Warm Demander Strategies and Our Latest Book Obsessions - BNT Team Meeting [S7 EP. 289]

Listen to the full episode below:

We started this week’s team meeting with an honest reading update: some books we loved, some that totally disappointed us, and a whole stack that we started but just weren’t in the mood to finish. 

From dragon-filled fantasy to witty stories about messy, very real families, we swapped recommendations and talked about how our reading lives ebb and flow. Sometimes you’re devouring books left and right, and sometimes you’re opening a new one every night hoping it’s finally the right fit!

But the real reason we jumped on the mic was to share a reel we came across from Edutopia about being a “warm demander” in the classroom. While we both have some feelings about the name, the idea behind it really resonated with us: holding students to high expectations while also building strong, respectful relationships. 

The teacher in the reel walks through specific examples of what this actually sounds like in real classroom moments, which we appreciated because it shows the strategy in action. It’s a great reminder that classroom management can be both firm and respectful - expecting students to contribute to the community while making it clear that you care about them and believe they can rise to the challenge.

topics discussed:

  • What we’ve been reading lately, including dragon fantasy, witty family stories, and a few books that didn’t quite land

  • Why sometimes the best reading strategy is simply abandoning a book that isn’t the right mood

  • A reel from Edutopia highlighting five ways to be a “warm demander” in the classroom

  • What “warm demander” classroom management actually looks like in real teacher–student interactions

  • How high expectations and strong relationships can exist at the same time

  • Why practical strategies from real classroom teachers tend to be the most helpful resources

What We’re Reading:

  • Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

  • The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson

  • Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

  • A Language of Dragons by S. F. Williamson

  • Wreck by Katherine Newman

  • Sandwich by Katherine Newman

  • Alchemized by SenLinYu

Middle Grades & Kids Books:

  • City Spies by James Ponti

  • The Sherlock Society by James Ponti

  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner

  • Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

  • Nancy Drew Diaries

  • Diary of a Pug by Kyla May

  • Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

resources:

check out other bnt episodes:

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 and Spotify.

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