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 Meeting
• Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting
• Episode 288, Pardon Us - STOP Meeting Students Where They Are?!?! - BNT Team Meeting

✨ SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode290

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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 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 reel
• Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
• Shop Our Faves.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 223, The Sherlock Society: An Interview with Author James Ponti
• Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting
• Episode 288, Pardon Us - STOP Meeting Students Where They Are?!?! - BNT Team Meeting

SHOW 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 Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
• Shop the BNT Resource Library
• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

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 Are
• Watch 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 Meeting
• Episode 282, We’re Building Our ELA Units WRONG. Here’s How to Fix It - BNT Team Meeting
• Episode 283, Resistant Readers Need the Four Reading Realms: A Walkthrough - BNT Team Meeting

SHOW 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 Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
• Shop the BNT Resource Library
• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel