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

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. "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/cloudyCheck 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

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/episode230Follow Christina on Instagram @thedaringenglishteacher."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/cloudyCheck 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

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 and Marie’s list) or Amazon.For all resources & texts mentioned, head to the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode229 "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/cloudyCheck 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

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"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/cloudyCheck 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 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 SheinkinSteve’s YouTube Channel: Author-Fan Face-OffShop Ruta’s booksShop Steve’s booksSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode227"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/cloudyCheck 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 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 planDystopia WorkshopThe Marrow Thieves: Amazon | Bookshop.orgEpisode 172, 3 Secrets to Teaching DystopiaEpisode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA ClassroomEpisode 81, Essential Question Workshop: Dystopia (Woohoo!)Episode 62, Picture Book Lesson Walk-ThroughEpisode 61, Living in a Dystopian WorldSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode226"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/cloudyCheck 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 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.orgA Universe of Wishes by Dhonielle Clayton: Amazon | Bookshop.org The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: Amazon | Bookshop.orgShow Notes: "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/cloudyCheck 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

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!"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

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 endThe details of the experience enhance and color that themeHow 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"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/cloudyCheck 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

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