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

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

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• 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 

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

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• Curriculum Rehab
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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

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

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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

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

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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. Today, we’re continuing the discussion, with a focus on college readiness.  

The article shares the perspective of college professors who are finding their students unable to keep up with the reading. So what does that say about our high schoolers? Well, it’s not just about students struggling with books! It’s about an education system that’s set them up to prioritize achievement over learning. In this episode, we talk about the race to college, the stress that students are under, and why so many of them feel disconnected from reading.

Instead of pointing fingers, let’s figure out how educators can meet students where they are, spark their curiosity, and make reading feel less like a chore and more like an experience. We think through some practical strategies to bring reading back to life in the classroom (and have lots of episodes linked in the show notes on how to help achieve this). We’re definitely at a turning point in the history of education - and it’s not all doom and gloom! We truly feel that we’re all going to come out better on the other side of it all.

To continue this conversation, join us in Happy Hour, where we’re working together to plan and put things into practice!

Resources:

• Download your discussion guide
• The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books
• Educator Atlantic Subscription
• Flipster X Your Local Library
• Podcast: Why

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

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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 for sure. If we want students to read, we need to be intentional about how we build our curriculum! Grab our discussion guide to reflect on this conversation, and join Curriculum Rehab for the tools to create engaging, student-centered lessons. Plus, stay tuned for part two next week, where we’ll tackle college readiness and what comes next!

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/episode250

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

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• Down with the Reading Quiz
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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 about to explode, and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

We’re sharing our top books that we cannot wait to read this spring, and hopefully this episode is coming your way just in time for spring break. We don’t know about you, but we’re shooting for no less than three books a day over here 😉.  And we’re hoping that maybe there’s one or two we can use in the classroom as well! Send us a DM on Instagram @bravenewteaching and let us know what’s on your spring reading list.

PS: We’re not just here to talk about what we’re reading! We’ve got some homework for you, too! We’ll be diving into a two-part discussion on The Atlantic’s article The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books in our next couple of episodes. If you want to be part of that conversation (and trust me, you do), give the article a read and get ready to unpack it with us!

All the titles we talk about in the episode are listed in the show notes and you can shop all of the spring titles on Bookshop.org (Amanda’s List | Marie’s List) or Amazon.

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode249

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

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• Join Happy Hour!
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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 creativity into my classroom and balance all the moving parts of being a teacher.

This day was extra special because I am transforming my English classroom into a giant cozy reading fort. I’m bringing you along as I do it and you’ll hear how my students responded to it as we kick off a Fantasy unit centered around the question “Why do we pursue escape?”. Plus I’ll share what book snaps are. Your students will love it!

Then, you’ll hear me jump into full-on theatre production mode as I wrap up the school day. It’s a 16-hour day condensed into 15 minutes of audio! If you like this type of episode and want more vlog-style episodes, send us a DM on Instagram. We would love to bring you more!

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode248

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

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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 about measuring student growth.

We’re breaking down the balance between formative and summative assessments and sharing how small, intentional check-ins (like Sesame Street quizzes!) can build toward deeper, more meaningful final projects. You’ll hear how centering an essential question, like Which is more important, knowing your story or telling it?, can guide students through analysis, creativity, and self-expression. Plus, we’ll walk you through summative assessment options that allow students to showcase their understanding in a way that works best for them.

And if you’re looking for a quick, skills-focused assessment that doesn’t take hours to prep or grade, we’ve got you covered with a strategy that simplifies everything. we’re even sharing ways to mix and match different assessment types so you can create the perfect approach for your classroom. Trust us, if assessments have ever felt like a headache, this episode will leave you feeling ready to try something new!

Resources:

• Down With the Reading Quiz: Free Masterclass on Formative Assessments
• Episode 246, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Supplemental and Alternative Text Ideas
• Episode 245, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas
• Episode 244, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X
• Episode 243, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Unit Possibilities

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

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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 question: Which is more important, knowing your story or telling it? And we discuss key themes that can help students connect more deeply with the novel and their own experiences.

You’ll hear a mix of literary and pop culture resources that can bring these themes to life in fresh and exciting ways. From classic texts to modern music and even moments from film and theatre, these ideas will encourage your students to think critically about storytelling, identity, and self-expression. We also talk about different approaches to integrating these supplementals into a unit without overwhelming students - or teachers!

If you have more ideas for making a novels in verse unit more dynamic and engaging, we would love to hear from you! Send us a message on Instagram @bravenewteaching and join us in Happy Hour, where we share done-for-you resources, new strategies, and a supportive community of teachers like you!

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode246

"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