New year, new team meeting, and it’s Amanda behind the mic kicking off 2026 with what’s been on my mind lately. In this episode, I share updates from my move into an elementary school library role, why curated is my word of the year, and how that mindset is shaping everything from my home to my business. We also talk reading goals, audiobooks, and how my feelings about reading numbers have shifted over time. I wrap things up by zooming out to the bigger picture of teaching and leave you with one essential question every department should be asking as we plan for what’s next!

🔗 Resources:

• Amanda’s Top Reads of 2025
• My One Word Activity
• Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
• Shop Our Faves.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 275, Fine, We Can Game-ify Reading (But No Gimmicks!)
• Episode 276, Ok, But What if the Secret to Getting Them to Read is Getting Them to WRITE??
• Episode 277, Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and the Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!)
• Episode 278, Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We're Going to Help Them Remember!

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode280

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Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson: shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!

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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

If you’re limping toward break and just trying to survive the week, this episode is a quick, honest team meeting and much-needed reality check. I reflect on how teaching has shifted since 2020, how AI and technology are changing our classrooms, and why many old strategies no longer work. This isn’t about changing everything now, but about planting seeds for a future shift and giving yourself permission to finish the year tired, steady, and still hopeful!

Resources:

• Real, Fake, or Deepfake? This Lesson Helps Students Decide
• Gen Z is Redefining Work - and Driving Their Managers Mad
• NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
• Shop Our Faves.

More BNT Team Meetings:

• Episode 275, Fine, We Can Game-ify Reading (But No Gimmicks!)
• Episode 276, Ok, But What if the Secret to Getting Them to Read is Getting Them to WRITE??
• Episode 277, Phones, Chromebooks, AI, and the Battle for Their Attention (Send Help!)
• Episode 278, Kids Have Officially Forgotten How to Play, and We're Going to Help Them Remember!

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode279

"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/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!

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

If your algorithm has also been screaming “screens are ruining humanity!” at you lately, then you’re right at home with us in this week’s team meeting. We break down the tech panic, talk about why students are tech comfortable but not tech fluent, and shift the focus back to building real human skills through creativity and play. From improv to pantomime, we’re exploring simple, screen-free ways to help kids think again, plus teasing our New Year’s “Favorite Things” party where we’ll swap our go-to play-based activities for the new term.

Resources:

• Article: We Asked Executives What Skills Young Works Are Missing. Here’s What They Said
• What the U.S. Can Learn From Finland, Where School Starts at Age 7
• NEW: Watch BNT episodes on YouTube!
• Shop Our Faves.

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode278

"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/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!

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