THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas [S7 EP. 245]

Listen to the full episode below:

Ever struggled to get students excited about novels in verse? In this episode, we’re sharing creative, low-pressure ways to ease them into poetry analysis without the overwhelm. With engaging, hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to make storytelling through verse feel accessible and fun from day one. As we always say, a good gateway can make or break a unit!

One of the biggest game-changers is meeting students where they are. By tapping into things they already love, like music and interactive learning, you can help them see the connections between poetry and storytelling in a way that just CLICKS! These strategies not only build confidence, but also set the stage for deeper analysis as the unit unfolds.

We’re also talking about fresh ways to approach perspective and text analysis - ones that get students thinking critically without feeling like another tedious assignment. Whether you’re looking to revamp your novel in verse units or just need a few easy wins, this episode is packed with ideas you can start using right away.

Catch up on our other episodes in the Novels in Verse Series:

Topics Discussed:

  • Examples of skills that students need practice with when reading a novel in verse

  • A fun way to teach students how to mark a text

  • How to a gateway activity ties to the essential question

  • Analyzing songs as a gateway activity

  • A station-based activity that allows students to explore multiple perspectives

More 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!

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