THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Unit Possibilities [243]

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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Chapters

• 5:44 Podcast Format Discussion
• 6:47 Introduction to Novels in Verse
• 8:08 Focus on "The Poet X" by Elizabeth Acevedo
• 10:50 Upcoming Happy Hour Unit
• 12:23 Note-Taking Guide for Students
• 13:39 Benefits of Novels in Verse
• 14:48 Pairing Novels in Verse with Other Texts
• 15:43 Skill-Based vs. Theme-Based Approach
• 20:46 Teacher's Planning Process
• 21:57 Exploring Perspectives in Literature
• 22:48 Brainstorming Unit Planning
• 23:42 Reflecting on the Calendar
• 24:41 Preparing for Next Week's Discussion
• 25:32 Logging into Curriculum Rehab
• 26:22 Wrap-Up and Next Steps