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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!
Episodes
373 episodes
AARON H. ACEVES: A Conversation about This is Why They Hate Us [Ep 264]
This episode lit us up in the best way. Amanda sat down with Aaron H. Aceves, author of This Is Why They Hate Us, for a heartfelt conversation about identity and the power of honest storytelling. Aaron’s openness about his own journey ...
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47:31
AIMEE PHAN: A Conversation about The Lost Queen Part 2 [Ep 263]
We’re so excited to share part two of our conversation with Aimee Phan, author of The Lost Queen! If you caught part one, you already know how rich and thoughtful this discussion is. In this episode, we dive deeper into how retellings ...
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24:30
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AIMEE PHAN: A Conversation about The Lost Queen Part 1 [Ep 262]
What if the legendary queens of Vietnamese history were reborn as modern-day teens in California? In this episode, we chat with author and educator Aimee Phan about her brand new YA fantasy novel, ...
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35:24
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SAMIRA AHMED: A Conversation About Internment, Part 2 [Ep 261]
In part two of our conversation with author Samira Ahmed, we deep dive into the genre of Internment—is it dystopian, speculative, or realistic fiction?—and why that label matters in the classroom. What starts as a conversation about sh...
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47:17
SAMIRA AHMED: A Conversation About Internment, Part 1 [Ep 260]
Camp BNT is back for year three, and we’re kicking things off with bestselling author (and former high school English teacher!) Samira Ahmed. In this episode, Samira shares how her time in the classroom shaped her writing, the inspiration behin...
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1:05:12
TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: A Fantasy Choice Unit Approach for 11- 12 Grade ELA [Ep 259]
We’re wrapping up our Hero’s Journey series with a fresh twist—this time through the lens of fantasy in eleventh-grade American Literature. Marie shares how she took a bold leap by introducing a fantasy choice novel unit, transforming student e...
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33:57
TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Studying the Odyssey for 9-10 Grade ELA [Ep 258]
Teaching The Odyssey doesn’t have to be stuck in surface-level plot points. It can be the unit where students are guided through their own epic journeys!In this third episode of our Hero’s Journey series, we’re diving into how w...
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21:29
TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA [Ep 257]
Let’s be honest—The Hobbit isn’t always a crowd-pleaser in middle school, but in this episode, we’re sharing how to turn it into a powerful, skills-based exploration of the hero’s journey. We dive into using essential questions, shifti...
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25:35
TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design [Ep 256]
We’re kicking off a new four-part series all about teaching the Hero’s Journey—starting with the dos and don’ts of unit design. In this episode, we share how this timeless framework can lead to deeper thinking, richer discussions, and yes… even...
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37:05
THE WORST ACTIVITIES TO USE IN ELA (and How to Make Them Better) [Ep 255]
We’ve all had those end-of-year activities that looked great on paper—but quickly turned into chaos in the classroom. In this episode, we’re sharing some of our own “what were we thinking?” moments, along with practical strategies to help you r...
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31:42
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR: Fundraising Ideas for Books (Book Fairs & Read-a-Thons) [Ep 254]
Looking for a way to fundraise and build a love of reading in your school? In this episode, we share how a well-planned Read-a-Thon can bring in big funds for books while creating a strong literacy culture. Amanda walks through her rec...
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34:51
SUMMER READING RESCUE - PART 2 [Ep 253]
What if summer reading didn’t have to feel like a chore for students or teachers?In part two of our Summer Reading Rescue series, I’m continuing the conversation about how we can reimagine summer reading programs to actually wor...
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45:56
SUMMER READING RESCUE - PART 1 [Ep 252]
What the research tells us is clear: reading skills are lost over the summer. And that loss is not equitably distributed among our student population. It’s estimated that low income students can lose up to two months of readi...
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41:49
TEACHERS REACT: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books - Part 2 [Ep 251]
Did you catch last week’s episode? If not, listen here! In that conversation, we gave our initial reaction to the Atlantic article,
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27:41
TEACHERS REACT: The Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books, Part 1 [Ep 250]
Are students reading less than ever before? In this episode, we dive into The Atlantic article The Elite College Students ...
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35:38
TRENDING BOOKS: SPRING TITLES [Ep 249]
Today we’re fully embracing the energy of spring - because what better time to refresh our bookshelves and reignite our love for reading?! We’re buzzing with excitement over all the amazing new releases coming out, from Emily Henry’s Great ...
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30:29
DAY IN THE LIFE WITH MARIE [Ep 248]
Marie here! Did you know that I teach high school English AND theatre? From early mornings with (multiple cups of) coffee in hand to juggling English lessons and theatre rehearsals, my days as a high school teacher are anything but boring. In t...
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20:44
THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Assessments [Ep 247]
Assessments don’t have to be boring, stressful, or one-size-fits-all - and in this episode, we’re proving why! As we wrap up our Novels in Verse series, we’re diving into fresh, creative ways to assess student learning that go beyond the standa...
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22:15
THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Supplemental and Alternative Text Ideas [Ep 246]
We’re in the middle of our novels in verse series and so far we’ve talked about the possibilities that come with a novels in verse unit,
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22:53
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 story...
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21:02
THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X [Ep 244]
Last week, we talked about the possibilities for novels in verse and broke down two approaches to teaching these texts. Today, we’re continuing the conversation using Elizabeth Acev...
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27:28
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
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25:07
NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Perspectives on Teaching and Education [Ep 242]
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-ca...
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26:41
NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Strategies for Teachers [Ep 241]
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.<...
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23:42
NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Tech for Teachers [Ep 240]
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 tha...
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29:21
