaching dystopia that will help you get the most out of your units.
It’s not just about reading dystopian novels. Dystopia is a great opportunity for our students to dig deep, think critically, and connect with characters. We’ll discuss strategies such as how to contextualize current events and legislation alongside these texts, allowing our students to bridge the gap between themselves, history, and different parts of the world.
Resources:
- Join Happy Hour!
- Amanda’s SPF powder (and other favorites!)
- Grab your 30-day FREE trial of Audible
- Cloudy Lesson plan
- Dystopia Workshop
- Live Coaching: Synthesis Writing
- Amanda's Introduction to Dystopia
- Amanda's Dystopian Lit Mega Bundle
- Shop additional BNT resources
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode172
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Many of you have been eagerly waiting for us to dive back into the dystopian genre. You don’t have to ask us twice! We love any excuse to geek out over dystopian literature and that’s exactly what we’re doing today.
We have a fresh book list update for you to help you rethink some ideas moving forward in your own dystopia units. Whether you’re looking for something that’s an all-class text, student choice, book club, or lit circle, there’s something here for everyone.
Books We Mention in This Episode:
- The Marrow Thieves, Cherie Dimaline
- The Grace Year, Kim Liggett
- The Cure, K.A. Riley
- Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
- Goliath, Tochi Onyebuchi
- The Last Cuentista, Donna Barba Higuera
- We Set the Dark on Fire, Tehlor Kay Mejia
- How High We Go in the Dark, Sequoia Nagamatsu
Resources:
- Get a free 30-day trial of Audible!
- Cloudy lesson plan
- Dystopia Workshop
- Live Coaching: Synthesis Writing
- Amanda's Introduction to Dystopia
- Amanda's Dystopian Lit Mega Bundle
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode171
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
A few months ago, we sent out a listener survey to get a feel for what you wanted to hear more of on the Brave New Teaching podcast. The overwhelming consensus was that you wanted detailed lesson advice. We hear you and we’re ready to deliver with our new “lesson plan rescue” series!
Today we’re zoning in on one of our favorite things to talk about - close reading. Have you ever been in a situation where you’re in a good rhythm of close reading in your classroom but then things start to feel super repetitive and stale? If you’re nodding your head yes, then this episode is for you!
We are each giving you different ways to shake things up when it comes to how you approach close reading. We hope you can stick these ideas in your back pocket so you have strategies to try when things are feeling a bit boring. If you need more support with close reading, be sure to check out this Close Reading Workshop and other resources listed below.
Resources:
- Join Happy Hour!
- Amanda Close Reading Workshop
- Amanda’s Essential Question Adventure Packs
- Episode 22, To Teach Close Reading: Characterization
- Episode 11, To Teach Close Reading: Syntax
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode170
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
It’s time for another reading update! We’re sharing what we read (and loved) this summer, and what we plan to read this fall. These updates seem to help us keep up with our reading and we hope it does the same for you.
We have a variety of recommendations today from historical fiction, YA, and fantasy, to plays and musicals. You can see our recommendations below or shop our full lists here and here.
Resources:
- Join Happy Hour!
- Reduced Shakespeare Company YouTube
- Marie's Amazon Book Stack List
- Amanda's List
- Learn to teach the Synthesis Essay
- Get Abby Gross’ Book Brochures
- Join Curriculum Rehab
Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode169
Get any BNT workshop for just $7! shop.bravenewteaching.com
Support the show
📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩💻
- Join Happy Hour!
- Curriculum Rehab
- Down with the Reading Quiz
- Shop the BNT Resource Library
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
Meet Abby:
After springing the first part of her career teaching high school English, Abby has fallen in love with teaching middle school reading the last few years. The co-author of a guidebook for teachers, Keeping the Wonder, and a picture book for young readers, The Magic of Wonder, Abby is committed to fostering joy in learning and reading. She is a big believer in the power of curiosity, independent reading, and student-centered learning. When is is not teaching, or eating ice cream, you can find Abby creating resources, blogging on writeonwithmissg.com, and presenting for Keeping the Wonder workshops.
You can find Abby on:
TPT: Write on With Miss G
Her blog: writeonwithmissg.com, where you can find a free resource of Book Trailer Tuesday Links for the year! https://mailchi.mp/0fd76c66faac/book-trailer-tuesday-freebie
Instagram: @writeonwithmissg
Whether you’re a first year teacher or a teacher with 20+ years of experience, we all make mistakes throughout the school year. These mistakes ultimately teach us how to pivot and do things differently in the future.
We’ve made our fair share of mistakes, and today we’re sharing four that made specifically during the back to school season. From comparing student rosters to giving too much information on the first day of school, we hope you can avoid these mistakes as you kick off the year!
Plus, you’ll hear a new podcast segment, Read-Alouds with Amanda. Amanda reads a passage from Bear Town, by Fredrik Backman. If you’re interested in reading Bear Town or other titles, grab your free 30-day trial of Audible here.
Resources:
- Get your free 30-day trial of Audible!
- Curriculum Rehab: Pace and Plan Your Entire Year
- Join Happy Hour
- Episode 167, Unpopular Opinions: Back to School
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode168
Learn to teach the Synthesis Essay: bravenewteaching.com/coaching
Get Abby Gross’ Book Brochures: bravenewteaching.com/abby
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
Meet Abby:
After springing the first part of her career teaching high school English, Abby has fallen in love with teaching middle school reading the last few years. The co-author of a guidebook for teachers, Keeping the Wonder, and a picture book for young readers, The Magic of Wonder, Abby is committed to fostering joy in learning and reading. She is a big believer in the power of curiosity, independent reading, and student-centered learning. When is is not teaching, or eating ice cream, you can find Abby creating resources, blogging on writeonwithmissg.com, and presenting for Keeping the Wonder workshops.
You can find Abby on:
TPT: Write on With Miss G
Her blog: writeonwithmissg.com, where you can find a free resource of Book Trailer Tuesday Links for the year! https://mailchi.mp/0fd76c66faac/book-trailer-tuesday-freebie
Instagram: @writeonwithmissg
Happy back to school season, brave new teachers! This episode is kicking off season six of the podcast, and we’re introducing a new episode format.
We’re diving into one of our favorite types of episodes to record…unpopular opinions! This time it’s hot takes about the back to school season. You may or may not agree with these opinions, but we will have explanations to back them up!
Plus, today’s new segment includes “Teachers Ask”, where we take questions from teacher listeners and share our thoughts on them. Today we’re responding to this question: “I'm struggling to come up with ways to make reading longer articles in class less boring. How can I keep students engaged when the reading is longer than a close read, but shorter than a chapter?”
Resources:
- 15-second life story
- Syllabus Canva Workshop
- Letter to My Teacher
- Join Happy Hour
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review onApple Podcasts
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode167
Cheers! Join BNT Happy Hour HERE!
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
It’s sad, but true. Camp BNT is coming to a close with this episode (at least for this year!). We’re wrapping things up with a debrief from our interview with Elizabeth Acevedo, author of Family Lore. If you haven’t already heard that episode, run and listen to it now!
You’ll hear us think through ideas in real time of how to use Elizabeth’s novels in your classroom. With a range of students, including those in AP Lit, general education, and special education, we understand the importance of catering to different learning needs. We delve into the challenge of finding literature that possesses both literary merit and accessibility, questioning the subjective nature of determining such merit.
Whether you choose to explore Elizabeth Acevedo's recommended books, resurrect a forgotten author's works, or embark on an author study, we invite you to push the boundaries and create a brave new teaching experience for your student!
Resources:
- In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez
- Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi
- Goodnight, Irene, by Luis Alberto
- Family Lore, Elizabeth Acevedo
- Sign up for our free masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode166
Join us around the campfire for Camp BNT at https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/camp
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
When we started this podcast at the beginning of 2020, it stemmed from a desire to create a space for like-minded teachers. We wanted to have the conversations that you craved, but might not be getting at your schools. It’s turned into something bigger than we ever could have imagined. We appreciate you doing things to support this show like listening every week and leaving your reviews on Apple Podcasts.
YOU are one of the big reasons that we have been able to get an interview with today’s guest, Elizabeth Acevedo. We are beyond thrilled that we had the opportunity to sit down with her and now have the opportunity to bring the conversation to you.
CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH:
- Website
- Instagram: @acevedowrites
- Shop her books
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Join Camp BNT
- Sign up for our free masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode165
Join us around the campfire for Camp BNT at https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/camp
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
Camp BNT is still going strong! If you’re new to this summer series, we have interviewed several authors to uncover highlights, takeaways, and reflections to help us have a more intentional approach to creating culturally responsive and equitable classrooms.
Last week we interviewed the incredible Dr. Deonna Smith, author of Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture of Equity, Belonging, and Care.Be sure to tune in to episode 163 if you missed that conversation!
Today we’re doing a full debrief of the interview. Since Rooted in Joy falls into the PD category, we are pointing out our biggest takeaways so that you can get a feel of what you’ll gain from the text and dive into the work.
You can grab more resources inside Camp BNT and catch the extended episode with Dr. Deonna Smith inside Happy Hour.
Resources:
- Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture of Equity, Belonging, and Care, by Dr. Deonna Smith
- Episode 163, Joyful Teaching and Learning: An Interview with Dr. Deonna Smith
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode164
Join us around the campfire for Camp BNT at https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/camp
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers
This summer, we’ve been having a blast at Camp BNT, where we’ve been hard at work looking at different ways to approach our classrooms in a way that honors culturally responsive teaching. Our series of interviews with authors have helped us to understand how we can serve our students and communities in ways differently than we’ve done before.
Today we’re joined by another incredible author, Dr. Deonna Smith. Dr. Smith is a repeat guest (check her out in episode 113!) and works tirelessly to bring awareness to issues of equity in education. She’s just recently written her first book, Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture of Equity, Belonging, and Care, and is here to tell you about it today.
As Dr. Deonna Smith says in the interview, she “sees this as a book that seeks to reimagine what classrooms and education can look like”. Dr. Smith shares her insights on the transformative power of joy in education, the importance of reflection in classroom management, and her new book that challenges traditional approaches to behavior management.
Join Camp BNT
Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture of Equity, Belonging, and Care, by Dr. Deonna Smith
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode163
Join us around the campfire for Camp BNT at https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/camp
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Log in to your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour account HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers (password in email)
This week we're bringing you a rerun from very early in the podcast to help refresh our minds on some strategy. Amanda had the pleasure of interviewing Betsy Potash from Spark Creativity. Their conversation centers on hexagonal thinking, and you'll want a pen and notepad handy for this one - so many good ideas!! Enjoy!
CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES
Join us around the campfire for Camp BNT at https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/camp
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Log in to your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour account HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers (password in email)
This summer we’ve been busy running the best summer camp around…Camp BNT! We’ve had the opportunity to host several authors on the podcast during this series, followed by a debrief episode with our takeaways and actionable ways that you can use each text specifically. It’s all part of our mission to support you in your culturally responsive and equitable teaching practices.
If you are just now joining the party, welcome! We encourage you to go back and listen to episodes 151-160. And don’t forget to join in on the conversation inside our Camp BNT Facebook group. Sign up for free here!
We’re taking a break from our author interviews this week to give everyone a minute to catch up on all the content that’s been released so far. Today we’re sharing some books that we’ve read and enjoyed this summer, plus what’s up next on our TBR lists.
Shop Amanda’s booklist on bookshop.org
Shop Marie’s Booklist on bookshop.org
Grab the complete list of books we mention in the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode161
Join us around the campfire for Camp BNT at https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/camp
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Log in to your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour account HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers (password in email)
Inside episode 159, we interviewed author and educator, Jo Chrona. This week, in true Camp BNT fashion, we are sitting down for a formal debrief of that conversation.
We spent time talking to Jo about her why, her background, and her book, Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies – An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education 2022. It’s a must read for non-Indigenous educators who are new to the conversation or want to deepen their learning.
This book will explore topics such as how indigengeous knowledge systems inform our teaching practices and enhance education, and how to create an education system that embodies an anti-racist approach.
We think that bringing a PD book such as this one into your school can spark incredible important conversations with both your staff and students. If you are going planning to utilize Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies in your school, be sure to let us know over on Instagram @bravenewteaching.
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT
- Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies – An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education 2022, by Jo Chrona
- Jo Chrona’s website
- Join the Brave New Teaching Happy Hour!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode160
Join us around the campfire for Camp BNT at https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/camp
Support the show
Subscriber-only episode
Cheers! Log in to your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour account HERE:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers (password in email)
Did you know that British Columbia is home to the largest number of First Nations in the entire country? There are more indigenous languages spoken there than in the rest of Canada combined. We learned this and so much more from our interview with Jo Chrona.
Jo is an educator, author, and advocate for indigenous education and is here to share her wealth of knowledge and experience with us. Throughout the interview, Jo emphasizes the importance of creating environments that respond to the whole person and the need to model a commitment to lifelong learning for our students. Plus, she highlights the powerful impact of the First Peoples Principles of Learning in Canada
This episode is a valuable resource for any educator looking to deepen their understanding of anti-racist and indigenous education and take actionable steps toward meaningful change in their practice.
One way that you can take the next step in your learning journey as an educator is by reading Jo’s book, Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies – An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education 2022, which was written for non-indigenous educators. This book asks a lot of great questions for you to reflect on, while also being an accessible read.
Don’t forget to sign up for Camp BNT, where you can share your takeaways from this conversation in our private Facebook group filled with like-minded teachers!
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT
- Jo Chrona’s website
- Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies – An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education 2022 by Jo Chrona
- Episode 130, Teacher Therapy Session: Perfectionism & The Holidays
- Sign up for our free masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode159
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Have you listened to episode 157 yet? If not, go check that out before listening to this one! Inside that episode, we interview middle grades author, Diana López.
During our conversation with Diana, we discussed her career as a former middle school teacher, how she became an author, and how her stories were born from her own experiences growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas.
We also got to hear the details of Diana’s latest book, Felice and the Wailing Woman. During this follow-up episode, we unpack our takeaways from the interview and share our ideas on how to use Felice and the Wailing Woman in your classroom.
It’s a debrief, it’s a brain dump, it’s a…unit makeover!
While Diana wrote Felice and the Wailing Woman with middle-grade readers in mind, we are sharing how we can see this book also fitting into high school. We’ll walk through our usual unit makeover process of vision boarding, crafting essential questions, and thinking through assessments.
Resources:
- Join Camp BNT
- Join Happy Hour
- Felice and the Wailing Woman, by Diana López
- Episode 157, Modern Folktales and Monsters: An Interview with Diana López
- Episode 107, Teaching Short Stories: Unit Makeover
- Episode 26, To Teach the Story of America
- Sign up for our free masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz
- Join the Brave New Teaching Happy Hour!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
- Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
- Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass
- Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching
- Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode158
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We’re knee-deep in our summer series, Camp BNT, where we interview authors and highlight ways to use their texts in your classrooms. Today’s interview is with Diana López who writes books specifically for middle school grades (which is most definitely not our specialty!).
Diana is a former teacher like other authors we have connected with this summer. She shares in our mission of getting books into the hands of kids that are going to provide them with new experiences and perspectives.
During our conversation with Diana, we’re focusing on her newest book, Felice and the Wailing Woman, where the twelve-year-old daughter of La Llorona vows to free her mother and reverse the curses that have plagued the magical town of Tres Leches. It’s an incredible book, and we know that you’ll enjoy hearing Diana’s perspective of the story and how it came to be.
Check out the next episode for a debrief with our takeaways and how we envision using Felice and the Wailing Woman in the classroom. And don’t forget to sign up for Camp BNT, where you can join in on the conversations going on in our private Facebook group filled with like-minded teachers!
- Join Camp BNT
- Diana’s website
- Felice and the Wailing Woman
- Sing With Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla
- More books by Diana López
- Diana’s Instagram: @dianalopezbooks
- Details on Diana visiting your classroom!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode157
Join us around the campfire for Camp BNT at https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/camp
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It’s time for a debrief of our incredible conversation with author, Yamile Saied Méndez. Didn’t hear the interview yet? You can catch up inside episode 155! During Yamile’s interview, we focused on her young adult novel, Furia, a powerful coming-of-age story.
Today we’re sharing our thoughts on the interview, details of Furia, and ways that you can teach it in your classroom. Specifically, we’re zoning in on how you can makeover a unit for 9th or 12th graders that is centered around Furia.
If you want more support with unit planning, be sure to join us inside Curruclum Rehab, which teaches our entire planning process in depth!
Resources Mentioned:
- Join Camp BNT!
- Furia, by Yamile Saied Mendez
- Yamile’s website
- Shop all of Yamile’s books.
- Sign up for our free masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz
- Join the Brave New Teaching Happy Hour!
- Join Curriculum Rehab
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode156
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We are back with a new Camp BNT interview with the author of Furia, Yamile Saied Méndez.
Yamile discusses the importance of representation in literature and why she created a strong female protagonist who defies expectations in her book. We found it so inspiring to hear about Yamile's journey to becoming an author and how she draws from her personal history to create compelling stories that resonate with her young readers.
We hope that this interview makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Most of all, we hope you feel inspired to not only read some new books, but really think about how we can widen the experience that our students have in their curriculums, and include more voices in our conversations!
Join Camp BNT: https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/campbnt
Down with the Reading Quiz: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/masterclass
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode155
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Did you catch our two part interview series with New York Times Bestselling Author, Ruta Sepetys? If not, you can check out part one in episode 152 and part two in episode 153.
(Quick update: I, Amanda, have since met Ruta in real life on her book tour!)
Now that the interview is over, we are dedicating this episode to two main things - a full debrief and to strategize how you can practically integrate her texts into your curriculum.
We’ll share what our big takeaways were from our conversation with Ruta. Then, we’ll dig into how you can makeover one of your units specifically using her latest novel, I Must Betray You or Between Shades of Gray. However, these ideas can really be used with all of her historical fiction novels.
Sign up for Camp BNT (FREE!): https://bravenewteaching.podia.com/campbnt
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode154
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Have you ever wondered how authors research and organize their ideas before writing a book? In part two of our conversation with Ruta Sepetys, we’re getting a glimpse into her writing process and so much more.
If you missed part one, you can catch it here!
Ruta shares how she gets her inspiration, how much time she spends researching, and even admits that her rough drafts are exactly that…rough! You’ll also hear recommendations straight from Ruta on how her books can be used in your classroom.
There’s even more to this conversation that you can hear inside Brave New Teaching Happy Hour! Sign up here to gain immediate access.
Curriculum Rehab: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode153
Teach Graphic Novels with Confidence: Camp Creative
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We cannot even begin to contain the excitement we have to share this episode with you. We had the pleasure of interviewing author Ruta Sepetys about her journey as a writer and her latest novel, I Must Betray You.
The interview begins with Ruta reading an excerpt from I Must Betray You. This is the perfect clip to play for your students if you practice “First Chapter Friday”!
Then we delve into Ruta’s decision to write for young adults and her choice to focus on historical fiction. She believes that this genre has the power to bring fading pieces of history to life and connect readers to the human experiences of the past - and we couldn’t agree more.
We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did. If you do, please share with a teacher friend! Don’t forget to tune into episode 153 for part two of this conversation.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode152
Curriculum Rehab: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/
Teach Graphic Novels with Confidence: Camp Creative
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Cheers to everyone who has made it to the end, or almost the end, of this school year! We’re celebrating you and giddy with excitement for what’s to come this summer at Brave New Teaching.
In case you haven’t heard, we’ll be hosting Camp BNT, which is essentially a Nerdy English teacher book club. But here’s the best part - we’re actually interviewing the authors right here on the Brave New Teaching podcast! We can’t believe that we’ll have the chance to host these interviews and take you along for the ride.
In today’s episode, we’re sharing the lineup of authors for this series and the books that we’ll be focusing on. This series will highlight our mission of looking at culturally responsive and equitable teaching practices from both the pedagogical side and the curriculum side. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join Camp BNT for free and be a part of the conversations.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode151
Teach Graphic Novels with Confidence: Camp Creative
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We love sharing and celebrating diverse voices here at Brave New Teaching, and today is no exception. With May being AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) month, what better time to highlight some of our fan favorites written by AAPI authors.
The texts that we’re sharing today are loved by both us and our students. We literally can’t keep them on our classroom shelves! From memoirs to dystopia to YA romance, we’ve got a bit of everything. Get your library cards or credit cards ready, because you’re going to want them all!
We’re going to have extended episodes of this conversation, plus resources, inside BNT Happy Hour. You can join us inside Happy Hour for only $5 per month! Sign up here.
Get more information about Camp BNT!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode150
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Are you ready to nerd out with us today on argument and rhetoric? I hope so, because we are really digging in!
As teachers, poets are uniquely positioned for us in the context of history in a different way than authors are. With that, comes a lot of really great opportunities. So today, we really are discussing the potential for looking at poetry as an argument and looking at poetry through the lens of rhetorical analysis. We want to help you see poetry from a different angle, and consider where you can incorporate this into your units.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode95
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Do you prefer to teach poetry as a standalone unit or sprinkled in throughout the school year? We think both options are valid, and in this episode we’re considering the merits of each!
One thing is for sure. It’s important to be intentional about when and where poetry is taught in the curriculum. When you can take a step back and look at the bigger picture, you can create meaningful and impactful experiences for your students.
You’ll hear us discuss the different options for incorporating poetry into a curriculum, the challenges that come with teaching poetry, skills that are specific to poetry, and more. We hope it inspires you to enhance what you’re already doing with poetry, and feel empowered to make the decisions that are best for you and your students!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode147
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Brave New Teaching friends, it’s Amanda here, and I’m so incredibly excited to share today’s guest episode with you! It features Dr. Michael Theune, who was one of my professors during undergrad.
This conversation highlights two topics that are, in my experience, unequivocally the areas where students often feel lost, and that is poetry and creative writing. We’re here to dispel the myth that poetry has to be difficult and empower you to feel comfortable, confident, and excited to teach it.
One key element to focus on when teaching poetry is the poetic turn. Dr. Theune shares about what the poetic turn is, examples of how to teach different types of poetic turns, his process for writing a turn, and so much more. You’ll want to get out your paper and pen for this one!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode140
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We love to share our favorite resources and activities that we’ve used in our classrooms here with you on the podcast. We’ve done a series on “The Best Thing I Ever Taught” in the past, and we’re bringing it back today.
This time we’re getting into the best poems we’ve ever taught. Now, we have a lot of favorite poems, so let’s just say that we had a really difficult time choosing only one. But we reflected on how specific poems were received by our students and were able to narrow it down. Push play to hear us divulge the details about each of our choices!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode146
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We’re giving you a re-run of a two part series we did on poetry at the very beginning of the podcast!
Amanda and Marie dive into teaching poetry - the why, the how, and more! Listen for an in-depth breakdown of actionable strategies to build your poetry-teaching confidence!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/toteachpoetry
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We’ve been fully embracing spring over here at Brave New Teaching and today marks the third and final episode in our Teacher Spring Cleaning series. So far we’ve talked about spring cleaning our texts and topics and instructional strategies and practices.
Today, we’re spring cleaning our curriculum and activities that we’re doing with our students during this time of year. This is all about refreshing and revamping some of the old stuff you already have - not creating a bunch of new activities that will suck up your time! We want you to tune into low-energy, high-impact activities that can engage your students, practice skills, and have a little fun.
If you love the ideas inside this conversation, then come join us in Happy Hour! You’ll gain access to the extended episode where we’ll share activities you can use to end a unit. Click here to join Happy Hour!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode144
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Last week, inside episode 142, we talked about spring cleaning our instructional practices and strategies. This week, the spring cleaning continues! This time, we’re moving on to texts and topics. Specifically, we’re looking at what we’re planning to purge and what we’re going to give new life to.
If you are thinking of some texts and topics that you’d like to purge or refresh, leave us a voice message. We’d love to hear from you! Leave your message here.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode143
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With spring right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to revitalize your classroom, especially if everything is starting to feel a bit stale and overdone. It’s not quite time to throw in the towel yet, so let’s slap a fresh coat of paint on our strategies and bring things back to life!
Today’s episode marks the first in a three-part series on teacher spring cleaning. To kick things off, we’re talking about spring cleaning our instructional practices and strategies. In the episodes to come, we’ll look at spring cleaning our texts and topics, and then spring cleaning curriculum and activities.
These conversations are meant to breathe a little fresh air into your classrooms that will benefit both you and your students. If you try one of these strategies or have a favorite spring strategy, we’d love for you to share it with us. You can leave a voice message that we can feature on the podcast for other teachers around the world to hear. Don’t be shy! Click here to leave your message!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode142
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What type of reader have you been lately? Are you moving through books like crazy or barely getting through a chapter a week? Either way, we get it. Just because we’re ELA teachers, that doesn’t mean we always have the time or energy to read outside work hours.
Back in episode 131, we shared our list of books we couldn’t wait to read in 2023, and well, let’s just say we haven’t gotten to them all! That’s why this week we’re sharing our reviews on what we have read recently, and what’s on our current TBR list for the upcoming months. Plus, you’ll hear some life updates - like the fact that Amanda finally got a new library card!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode141
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Did you catch episode 139 with Dr. Jenna Copper? We talked all about independent reading and student choice at the high school level. Today we’re continuing our independent reading series with our friend, Abby Gross.
This one is for all of our middle school teacher friends! Abby was a high school teacher who recently moved to middle school. This transition is what gave her the chance to wake up to a whole new set of possibilities for what independent reading could look like in her classroom.
We have a feeling that this conversation with Abby will reinstate your love of independent reading and spark so many new ideas that you can take straight to your classroom. You’ll hear about the functionality of independent reading, ways to get your students curious and excited about different kinds of books, and we’re even addressing the big question of, how do you create accountability between you and your students with independent reading?
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode140
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When we decided to do a series on independent reading, the first name that came to mind was our friend, Dr. Jenna Copper. Jenna has just as much passion and excitement for independent reading and student choice as we do. Plus, she shares Marie’s love of YA fantasy books, which is just the icing on top!In this conversation, we talk about what independent reading has looked like in our classrooms. We also discuss a lot about the exciting ways to position units within your curriculum and how to approach student choice strategically. You’ll love hearing how Jenna uses backward design for her independent reading units and how this idea of ‘student choice’ has evolved for her over the years.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode139
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Does giving your students choice come easily to you? For some teachers it does, but for others it can be extremely difficult to release that control! Incorporating choice requires a major mindset shift as you learn how to navigate your students all doing something different.
In this listener favorite rerun, we’re showing you how you can allow students to have choice without letting go of having a central focus and common skill that the whole class is learning.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode63
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We're bringing you a re-run of one of our favorite episodes - an exciting COLLABISODE with listeners to the podcast! Valentine’s Day is a fun “holiday” to celebrate in the classroom and we thought we’d bring some new ideas your way by handing off the microphone to six amazingly creative teachers. These six teachers have ideas that will help you brainstorm your own take on a Valentine’s celebration ranging from week-long kindness activities, to poetry lessons, and more!
CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES
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Teaching Memoir and Biography Workshop
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We’ve got a lot of things to worry about as teachers, and now we get to add ‘plagiarized stuff that was written by a bot’ to the list!
That’s right - it’s time to chat about ChatGPT.
If you haven’t heard of ChatGPT, it’s an AI chatbot system that can be used to help you write all kinds of things. It’s building buzz quickly in the teaching world, and causing a lot of panic because students have used it for things like writing assignments and assessments.
Before we all completely freak out, let’s take a look at what this AI technology really means for the world of education and ask the burning questions that are running through our minds.
We’re even bringing on words of wisdom from Krista Barbour and Shana Ramin. They have some great insight about ChatGPT that will validate your feelings, but also give you some incredible ideas for how you can use this technology to your advantage.
So, take a listen, and a collective deep breath with us. It’s normal to feel scared about the rise of AI in classrooms, but it’s also not going anywhere anytime soon. Let’s familiarize ourselves with it and determine how we can make it work for us instead of against us!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode136
Join BNT Happy Hour: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/happyhour
Mentioned in this episode:
Educator Andrea Merch
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Welcome to part two of our series with Andrea Michelle. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, (episode 134) then push pause on this one, and check that out first! In this series, we’re doing a unit makeover on Night, by Elie Wiesel.
Andrea has taught this unit before, but she wants to make some tweaks to improve the experience for her and her students. So, that’s exactly what we’re doing in this series! From the activities, to the essential questions, to assessments, and more, we’re looking at how we can really step things up.
Inside part one of this series, we went through the unit makeover process with Andrea. If you aren’t familiar with this process, the idea is to take something that’s doing “fine” and give it a fresh new look to make it better.
In our conversation today, we’re going to unveil our thoughts, suggestions, and what we would do to change and improve this unit. Buckle up because there’s lots of ideas and brainstorming ahead! You’ll gain insight as to how you can implement this process and take on your own unit makeover with your own team or department.
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode135
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Educator Andrea Merch
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If you’re a long-time listener of Brave New Teaching, then you know how much we love a good unit makeover. If you’re new to the show, then today will be a great introduction!
We are joined by high school teacher, Andrea Michelle, who is sharing all about a unit that she has taught using the anchor text, Night. This episode will be part one of a two part conversation with Andrea.
In part one, Andrea tells us all about how she taught this unit, including what her goals were, the themes explored, and what types of assessments were used. You’ll get to hear what went really well throughout the unit, and what didn’t go so well.
Meet us back here next week where we will share our suggestions for how Andrea can give this unit a makeover before the next time it’s taught. We’ve got so many ideas for how she can make this complex unit even more engaging, memorable, and impactful for her students!
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode134
Join BNT Happy Hour: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/happyhour
Mentioned in this episode:
Educator Andrea Merch
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We’ve officially entered into 2023, and you’re probably either feeling like you are ready to take on the world or feeling like you need [at least] another two weeks of winter break.
Today’s episode is going to walk you through an exercise that will help you to feel prepared to take on the second half of the school year. We’re going to talk about how you can get things on your calendar now, and plan your future units accordingly, so that ‘future you’ will be way less stressed.
So, grab your planner, school calendar, and a fresh set of pens, because we’re doing some backwards planning!
Grab your FREE Backwards Planning Checklist: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/checklist
Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode133
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Mentioned in this episode:
Educator Andrea Merch
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It’s the last Brave New Teaching episode of 2022, and the time of year for reflection, goal-setting, and thinking about next steps. But first, books!
Today, we’re sharing our top picks of books we can’t wait to read in 2023 because if we’re being honest, that’s kind of a top priority for us. Books are a form of self-care, and that includes talking about them and finding different types of books to add to our TBR list. Does that make you as happy as it makes us?
You can check out all the books we mention inside this episode here:
Amanda’s list
Marie’s list
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Check out the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode132
Mentioned in this episode:
Brave New Teaching Happy Hour
Sign up for the brand new private podcast!
BNT Happy Hour
We are constantly gushing over our latest reads to each other behind the scenes, and realized that we should probably record these types of conversations for you!
As English teachers, books are a huge part of our lives, but not just in the classroom. We love books because they bring us joy, they entertain, they educate, and they can be a great way to connect with others. So, why not talk to you about the books that we read and enjoy?
Today you’ll hear our top books from 2022. Happy book browsing, brave new teachers!
Shop Marie’s list here.
Shop Amanda’s list here.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode131
Join Happy Hour: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/happyhour
Mentioned in this episode:
Brave New Teaching Happy Hour
Sign up for the brand new private podcast!
BNT Happy Hour
Today’s episode is truly a gift to the Brave New Teaching community. It’s Amanda here, and I’m joined by my dear friend and life coach, Blair Wilson.
I met Blair during 2020 when I was taking my first steps in seeking out therapy and mental help support during the overwhelming experience of pandemic teaching. I knew that I needed to have someone to talk to in order to process through my aspirations, my issues, my questions, and all of the things that were holding me up in my personal life and making teaching particularly difficult at the time, other than the circumstances. Enter Blair.
In this conversation, we are focusing on the topic of perfectionism in teachers, especially during the holiday season. There are so many expectations from us during this season both at home and at work. All of this chaos can really take a toll on our mental health, so she is going to help us navigate through the perfectionism, realign our expectations, and just be more present in our lives.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode130
Join Happy Hour: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/happyhour
Mentioned in this episode:
Brave New Teaching Happy Hour
Sign up for the brand new private podcast!
BNT Happy Hour
Enjoy a sneak peak of the content that will be coming to you on our brand new private podcast inside the Brave New Teaching Happy Hour!
You can sign up for Happy Hour here - https://www.curriculumrehab.com/happyhour
As a teacher, do you ever feel like you have to choose between fun and rigor? Early in our teaching careers, we definitely got sucked into the “edutainment” culture, where we felt like we needed to constantly be performing. We had to keep things fresh and fun.
We quickly learned that that led to two things - burnout and poor classroom management. Not to mention that centering all of your lessons around fun often meant sacrificing some crucial learning time. Depending on where you are in your career, you might have a mixed up, bizarre relationship with fun too.
So what’s the answer? Well, most importantly, “fun” does not have to go anywhere! We’ve discovered how you can have the best of both worlds by linking fun activities to what you’re learning about academically.
We have split our fun strategies into three categories - classroom transformations, makerspace opportunities, and games. This is your permission slip to continue having fun, and your reminder that it’s possible to plan fun activities in your classroom that are wrapped up in your curriculum. It’s possible to find a balance!
Be sure to tune in to our next BONUS episode, where we’ll answer your questions about including fun in the classroom.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode129
Join Brave New Teaching's Happy Hour: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/happyhour
Mentioned in this episode:
Brave New Teaching Happy Hour
Sign up for the brand new private podcast!
BNT Happy Hour
Enjoy a sneak peak of the content that will be coming to you on our brand new private podcast inside the Brave New Teaching Happy Hour!
You can sign up for Happy Hour here - https://www.curriculumrehab.com/happyhour
Links mentioned in this episode:
Episode 128
John Greene’s Crash Course - Roaring 20s, Langston Hughes
Ted Talk - Paul Piff; Does Money Make you Mean?
The Balance: What is the American Dream Today?
American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrera
The Greatest Showman
Langston Hughes’ I Too and Harlem
Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quinonez
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Do you remember the first time you read The Great Gatsby? As one of the most commonly taught American novels, it’s likely that by now, you’ve also taught a Great Gatsby unit to your class.
Because it is so widely taught, you may have gotten stuck in teaching it the same way over and over again. Well my friends, we’re here to shake that up!
Over the years, we’ve found ways to make The Great Gatsby accessible, applicable, and engaging for virtually all the kiddos in our classroom. We’re excited to share these ideas with you today as we discuss what the process of a unit makeover could be like for a unit that uses The Great Gatsby as a vehicle for learning.
You’ll hear alllllll the essentials of a brilliant unit makeover - vision boarding, essential questions, and assessment. Plus, we’ll be jumping into the supplements of this unit inside a bonus episode of Brave New Teaching that will give you a sneak peek into what our new Happy Hour is all about!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode128
Mentioned in this episode:
Happy Hour Announcement
Sign up for the Brave New Teaching Happy Hour!
BNT Happy Hour
As we celebrate American Thanksgiving this week, we know that we have so much to be grateful for here at Brave New Teaching! Mostly, we are thankful for you, our teaching community who continues to come back here week after week. We appreciate you so much.
To keep things fun and light, we’re going to do a special episode about some of our favorite fall things at work, at home, and more. These are things that are currently bringing us lots of joy and that we think you’ll love as well.
We’ve got quite the list of topics for you - from coffee, to gardening, to books, and even the dream of opening up a Mexican restaurant in Iceland…we’re pretty sure there’s something here for everyone!
We hope that this list inspires you to try some new things or even reflect on YOUR favorite things during this season. We all need those little things that make us happy! 🙌🏼
One additional thing that we know will make you happy is to join us in our new Brave New Teaching Happy Hour community! Check it out here.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode127
Mentioned in this episode:
Curriculum Rehab Black Friday
Black Friday Sale - Get $200 off Curriculum Rehab!
Curriculum Rehab Black Friday
What teacher doesn’t love a good hack? We’ve all got more than enough on our plates, so anytime we can simplify a task to save us time, while still being effective in our teaching, it’s a BIG win.
Today’s hack is brought to you by part four of our “The Best Thing I Ever Taught Series” - sub plans!
We’re sharing our 5-step approach to stress-free sub plans that you can use time and time again.
The best part of these plans are that they model good teaching. You’ll be able to take care of yourself while also leaving plans that are reasonable, yet have high expectations and will keep moving students’ learning forward. You’ll be able to return to class without missing a beat!
Have you registered for our FREE masterclass with live Q&A yet? You’ll hear our three key strategies for making formative assessments work for you in the way that you need them to. Sign up here.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode126
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Mentioned in this episode:
Down with the Reading Quiz
Check out the brand new FREE masterclass, Down with the Reading Quiz:
New Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass
If we asked you what you get most excited about in teaching, assessments might not be at the top of your list…but it is for us! By the end of this episode, it just might be for you too.
Assessments are the star of the show in part three of our “The Best Thing I Ever Taught” series. Today we’re sharing two specific examples of favorite assessments that we have used with our students. Before you listen in, just remember that you can take these ideas and tweak them to fit the exact needs of your students - and that may take some trial and error!
If you are in need of some formative quiz ideas, be sure to register for our free new and improved masterclass, Down With The Reading Quiz!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode125
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Mentioned in this episode:
Down with the Reading Quiz
Check out the brand new FREE masterclass, Down with the Reading Quiz:
New Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass
How do you feel about group work? Love it or dread it? Either way, stay tuned because today marks the second episode in our four part “The Best Thing I Ever Taught” series, where we’re covering group work.
You can probably tell by the title of this episode that we love group work now…but trust us, that hasn’t always been the case. In the past, we absolutely detested it. Group work was one of those things that led to over planning, too much management, and way too much grading.
Fast forward to today, and we’re happy to report that student collaboration is one of the main pillars of our teaching practice.
We’re going to give you specific examples of group work activities that have worked brilliantly in our classes. One of them even involves students creating a podcast episode! We hope that these ideas give you some new ideas as to how you can incorporate group work that is engaging for your students and builds classroom community (without adding more work on your end).
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode124
Download your FREE Gratitude Bell Ringers here: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/gratitude
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
How do you feel about group work? Love it or dread it? Either way, stay tuned because today marks the second episode in our four part “The Best Thing I Ever Taught” series, where we’re covering group work.
You can probably tell by the title of this episode that we love group work now…but trust us, that hasn’t always been the case. In the past, we absolutely detested it. Group work was one of those things that led to over planning, too much management, and way too much grading.
Fast forward to today, and we’re happy to report that student collaboration is one of the main pillars of our teaching practice.
We’re going to give you specific examples of group work activities that have worked brilliantly in our classes. One of them even involves students creating a podcast episode! We hope that these ideas give you some new ideas as to how you can incorporate group work that is engaging for your students and builds classroom community (without adding more work on your end).
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode124
Download your FREE Gratitude Bell Ringers here: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/gratitude
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
We’re kicking off a new 4-episode series called The Best Thing I Ever Taught. (If the name sounds like it’s inspired by The Best Thing I Ever Ate from the Food Network, it’s because it is!) Inside this series, we’ll be sharing all kinds of things that bring us joy and that we, and our students, have seen a huge return on. This week we’re focusing on gateway activities.
First, let’s define exactly what a gateway activity is. It has everything to do with what we do here at Brave New Teaching - essential questions and an inquiry-based curriculum design. More specifically, a gateway activity is the activity at the very beginning of a unit of study that gets your student buy-in. It introduces students to the topics being covered, and gets the chatter going about the essential question for the unit.
We are both sharing the details of the best gateway activities that we’ve each taught, one with a Gatsby unit and the other with a Shakespeare unit. This conversation will let you in on the process of planning these gateway activities, and hopefully you can see that there’s no set procedure for this. It takes brainstorming, and it gets a little messy, but that’s how the best ideas come to be!
If you have any questions after listening, we want to hear from you! Send us a message with questions or comments @bravenewteaching on Instagram. If you want more support with using gateway activities, we invite you to join us in Curriculum Rehab.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode123
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
We’re kicking off a new 4-episode series called The Best Thing I Ever Taught. (If the name sounds like it’s inspired by The Best Thing I Ever Ate from the Food Network, it’s because it is!) Inside this series, we’ll be sharing all kinds of things that bring us joy and that we, and our students, have seen a huge return on. This week we’re focusing on gateway activities.
First, let’s define exactly what a gateway activity is. It has everything to do with what we do here at Brave New Teaching - essential questions and an inquiry-based curriculum design. More specifically, a gateway activity is the activity at the very beginning of a unit of study that gets your student buy-in. It introduces students to the topics being covered, and gets the chatter going about the essential question for the unit.
We are both sharing the details of the best gateway activities that we’ve each taught, one with a Gatsby unit and the other with a Shakespeare unit. This conversation will let you in on the process of planning these gateway activities, and hopefully you can see that there’s no set procedure for this. It takes brainstorming, and it gets a little messy, but that’s how the best ideas come to be!
If you have any questions after listening, we want to hear from you! Send us a message with questions or comments @bravenewteaching on Instagram. If you want more support with using gateway activities, we invite you to join us in Curriculum Rehab.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode123
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Today's episode is a re-run of one of our favorites!
If you aren’t already on the dystopian band wagon, we’re fairly confident that you will be after this episode. We’ve taught dystopia for YEARS, and it hasn’t lost any steam along the way. Can you say that for other genres?
So, why is dystopia as a specific genre so gosh darn exciting? Why is it something we believe should be in every single ELA classroom? We couldn’t even begin to count the reasons, but to begin, it helps kids understand the society they are growing up in. More importantly, it allows them to begin to build their own options and questions around society. How cool is that?
Today we’re making three solid points on why dystopia is something you need to get behind. Tune in to hear us dive into each of these points:
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Dystopia is always relevant
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It’s popular and engaging…hello Hunger Games!
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It has limitless possibilities
Dystopia Workshop: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/dystopia
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode61
If you’ve been racking your brain for a way to approach a Shakespeare unit in a way that is engaging and impactful for your students, then you’ll want to stick around. This episode is a conversation between Amanda and one of her coaching clients, Kelsi. You’ll get to hear them give all the juicy details about an incredible unit that they designed together.
Kelsi initially came to Amanda for help because her English course was extremely standards-based and focused on teaching for mastery (aka, drill, drill, drill for state testing). She was struggling to create units that made sense, but were also purposeful and met her students’ needs and interests.
A Shakespeare unit was coming up and Kelsi desperately wanted to find a way to teach it in an innovative way. So, her and Amanda came together to create a unit that paired Macbeth with Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds.
Not to spoil anything, but…the results were magic.
In comparing the two texts, they came up with an engaging essential question that was perfect for Kelsi's group of Sophomores. Inside the episode, Kelsi shares the step-by-step specifics of how she structured this unit, which routines she implemented, and how she assessed her students’ learning.
Check out the show notes:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode121
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Friends, it’s time to wrap up our nonfiction series that has been focused on biography and memoir. What better way to do that than with a TBR list? We’re sharing our favorite books that fit into the genre of biography and memoir, as well as some that we’ve had on our list but haven’t had a chance to read yet.
Disclaimer: you are going to want to put all of these books in your Amazon card immediately. You’ve been warned, so don’t send us your bill! If you ask us, filling up your book shelves with these titles is well worth the money.
If you haven’t listened to the rest of this nonfiction series, be sure to check out episode 116, episode 117, episode 118, and episode 119. These episodes really reiterate why you should lean into the possibilities of what this genre has to offer.
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes to easily access all of the text recommendations on our list:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode120
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
For part four of our nonfiction series, we’re looking at using biography and memoir as mentor texts. You’ll hear how we define and use mentor texts in our own classroom. We’ll also give you some specific mentor texts that we recommend using, and our reasoning behind those texts.
Since we love a good collabisode, we’ve also crowdsourced some great ideas from our colleagues and friends. They will be sharing their favorite biography and memoirs to use as mentor texts, how it provides a powerful teaching moment, and what students can do with that mentor text.
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes to hear all of the mentor text recommendations mentioned in this episode:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode119
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
For part four of our nonfiction series, we’re looking at using biography and memoir as mentor texts. You’ll hear how we define and use mentor texts in our own classroom. We’ll also give you some specific mentor texts that we recommend using, and our reasoning behind those texts.
Since we love a good collabisode, we’ve also crowdsourced some great ideas from our colleagues and friends. They will be sharing their favorite biography and memoirs to use as mentor texts, how it provides a powerful teaching moment, and what students can do with that mentor text.
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes to hear all of the mentor text recommendations mentioned in this episode:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode119
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
We love a good unit makeover, and today you’ll hear part of one in action! We’re going to do a makeover on a unit that Marie has taught one time so far. It uses the text, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.
This unit is part of a brand new course. As many of you may have experienced, brand new course + brand new unit = flying by the seat of your pants! In other words, it’s a good time to talk through it and think about some changes that can be made the next time that it’s used.
The unit that we’re talking about in today’s episode looks at systems of power. You’ll hear us discuss the vision for this unit, go through some clarifying questions, and move into forming an essential question. Most importantly, you’ll gain an understanding that this process is pretty messy to work through!
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode118
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
We love a good unit makeover, and today you’ll hear part of one in action! We’re going to do a makeover on a unit that Marie has taught one time so far. It uses the text, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.
This unit is part of a brand new course. As many of you may have experienced, brand new course + brand new unit = flying by the seat of your pants! In other words, it’s a good time to talk through it and think about some changes that can be made the next time that it’s used.
The unit that we’re talking about in today’s episode looks at systems of power. You’ll hear us discuss the vision for this unit, go through some clarifying questions, and move into forming an essential question. Most importantly, you’ll gain an understanding that this process is pretty messy to work through!
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode118
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
We’re on this podcast for a lot of reasons, and one of them is to unpack one of the most powerful and often underutilized genres in the ELA curriculum world, and that is biography and memoir. In our last episode, we began making our passionate case for biography and memoir. If you missed it, you can check it out here.
We’re continuing that conversation today so that you can get even more excited to join our upcoming virtual workshop on teaching memoir and biography. Tickets start at just $7 and we would love to have you join us!
We really want this episode to serve as your initial brainstorming so that when you come to the workshop, you are feeling prepared and have ideas ready to go.
When we’re talking about how to effectively approach this genre, it all starts with essential questions. If it feels challenging to craft essential questions for biography and memoir, don’t worry, we have lots of ideas for how you can do this with intention. In fact, we have three specific approaches to creating a unit around biography and memoir that we'll share with you in this episode.
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode117
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
We’re on this podcast for a lot of reasons, and one of them is to unpack one of the most powerful and often underutilized genres in the ELA curriculum world, and that is biography and memoir. In our last episode, we began making our passionate case for biography and memoir. If you missed it, you can check it out here.
We’re continuing that conversation today so that you can get even more excited to join our upcoming virtual workshop on teaching memoir and biography. Tickets start at just $7 and we would love to have you join us!
We really want this episode to serve as your initial brainstorming so that when you come to the workshop, you are feeling prepared and have ideas ready to go.
When we’re talking about how to effectively approach this genre, it all starts with essential questions. If it feels challenging to craft essential questions for biography and memoir, don’t worry, we have lots of ideas for how you can do this with intention. In fact, we have three specific approaches to creating a unit around biography and memoir that we'll share with you in this episode.
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode117
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Hey Brave New Teachers! We’re excited to start a brand new series that we’re putting together for you, starting with this episode.
This series will lead into our newest virtual workshop (what we’ve called “festivals” in the past!) that will be held on October 3, 2022. It will be centered around nonfiction and teaching biography and memoir.
Are you wondering why we’ve chosen biography and memoir? To put it simply, using biography and memoir, whether it’s a whole unit or sprinkled into your other units, is the single best way to bring authentic voice into your classroom. Today we’re sharing four main points that will build our case for biography and memoir.
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode116
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Hey Brave New Teachers! We’re excited to start a brand new series that we’re putting together for you, starting with this episode.
This series will lead into our newest virtual workshop (what we’ve called “festivals” in the past!) that will be held on October 3, 2022. It will be centered around nonfiction and teaching biography and memoir.
Are you wondering why we’ve chosen biography and memoir? To put it simply, using biography and memoir, whether it’s a whole unit or sprinkled into your other units, is the single best way to bring authentic voice into your classroom. Today we’re sharing four main points that will build our case for biography and memoir.
Register for our virtual workshop on teaching biography and memoir: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/biographyandmemoir
Check out the show notes:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode116
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Sometimes the best ideas and inspiration come from hearing about other teachers’ experiences in the classroom. That’s why I’m excited to have Ana Perez on the Brave New Teaching podcast today.
Ana is a 10th year high school ELA teacher and a Jill of many other trades including poetry, Zumba, and techy resource creation. In the classroom she's a proponent of relationships over content, and outside the classroom, she enjoys creating resources to help other teachers foster meaningful relationships, too. She is passionate about sharing both knowledge and empathy, and believes strongly in the importance of mental health for both teachers and students.
In this conversation, you’ll hear Ana share how she paired Frankenstein with Punching the Air. She created an entire unit that covered a classic text, a film of that text, and a YA novel in-verse. She’s going to tell us all about how she dreamed this unit up, how she planned it all out, and how the unit actually went for her students. Buckle up, because it's incredible!
Watch our FREE masterclass, Down with the Reading Quiz
SHOW NOTES:
https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode115
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Today's episode marks the last in the series we are doing on classroom management. To close out the series, we're talking about a strong belief that we have here at Brave New Teaching, which is this...true compassion is accountability! We'll share what this actually means, and how you can take this belief and incorporate it into your classroom this year.
Reserve your seat for The First Ten Days: The Complete Back to School Toolkit
Watch our FREE masterclass, Down with the Reading Quiz
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode114
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
When you think about your role as a teacher, are you trying to control your classroom, or are you trying to build a community?
Our guest today, Dr. Deonna Smith is asking the tough, yet crucial, questions like this in part three of our series on classroom management! This is her zone of genius, and we couldn’t be happier to have her on the podcast to share her experience and insight.
Deonna is a former teacher, instructional coach and school leader. Before transitioning into leadership, Deonna taught intervention, elementary and middle school math and science. As a student and teacher, Deonna saw how systemic racism negatively impacted both adults and kids. This experience set Deonna on a journey to learn more about how teachers can liberate their students’ potential through anti racist practices. Deonna is dedicated to her own learning as well and recently completed her doctorate in education from Loyola Marymount University.
Connect with Dr. Deonna Smith:
- Follow her on Instagram @deonnasmith
- Head to her website
- Enroll in The Anti-Racist Institute
- Check out her Workshop Replays
Reserve your seat for The First Ten Days: The Complete Back to School Toolkit
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode113
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Here at Brave New Teaching, we feel strongly about several things, one of which is creating a classroom culture that exudes trust, acceptance, and community. We believe that these things are at the heart of successful, and holistic, classroom management. That’s why in this second episode of our four-part classroom management series, we are chatting with our friend, John Rodney about organic community in your classroom (and may be slightly fan-girling while doing it!).
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode112
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
As you prepare for another school year, how are you feeling about your classroom management? We don’t know about you, but we were raised in an age of clip charts, reward systems, and overall surface level management systems that were really creating inequitable experiences for students.
We now know that there are better practices to put in place that are equitable and responsive to all kids. Your goal is not a perfect classroom. Your goal is to create an environment where your students are going to be academically and socially successful; to create a safe space where students can have hard conversations, be vulnerable, and trust each other.
Thinking about classroom management in a new way can be overwhelming, especially when you’ve got so much else on your plate at the beginning of the year. As always, that’s why we are here to help support you and take some of that pressure off. This episode is the first of a four-episode series all about classroom management. You won’t only hear from us, but also other amazing educators who have gotten their classroom management really dialed in, in ways that are so organic and invigorating.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode111
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Is it just us, or do you start to get a bit dreamy when August rolls around? Whether we like it or not, a sense of excitement starts to build as back-to-school season approaches. Maybe you start dreaming of how you'll redesign your classroom, or you have a new system you're planning out that you firmly believe will solve all of your classroom management challenges.
If this sounds like you, we want you to keep bringing that enthusiasm! But first we want you to run through our practical checklist of things you need to have prepared before welcoming students into your classroom.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode110
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Do you ever feel like the position you are currently in as an educator just doesn’t quite fit? Maybe it’s because of the grade level you’re in, the specific school you work at, or the colleagues that you work with.
Whatever the reason, if where you are in your career as an educator doesn’t feel right, you don’t have to stay there. If your passion is teaching, and you know you want to stay in this career, there are lots of shifts that you can make while still staying in the classroom.
You’ll hear from Darin Nakakihara in today’s interview, who has experienced several shifts in his career until finding the one that was perfect for him. Darin shares his advice on the first steps to take if you want to be in the classroom, but you just don’t fit where you currently are.
Darin (Mr. N) is a high school teacher in Southern California. He loves connecting with students and building relationships and community, and his passion for education comes through in all he does. When he is not teaching you can catch him fishing, building amazing edtech tools, or spending time with his family.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode109
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
This episode is special for so many reasons. Want to know why? To begin, we are recording together in person!!! 🥳 We’re at the 2022 Teachers Pay Teachers conference in Chicago and it’s the first time we’ve been together since the very first time we met, (which was THREE years ago). It’s surreal to be here right next to each other after staring at each other through a computer screen for years.
As we sit down today, we’re reminiscing on where we started, and getting excited about what is to come for the rest of this year and beyond as we begin season five of this podcast.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode108
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Who doesn’t love a good makeover? Well friends, today we’re talking about giving our favorite kind of makeover - a unit makeover! Specifically, a short stories unit makeover.
The reason we’re creating this episode during the summer is because we have heard from many of you that your first unit is short stories. We’ve also heard from you that this unit has not yielded much success for various reasons.
So, if you are in the same boat and do a short stories unit to kick off the year, we want to go through this unit makeover with you. Then you’ll be able to make the changes you want to make in order for it to be as successful as possible for your students.
You’ll hear the steps that we take in the unit makeover process and we’ll also dive into a specific unit makeover that Marie has done. Our process will help you to easily revamp any unit by creating a vision, nailing down an essential question, gathering supplemental texts, and preparing unit assessments.
Be sure to sign up for our free unit makeover challenge so that you can give your units a glow-up too! This is a 10-day email series that will allow you to implement each step of our process on your own time! Sign up below or learn more here.
Do you have a teacher friend who would also benefit from a short stories unit makeover? Share this episode with them so you can go through this process together!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode107
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Summer is finally here, and we are here for it! Teacher summer break is truly something that nobody outside of the profession really understands. It’s a mix of emotions and if you’re anything like us, you may be battling with choosing how to spend this time.
Should you focus on rest? Should you use the summer months to plan and prepare for the upcoming year so you feel less overwhelmed when it’s time to go back to work? Is there a middle ground?
Well friends, we sent out the bat signal and called on other teachers to share their perspective and experiences with how they approach summer break. You’ll get to hear straight from fellow teachers in today’s episode as they answer questions like:
- What does summer break mean for you?
- What summer break rituals do you honor?
- What’s your approach to summer PD/growth/planning for next year?
- What are some summer break mistakes you’ve made and how did you fix them?
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode106
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Friends! We’re finishing up our series on collaboration today. We started this series off by talking about what collaboration is, what it can be, when it works, when it doesn't work, and what we call “lone wolf syndrome”.
Today, we're here to widen the perspective a bit and talk about collaborating with the community at large when it comes to individual students, a classroom setting, and the school as a whole. To spark some inspiration, we even have some fun projects that we have done in the past that we want to tell you all about!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode105
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Welcome to our third of four episodes in a series all about collaboration! In case you missed it, in part one episode 101, we talked about collaborating with your teacher team (instead of being a lone wolf!). In part two, episode 103, Erin Castillo joined Marie to share about SPED and classroom teacher collaboration.
Today, we are going to start talking about the star of the show…the kids! We're sharing about several different ideas, from student-to-student peer collaboration, to teacher-to-student collaboration.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode104
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
You are in for a treat today Brave New Teaching friends! I am interviewing my internet friend, Erin Castillo, who you may know better by her Instagram handle @affirmationsandaccessibility. We have an important discussion centered around providing accommodations for students and working collaboratively with your co-teacher.
Erin Castillo teaches English to students with mild to moderate disabilities at a high school in Northern California. She also teaches a peer counseling class and incorporates social and emotional learning and wellness into all of her classes.
Use code MUDANDINK to sign up for the AP Summer Workshops w/ Garden of English: https://www.thegardenofenglish.com/summerworkshops-day
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode103
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
This week's episode is a re-run of one of our favorites!
This episode outlines the work we plan to do over the summer of 2020 to grow professionally. Books, podcasts, and online conferences to further Anti-Bias & Anti-Racist work in the classroom and beyond, as well as those with instructional strategies to engage and deliver content effectively... Enjoy! LINKS TO ALL RESOURCES MENTIONED IN SHOW NOTES
How would you describe the teacher team that you’re a part of in your school? Collaborative and aligned? Divided and negative? The climate of your teacher team truly can make or break your experience as a teacher. If your team is the complete opposite of collaborative, and the dynamic is causing a toxic work environment, then it’s time to work towards fixing it. We are starting this important conversation (which sometimes can be an awkward one!) in today’s episode.
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode101
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
The day has come, friends. We’ve made it to our 100th episode! Whether you’ve been listening since episode one, or if this is your first episode…thank you for being here. We are celebrating this huge milestone by reminiscing on some of our very favorite moments of Brave New Teaching, PLUS we’re featuring audio messages from our listeners!
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode100
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Things like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and podcasting have expanded the teacher universe in a way that was never possible before. The technology has allowed the teaching community to explode their reach and make their voices heard. We both feel like we are better teachers because we found community in social media. Today we’re sharing our perspective on two social media platforms specifically - Instagram and TikTok!
Check out 20 teachers that we love to follow on Instagram in the show notes at: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode99
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
The countdown to our 100th episode continues! Today we’re going in a bit of a different direction and are talking about teachers becoming business owners. So often, teachers are taught by outside companies who have absolutely zero experience with teaching. That’s why it’s so incredible that we are in the midst of a movement of teachers taking back the reins of being the experts in teaching. To celebrate this movement, we’re sharing our stories of getting started in business, plus a list of 20 teacher businesses that we admire.
Check out our list of our top 20 teacherpreneurs in the show notes at: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode98
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
As teachers, we all know what happens when it starts getting warm outside. You’ve reached that point in the year where classroom management starts to get a little dicey. Yes, this always happens before a big break, but nothing compares to the end of the school year when it comes to behavior management challenges. This leads us to the topic at hand for today. It’s our number one, greatest-of-all-time classroom management key! We’ve been around the block a few times and what we discuss today is going to be a game changer for you for years to come.
Check out our list of our top 20 instructional strategies in the show notes at: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode97
Join Curriculum Rehab: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
One of the most frequently asked questions that we get from you is some version of, “what books do you suggest using?”. Well, you asked and we listened! Today, we have our top recommendations of books that have been the most popular in our classrooms. Most importantly, we want to talk to you about the three things that we keep in mind when curating a list of book choices for a choice reading unit.
Check out our top 20 book list and the show notes at: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode96
Sign up for our FREE masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz:
https://www.curriculumrehab.com/assessment-masterclass
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
Are you ready to nerd out with us today on argument and rhetoric? I hope so, because we are really digging in! We’re discussing the potential for viewing poetry as an argument, and looking at poetry through the lens of rhetorical analysis. We want to help you see poetry from a different angle, and consider where you can incorporate this into your units.
Sign up for our FREE masterclass, Down With the Reading Quiz:
https://www.curriculumrehab.com/assessment-masterclass
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode95
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
We love hearing from you about which topics would be helpful for us to cover on the podcast! A recent popular request is the topic of classroom management. So today, Marie is sharing her 3 C’s of behavior management - clear expectations, constant reminders, and consistency.
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode94
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
It’s me, Marie, and I’m solo-hosting today’s episode! Today I’m telling you a story that I think you’ll appreciate as teachers. It’s a story of how I made a little oopsie and broke my students’ brains, and it’s one that comes with lessons that we can all benefit from!
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode93
Follow us on Instagram: @bravenewteaching
It's time for unpopular opinions part two! We love producing a mix of niche content as well as teacher life, and we’re excited to share the latter today! If you haven’t listened to part one, head to episode 82 to catch up. In part two, we’re sharing four unpopular opinions that our teacher listeners have, and our reaction to them!
Sign up for our FREE Down with the Reading Quiz Masterclass: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/assessment-masterclass
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode92
This week's episode is a re-run of one of our favorites. It is a walk-through of the absolute best formative assessment you'll ever give your students. It asks students to synthesize their understanding of content, explain that understanding through concise writing, and can be adapted to ANY CONTENT AREA. That's right. Any subject. Enjoy! Grab your ticket to The Shakespeare Teacher Festival.
CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES
What’s March without March Madness, right? Well my friends, it’s time for not just March Madness, but Poetry March Madness! This is Amanda coming at you solo this week, and I am going to walk you through exactly how to get started with Poetry March Madness. You’ll hear which supplies you're going to need and how you can fit this into your classroom and unique schedule.
Grab my brand new resource, Teaching Poetry with the Big Six: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teaching-Poetry-with-The-Big-Six-for-secondary-ELA-7800445
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode90
If you read the title of this episode, you may or may not know what this episode is about or if you want to listen! We say this because most people have different definitions of what text pairings and supplemental texts are. We go into detail of how we differentiate these two types of texts and when we use them in our lessons.
As most of you already know, the texts we choose are not the main focus of our units, but are used as tools to teach our concepts and literacy skills. In this episode, we will be talking through finding a text pairing and supplemental texts for a unit.
Grab your ticket to the second annual Shakespeare Teacher Festival: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/shakespeare
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode89
A lot of the feedback we get about Shakespeare-related content is that you feel like it’s just too much. It feels hard, and you don’t want to do it. We totally get that, and we’ve been there. But that’s why we get so excited about the things we talk about because we really have found ways to make it a part of the day that you and your students will look forward to.
The practice of analysis can get painfully routine. Students read something and then analyze it. But there’s a better way. There’s a way to add a layer to the analysis by visually looking at multiple interpretations of a text.
One of our favorite ways to do this is through film. We’ll share how we’ve used film as a tool, rather than a reward, to solve a problem that many of us face.
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode88
Are you ready to nerd out with us? Today’s episode will be focused on one of our favorite topics, Shakespeare. We’ve done multiple episodes on Shakespeare, so it’s safe to say that we’re obsessed! This episode will be different than the others though, because it will give space for Shakespeare to be in conversation in any literature class. We don’t want to beg you to incorporate Shakespeare into your general education or AP class, but we also think that there is typically flexibility in curriculum maps that would be a perfect fit.
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode87
Today is part two of our episodes focused on what to do when our kids don’t read at home. If you missed last week’s episode, you’re going to want to head over to episode 85 and listen to that one first. Giving students choices is the first step towards giving them a sense of pride and ownership over their reading. But what happens when students still aren’t reading at home, even when they do have choice? Push play to hear our thoughts and solutions!
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode86
If your students aren't reading their novels at home, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath. The second thing is to remember that in a unit of study, there are so many things for kids to learn beyond the plot of the novel. That may sound completely crazy to you, but stick with us here. In today's episode we are going to talk about how simple shifts you make can make a big impact on student follow through.
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/kids-dont-read-at-home
This episode will be a continuation of last week’s episode where we had Jolene Heinemann join us as a guest to talk about choice reading. Choice reading is so important because it truly helps compartmentalize the choices you have when designing units and creating reading programs. This episode will give you a clearer vision on what reading units are supposed to do on their own and what independent reading does on its own. If you take anything from this episode, we want you to consider how choice reading creates a culture of readers and established values.
Purchase Choice & Voice: How to Champion Lifelong Literacy Through Collaborative Reader Workshop by Stephanie Fleck and Jolene Heinemann: https://amzn.to/3GCTKHv
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/reading-workshop
Observing fellow teachers is so beneficial and such a great way to collect new and inspiring ideas to take back to your classroom. Amanda was able to do this recently when she went into the classroom of teacher and author, Jolene Heinemann, to participate in a reader's workshop that Jolene was putting on. Following the workshop, Amanda and Jolene sat down for a debrief in this interview. In addition to learning all about the details of a collaborative reading workshop, you'll also hear about choice reading and why it's so important.
Purchase Choice & Voice: How to Champion Lifelong Literacy Through Collaborative Reader Workshop by Stephanie Fleck and Jolene Heinemann: https://amzn.to/3GCTKHv
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/collaborative-reading-workshop
Have you seen those “unpopular opinion” posts all over social media lately? There are so many different topics people have been sharing so we decided to get your feedback on your unpopular opinions about education. After minutes of asking our listeners to share their unpopular opinions, Marie was FLOODED with responses. There were so many good ones that we decided to share them all with you in not one, but two episodes!
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/unpopular-opinions
We’re kicking off season four with one of the topics that we get the most requests for, and that is all things related to essential questions. You want to know how to best write them and use them, so we are sharing a special Dystopian-themed essential question workshop. This workshop is unique because it features a conversation with one of our listeners, Taylor. You'll hear Amanda and Taylor walk through the unfiltered process of crafting an engaging and effective essential question for her Hunger Games unit.
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/essential-question-workshop
Today's episode is a re-run of one of our favorites. Grab your pen and paper because you may want to take notes on the magic that happens in this episode. We’re doing a LIVE essential question workshop, which we haven’t done since last year (by the way, doesn’t last year feel like a decade ago?).
The point of this workshop is for Marie to plan and prepare essential questions for an upcoming 12th grade literature course. The end goal is to help students begin to find ways to recognize all the various parts of themselves through characters in texts.
Lucky for all of us, Amanda is absolutely incredible at writing and thinking through essential questions. Together we’ll talk through the themes we want to cover and the outcomes we want students to have as we craft an engaging and thought-provoking question.
The essential questions writing process is SO much more enjoyable when you can go through it with someone else. It truly is a process and you have to say the bad ideas out loud before you can get to the good ones! As you begin to create your own EQs this year, just keep in mind that students thrive on predictability and routine. In other words, keep it simple!
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode59
Today's episode is a re-run of one of our very favorite episodes where we share all about the Bard! We took listener questions about Shakespeare - planning, teaching, assessing, and more - and answered them in the nerdiest teacher way we could! PLUS a big announcement - registration is now open for the 2021 Shakespeare Teacher Festival (April 5-10, 2021). This free festival includes our best teaching tips & strategies for including Shakespeare in your classroom, and you won't want to miss it! Go to www.bravenewteaching.com/shakespeare to register! CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES
2021 is coming to a close and it's the perfect time to share our top 9 from this year. We're listing our 3 favorite things that we have in common as well as each of our favorite book, resource, and recipe! This Top 9 activity is so fun to do with your students as well and can be used in several different ways. Don't worry, we'll give you ideas on how you can use it in your classroom too!
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/home/our-top-9-of-2021
Join Curriculum Rehab: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/course
Nothing compares to the dreaded Sunday scaries after a long break. Fear not, friends. Let’s talk through how you can make decisions in December that will make your life easier that first day back in January. We guarantee that anxiety will decrease if your copies are made and lesson plans are drafted before break starts. We’re going to help you prepare now so that you aren’t scrambling the day before school is back in session.
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/home/plan-with-us
Join Curriculum Rehab: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/course
End-of-semester grading, gift giving, party planning, parent phone calls, and IEP updates are just some of the many many tasks on your shoulders during this time of year. Are you feeling the weight of getting everything done before you walk out of your classroom door for winter break? We have solutions for you as we help you backwards plan your way to freedom. SHOW NOTES:
bravenewteaching.com/home/backwards-planning
Join Curriculum Rehab: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/course
Happy Thanksgiving, friends! We are so very thankful for YOU and all that you do to support this podcast. We wanted to do something fun for today's episode, and if you know us then it probably comes as no surprise that fun sometimes comes in the form of formative assessments! Specifically, a Sesame Street Quiz. That's right, we've got a Thanksgiving themed Sesame Street Quiz on today's show. We hope you enjoy it. If you have questions about how to create engaging assessments that assess more than just student recall, head over to our FREE "Down With the Reading Quiz" Masterclass: curriculumrehab.com/masterclass
SHOW NOTES:
bravenewteaching.com/home/thankful-for-sesame-street-quizzes
In episode 3 of our discussion series, we’re sharing part of a real pre-recorded classroom discussion. This took place in 2020 during virtual teaching and the topic of this conversation was crossing cultural and moral lines when it comes to Halloween costumes. You will hear how students interact with each other during the conversation and our feedback on what went really well and what could be improved for future discussions! Head to the show notes for your FREE workbook: bravenewteaching.com/home/discussion-part-3
Planning classroom discussions is not a one size fits all. Every class looks different, and you likely have some students who always dominate the conversation while other students have extreme anxiety around speaking. So how do you scaffold their work and support them emotionally and academically? Where do you even begin?! We're sharing several ways that you can troubleshoot challenges that arise during classroom discussions and how you can finally get all of your students to contribute value to the conversation. Head to the show notes for your FREE workbook: bravenewteaching.com/home/discussion-part-2
Grab a notebook, because we’ve got a mini PD session coming at you for the next three episodes all about classroom discussions and ways to teach important speaking and listening skills. In part one, our focus is on possible goals and strategies for student-generated classroom discussions. As with many things, if you want to get the most out of it, you need to do it often!
You can tune in next week to hear how to troubleshoot challenges that come up in discussions.
Head to the show notes for your FREE workbook: bravenewteaching.com/home/discussion-part-1
This season is “supposed” to be incredible and filled with Hallmark movie moments. But, when you add in COVID, flu season, work overwhelm, and pressure from family, it often ends up being super stressful instead. This year, we invite you to prioritize the things that are meaningful to you so that you can spark joy rather than dread over the holidays. Consider this our “Marie Kondo Your Holiday Calendar” episode!
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/home/teacher-work-life-balance
There's so much to celebrate during the season of Fall. Pumpkins, apple picking, sweaters, lattes, and YOU. Today's episode is a reminder to take a breath, reflect on how things are going for you, and to indulge in the season by doing things that make you truly happy. We'll share our definition of self-care and why we like to focus on the small moments of joy throughout our day. Let us know how you're celebrating the season by sending us a message on Instagram @bravenewteaching!
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/home/teacher-self-care-for-fall
Your classroom is a magical space. It's a place where you and your students spend a good deal of time, and you can design it in a way that fosters a sense of community, inclusivity, comfort, and inspiration. This episode is from The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast, and will share several ideas on how you can get creative in creating a classroom space that's right for you! SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/classroom-design-with-betsy-potash
Today's episode is a re-run of one of our very favorite episodes where we share the voices and ideas of some of our favorite teachers out there. We recruited six phenomenal English teachers to share their favorite ways of taking inspiration from the season to create engaging, challenging, and fun lessons for their students. We hope you are inspired by their ideas and can implement them in your classroom this season (or any time of the year, really!).
CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES
If you haven't checked out our previous episode [episode 66] go check that out! This is part two of our banned books discussion. We're looking at what to do when the professional decisions you've made in regards to text selection are challenged by parents and/or administration. How do you respond without getting defensive? How can you be well prepared for questions you're bound to get throughout the year? We're covering it all!
REGISTER FOR THE FREE BNT FALL FESTIVAL ON TEACHING DYSTOPIA: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/dystopia
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/banned-books-part-2
In celebration of banned book week, we are addressing what our role is as a teacher when it comes to challenged books. In the first part of this two-episode series, we discuss the decisions we have to make when selecting texts, what to consider if a text or author is challenged, getting our students involved in the conversation, and more!
REGISTER FOR THE FREE BNT FALL FESTIVAL ON TEACHING DYSTOPIA: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/dystopia
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/banned-books-part-1
It’s no secret that we are so passionate about inquiry. Inquiry is more than just questioning. It’s a whole view of how to approach teaching. Today we’re doing a deep dive into what inquiry is and what it isn’t, and why we use inquiry to drive curriculum. Better yet, we’re sharing how inquiry can decentralize the text and the teacher, and in turn allow students to take control of their own learning.
REGISTER FOR THE FREE BNT FALL FESTIVAL ON TEACHING DYSTOPIA: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/dystopia
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode65
As the great Ms. Frizzle says, take chances, make mistakes, GET MESSY! The same rings true when using a makerspace in your classroom. You name it, it’s possible in a makerspace. In this episode, Amanda is sharing how to get started with building a makerspace, simple materials you can use, and specific examples of activities to try out. She also walks through one of her favorite projects she implemented with her students and what both her and her students gained from it.
REGISTER FOR THE FREE BNT FALL FESTIVAL ON TEACHING DYSTOPIA: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/dystopia
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode64
Does giving your students choice come easily to you? For some teachers it does, but for others it can be extremely difficult to release that control! Incorporating choice requires a major mindset shift as you learn how to navigate your students all doing something different. In this episode, we're showing you how you can allow students to have choice without letting go of having a central focus and common skill that everyone is learning.
REGISTER FOR THE FREE BNT FALL FESTIVAL ON TEACHING DYSTOPIA: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/dystopia
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode63
Using picture books is one of our favorite strategies for opening up a unit or individual lesson. Without fail, it always sparks interest and gets students excited to learn about the topic at hand! Tune in to hear us walk through a lesson plan using one of our favorite picture books to introduce a unit in Dystopia.
REGISTER FOR THE FREE BNT FALL FESTIVAL ON TEACHING DYSTOPIA: https://www.curriculumrehab.com/dystopia
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode62
If you aren’t already on the dystopian band wagon, we’re fairly confident that you will be after this episode. We’ve taught dystopia for YEARS, and it hasn’t lost any steam along the way. Can you say that for other genres?
So, why is dystopia as a specific genre so gosh darn exciting? Why is it something we believe should be in every single ELA classroom? We couldn’t even begin to count the reasons, but to begin, it helps kids understand the society they are growing up in. More importantly, it allows them to begin to build their own options and questions around society. How cool is that?
Today we’re making three solid points on why dystopia is something you need to get behind. Tune in to hear us dive into each of these points:
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Dystopia is always relevant 2. It’s popular and engaging…hello Hunger Games!
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It has limitless possibilities
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode61
Kids have a magical way of looking at the world. Sadly, overtime this magic begins to dim. But what if it didn’t have to? What if you could play a part in holding on to that joy of discovery? Our guests today are going to help you do just that. We are joined by Ashley Bible, Jenna Cooper, Abby Gross, and Staci Lamb. They are the powerhouse team from Keeping the Wonder.
Ashley, Jenna, Abby, and Staci connected in 2018 through a mutual love of teaching, engaging, creating, and learning. They have since hosted four live workshops, launched a library of virtual Keeping the Wonder sessions, and wrote a collaborative book that both informs and inspires. We’re so excited for you to hear this interview as they make a case for wonder, specifically in secondary classrooms.
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode60
Grab your pen and paper because you may want to take notes on the magic that happens in today’s episode. We’re doing a LIVE essential question workshop, which we haven’t done since last year (by the way, doesn’t last year feel like a decade ago?).
The point of this workshop is for Marie to plan and prepare essential questions for an upcoming 12th grade literature course. The end goal is to help students begin to find ways to recognize all the various parts of themselves through characters in texts.
Lucky for all of us, Amanda is absolutely incredible at writing and thinking through essential questions. Together we’ll talk through the themes we want to cover and the outcomes we want students to have as we craft an engaging and thought-provoking question.
The essential questions writing process is SO much more enjoyable when you can go through it with someone else. It truly is a process and you have to say the bad ideas out loud before you can get to the good ones! As you begin to create your own EQs this year, just keep in mind that students thrive on predictability and routine. In other words, keep it simple!
Join Curriculum Rehab: curriculumrehab.com/course
SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode59
Imagine stepping into your classroom at the beginning of the new school year. What do you feel? Excitement? Overwhelm? Maybe all the Pinterest images you’ve been staring at all summer start to run through your head. Whether you’re stepping back into your old room, a new room, or your FIRST EVER classroom, it’s your space and it’s important to feel good in it.
Before you go and make a zillion trips to the Target Dollar Spot, slow down and really think about what truly matters when it comes to your classroom. Do you really need those paper lanterns or more book boxes? If the answer is yes, then go for it! With so many distractions, the key is to be intentional and create a space that is functional. As we like to say, have your room do the work for you. If you have absolutely no idea what that means, don’t you worry. We’ll tell you all about it in this episode.
Just remember that decorating your classroom should be fun. But there’s also a lot of pressure. How you do, or don’t, decide to decorate your room does not make you a good or bad teacher.
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SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode58
Look, we’re not going to sugarcoat it. Your first few years of teaching are TOUGH. It’s the beginning of a new career and it takes some time to find your footing. Don’t even get us started on the constant meetings that you can’t even pay attention to because you’re SO overwhelmed. There’s a reason why more teachers leave this profession in their first three years than any other point in their career. Those first three years are a make or break time. We want to help you prepare for it!
Hopefully you’re feeling excited about the upcoming year, but it’s also okay to be nervous! Or, if you’re anything like we were, you may be waltzing into your first year with the highest confidence thinking you know it all! Regardless of how you’re feeling about this new adventure, you need support as a beginning teacher. You need a mentor. But not just any mentor! You need someone who will help you focus on the practical things rather than all the fluff.
PS - This conversation is just as relevant for veteran teachers. We are all responsible for taking care of new teachers. They are coming in with a fresh perspective, and we can all learn from each other!
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Well hey there podcast besties! It’s been a hot minute, but we are back in action for season three and could not be more excited! Lately we’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be brave. As teachers, there will likely come a time when you have to make big career decisions that aren’t easy to make. It takes a ton of bravery to envision yourself doing something other than being in the classroom.
Over the past year, we have learned a lot and things have really been put into perspective. Today we’re sharing all about the fun (and maybe even a little scary) changes going on in our lives. Amanda has some especially BIG and exciting news! So push play and get brave with us!
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SHOW NOTES: bravenewteaching.com/episode56
In this week's episode, we take a look back at the first year of Brave New Teaching & reflect a bit as we move forward to the end of this school year. We've learned, grown, and changed in surprising ways... Enjoy!
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This week's episode is a walk-through of the absolute best formative assessment you'll ever give your students. It asks students to synthesize their understanding of content, explain that understanding through concise writing, and can be adapted to ANY CONTENT AREA. That's right. Any subject. Enjoy!
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This week's episode takes more of our listener questions - this time about grading, the most enticing of all education topics - and answers them with philosophies, routines, and practices we employ in our own classrooms. Any grading conversation is just the tip of the iceberg, so let's dig in! Enjoy!
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This week's episode answers some listener questions about curriculum planning, specifically backwards planning. Here are some of our best tips, strategies, and habits to make backwards planning successful for you and your classroom! Enjoy!
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This week we have another unit recap, this time from Marie, talking through her unit where she teaches two Shakespeare plays... and not just any two plays - Hamlet & Macbeth! In one unit. Over the course of a month. Enjoy!
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We are back at it with another episode about Shakespeare, and this time we talk through some of the most commonly taught plays and the essential questions we explore when we teach them in our own classrooms! If you haven't registered for the FREE Shakespeare Teacher Festival, click here to do so!
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This week's episode is a re-run of one of our most-listened-to episodes - #16 "To Find Supplemental Texts." We've had so many conversations with colleagues and fellow teachers lately about how so much of our curriculum is getting lost in the shuffle of pandemic teaching, so we wanted to provide a good resource for materials! Enjoy!
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This week marks nearly one year to the day that lockdown from the COVID-19 virus began. On this episode, we hear from educators from all over about what they wish their communities, school boards, families, students, administrators, and politicians knew. If we have learned anything over the past year, it is that listening to, recognizing, and holding space for others is one of the most important things we can do as educators and as humans. Enjoy.
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This week Amanda had the pleasure of interviewing Betsy Potash from Spark Creativity. Their conversation centers on hexagonal thinking, and you'll want a pen and notepad handy for this one - so many good ideas!! Enjoy!
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This week's episode is all about the Bard! We took listener questions about Shakespeare - planning, teaching, assessing, and more - and answered them in the nerdiest teacher way we could! PLUS a big announcement - registration is now open for the 2021 Shakespeare Teacher Festival (April 5-10, 2021). This free festival includes our best teaching tips & strategies for including Shakespeare in your classroom, and you won't want to miss it! Go to www.bravenewteaching.com/shakespeare to register!
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This week on the podcast, Marie is sharing her 3 best secrets for creating a unique culture and community among each class of students we have - EVEN THROUGH VIRTUAL LEARNING! Enjoy!
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This week's episode tackles the two big grading myths we teachers believe, and it gives you some great tips and strategies along the way for saving your time and energy. Grab a notebook and a pen, because you'll want to take some notes! Enjoy!
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This episode had a sound glitch when we first uploaded - you might need to delete it, then download again for the correct audio ;)
Today, we bring you yet another exciting COLLABISODE with listeners to the podcast! Valentine’s Day is a fun “holiday” to celebrate in the classroom and we thought we’d bring some new ideas your way by handing off the microphone to six amazingly creative teachers. These six teachers have ideas that will help you brainstorm your own take on a Valentine’s celebration ranging from week-long kindness activities, to poetry lessons, and more!
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It's time for another episode in our series celebrating diverse voices - in celebration of Black History Month starting February 1, we have some author suggestions and teaching ideas for bringing your students more opportunity to hear a diverse collection of voices (even when you have prescribed curriculum!). Make sure to head to the show notes for links to all the resources we mention in the episode, including the FREE DOWNLOAD to use with your students! Enjoy!
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You asked and we delivered! These are a few of our favorite things - from tried and true weeknight dinners to our favorite novels to teach to seniors... This is an eclectic bunch of tips and favorites to be sure! Enjoy!
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This week we are all about pacing - not so much pacing a curricular calendar or even a unit, though... Let's talk about how to pace a single class period, from bell to bell. Now, we can say goodbye to those end-of-class "Oh no! We didn't finish!" moments! Enjoy!
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Welcome to Season 2!!! We are so excited to continue this podcast with our AMAZING listeners and community!
This week's episode is a timely one as we look ahead to the year that is just beginning, but not quite the cliche New Year's Resolution episode we've come to expect out of January - let's talk about being realistic in our classrooms, with our students, and in our lives outside of school... Enjoy!
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Today's episode is our first season closer, an open letter to this amazing Brave New Teaching community - WE SEE YOU.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! This episode is a re-run of one of our most popular episodes to date where we workshop essential questions for Marie's current school year. It is a raw and unfiltered work session where we throw things against the wall to see what sticks, and is a great window into our own creative process. Enjoy!
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In this minisode, we express how truly grateful we are for you, the Brave New Teaching Community! We also wanted to let you know about an opportunity that is coming up in just a couple days - the doors to Curriculum Rehab will open again for a limited time! Also, make sure you don't miss the HUGE Black Friday Sale we are having... Click the link below for more information!
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This episode is like a conversation with an old friend - warm, inviting, and thought-provoking in all the right ways. Symantha Outwater is in her 8th year teaching, and we discuss all sorts of topics from her early years in the classroom, to teaching at-risk populations, to her philosophy that teachers are there for "creating better humans." Enjoy!
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In this BONUS minisode, we share with you some of the ideas we have been discussing and using with our students to give them breaks from their screens while doing classwork. This is one of those moments where simplifying and giving students choice is really the best way to go!
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Buckle down - this episode is a long one and it is FULL of all the things we love to bring to your ears! Philosophy? Check! Practical strategies? Check! Real-life classroom examples? CHECK! Join us as we talk to educators Jeffrey Wilhelm and Christopher Butts about their extensive research and experience in the field of inquiry-driven curriculum, and their new book, Planning Powerful Instruction. Enjoy!
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This episode is the second in our series celebrating diverse voices and authors - in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Month, we bring you a long list of Indigenous writers to bring into your classroom. We discuss how we have incorporated the writers and texts we have in our own classrooms, ideas for pairing these texts with existing curriculum, and more. Enjoy!
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In this episode, we express our gratitude for YOU, our wonderful listeners!! We put our minds together and came up with 15 prompts & activities to use with students in order to foster gratitude - use them as they are, alter them to make them work for you, whatever! We use these prompts as bellringers during the first 3 weeks in November, but any classroom could use a little dose of gratitude at any point in the year!! Enjoy!
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We have another interview with an amazing educator - Kyle Etheridge, who began his teaching career with none other than out own Amanda as his teacher mentor. In today’s interview, Kyle recounts his journey through troubleshooting inquiry-driven curriculum design and teaching as well as an on the spot design of an essential question. Kyle and Amanda are totally honest about their struggles and successes in the classroom and offer some insight that can make your journey that much more inspired.
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In this episode we interview teaching powerhouse Iris Crankfield who is currently in her 23rd year of teaching high school English. This is one of those conversations that makes you feel like you've known the person forever, because everything she says is so poignant, insightful, and caring as she shares her experiences and lessons learned as a classroom teacher who holds her students to high expectations with warmth and empathy - we are sure you'll be nodding your head along as you listen. Enjoy!
GET YOUR GRATITUDE BELLRINGERS HERE
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In this week's episode we share our top 4 strategies for simplifying and streamlining classroom management. These are the strategies that have COMPLETELY CHANGED OUR CLASSROOMS FOR THE BETTER, and we are excited to share them with you! We also put these strategies into a handy pdf to keep on hand - head over to our show notes to get your hands on it!
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Today's episode is one of our favorite kinds because we get to share the voices and ideas of some of our favorite teachers out there. This month, we recruited six phenomenal English teachers to share their favorite ways of taking inspiration from the season to create engaging, challenging, and fun lessons for their students. We hope you are inspired by their ideas and can implement them in your classroom this season (or any time of the year, really!)
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On this episode we are joined with our good friend Amanda Werner from Amanda Write Now, who talks to us about her journey into practicing mindfulness regularly, introducing mindfulness practice with students, and all the ups and downs in between. Enjoy!
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This week's episode takes you through what we are both currently planning and teaching in our respective classrooms.We are dealing with the same essential question in completely different courses, teaching different materials and texts, but still using very similar techniques - namely, text pairings. There is a LOT here, so grab your notebook and enjoy!
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If you know anything about us, you know that we are not ones to sugar coat things... This episode is no exception. We share the strategies we are using to cope with teaching right now, how we are allowing ourselves to feel what we feel, and how we are moving forward through it all. Enjoy!
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In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, we bring you a celebration of some of the Latinx writers we feature in our classrooms throughout the year. Make sure to head over to the show notes to get a free activity to use with students for analyzing voice in literature, as well as some activities for developing their own voice. Enjoy!
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If you are teaching virtually in part or whole this school year, THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU. Grab a notebook and writing utensil, and get ready for our top tips and strategies for saving you time and (more importantly) energy when teaching from a distance. Enjoy!
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Get ready for another episode where we walk through a couple of close reading passages and the lessons we would use with our students. This time, we are discussing the literary element characterization, and how we approach this in our own classrooms. Enjoy!
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In this interview with Tanesha Forman (@love.tanesha) we dive into the importance of teaching poetry and other forms of art in the classroom, how to encourage students to make personal connections in a low-threat way, and how poetry is the perfect entry point to classroom conversations surrounding social justice. Enjoy!
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In this episode, we discuss a checklist of steps to take when planning your first week back at school, whether it be in-person or virtual! With the upcoming school year quickly upon us, we also talk through what the first week will look like in each of our classrooms, including strategies and activities we will include. Enjoy!
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In this episode, we share some real honest stories from our classrooms - our greatest planning fails and wins. There are always lessons to learn from the fails (as well as the wins), and facing those moments for reflection make for some of the best parts of a teaching practice.
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In this episode we share our very first interview on the podcast with Dr. Anindya Kundu, discussing student advocacy and the role of educators in fostering that advocacy. Dr. Kundu is a wealth of knowledge and insight - this is not an episode to miss! His book, The Power of Student Agency has just been published and is available for purchase - see show notes for more info!
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In this episode, we focus on one of the things that gets left behind when it comes time to digitize curriculum, and it happens to be THE MOST IMPORTANT PART - assessments. We give our best tips, tricks, and tools for using digital assessments both in the classroom and through distance learning.
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Get you pen and notebook ready - this is another episode FULL of resources for you as you plan your upcoming school year! We go through all of our go-to sources for supplemental texts, as well as some of the tools we use for presenting these texts to students...
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This is an episode like no other we have done before - listen as we live workshop essential questions for Marie's new prep she will teach in the fall. Very minimal prep went into this episode, resulting in an authentic conversation and thought process that we are SURE will benefit your classroom! Enjoy!
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In Part B of this 2-part episode, we finish our discussion and explanation of the steps to take in visualizing a unit of study that is cohesive, meaningful, and (very importantly) a unit that you want to teach! Enjoy!
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In Part A of this 2-part episode, we outline the steps we take when beginning the process of designing a unit of study. (SPOILER ALERT - we take the exact same steps, but they look a little different for each of us...) This week we will get you started with the things to take into consideration when beginning, and next week we will finish up! Enjoy!
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This week's episode outlines the work we plan to do over the summer of 2020 to grow professionally. Books, podcasts, and online conferences to further Anti-Bias & Anti-Racist work in the classroom and beyond, as well as those with instructional strategies to engage and deliver content effectively... Enjoy!
LINKS TO ALL RESOURCES MENTIONED IN SHOW NOTES
In this episode, we pivot a bit from educational philosophy and general teaching to a specific ELA strategy - close reading. We talk through what a close reading lesson is, what we use it for in our own classrooms, and then walk through two sample texts/lessons using close reading to teach the author's craft skill syntax. We hope you enjoy nerding out with us! :)
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As we find ourselves on the down-hill slide to the end of the year, this week's episode is about how we intend to make the end of this particular year - school year 2019-2020, the year of COVID-19 - count as more than just the year of the pandemic. We owe it to ourselves to finish strong, and here is how we plan to do just that... Make sure to head over to the show notes for our Summer Reading Bookshelves! Enjoy!
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In this 2-part episode, we discuss and explain actionable strategies to use at the end of the year for engagement and classroom management. Make sure to tune in to PART A of this episode from last week!
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While this episode was recorded before COVID-19 and subsequent school closures changed the face of education for the foreseeable future, the strategies we talk about in it are translatable to the virtual classroom. Don't miss Part B next week!
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In this special Teacher Appreciation episode, we asked some of our teacher friends to share stories from their classrooms - and, of course, we share a couple of our own! Enjoy, and Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!
In PART B of this two-part episode, Amanda and Marie dive into teaching poetry - the why, the how, and more! Listen for an in-depth breakdown of actionable strategies to build your poetry-teaching confidence!
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In this two-part episode, Amanda and Marie dive into teaching poetry - the why, the how, and more! Listen for an in-depth breakdown of actionable strategies to build your poetry-teaching confidence!
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This episode was not originally planned for the second week after our launch, but times are what they are! Join us for some reflections on the lessons we have learned thus far into our distance learning journeys.
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In the very first episode of Brave New Teaching, hosts Amanda & Marie discuss what it means to be brave in modern education - finding the courage to challenge the status quo, experiment, and learn from mistakes. Please subscribe so you don't miss any new episodes!
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In Episode 2, hosts Amanda and Marie discuss the next portion of the podcast title - what it means to try new things as educators! Please subscribe so you don't miss any new episodes!
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In Episode 3, hosts Amanda & Marie discuss the final part of this podcast's title, Teaching. They share their own teaching journeys and what brought them to this point in their careers and lives, and where this podcast came from. Please subscribe so you don't miss any episodes!
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This pre-launch minisode is for every secondary teacher out there who is in the same boat as we are - school is closed, elearning to some extent is becoming the new norm, and our students need us. Here is a way to support students with what they REALLY need right now.
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Brave New Teaching launches April 2, 2020! Subscribe today and join the community!
Visit bravenewteaching.com for more!