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

Marie Morris & Amanda Cardenas, Secondary ELA Teachers
  • 4.9 (25)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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!

  1. 2D AGO

    100% Engagement (Part 1) [Ep 285]

    🔗 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

    42 min

  2. FEB 5

    Super Bowl 2026: Commercial Rhetorical Analysis Pep Talk - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 284]

    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

    24 min

  3. JAN 29

    Resistant Readers Need The Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 283]

    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

    21 min

  4. JAN 22

    We’re Building our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s how to fix it. - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 282]

    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

    19 min

  5. JAN 15

    SEL and Organic Community Really Are This Simple - BNT Team Meeting [Episode 281]

    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

    20 min

  6. JAN 8

    New Year Teacher Trends for 2026: Goals, Books, and Real Talk - BNT Team Meeting (Ep 280)

    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

    28 min

  7. 2025-12-18

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

    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

    21 min

  8. 2025-12-11

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

    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

    15 min
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4.9
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

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!

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