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

Marie Morris & Amanda Cardenas, Secondary ELA Teachers
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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. 1D AGO

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

    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. Resources: Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University!Rules to BSWatch BNT episodes on YouTube.Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 279, 2026 Will Bring Uncomfortable Shifts, and That's a Really Good Thing - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 289, Warm Demander Strategies and Our Latest Book Obsessions - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 290, The World is on Fire! What Can We Actually Control Right Now? - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 291, The 7 Stages of Grief When You Hear “Robot Teachers Are Coming” (Because WHAT?!)✨ 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 👩‍💻 Join Happy Hour!Curriculum RehabDown with the Reading QuizShop the BNT Resource LibraryConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

    19 min

  2. 4D AGO

    The 7 Stages of Grief When You Hear “Robot Teachers Are Coming” (Because WHAT?!) [Ep 291]

    Okay but… are we really talking about robot teachers right now?! Because when I first saw that headline, I laughed, fully assuming it was an early April Fool’s joke. And then I realized… oh, we’re being serious. In this episode, I walk through my very real 7 stages of grief after hearing robots might be stepping into education, from laughing it off to spiraling to getting genuinely fired up, and what comes after all of that. Because at the end of the day, no robot is replacing the human side of this job! I’m sharing what’s still in our control as we keep showing up for our students in a world that feels a little chaotic right now. Resources: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 279, 2026 Will Bring Uncomfortable Shifts, and That's a Really Good Thing - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 289, Warm Demander Strategies and Our Latest Book Obsessions - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 290, The World is on Fire! What Can We Actually Control Right Now? - BNT Team MeetingSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode291 "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 RehabDown with the Reading QuizShop the BNT Resource LibraryConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

    18 min

  3. MAR 19

    The World is on Fire! What Can We Actually Control Right Now? - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 290]

    Some days the classroom feels completely out of your control, and honestly, sometimes it is. In this solo pep talk, I focus on what we can control, from navigating student anxiety during course selection season to unpacking how post-COVID habits are impacting their coping skills. I share real conversations I’m having with students about goals and trade-offs, along with how I’m balancing my own priorities and making tough decisions in my program. This episode is all about small, practical shifts - thinking in terms of what you’re willing to invest, what you need to let go of, and how to make deposits into your energy, time, and emotional “bank account". Resources: Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University.Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 281, SEL and Organic Community Really Are This Simple - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 288, Pardon Us - STOP Meeting Students Where They Are?!?!  - BNT Team Meeting✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode290 "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 RehabDown with the Reading QuizShop the BNT Resource LibraryConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

    17 min

  4. MAR 12

    Warm Demander Strategies and Our Latest Book Obsessions - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 289]

    In this week’s team meeting, we share what we’ve been reading and swap book recommendations (and a few that didn’t quite land). Then we dive into an Edutopia reel about being a “warm demander” in the classroom, exploring how to hold students to high expectations while building strong, respectful relationships. We break down what this actually looks like in real moments, plus share tips that you can apply in your own classroom! Resources: Become a founding beta tester of Brave New Teaching University.Edutopia’s warm demander reelWatch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Related Episodes: Episode 223, The Sherlock Society: An Interview with Author James PontiEpisode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 288, Pardon Us - STOP Meeting Students Where They Are?!?! - BNT Team MeetingSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode289 "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 RehabDown with the Reading QuizShop the BNT Resource LibraryConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

    19 min

  5. MAR 5

    Pardon us - STOP Meeting Students Where They Are?!?! - BNT Team Meeting [Ep 288]

    Ever feel like every headline about teaching is trying to make you panic? That was the reaction this week when reading The Atlantic article claiming teachers should stop meeting students where they are. We unpack what it really means, share recent reads, and highlight classroom and library projects. Check out the article, and see what conversations it sparks in your own teaching! Resources: Atlantic Article: Stop Meeting Students Where They AreWatch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our Faves.Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Related Episodes: Episode 281, SEL and Organic Community Really Are This Simple - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix It - BNT Team MeetingEpisode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team MeetingSHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode288 "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 RehabDown with the Reading QuizShop the BNT Resource LibraryConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

    28 min

  6. FEB 26

    Test Lessons Debrief [Ep 287]

    🔗 Grab our FREE 100% Engagement Listening Guide to get even more out of this episode! What if 100% engagement isn’t about doing more, but about choosing differently? After two episodes with the authors of 100% Engagement, this is our real classroom debrief. We share what happened when we actually tried the strategies, from reworking Book Snaps to spark better conversations to adapting a musical chairs–style activity into a fast-paced fiction preview. We unpack engagement vs. compliance, small shifts that changed lesson energy, and why engagement is part of our professional responsibility...not a performance! 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 BarberWatch BNT episodes on YouTube!Shop Our FavesRelated Episodes: Episode 285, 100% Engagement (Part 1)Episode 286, 100% Engagement (Part 2)SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode287 "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 RehabDown with the Reading QuizShop the BNT Resource LibraryConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

    32 min

  7. FEB 19

    100% Engagement (Part 2) [Ep 286]

    What do you do when last period feels like it’s dragging and everyone, including you, is running on fumes? In part two of our conversation with Brian Sztabnik and Susan Barber, we share quick, high-energy strategies to reset the room, from Top Chef–inspired build challenges to two-sentence horror stories and poetry puzzles that get students moving and thinking fast.  We also talk meme projects for Pride and Prejudice, character playlists for Frankenstein, and how to build a classroom culture where it’s safe to care. Most importantly, we remind you that engagement doesn’t have to be nonstop chaos. Sometimes quiet reading and plot review are exactly what your students need, and what you’re doing already matters. Resources: 100% Engagement Listening Guide (FREE!)Watch 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 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix ItEpisode 284, 100% Engagement (Part 1)✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode286 "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 RehabDown with the Reading QuizShop the BNT Resource LibraryConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

    32 min

  8. FEB 12

    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 BooksEp"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 RehabDown with the Reading QuizShop the BNT Resource LibraryConnect with us on Instagram @bravenewteachingSubscribe to our YouTube Channel

    42 min
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4.8
out of 5
284 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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