Best Amanda Cardenas Podcasts (2025)

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LIBBA BRAY: A Conversation about Under the Same Stars [Ep 267] 58:53

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7d ago58:53

58:53

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 in by her honesty, humor, and the kind of insight that makes you pause and say, “Yes, that’s it.” What started as a chat about books quickly turned into a rich, winding conversation about creativity,…

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KATIE BAYERL: A Conversation about What Comes After [Ep 266] 45:22

14d ago45:22

45:22

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 teacher turned YA author Katie Bayerl about her newest book, What Comes After—a laugh-out-loud, heart-tugging story about grief, identity, and the afterlife. Katie shares her journey from the classroom to the writ…

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BREAK FOR THE 4TH: Amanda’s Road Trip Advice for Teacher Parents [Ep 265] 56:42

21d ago56:42

56:42

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 that summer travel takes some serious strategy. In this solo episode, I’m sharing all my favorite tips for stress-free, memory-filled road trips. From how I set up my car to the genius packing system that s…

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AARON H. ACEVES: A Conversation about This is Why They Hate Us [Ep 264] 47:31

28d ago47:31

47:31

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 identity and the power of honest storytelling. Aaron’s openness about his own journey challenged us to reflect on how we, as educators, can lead with vulnerability and create space for students to do t…

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AIMEE PHAN: A Conversation about The Lost Queen Part 2 [Ep 263] 24:30

1M ago24:30

24:30

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 and thoughtful this discussion is. In this episode, we dive deeper into how retellings like The Lost Queen can help students see that stories aren’t set in stone—and that they have the freedom to make s…

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AIMEE PHAN: A Conversation about The Lost Queen Part 1 [Ep 262] 35:24

1M ago35:24

35:24

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 Aimee Phan about her brand new YA fantasy novel, The Lost Queen. Aimee shares how her experience growing up as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees—and the absence of Vietnamese stories in the books she …

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SAMIRA AHMED: A Conversation About Internment, Part 2 [Ep 261] 47:17

2M ago47:17

47:17

In part two of our conversation with author Samira Ahmed, we deep dive into the genre of Internment—is it dystopian, speculative, or realistic fiction?—and why that label matters in the classroom. What starts as a conversation about shelving quickly becomes an exploration of how genre influences student thinking, how we can break down subject silos…

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SAMIRA AHMED: A Conversation About Internment, Part 1 [Ep 260] 1:05:12

2M ago1:05:12

1:05:12

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 this episode, Samira shares how her time in the classroom shaped her writing, the inspiration behind Internment, and how educators can use essential questions to spark powerful conversations. Plus, get a s…

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TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: A Fantasy Choice Unit Approach for 11- 12 Grade ELA [Ep 259] 33:57

2M ago33:57

33:57

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 o…

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TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Studying the Odyssey for 9-10 Grade ELA [Ep 258] 21:29

2M ago21:29

21:29

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 thi…

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TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA [Ep 257] 25:35

3M ago25:35

25:35

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 tran…

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TEACHING THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design [Ep 256] 37:05

3M ago37:05

37:05

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 q…

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THE WORST ACTIVITIES TO USE IN ELA (and How to Make Them Better) [Ep 255] 31:42

3M ago31:42

31:42

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 rese…

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LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR: Fundraising Ideas for Books (Book Fairs & Read-a-Thons) [Ep 254] 34:51

3M ago34:51

34:51

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 …

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SUMMER READING RESCUE - PART 2 [Ep 253] 45:56

3M ago45:56

45:56

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 talkin…

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SUMMER READING RESCUE - PART 1 [Ep 252] 41:49

4M ago41:49

41:49

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 summ…

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TEACHERS REACT: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books - Part 2 [Ep 251] 27:41

4M ago27:41

27:41

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 College Students Who Can’t Read Books. Need the TL;DR? The article claims Gen Z is reading the fewest amount of books in recent history and some of the adverse effects of shifting to skill-focused learning. T…

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TEACHERS REACT: The Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books, Part 1 [Ep 250] 35:38

4M ago35:38

35:38

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 unpack its bold claims about reading full books, attention spans, technology, and the shift toward skill-focused education. We’re asking the tough questions and sharing our real reactions! One thing is f…

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TRENDING BOOKS: SPRING TITLES [Ep 249] 30:29

4M ago30:29

30:29

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 buzzing with excitement over all the amazing new releases coming out, from Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life to John Green’s Everything is Tuberculosis. If you’re anything like us, your TBR list is ab…

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DAY IN THE LIFE WITH MARIE [Ep 248] 20:44

5M ago20:44

20:44

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 lessons and theatre rehearsals, my days as a high school teacher are anything but boring. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a typical day in my life - showing you how I bring creati…

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THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Assessments [Ep 247] 22:15

5M ago22:15

22:15

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 series, we’re diving into fresh, creative ways to assess student learning that go beyond the standard essay. Whether you love assessments or dread them, this conversation will challenge the way you think a…

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THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Supplemental and Alternative Text Ideas [Ep 246] 22:53

5M ago22:53

22:53

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 questions, and gateway activities.Now it’s time to get into our favorite part…supplemental ideas! Get ready to hear creative ways to supplement The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. We focus on the essential …

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THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas [Ep 245] 21:02

5M ago21:02

21:02

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 analysis without the overwhelm. With engaging, hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to make storytelling through verse feel accessible and fun from day one. As we always say, a good gateway can make or b…

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THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X [Ep 244] 27:28

6M ago27:28

27:28

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 conversation using Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X as our guide. We’re exploring two distinct essential questions that can shape a thoughtful unit - one that focuses on the craft of language and another …

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THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Unit Possibilities [243] 25:07

6M ago25:07

25:07

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 narrative verse and explore how these texts, like The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, can bring poetry to life in your classroom! With their accessible format and rich themes, novels in verse offer endless poss…

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NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Perspectives on Teaching and Education [Ep 242] 26:41

6M ago26:41

26:41

Starting a new year in education means facing fresh challenges (and opportunities) with a renewed mindset. In this episode, we’re diving into how ELA teachers can thrive amid changing expectations and pressures. From prioritizing self-care to balancing the demands of teaching, we’re sharing practical strategies to help you navigate today’s complex …

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NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Strategies for Teachers [Ep 241] 23:42

6M ago23:42

23:42

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 teaching and make a big impact, from encouraging critical thinking to refining routines that work. Let’s start with critical thinking—it’s the foundation for preparing students to navigate today’s fast-pac…

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NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Tech for Teachers [Ep 240] 29:21

7M ago29:21

29:21

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 missed last week’s episode on new books, be sure to check it out—we left you with a bit of a cliffhanger that we’ll resolve at the beginning of this episode! Technology is constantly evolving and is everywhere arou…

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NEW YEAR AT BNT: New Books for Teachers [Ep 239] 26:02

7M ago26:02

26:02

Happy New Year, Brave New Teachers! 🎉 In this episode of the "Brave New Teaching" podcast, hosts Marie and Amanda chat about their reading goals for 2025, highlighting how literature can really boost both personal and professional growth. They toss around some great book recommendations like "The Poppy War" by R.F. Kuang, and they’re super excited …

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238. LOOKING BACK/LOOKING FORWARD 35:33

7M ago35:33

35:33

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 Teaching episode of 2024. It’s been quite a year, and we want to take a moment to reflect on the challenges and triumphs from the year. You’ll hear about our favorite podcast highlights and personal highlights fr…

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237. CHILL! WE HAVE YOUR SUB PLANS COVERED! 40:30

7M ago40:30

40:30

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, your child is sick, or you have an emergency. Whatever the reason, the only thing worse is knowing that you have to scramble to put sub plans together! You don’t want your students to have a waste of a…

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236. THE BNT BOOKS OF 2024 31:59

8M ago31:59

31:59

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 bit of a reading rut and the other is absolutely killing it! Whether you’re struggling to pick up a book in this season or can’t get through them fast enough, you’re in the right place. Today we’re shari…

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235. Finding Gratitude When Life and Teaching Feel HARD 30:43

8M ago30:43

30:43

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 you and thankful for you -- always! "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson: shop.bravenewteaching.com/…

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234. The Art of Analysis: Scenario and Game-Based Strategies that are FUN (Part 3/3) 34:36

8M ago34:36

34:36

In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda finishes a three-part series on teaching different types of analysis, this time focusing on scenario-based and game-based teaching methods. Amanda, a former English teacher from Illinois, leads the discussion, sharing three specific lesson ideas: Rhetoric Roll-the-Dice and The Spare Change Gameshow. The…

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233. The Art of Analysis: 3 Visual Tactics to Teach Analysis (Part 2/3) 34:36

8M ago34:36

34:36

In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda continues a three-part series on teaching different types of analysis, this time focusing on visual teaching strategies to help students break apart a text. Amanda, a former English teacher from Illinois, leads the discussion, sharing three specific lesson ideas: Map it Out, One Pager Quote, and the Lit…

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232. The Art of Analysis: A Deep Dive into Personification (Part 1/3) 31:51

9M ago31:51

31:51

In this episode of Brave New Teaching, Amanda and Marie launch a three-part series on teaching literary analysis, focusing on close reading and personification. Amanda, a former English teacher from Illinois, leads the discussion, sharing insights from a summer training session. She emphasizes the importance of breaking down texts to understand how…

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231. Teaching Novels When Kids Don't Read at Home Part 1 [Re-Run E85] 39:30

9M ago39:30

39:30

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 yet and we KNOW that this is one of the most difficult and common ELA teacher struggles: getting kids to read at home. There is without a doubt a universal fact amongst all students throughout elementary and high…

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Building Strong Writers: An Interview with Christina Schnider of The Daring English Teacher [Ep 230] 43:35

9M ago43:35

43:35

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 skills when it comes to writing, and let’s not even get started with AI! If you often feel like no matter what you do, writing just isn’t sticking for your students, then this episode is for you. We’re joine…

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5 New Texts to Add to your Gothic Fiction Unit: Guest Collaborators Share New Faves 27:21

9M ago27:21

27:21

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’re here to share some new texts with you - roundup style. You’ll hear from us and three of our ELA friends so you can walk away with fresh stories to add to your gothic fiction archive. You can pair these …

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Buffalo Dreamer: An Interview with Author Violet Duncan [Ep 228] 38:15

10M ago38:15

38:15

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, brings part of her world to students around the world through her storytelling. Violet is Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation and began self-publishing books when she didn’t see her family…

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Code Breaking and Critical Thinking: An Interview with Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin [Ep 227] 54:36

10M ago54:36

54:36

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 author, Steve Sheinkin! Ruta and Steve had teamed up and co-authored a new book called The Bletchley Riddle. The Bletchley Riddle is a historical mystery for middle grades and we’re so honored to have the opp…

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226. 4 DYSTOPIAN GENRE TEACHING TIPS: A ROUND UP EPISODE 25:36

10M ago25:36

25:36

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 students, but there’s also so much opportunity to teach it across many grade levels. And don’t get us started on all the supplemental texts you can use! We could go on and on all day about why we love dys…

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225. THREE NEW BOOKS FOR YOUR CLASSROOM LIBRARY 27:44

10M ago27:44

27:44

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-time ELA teacher) to share our top three new book recommendations. Choosing just one book each wasn’t easy, but we got it done! You’ll hear each of our selections and why we think it deserves a spot on your …

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HH 89. Q&A: SHOULD I LEAVE MY JOB AND BECOME A TEACHER (HAPPY HOUR UNLOCKED) 22:39

10M ago22:39

22:39

Cheers! Find all your Brave New Teaching Happy Hour member info HERE: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/hhmembers "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!" Support the show 📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻 Join Happy Hour! Curriculum Rehab Down with the Reading Quiz Shop the BNT Resource Library…

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224. WHAT DISNEY WORLD TAUGHT ME ABOUT TEACHING THEME 42:47

10M ago42:47

42:47

There are several frequently asked questions that we get in our Brave New Teaching community and many of them center around teaching theme. For example, How can we make teaching theme easier? What are some new ways of teaching theme? What do students really need to know when it comes to theme? It’s clear that theme is something we could all use add…

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222. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 5: FIRST DAY LESSON PLAN) 10:55

11M ago10:55

10:55

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 priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222. "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can cha…

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221. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 4: TEACHER GRWM) 10:35

11M ago10:35

10:35

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 priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222. "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can cha…

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220. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 3: TEACHER MEAL PREP) 12:01

11M ago12:01

12:01

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 priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222. "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can cha…

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219. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 2: COMMUNITY BUILDING) 10:54

11M ago10:54

10:54

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 priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222. "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can cha…

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218. BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT FOR TEACHERS (DAY 1: CLASSROOM SETUP) 9:10

11M ago9:10

9:10

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 priorities for the first days of school. Download your checklist HERE and join us for our mini podcast series on episodes 218 - 222. "Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can cha…