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

2026 Will Bring Uncomfortable Shifts, and That’s a Really Good Thing - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 279]

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 re...

Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We’re Going to Help Them Remember! - BNT Team Meeting [Episode 278]

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and The Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!) - BNT Team Meeting [Episode 277]

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

Ok, but what if the secret to getting them to read is getting them to WRITE?? - BNT Team Meeting (Episode 276)

29 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 las...

Fine, We Can Game-ify Reading (But No Gimmicks!) - BNT Team Meeting [Episode 275]

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 classroo...

TEACHING DYSTOPIA: Our NEW Favorite Stories & Protagonists [Ep 274]

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 pi...

TEACHING DYSTOPIA: A Spotlight for Juxtaposition [Ep 273]

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 mak...

TEACHING DYSTOPIA: New Essential Questions to Try [Ep 272]

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 re...

BACK TO SCHOOL: State of the BNT Union + Reading Update [Ep 271]

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ref...

INDEPENDENT READING: Breaking Down the Backwards Design for ELA Classrooms [Ep 270]

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re calling it: independent reading is the back-to-school move of the year! In this episode, we’re getting honest about what it takes to build a...

TJ KLUNE: A Conversation about The House in the Cerulean Sea [Ep 269]

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our final episode of Camp BNT, we got to sit down with none other than TJ Klune, author of The House in the Cerulean Sea—and let’s just say, it...

HUDA FAHMY: A Conversation about Huda F Cares? [Ep 268]

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been wanting to bring Huda Fahmy on the podcast for a long time, and this conversation was well worth the wait! From her journey as an English...

LIBBA BRAY: A Conversation about Under the Same Stars [Ep 267]

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some conversations leave a mark, and this one with author Libba Bray is exactly that. From the first few minutes, we found ourselves completely pulled...

KATIE BAYERL: A Conversation about What Comes After [Ep 266]

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you've ever daydreamed about writing a novel between grading essays, this one’s for you. In this episode, we chat with former English teache...

BREAK FOR THE 4TH: Amanda’s Road Trip Advice for Teacher Parents [Ep 265]

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Amanda here, and if you’ve ever hit the road with a car full of kids (or just your teacher brain trying to stay five steps ahead) you know th...

AARON H. ACEVES: A Conversation about This is Why They Hate Us [Ep 264]

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 i...

AIMEE PHAN: A Conversation about The Lost Queen Part 2 [Ep 263]

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

AIMEE PHAN: A Conversation about The Lost Queen Part 1 [Ep 262]

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ai...

SAMIRA AHMED: A Conversation About Internment, Part 2 [Ep 261]

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In part two of our conversation with author Samira Ahmed, we deep dive into the genre of Internment—is it dystopian, speculative, or realistic ficti...

SAMIRA AHMED: A Conversation About Internment, Part 1 [Ep 260]

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 thi...

TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: A Fantasy Choice Unit Approach for 11- 12 Grade ELA [Ep 259]

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. Mari...

TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Studying the Odyssey for 9-10 Grade ELA [Ep 258]

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 jour...

TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA [Ep 257]

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, s...

TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design [Ep 256]

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 episod...

THE WORST ACTIVITIES TO USE IN ELA (and How to Make Them Better) [Ep 255]

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 sha...

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR: Fundraising Ideas for Books (Book Fairs & Read-a-Thons) [Ep 254]

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

SUMMER READING RESCUE - PART 2 [Ep 253]

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

SUMMER READING RESCUE - PART 1 [Ep 252]

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What the research tells us is clear: reading skills are lost over the summer. And that loss is not equitably distributed among our student populatio...

TEACHERS REACT: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books - Part 2 [Ep 251]

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Did you catch last week’s episode? If not, listen here! In that conversation, we gave our initial reaction to the Atlantic article, The Elite Colleg...

TEACHERS REACT: The Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books, Part 1 [Ep 250]

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are students reading less than ever before? In this episode, we dive into The Atlantic article The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books and u...

TRENDING BOOKS: SPRING TITLES [Ep 249]

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

DAY IN THE LIFE WITH MARIE [Ep 248]

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Assessments [Ep 247]

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 s...

THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Supplemental and Alternative Text Ideas [Ep 246]

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, essential...

THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas [Ep 245]

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 an...

THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X [Ep 244]

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Unit Possibilities [243]

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 narrati...

NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Perspectives on Teaching and Education [Ep 242]

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Starting a new year in education means facing fresh challenges (and opportunities) with a renewed mindset. In this episode, we’re diving into how EL...

NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Strategies for Teachers [Ep 241]

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 tea...

NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Tech for Teachers [Ep 240]

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Books for Teachers [Ep 239]

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year, Brave New Teachers! 🎉In this episode of the "Brave New Teaching" podcast, hosts Marie and Amanda chat about their reading...

238. LOOKING BACK/LOOKING FORWARD

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Teachers, it’s the home stretch to winter break and we hope you’re hanging in there! It’s hard to believe, but this is the LAST Brave New Teachi...

237. CHILL! WE HAVE YOUR SUB PLANS COVERED!

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grab our Sub Plan FREEBIE here!We’ve all had those days. The days when something happens and you just can’t go to work. You caught the stomach bug...

236. THE BNT BOOKS OF 2024

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s the perfect time for an updated book recommendation episode. At the time of this recording, one of us is in a b...

235. Finding Gratitude When Life and Teaching Feel HARD

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a quick minisode as we chat about harnessing our gratitude even when the semester at school has been challenging. We're here for yo...

234. The Art of Analysis: Scenario and Game-Based Strategies that are FUN (Part 3/3)

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda finishes a three-part series on teaching different types of analysis, this time focusing on scenario-bas...

233. The Art of Analysis: 3 Visual Tactics to Teach Analysis (Part 2/3)

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda continues a three-part series on teaching different types of analysis, this time focusing on visual teac...

232. The Art of Analysis: A Deep Dive into Personification (Part 1/3)

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda and Marie launch a three-part series on teaching literary analysis, focusing on close reading and person...

231. Teaching Novels When Kids Don't Read at Home Part 1 [Re-Run E85]

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is a re-run of one of our MOST DOWNLOADED EPISODES of all time. We know there are still many of you that haven't heard it ...

Building Strong Writers: An Interview with Christina Schnider of The Daring English Teacher [Ep 230]

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s be honest…teaching writing can be a struggle. We know that so many of you are seeing challenges with student engagement, confidence, and ski...

5 New Texts to Add to your Gothic Fiction Unit: Guest Collaborators Share New Faves

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grab your pumpkin spice latte and favorite sweater, because it’s almost Halloween and there’s no better time than now to read gothic fiction! We’...

Buffalo Dreamer: An Interview with Author Violet Duncan [Ep 228]

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Books are so special because they allow you to see the world from the comfort of your own home (or classroom!). Our guest today, author Violet Duncan,...

Code Breaking and Critical Thinking: An Interview with Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin [Ep 227]

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We love hosting authors on this podcast, and today we have a repeat guest. It’s the one and only Ruta Sepetys, only this time she’s joined by auth...

226. 4 DYSTOPIAN GENRE TEACHING TIPS: A ROUND UP EPISODE

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We love all genres, but our favorite by far? Dystopia! Not only does this genre tap into the natural curiosity and critical thinking abilities of stud...

225. THREE NEW BOOKS FOR YOUR CLASSROOM LIBRARY

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ready to uplevel your classroom library this year? We’ve got just the thing for you! We’re sitting down with our executive assistant (and full-tim...

HH 89. Q&A: SHOULD I LEAVE MY JOB AND BECOME A TEACHER (HAPPY HOUR UNLOCKED)

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE:https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers"Send us a message - please includ...

224. WHAT DISNEY WORLD TAUGHT ME ABOUT TEACHING THEME

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are several frequently asked questions that we get in our Brave New Teaching community and many of them center around teaching theme. For exampl...

222. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 5: FIRST DAY LESSON PLAN)

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom ...

221. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 4: TEACHER GRWM)

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom ...

220. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 3: TEACHER MEAL PREP)

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom ...

219. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 2: COMMUNITY BUILDING)

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom ...

218. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 1: CLASSROOM SETUP)

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for back to school with the help of Brave New Teaching! We're taking you through the practical (outfits and meals) AND the classroom ...

217. 7 MUST HAVES FOR YOUR BACK TO SCHOOL, NEURODIVERGENT SUPPORTED CLASSROOM

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our back-to-school series is in full swing, and we’ve got more for you this week! This episode is going to give you a lot to think about as you’re...

216. THE UNTEACHABLES: AN INTERVIEW WITH CLAIRE ENGLISH

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The back-to-school season comes with a lot of preparation and decisions. We’re guessing that one of the big things on your mind is how to ensure tha...

215. PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP THAT PRIORITIZES TEACHER WELL-BEING: AN INTERVIEW WITH JARED LAMB

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s hard to believe that it’s already that time of year when we say goodbye to summer and gear up for a brand new school year. Our mission during...

214. BNT LIVE (VLOG) WITH AMANDA AND MARIE

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We say it each week in our podcast intro: Brave New Teaching is so much more than a podcast. We consider you part of our BNT family and that’s why w...

213. MIDDLE GRADES THE NIGHT WAR (CAMP BNT '24)

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not too late to join Camp BNT and follow along with us as we highlight favorite books this summer! In previous episodes we’ve shared about a ...

212. WHY ALL MY RAGE SHOULD BE ALL THE RAGE IN THE ELA CLASSROOM (BNT '24)

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Camp BNT is in full swing and it’s time for our YA pick: All My Rage, by Sabaa Tahir. This book is beautifully written and will be so incredibly eas...

211. WHY GRAPHIC NOVELS DESERVE MORE LOVE (CAMP BNT '24)

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we talked about our first book choice of Camp BNT, Liz Kleinrock’s Start Here, Start Now. We’re going in a different direction today as ...

210. START HERE, START NOW: ABAR BEST PRACTICES FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS (CAMP BNT '24)

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you signed up for Camp BNT yet? Last week we talked through what camp will look like this summer and we hope you’ll join us! We’re diving int...

209. WELCOME TO CAMP BNT 2024: YOUR SUMMER TEACHER BUCKET LIST

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s officially summer and that means Camp BNT is kicking off! We’re back for round two of Camp BNT and we’ve made some adjustments since last y...

208. LIVING WITH ADHD: AMANDA'S JOURNEY TO DIAGNOSIS

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just like our students are unique and have brains that work in different ways, the same is true for us as teachers. The more information that we have ...

Redesigning The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe Novel Unit: An Interview with Teacher Maegan Baker

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a text that is required for you to teach but you just do not like teaching? Curriculum rehab may be just what you need to transform your u...

206. DAY IN THE LIFE WITH MARIE

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Friends, we are doing something a little different. We know how crazy days can get for teachers and they seem to be especially crazy come the end of t...

205. HOW TO ASSESS READING THROUGH WRITING

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you gotten to the end of the year not knowing what kids have truly learned? You know you’re teaching. You know what some students know and real...

204. STOP MAKING THESE ASSESSMENT MISTAKES

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired of constant reading quizzes that you give just because you feel like that’s what you’re supposed to do? If so, you likely realize th...

203. WHAT CURRICULUM REHAB IS REALLY LIKE: AN INTERVIEW WITH LANNETTE STORY (PART 2)

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We absolutely love hearing real life stories and examples of how you are implementing Brave New Teaching strategies and tools to make a bigger impact ...

EP 202. WHAT CURRICULUM REHAB IS REALLY LIKE: INTERVIEW WITH LANNETTE STORY (PART 1)

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you wondered what it could look like when you actually start using the strategies and tools we talk about in your classroom? Our guest today, Lan...

201. MARC GREGSON SKY'S END INTERVIEW

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How is it even possible to balance writing novels, teaching, and empowering students as a role model? That’s exactly what our guest does daily! Brav...

200. A BRAVE NEW TEACHING TRIBUTE: CELEBRATING 200 EPISODES!

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Friends, we have made it to 200 episodes of Brave New Teaching! We are so incredibly thankful for you joining us here, whether you’ve been here sinc...

199. LESSON PLAN RESCUE: NOT ENOUGH BOOKS

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when you aren’t provided enough copies of books for every student? Unfortunately, this is a real problem that ELA teachers are facing...

198. ESSENTIAL QUESTION WORKSHOP: THREE NEW EQs FOR TEACHING POETRY

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with knowing where to start when it comes to writing essential questions? We completely understand the challenge and we’re here to h...

197. TOP 10 TIPS FOR TEACHING POETRY: POETRY ROUND UP

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 her...

196. TO TEACH SHAKESPEARE (RE-RUN)

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week's episode is all about the Bard! We took listener questions about Shakespeare - planning, teaching, assessing, and more - and answered ...

195. THE INSPIRATION CUBE: A STRATEGY FOR VOICE, NARRATIVE, AND POINT OF VIEW

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ins...

194. PATCHETT, MAAS, IBANEZ, AND MORE: A SPRING READING UPDATE

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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.W...

193. DIVERSE VOICES: FEMALE VOICES TO CENTER IN YOUR ELA CLASSROOM

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 doi...

192. 6 NON-NEGOTIABLES FOR EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ELA TEACHERS

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

191. PROJECT BASED LEARNING: AN INTERVIEW WITH DANIELLE HICKS

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

190. LESSON PLAN RESCUE: PROCRASTINATING & UNPRODUCTIVE CLASS WORK TIME

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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! W...

189. 5 WAYS TO USE AI POWERS FOR GOOD IN THE ELA CLASSROOM

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 c...

188. HOW TO BATCH PLAN FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS (SPOTLIGHT ON SESAME STREET QUIZZES)

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...