Brave New Teaching: A Podcast for High School and Middle School Teachers

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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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

• Join Happy Hour!
• Curriculum Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
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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

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Purchase your copy of Role Call here and then be sure to claim your free bonus 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

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

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Purchase your copy of Role Call here and then be sure to claim your free bonus 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 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

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Purchase your copy of Role Call here and then be sure to claim your free bonus 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

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

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Purchase your copy of Role Call here and then be sure to claim your free bonus 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