Today, we’re talking about one of my favorite topics- independent reading. And more specifically, how to make it work alongside your full-class novels.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to lit circles or you’ve been using them for a while, this episode is full of tips and tricks for everyone

Highlights:

• Use Independent Reading Time as a Daily Bellringer
• Try a Genre-Based Literature Circle
• Connect Your Novels Through Literary Elements
• Compare and Contrast in Key Assignments
• Show That Independent Reading Matters

Resources Mentioned:

Genre Based Literature Circles - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Genre-Based-Units-for-Literature-Circles-Book-Clubs-Independent-Reading-12714838?utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%2035%20-%20Genre-Based%20Literature%20Circles%20Bundle

100 YA Books to Add to Your Classroom Library Freebie - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5ebd6642fb8a970026998fa5

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Your new favorite unit has arrived!

Grab your ready-to-use collection of three engaging mini-units that dive into the worlds of dystopia, science fiction, and fantasy. Each unit comes with genre introductions, discussion guides, and engaging projects like a dystopian society brochure, a sci-fi character analysis, and a hero’s journey exploration for fantasy. Plus, there are brand new Rate That Book activities to help students discover what they love to read! You can find it by heading to my Teachers Pay Teachers shop, Samantha in Secondary, and searching for speculative fiction.

Tune in to hear five practical and budget-friendly ways to stock your shelves, along with some of my own favorite strategies that helped me create a diverse and engaging collection of books—without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or just looking to refresh your library with new titles, this episode is packed with ideas to help you build a literary haven for your students.

Highlights:

• Make Secondhand Stores Your Best Friend
• Shop Online for Hidden Deals
• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Donations
• Library Sales Are a Hidden Treasure
• Apply for Book Grants

Resources Mentioned:

100 YA Books to Add to Your Classroom Library Freebie - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5ebd6642fb8a970026998fa5

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Your new favorite unit has arrived!

Grab your ready-to-use collection of three engaging mini-units that dive into the worlds of dystopia, science fiction, and fantasy. Each unit comes with genre introductions, discussion guides, and engaging projects like a dystopian society brochure, a sci-fi character analysis, and a hero’s journey exploration for fantasy. Plus, there are brand new Rate That Book activities to help students discover what they love to read! You can find it by heading to my Teachers Pay Teachers shop, Samantha in Secondary, and searching for speculative fiction.

Brigid Kemmerer is a New York Times bestselling author known for her captivating fantasy and contemporary novels, including A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Defy the Night, and Letters to the Lost. Her books have a way of pulling in teens and adults alike.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about Brigid’s own journey to becoming a joyful reader and what makes the speculative fiction genre so fascinating for audiences of all ages. Plus, she’ll share insights into her own writing process and teasers about upcoming projects.

So, whether you’re a teacher, librarian, or just a fan of incredible YA, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Resources Mentioned:

Defy the Night - https://amzn.to/41JupZt

A Curse So Dark and Lonely - https://amzn.to/3QMtNMA

Letters to the Lost - https://amzn.to/3QMtPUI

Connect with today's guest:

Website - www.brigidkemmerer.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/brigidkemmerer

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Your new favorite unit has arrived!

Grab your ready-to-use collection of three engaging mini-units that dive into the worlds of dystopia, science fiction, and fantasy. Each unit comes with genre introductions, discussion guides, and engaging projects like a dystopian society brochure, a sci-fi character analysis, and a hero’s journey exploration for fantasy. Plus, there are brand new Rate That Book activities to help students discover what they love to read! You can find it by heading to my Teachers Pay Teachers shop, Samantha in Secondary, and searching for speculative fiction.

What if time travel were possible? What if magic and science collided? What if we lived in a world where artificial intelligence developed emotions—or where humanity had to fight for survival in a distant galaxy? These "what if" questions are the foundation of speculative fiction, a genre that invites readers to imagine worlds beyond our own.

Highlights:

• What is speculative fiction?
• Why This Genre Might Appeal to Teens
• Speculative Fiction History
• Subgenres
• My Favorites

Resources Mentioned:

Speculative Fiction Bundle - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Speculative-Fiction-Bundle-Dystopia-Science-Fiction-and-Fantasy-Mini-Units-12714513?utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%2032%20-%20Speculative%20Fiction%20Bundle

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Mentioned in this episode:

Your new favorite unit has arrived!

Grab your ready-to-use collection of three engaging mini-units that dive into the worlds of dystopia, science fiction, and fantasy. Each unit comes with genre introductions, discussion guides, and engaging projects like a dystopian society brochure, a sci-fi character analysis, and a hero’s journey exploration for fantasy. Plus, there are brand new Rate That Book activities to help students discover what they love to read! You can find it by heading to my Teachers Pay Teachers shop, Samantha in Secondary, and searching for speculative fiction.

Verse novels—a format that’s as beautiful as it is powerful. Whether you’re new to the genre or already a fan, you’ll leave with practical tips and recommendations to bring verse novels to life in your classroom.

Highlights:

• Benefits of Teaching Verse Novels
• Verse Novel Activities
• Best YA Verse Novels

Resources Mentioned:

If you’re loving these ideas but don’t have time to plan all the details, I’ve got you covered. I have a ready-to-go resource:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Novels-in-Verse-Choice-Activities-Resource-7846837

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

Are audiobooks really reading? Spoiler alert: they absolutely are! Whether you're reading with your eyes or your ears, the heart of reading is comprehension, connection, and storytelling. In this episode, I’ll break down why listening to audiobooks counts as reading, backed by research and classroom experience. Plus, I’ll share some of my favorite YA audiobooks that will have you—and your students—hitting play again and again.

Highlights:

• Why Audiobooks Count
• Ways to Use Audiobooks in the Classroom
• Some of My Favorite YA Audiobooks

Resources Mentioned:

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson: https://amzn.to/3BVp3R3

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks: https://amzn.to/4aek2j6

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson: https://amzn.to/4ac0ADH

Sadie by Courtney Summers: https://amzn.to/3PvLr6D

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley: https://amzn.to/4hahDYW

Ghost by Jason Reynolds: https://amzn.to/4jsBzZd

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary

I’m thrilled to introduce you to someone who is truly shaping the future of school libraries—Amanda Hunt. She’s here to talk with us about the importance of graphic novels in education, how they can transform classroom engagement, and her top recommendations for building an incredible graphic novel collection.

If you’ve ever wondered how graphic novels can support literacy and empower students, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned:

Amanda’s Curated List of Graphic Novels: 45 Graphic Novels for Teens and Tweens from Librarian Amanda Hunt - https://www.samanthainsecondary.com/2025/01/13/45-graphic-novels-for-teens-and-tweens-from-librarian-amanda-hunt/

Connect with today's guest:

Follow her across social media @thenextgenlibrarian

Amanda’s Website: http://www.thenextgenlibrarian.com

Some links referenced here are affiliate links. Supporting the podcast through these links comes at no additional cost to you.

--> Shop for your modern day literacy classroom HERE:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/samantha-in-secondary

--> For tips, book recommendations, and connection with other educators follow along on INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/samanthainsecondary/

--> Shop my favorite YA books HERE:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/samanthainsecondary