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. Marie shares how she took a bold leap by introducing a fantasy choice novel unit, transforming student engagement and challenging traditional ideas of what counts as “American Lit.” This episode ties together our vertical alignment approach from earlier grades and emphasizes how thoughtfully crafted essential questions and genre expansion can deepen student connection and critical thinking.

We also dive into the power of student choice, sharing how Socratic seminars, rhetorical analysis, and multimedia pairings help students explore themes like escape, identity, and morality. You’ll hear our favorite supplemental texts and movies, a suggested summative assessment, and four key features to focus on throughout the unit. And if you’re a Happy Hour member, you’ll get access to this entire unit! Join us next week as we kick off another summer of Camp BNT!

Resources:

• Jib Fowles’ “Advertising’s 15 Basic Appeals”
• Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn
• House in the Cerulean Sea, by Tj Klune
• Percy Jackson, by Rick Riordan
• Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas

Related Episodes:

• Episode 63, Choice Reading 101
• Episode 96, How to Select Choice Reading + Our 20 Favorite Classroom Books
• Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design
• Episode 257, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA
• Episode 258, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying the Odyssey for 9-10 Grade ELA

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode259

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Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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📚 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

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 journeys!

In this third episode of our Hero’s Journey series, we’re diving into how we’ve completely reimagined teaching The Odyssey to ninth graders. If you’ve been following along, you know we started this series with an overview of using the Hero’s Journey as a curriculum tool, then explored what it looks like in middle school using The Hobbit. Now we’re shifting the focus to high school—and it’s not just about leveling up content, it’s about deepening the purpose.

We’re talking essential questions, student-centered analysis, and ways to move from plot summaries to powerful conversations, like whether or not you can still be a hero if you never leave home. We’re also sharing how this unit can end with a project that feels more personal, more reflective, and way more meaningful than a traditional essay or presentation.

Resources and Related Episodes:

• Freebie: Hero’s Journey Evidence Tracker
• Episode 15, To Write an Essential Question
• Episode 16, To Find Supplementory Texts
• Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design
• Episode 257, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode258

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Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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📚 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

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, skills-based exploration of the hero’s journey. We dive into using essential questions, shifting focus from content to critical thinking, and using tools like our favorite evidence tracker to make Bilbo’s transformation come alive. Plus, we chat about modern pairings and why it’s okay if your students don’t read every page. This one’s all about making fantasy feel relevant, engaging, and fun—for you and your students.

Resources:

• Freebie: Hero’s Journey Evidence Tracker
• The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Join Curriculum Rehab

Related Episodes:

• Episode 85, Teaching Novels When Kids Don’t Read at Home Part 1
• Episode 86, Teaching Novels When Kids Don’t Read at Home Part 2
• Episode 243, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Unit Possibilities
• Episode 244, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X
• Episode 245, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas
• Episode 246, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Supplemental and Alternative Text Ideas
• Episode 247, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Assessments
• Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Do’s and Dont’s of Unit Design

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode257

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

Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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📚 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

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 episode, we share how this timeless framework can lead to deeper thinking, richer discussions, and yes… even a newfound love for fantasy (spoiler: one of us used to be a skeptic!). You’ll walk away with essential questions to anchor your units AND a free evidence tracker to help students go beyond surface-level plot.

Resources:

• Freebie: Hero’s Journey Evidence Tracker
• Join Happy Hour!
• Shop more BNT resources

Related Episodes:

• Episode 15, To Write an Essential Question
• Episode 16, To Find Supplementory Texts
• Episode 59, Essential Question Workshop: 12th Grade Lit
• Episode 81, Essential Question Workshop: Dystopia (Woohoo!)

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode256

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

Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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

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 sharing some of our own “what were we thinking?” moments, along with practical strategies to help you rethink and rescue those well-intentioned lessons. From creative writing prompts that actually work to research assignments that don’t overwhelm, we’re diving into how structure and clarity can save your sanity this time of year!

Resources:

• End of Year Activity Bundle for Secondary ELA
• Build a Story: Summer Break Countdown
• End of Year Countdown - Famous Last Lines
• End of Year Time Capsule
• End of Year Station Activity
• More End of Year Resources
• Blog Post: 10 Ideas for a Fun, Reflective End of Year Activity

Related Episodes:

• Episode 254, Looking Ahead to Next Year: Fundraising Ideas for Books (Book Fairs & Read-a-Thons)
• Episode 253, Summer Reading Rescue - Part 2
• Episode 252, Summer Reading Rescue - Part 1
• Episode 144, Teacher Spring Cleaning: Curriculum & Activities
• Episode 129, Classroom Transformations & “Fun” Activities
• Episode 8 & 9, To Teach at the End of the Year

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode255

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

Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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

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 funds for books while creating a strong literacy culture. Amanda walks through her recent experience running a successful Read-a-Thon, including choosing a platform, organizing volunteers, and getting local businesses involved. We’re also talking about the perks of hosting a book fair (yes, in high school) to set the stage for an amazing school year ahead!

Amanda has compiled her step-by-step process for hosting a read-a-thon into a resource for you, complete with text message, social media, and email prompts for families! And guess what? If you’re a member of Happy Hour, you’ll receive it for FREE! If you aren’t a member of Happy Hour, you can grab that resource here.

Resources:

• Amanda's Read-a-Thon Resource
• Get Movin’ Fund Hub
• RallyUp
• Join Happy Hour!

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode254

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

Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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

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 the conversation about how we can reimagine summer reading programs to actually work, and even bring joy back to reading. We know the summer slide is real, and in part one, I laid the groundwork by talking about the research and the importance of having a clear PURPOSE behind your program. Today, we’re diving into the next two pillars: CHOICE and INTERACTION.

I’m sharing practical ways to give students ownership over what and how they read—think audiobooks, podcasts, themed book lists, and even reading challenges that feel more like games than assignments. Plus, we’ll explore how to build community around reading with virtual book clubs, fun incentives, and social connection that lasts beyond the summer.

If you're ready to bring your summer reading program back to life, grab the resources at bravenewteaching.com/summerreading and join the movement! 🥳

Resources:

• Watch the video version of this episode
• The First Ten Days of School: Amanda’s Walkthrough
• Bookclubs.com
• Goodreads
• StoryGraph
• Litsee
• Fable
• Episode 252, Summer Reading Rescue - Part 1
• Canva - make your own reading gameboard!

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode253

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

Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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

What the research tells us is clear: reading skills are lost over the summer.

And that loss is not equitably distributed among our student population. It’s estimated that low income students can lose up to two months of reading achievement over the summer - much more than more affluent students.

So we are faced with a dilemma: we know that the summer slide is real, but we also know that forcing students to read over the summer hasn’t necessarily worked for many of us.

In today’s episode, Amanda makes the case for summer reading programs that are a reimagining of what’s possible. By focusing on PURPOSE, CHOICE, AND INTERACTION, Amanda has suggestions for a revitalized program that is worth a chat with your ELA department before summer comes along.

In Part 1, Amanda will address the research behind the summer slide and designing the PURPOSE of your summer reading program.

In Part 2, Amanda will continue the reimagining of the program by discussing what CHOICE and INTERACTION could look like as the second and third components.

Resources:

• Watch the video version of this episode
• The First Ten Days of School: Amanda’s Walkthrough

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode252

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

Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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