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

Apr 4, 2024 • 47min
197. TOP 10 TIPS FOR TEACHING POETRY: POETRY ROUND UP
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 ShopLet America Be America Again on YouTubePoetry Analysis with The Big Six: How to Teach Beyond a WorksheetSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode197"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

Mar 28, 2024 • 39min
196. TO TEACH SHAKESPEARE (RE-RUN)
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"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

Mar 21, 2024 • 33min
195. THE INSPIRATION CUBE: A STRATEGY FOR VOICE, NARRATIVE, AND POINT OF VIEW
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 "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

Mar 14, 2024 • 39min
194. PATCHETT, MAAS, IBANEZ, AND MORE: A SPRING READING UPDATE
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 "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

Mar 7, 2024 • 30min
193. DIVERSE VOICES: FEMALE VOICES TO CENTER IN YOUR ELA CLASSROOM
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 RehabDown with the Reading QuizAmerican Leaders' Speeches Choice BoardWomen’s History Month: Digital Choice BoardPersephone ReturnsThe Tragedy of Greek Goddesses How Film Changes How We See the WorldMaya Anelou’s “Phenomenal Woman”Phenomenal Woman Script & NotesPhenomenal Woman Permission SlipCaste, by Isabel Wilkerson Origin - official trailerConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingFollow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclassFollow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteachingLet us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts."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

Feb 29, 2024 • 35min
192. 6 NON-NEGOTIABLES FOR EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ELA TEACHERS
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"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

Feb 22, 2024 • 32min
191. PROJECT BASED LEARNING: AN INTERVIEW WITH DANIELLE HICKS
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 blogDanielle’s website Danielle’s Podcast: Anti-Burnout for English TeachersCurriculum RehabConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingFollow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclassFollow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteachingLet us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode191"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

Feb 15, 2024 • 32min
190. LESSON PLAN RESCUE: PROCRASTINATING & UNPRODUCTIVE CLASS WORK TIME
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 ShopC.A.F.E. Mode resourcesEpisode 163, Joyful Teaching & Learning: An Interview with Dr. Deonna SmithEpisode 113, Relationships and Behavior (Interview with Dr. Deonna Smith): Classroom Management Series Part 3Curriculum RehabConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingFollow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclassFollow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteachingLet us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode190 "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

Feb 8, 2024 • 39min
189. 5 WAYS TO USE AI POWERS FOR GOOD IN THE ELA CLASSROOM
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 trialJoin Happy Hour!Canva AI image resultsRiffusion: Amanda’s BNT SampleChatGPTRiffusionCharacter.aiCurriculum RehabConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingFollow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclassFollow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteachingLet us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode189"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

Feb 1, 2024 • 36min
188. HOW TO BATCH PLAN FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS (SPOTLIGHT ON SESAME STREET QUIZZES)
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:TrelloHappy HourCurriculum RehabConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingFollow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclassFollow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteachingLet us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Show Notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode188 "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