Text Pairings & Supplements: Where to Start [S4 E89]

Listen to the full episode below:

If you read the title of this episode, you may or may not know what this episode is about. We say this because most people have different definitions of what text pairings and supplemental texts are. We go into detail of how we differentiate these two types of texts and when we use them in our lessons. 

As most of our listeners already know, the texts we choose are not the main focus of our units, but are used as tools to teach our concepts and literacy skills.

In this episode, we will be talking through finding a text pairing and supplemental texts for a unit using Frankenstein for the anchor text (Amanda’s favorite!) We speak very candidly and walk you through our thought process for the decisions that we make. We balance our ideas by researching novels, documentaries, speeches, and resources that would likely be interesting to our students. 

This process of creating balance starts at a Google search and ends with a carefully thought-out unit. We hope this episode helps your curriculum shine the way you know it needs to and gives your students diverse opportunities.

Topics Covered:

  • Our definitions of text pairings, supplemental texts, and core texts

  • Finding a text pairing and supplemental texts for a unit using the anchor text, Frankenstein

  • The three factors that drive essential questions

  • Tips for the thought process to help search for resources 

  • How to bring in diversity when you have a list of required texts

Resources

Related 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, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Amanda Cardenas