Brave New Teaching: A Podcast for High School and Middle School Teachers THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas [Ep 245]
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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