2026 Will Bring Uncomfortable Shifts, and That’s a Really Good Thing - BNT Team Meeting [S7 EP. 279]

Listen to the full episode below:

If you’re counting down the minutes until break while whispering “just get me through this week,” this episode is your deep breath and reality check. I’m popping in with a short, honest team meeting - no forced optimism, no grand resolutions -  just a grounding pep talk to help you close out the year and look ahead to 2026 without pretending everything in education is fine (because… it’s not).

In this episode, I talk about how much teaching has changed since 2020 and why so many strategies that used to work just don’t anymore. I reflect on what 2025 really felt like, how AI and tech are reshaping our classrooms whether we like it or not, and why student engagement looks so different right now. I also share a real-life moment that stopped me in my tracks and reminded me that our kids still have incredible problem-solving instincts. We just have to know where (and how) to look!

Most importantly, this episode isn’t about blowing up your curriculum or adding more to your plate. It’s about planting seeds. I start laying the groundwork for a slow, intentional shift toward teaching the skills that actually matter, while giving you full permission to stay the course for now. This is about finishing the year upright, thinking differently over break, and remembering that tired doesn’t mean defeated.

topics discussed:

  • A reflection on how our teaching perspectives have shifted post-pandemic

  • Grappling with massive changes in education, including technology, shifting student needs, and the impact of artificial intelligence on teaching and learning

  • The reconsideration of direct writing instruction in light of AI’s growing abilities, and questioning which classroom practices are still valuable

  • The importance of soft skills as the essential focus for future teaching

  • A look at generational shifts in the workplace and the implications for how teachers prepare students for adult life and workforce expectations

resources:

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More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

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