Unit Makeover featuring Ruta Sepetys: Historical Fiction, Research, and Storytelling [S5 E154]

Listen to the full episode below:

Did you catch our two part interview series with New York Times Bestselling Author, Ruta Sepetys? If not, you can check out part one in episode 152 and part two in episode 153. 

(Quick update: I, Amanda, have since MET Ruta in real life on her book tour!)

Now that the interview is over, we are dedicating this episode to two main things - a full debrief and to strategize how you can practically integrate her texts into your curriculum.

We’ll share what our big takeaways were from our conversation with Ruta. Then, we’ll dig into how you can makeover one of your units specifically using her latest novel, I Must Betray You or Between Shades of Gray. However, these ideas can really be used with all of her historical fiction novels. 

It’s clear that Ruta Sepetys has such a passion for educators and for allowing children to really be part of the conversation in our classrooms. We hope you enjoyed hearing from her as much as we did. If you had a big takeaway from this series, please send us a DM on Instagram @bravenewteaching.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

• Stepping away from the ‘textbook’ mindset and visualizing the exciting possibilities for the future in education

• Engaging our Youth in conversations of history and how it can empower them to be advocates in their own lives

• What to do if you’re constrained by mandated or scripted curriculums where you can’t easily bring in new books

• Our interpretation of vision boards for I Must Betray You and Between Shades of Gray

• Crafting the right essential questions for historical fiction, and examples of assessments 

• How teachers can supplement historical fiction with contemporary materials

Resources Mentioned:

• Sign up for Camp BNT (free!)

• Vision board (download for free)

• The Essential Question Adventure Pack: To What Extent is Rebellion a Requirement for Progress?

• The Essential Question Adventure Pack: Which is More Powerful: Fear or Hope?

• Lore Podcast

• Family Secrets podcast with Dani Shapiro

• I Must Betray You, Ruta Sepetys 

• Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys 

• More books by Ruta Sepetys

• Join the Brave New Teaching Happy Hour!

• Join Curriculum Rehab

• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching

• Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass

• Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching

• Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Related Episodes:

• Episode 152, Giving a Voice to the Voiceless: An Interview With Ruta Sepety (Part 1)

• Episode 153, Giving a Voice to the Voiceless: An Interview with Ruta Sepetys (Part 2)

• Episode 151, Our Summer Mission: Culturally Responsive & Equitable Teaching

• Episode 150, Celebrating Diverse Voices - AAPI Authors 

• Episode 13 & 14, To Visualize a Unit

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.