AMANDA

CARDENAS

is the Founder of MUD AND INK TEACHING, COHOST OF THE BRAVE NEW TEACHING PODCAST, Educator, Speaker, Content Creator, and School Consultant

I AM HERE TO EQUIP teachers, schools, and districts WITH THE TOOLS to EMBRACE INQUIRY-DRIVEN CURRICULUM DESIGN, RESULTING improved reading and WRITTEN ANALYSIS skills for all students.

Built on classroom experience and research, this work prioritizes the importance of providing student choice and bolstering teacher success in essential question-driven unit design.

A woman with long brown hair and glasses writing on a large white poster board. The poster has the words 'ROMEO & Juliet' at the top in pink marker, and a list of words including 'family,' 'Paris,' 'love,' and 'responsibility' written below.

WE BELIEVE THAT CLOSING LITERACY GAPS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL REQUIRE CURRICULUMS THAT SPARK GENUINE CURIOSITY.

When students are captivated by intriguing essential question, ELA units can take on a whole new life. When students are invested in the unit’s goals, reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills all improve. We’ve seen over many years of work that the more students drive their own learning through genuine curiosity, they start comprehending more complex texts and engage with content more deeply.

TAKE ME TO BOOKING

Four women are sitting at a table in a room that appears to be a library or classroom, engaged in writing or discussing. The table is covered with papers, markers, notebooks, and a mobile phone. Bookshelves and colorful carts are visible in the backg

A large poster titled 'The great Gatsby dreams vs reality' with multiple colorful sticky notes attached, containing handwritten notes and essays.

A classroom or school auditorium with a presentation on a large screen displaying the title 'MYTHBUSTERS' and the question about inquiry-driven learning. A woman is standing in front of the screen holding a microphone, and several people are seated f

A group of women are gathered around a table in a gymnasium, looking at materials such as brochures, booklets, and flyers related to education or community services. The table is arranged with various informational items, and there are supplies like

A collection of white paper hexagons arranged on a surface, each with handwritten words in various colors, forming a colorful display of phrases related to storytelling and communication.

A group of adults sitting at a long table in a gymnasium or recreation center, with one woman standing and engaging with the others. There are sports equipment and storage bins in the background.

A smiling woman with long, wavy blonde hair wearing a navy top and a gold chain necklace.

OUR MISSION

amanda’s pd meets teachers where they are. HER GOAL IS TO CAPTURE THE POWER OF WHAT TEACHERS ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO WELL AND MULTIPLY THEIR RESULTS THROUGH AN EFFECTIVE TRANSION TO INQUIRY-DRIVEN PRACTICES.

We believe that teachers will see increased engagement though an inquiry curriculum revision. Our trainings are designed to exactly this in a dynamic, fun, and engaging way.

Amanda Cardenas isn’t merely an expert in the field of literacy and inquiry; she’s the industry leader. With a wealth of experience as a classroom teacher, Amanda’s dynamic energy captivates teachers at all stages of their careers.

A digital graphic with logos of various schools and educational institutions, including Triton Regional School District, Clark Elementary, Aventura City of Excellence School, Jemison Jaguars, and others, set against a purple background.

WE'RE READY TO BOOK AMANDA

LET’S GET STARTED

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Learn more

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