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🔗 Grab our FREE 100% Engagement Listening Guide to get even more out of this episode! Ever feel inspired by great teaching ideas, but they never quite make it into real lessons? In this episode, we kick off a special 3-part series with Brian Sztabnik and Susan Barber, co-authors of 100% Engagement, to share practical, doable ways to boost participation, collaboration, and authentic engagement - without a total classroom overhaul.  From their journey as co-authors to honest conversations about student buy-in and boredom, we dig into what real engagement actually looks like. You’ll also hear rapid-fire classroom scenarios and strategies that get students talking, moving, and genuinely invested. Resources: 100% Engagement Listening Guide (FREE!)Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University.Take our quiz, and we’ll send you an episode playlist that’s tailored just for you!100% Engagement by Brian Sztabnik and Susan BarberMuch Ado About TeachingWatch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 96, How to Select Choice Reading + Our 20 Favorite Classroom Books Episode 191, Project Based Learning: An Interview with Danielle HicksEpisode 199, Lesson Plan Rescue: Not Enough Books"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

Super Bowl weekend is here, and while the game is fun, we’re really here for the commercials, and how to teach them well! In this team meeting, we share book talk and a clear plan for tackling Super Bowl commercial analysis. You’ll hear practical, classroom-ready steps using tools like the Four Reading Realms and SPACE CAT to help students have stronger conversations, deeper analysis, and way more buy-in! Resources: My 2026 Amazon List4 Reading Realms Webinar (free!)Rhetorical Analysis Starter KitWatch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 178, Unit Makeover: Rhetorical AnalysisEpisode 280, New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real TalkEpisode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix it.Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team MeetingSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode284 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

Resistant readers are often reacting to confusion, not a lack of ability, and that’s exactly where the Four Reading Realms come in! In this episode, we walk through a framework Amanda developed to clarify the purpose behind different reading tasks, helping students understand what kind of thinking is required and why it matters. By separating reading into intentional realms (focused on identity, perseverance, efficiency, and discernment), we can set clearer expectations, build trust, and support deeper engagement, even for students who have struggled with reading in the past. 🔗 Resources:  Webinar: The Four Reading RealmsBecome a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University!Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 276, Ok, but what if the secret to getting them to read is getting them to WRITE???Episode 280, New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real TalkEpisode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix it.SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode283 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

What if our obsession with data is actually distracting us from the real work? In this team meeting, we dig into how a “data first” or “book first” approach can miss the human side of learning and why culture and engagement have to come first. We look ahead to what teaching needs to look like in 2026, sharing a conversation-first planning workflow that starts with what students actually care about and then selects the skills and texts that support those conversations! Resources: Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University!Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 221, Back to School Survival Kit for TeachersEpisode 280, New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real TalkEpisode 281, SEL and Organic Community Really Are This SimpleSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode282 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

Are you absolutely crawling through January molasses, too? I know I am! In this week’s Team BNT meeting we’re talking honestly about what happens when tired, overwhelmed students are trying (and failing) to keep everything in their heads as finals approach. I share simple, repeatable routines that help students reduce anxiety, take control of their time, and build real classroom community.  We also touch on real teacher life during this stretch, from finals grading and midyear resets to Costco snack runs, and wrap up with a sneak peek at Brave New Teaching University, our upcoming space designed to make everything we’ve created more organized, usable, and supportive for teachers in 2026 and beyond! Resources: NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 276, Ok, But What if the Secret to Getting Them to Read is Getting Them to WRITE??Episode 277, Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and the Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!)Episode 278, Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We're Going to Help Them Remember!Episode 279, 2026 Will Bring Uncomfortable Shifts, and That’s a Really Good Thing Episode 280, New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real Talk - BNT Team MeetingSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode281 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

New year, new team meeting, and it’s Amanda behind the mic kicking off 2026 with what’s been on my mind lately. In this episode, I share updates from my move into an elementary school library role, why curated is my word of the year, and how that mindset is shaping everything from my home to my business. We also talk reading goals, audiobooks, and how my feelings about reading numbers have shifted over time. I wrap things up by zooming out to the bigger picture of teaching and leave you with one essential question every department should be asking as we plan for what’s next! 🔗 Resources: Amanda’s Top Reads of 2025My One Word ActivityWatch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 275, Fine, We Can Game-ify Reading (But No Gimmicks!)Episode 276, Ok, But What if the Secret to Getting Them to Read is Getting Them to WRITE??Episode 277, Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and the Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!)Episode 278, Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We're Going to Help Them Remember!SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode280 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

If you’re limping toward break and just trying to survive the week, this episode is a quick, honest team meeting and much-needed reality check. I reflect on how teaching has shifted since 2020, how AI and technology are changing our classrooms, and why many old strategies no longer work. This isn’t about changing everything now, but about planting seeds for a future shift and giving yourself permission to finish the year tired, steady, and still hopeful! Resources: Real, Fake, or Deepfake? This Lesson Helps Students DecideGen Z is Redefining Work - and Driving Their Managers MadNEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.More BNT Team Meetings: Episode 275, Fine, We Can Game-ify Reading (But No Gimmicks!)Episode 276, Ok, But What if the Secret to Getting Them to Read is Getting Them to WRITE??Episode 277, Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and the Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!)Episode 278, Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We're Going to Help Them Remember!SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode279 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

If your algorithm has also been screaming “screens are ruining humanity!” at you lately, then you’re right at home with us in this week’s team meeting. We break down the tech panic, talk about why students are tech comfortable but not tech fluent, and shift the focus back to building real human skills through creativity and play. From improv to pantomime, we’re exploring simple, screen-free ways to help kids think again, plus teasing our New Year’s “Favorite Things” party where we’ll swap our go-to play-based activities for the new term. Resources: Article: We Asked Executives What Skills Young Works Are Missing. Here’s What They SaidWhat the U.S. Can Learn From Finland, Where School Starts at Age 7NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode278  "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

Screens are running the show, and we need to talk about it! Phones, Chromebooks, AI - they’re everywhere, and they’re changing how students focus, work, and just be. I (it's Marie!) break down two articles, one on how kids think we can get them off their phones, and another on how screen time is shaping education. From chaos during unstructured time to AI cheating popping up everywhere, it’s a lot to navigate. I also share a few screen-free ideas for your classroom and would love to hear how this shows up for you. Send us a DM and let's chat! Resources: Article: What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their PhonesArticle: The Screen That Ate Your Child’s EducationThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtGeneration Me by Jean M. TwengeNEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode277 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

In this week's  Brave New Teaching team meeting, Marie's going a bit off-script with an idea that has been bouncing around her head the last couple weeks about how to get students to engage with reading and the literacy epidemic that is plaguing society at large (it's a lot, we know...). Is the secret to getting students reading actually in just getting them to try things they are resistant to? Perhaps yes, perhaps no, but we won't know until we try! All that, plus a couple ideas to try in your classroom this week! Resources: Boston Globe article: Schools are accommodating student anxiety - and making it worseSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode276 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

Consider this your official invite to our Brave New Teaching team meeting! We’re catching you up on life, sharing what’s happening in our classrooms and libraries, and digging into why fun and whimsy are essential for bringing joy back to reading. We talk about the real challenges of getting students excited about books, our evolving thoughts on “gamifying” reading, and the gimmicks (or whimsy!) that actually work. Resources: The Atlantic article: America is Sliding Toward IlliteracyNoa AppFlipster AppNEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 250, Teachers React: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books - Part 1Episode 251, Teachers React: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books - Part 2Episode 271, Back to School: State of the BNT Union + Reading UpdateSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode275 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

Think you’ve seen all the dystopia books out there? Think again! In part three of our “Teaching Dystopia” series, we share hidden gems, fresh picks, and classics, from middle grade survival stories to YA novels exploring climate change and government control. We highlight favorites like Alone and Station Eleven, plus TV and movie options like The Simpsons and Fringe to spark discussion and critical thinking. Want more on this topic? Join us in Happy Hour, where we’ll keep the conversation going! Check out the show notes for the full list of books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode274 Resources: NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Teaching Dystopia WorkshopShop Our Faves."Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

Have you ever felt like dystopia is the genre that just keeps on giving? In part two of our dystopia series, we focus on the essential skills that make these texts come alive in your classroom, showing why depth beats covering everything superficially. We explore how teaching students to notice author moves like juxtaposition helps them analyze tension, themes, and contrasts, keeping analysis at the heart of your unit. Plus, we share practical tips for streamlining your dystopia units, staying focused, and even embracing a little boredom to spark creativity. Hang tight for our next episode, packed with new text recommendations and ideas to refresh your curriculum! Resources: NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Teaching Dystopia WorkshopShop Our Faves.Episode 272, Teaching Dystopia: New Essential Questions to TryRelated Episodes: Episode 61, Living in a Dystopian WorldEpisode 81, Essential Question Workshop: Dystopia (Woohoo!)Episode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA ClassroomEpisode 172, 3 Secrets to Teaching DystopiaSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode273 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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 refresh your dystopia unit? In this episode, we explore how to make the genre feel fresh, relevant, and engaging for today’s students by rethinking essential questions and diving deeper into structure, theme, and skill connections. From moving beyond the classic “Is America a dystopia?” debate to exploring what it means to rebuild a broken world, you’ll get ideas for inquiry-driven lessons that inspire critical thinking and connection to real-life issues. This is a kickoff to our three-part dystopia series, so head back here next week! Resources: NEW: Watch this episode on YouTube!Shop Our FavesTeaching Dystopia WorkshopJoin Happy Hour!Shop more BNT resourcesFree Training: Down with the Reading QuizJoin Curriculum RehabConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingFollow Marie on Instagram: @wellhelloitsmarieFollow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteachingLet us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Related Episodes: Episode 61, Living in a Dystopian WorldEpisode 81, Essential Question Workshop: Dystopia (Woohoo!)Episode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA ClassroomEpisode 172, 3 Secrets to Teaching DystopiaEpisode 259, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: A Fantasy Choice Unit Approach for 11-12 Grade ELASHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode272 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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

In this “State of the BNT Union” episode, we’re sharing where the Brave New Teaching podcast is headed next, from a new focus on YouTube and refreshed dystopia content to better-organized resources for teachers...plus a peek at the projects we’re most excited about this year.  Along the way, we’re swapping back-to-school recommendations, current reads (with honest reviews and teaching tie-ins), favorite products, and the bookish creators lighting up our feeds. And, of course, there’s a big announcement about where one of us will be spending the school year, changing things up in the best possible way! ✨ Grab all the resources and books we mention in the show notes: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode271 "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University! 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