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

Planning the End of the Year in ELA - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 296]

Thu, 07 May 2026

You might want your planner, a highlighter, and maybe your teacher bestie for this one, because we're not limping our way to summer...we’re finishing strong! In this team meeting episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I plan the end of the school year, starting with real instructional days, mapping out the non-negotiable musts, and then making space for the wants. I’m also sharing a surprisingly simple Canva hack, celebrating new books from T.J. Klune and Ruta Sepetys, and giving you some of my favorite end-of-year ideas!

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✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode296

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3 Hills to Die On - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 295]

Thu, 30 Apr 2026

Feeling a little feisty about classroom norms? Amanda here, flying solo this week to share three teaching hills I’ll gladly die on, from why reading Shakespeare cover to cover needs a rethink, to celebrating meaningful student milestones, to why vertical curriculum alignment matters more than ever. It’s honest, thought-provoking, and all in the name of better teaching!

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✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode295

"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!

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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

Why Students Struggle to Follow Through (And What We’re Doing About It) [Ep 294]

Thu, 23 Apr 2026

The end of April always feels like everything is happening at once. I’m in the middle of dress rehearsals for Guys and Dolls, and with multiple performances stacked back-to-back, I found myself thinking a lot about what it actually takes to pull something like this off with 80+ students. Somewhere between cue lines and costume changes, I started noticing a bigger pattern I couldn’t ignore: the way students are approaching work, responsibility, and attention to detail feels very different than it used to. In this episode, I share what I’ve been noticing in both academics and rehearsals, how shifts like constant reminders and more flexible policies are shaping student ownership, and what I’m rethinking about how we help students actually build follow-through and accountability in real time.

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✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode294

"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!

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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

Who’s Going to Learn When the Teacher Goes Off the Rails? Nobody. [Ep 293]

Thu, 16 Apr 2026

If the end of the school year feels like everything is speeding up while your energy is running low, you are absolutely not alone in that. I’m in it right now with state testing, post–spring break exhaustion, musical rehearsals ramping up, and students just trying to make it to summer. Instead of pushing through at full speed, I’m leaning into a very intentional mindset for these final eight weeks: make it through, on purpose.

That means being honest about what’s realistic so both my students and I have space to do meaningful work without constant overwhelm. In my English classes, that looks like state testing, a tutorial-style presentation project, a Great Gatsby unit tied to the American Dream, and an adjusted pacing plan that moves presentations earlier so students can actually succeed. For finals, I’m ending with a prepared Socratic seminar instead of a heavy exam, closing the year with conversation and thinking instead of chaos!

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✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode293

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

Low- & No-Prep Activities to Have in Your Pocket for Whenever You Need Them [Ep 292]

Thu, 09 Apr 2026

Spring break has us finally catching our breath, and in this episode we’re leaning into what it looks like to bring more ease and joy back into our classrooms when everything feels heavy. Instead of trying to do more, we’re sharing a simple shift: bringing “grandma hobbies” into the classroom! These are low-prep, hands-on activities that get students creating, talking, and using their hands again.

From playing cards and coffee bean “currency” to Legos, Magna-Tiles, friendship bracelets, simple sewing, and even using figurines for storytelling and blocking, we walk through practical ideas that can completely shift student engagement and behavior. At the heart of it all is the reminder that students thrive when their hands are busy, their brains are engaged, and the pressure to be perfect is lowered.

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✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode292

"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 👩‍💻

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