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

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Head to bravenewteaching.com/waitlist to become a beta tester for BNT University!

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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

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

🔗 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 Barber
• Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
• Shop Our Faves

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