Brave Writer

Our goal with this season is to focus on your questions, both the questions you’ve been asking Julie throughout this podcasting journey and the questions you haven’t asked yet. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook groups — wherever you have the opportunity to reach out, please send a message to Julie about what you’d like to learn during season six of Brave Writer.Today’s question: How do you balance your roles as a parent and a teacher?You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Get Started with Brave Writer by watching Julie’s brand new video series that helps you understand how to use the program at bravewriter.com/getting-started. Each video is only a couple minutes long and will give you the necessary information to determine which level and which products are just right for your kids. If you have further questions, reach out to our trained staff for personal advice and help: [email protected] up for the Brave Writer Newsletter at go.bravewriter.com/tea-with-julieThe Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child's Education Book by Ainsley ArmentConnect with Julie:Instagram: instagram.com/juliebravewriterTwitter: twitter.com/bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriter--Brave Writer is produced by Crate Media

Welcome back, Brave friends! We want to start this season with a big thank you to all of you for helping us achieve an incredible milestone: over one million downloads of the show! We couldn’t be more proud or more grateful.Our goal with this season is to focus on your questions, both the questions you’ve been asking Julie throughout this podcasting journey and the questions you haven’t asked yet. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook groups — wherever you have the opportunity to reach out, please send a message to Julie about what you’d like to learn during season six of Brave Writer.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Get Started with Brave Writer by watching Julie’s brand new video series that helps you understand how to use the program at bravewriter.com/getting-started. Each video is only a couple minutes long and will give you the necessary information to determine which level and which products are just right for your kids. If you have further questions, reach out to our trained staff for personal advice and help: [email protected] up for the Brave Writer Newsletter at go.bravewriter.com/tea-with-julieJoin The Homeschool AllianceConnect with Julie:Instagram: instagram.com/juliebravewriterTwitter: twitter.com/bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriter--Brave Writer is produced by Crate Media

We want to share some exciting news: Brave Writer just turned 20! To celebrate, we will have a slew of wonderful offers throughout the year. You will find all of these deals in our newsletter, which you can sign up for at this link.Our goal with this season is to focus on your questions, both the questions you’ve been asking Julie throughout this podcasting journey and the questions you haven’t asked yet. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook groups — wherever you have the opportunity to reach out, please send a message to Julie about what you’d like to learn during season six of Brave Writer.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Get Started with Brave Writer by watching Julie’s brand new video series that helps you understand how to use the program at bravewriter.com/getting-started. Each video is only a couple minutes long and will give you the necessary information to determine which level and which products are just right for your kids. If you have further questions, reach out to our trained staff for personal advice and help: [email protected] up for the Brave Writer Newsletter at go.bravewriter.com/tea-with-julieJoin The Homeschool AllianceConnect with Julie:Instagram: instagram.com/juliebravewriterTwitter: twitter.com/bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriter--Brave Writer is produced by Crate Media

Julie is getting ready to go down to Texas to present at the Wild + Free conference, so today we talk with someone who’s been getting Wild + Free since the inception of this beautiful gem of a community.Greta Eskridge is a go-getter creative entrepreneur with enough projects to keep a team busy! Greta runs a website, a blog, a podcast, is an avid Instagrammer, and has written for and spoken at nearly every Wild + Free Conference. On top of that, she is a second-generation homeschooler to four adorable kids, wife to her artist husband Aaron, and “fur mama” to the family’s rescue dog, Shadow.Nature is Greta’s self-proclaimed “Happy Place,” and she is best known in the home school community for her passion for taking her children into the great outdoors and helping them make nature a source of joy in their lives – and she’s even writing a book about this topic! You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/ Resources:Register for the Wild + Free Conference: https://www.bewildandfree.org/frisco (Feb. 15-16 in Frisco, TX)Learn more at: http://www.gretaeskridge.com/Listen to At Home: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home/id1098331677?mt=2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maandpamodern/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maandpamodernOrder Julie’s new book & get your FREE companion guide at thebravelearner.comSign up for The Brave Learner Conference (July 19, 2019 in Cincinnati, OH): https://thebravelearner.com/conferenceJoin The Homeschool AllianceAsk Julie a question: [email protected] (include “The Brave Learner” in the subject line) -- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

We are so excited because it is the Book Birthday of Julie’s brand new book, The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life!We’ve heard from a lot of brave homeschooling parents throughout this season of the show, and looking forward, we want to hear from more of you Brave Learners out there: How are you rethinking curiosity, online gaming, or the role of collaboration in your home school – and what does that look like in your unique family?We can change the conversation around education by being homeschoolers who take pride in what we do; we have a contribution to make back into the story of schooling, learning, and education, and this community is here to make it!Resources:Order Julie’s book & get your FREE companion guide at thebravelearner.comSign up for The Brave Learner Conference (July 19, 2019 in Cincinnati, OH): https://thebravelearner.com/conferenceJoin The Homeschool AllianceAsk Julie a question: [email protected] Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Today we’re joined by five wonderful moms from the CO Springs Homeschool Mamas Group.So instead of focusing on just one question, we’ll tackle one from each of them, representing the wide variety of problems that every homeschooling parent has to tackle throughout their home education journey.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Sign up for The Brave Learner Conference (July 19, 2019 in Cincinnati, OH): https://thebravelearner.com/conferencePreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Looking to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)Learn more about SCALE: https://readwriteact.org/Join The Homeschool Alliance-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Courtney Moyer, a homeschooling mother of four (plus a young niece), wrote to Julie saying, “The consistent homeschool challenge that has confronted me is homeschooling multiple children at multiple levels, lacking expertise to multitask... It seems that chaos overrides my agenda on most days... I know if I could understand a way to multitask, anxiety would be minimal, creating a hospitable atmosphere that's desirable for my children.”Courtney’s concern is one that almost every homeschooler deals with at some point (really, almost every parent), and our natural inclination is that doing everything requires multitasking expertise. However, that’s not the case at all – especially not in homeschooling!So today, Julie discusses how our traditional notions of education interfere with our homeschooling opportunities – and how you can break free from multitasking to offer all of your children a more complete and joyful education!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Sign up for The Brave Learner Conference (July 19, 2019 in Cincinnati, OH): https://thebravelearner.com/conferencePreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Looking to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Our guest Myah St. John homeschools three children (plus a newborn), and her oldest child, 14, is on the verge of high school. Myah’s always embraced a one-room schoolhouse model for her family, but she finds herself floundering trying to balance high school with elementary school... and as her teenage daughter starts to become a young woman.Why do our children become these people we don’t understand? How do they transform so quickly from a young kid happy to be part of the team to a young adult with their own opinions, wants, and needs – which they are more than happy to share with us, loudly?We don’t always think about this transition in our children’s lives, but eventually, your pleasant young children will become teens, and they’ll start trying to figure out how they can be individuals in a homeschool household. This can be a big challenge, for both your and your child, but Julie is here to offer a helping hand.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Follow the St. John Family on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stjohnfamilyfarm/Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedSign up for The Brave Learner Conference (July 19, 2019 in Cincinnati, OH): https://thebravelearner.com/conferencePreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Looking to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Jessica Hammond is a homeschooling mother of two who feels conflicted as she tries to spin half a dozen plates. She has a laundry list of passion projects and hobbies, and she wants to be able to devote time and energy on those passions without feeling guilty.“I want to be present and engaged with my kids during our days. But I also want to accomplish interesting projects of my own. And right now, it feels a constant tug of war between the two, Jessica says. “How can I adjust my mindset and trust that I really am going to get enough time for all of it?”Sound familiar? With your various roles as a parent, spouse, and home educator, have you ever stopped and wondered where your own personal fulfillment fits in? How to nurture your Awesome Adult self?If so, then our talk with Jessica will help you, too.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedSign up for The Brave Learner Conference (July 19, 2019 in Cincinnati, OH): https://thebravelearner.com/conferencePreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019Looking to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Jardel Manalo is a homeschooling mother of five, ranging from the ages of two to 12, who also opened her school doors to a wonderful 12-year-old young woman named Samantha.That’s a lot of children at a lot of different stages in life – a situation we know many of you can relate to – and that can create a lot of pressure for us to perform, both as parents and teachers.Jardel says, “I don't feel like I am able to connect with each of my children daily, both personally and academically ... Is this ok? Often, it leaves me feeling like such a failure because I'm failing at connecting with some of the kids ALL the time.”You’re not a failure, Jardel, and neither are any of you reading – but for your own sanity, you might need to adjust your expectations.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedPreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Looking to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Karen Goldstein and her son Elijah are struggling with the difficult transition into high school. It can be a challenge to fit in the oftentimes-rigorous high school work while still allowing breathing room for a laid-back, enjoyable lifestyle – and holding on to the love of learning throughout it all!“More subjects leaves less time for in-depth exploration, field trips, time in nature, rabbit trails, and down time. I miss that. There is only so much time in a given day. We are both working harder than ever,” Karen says. “Working hard isn't a bad thing but I am wondering how to make high school feel smoother?”You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedPreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Looking to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Today’s guest, Jennifer Hunter, is a mother struggling with a problem that afflicts many homeschooling parents.Jennifer says, “My homeschool challenge is that I am lonely! My kids are all young, and while I am honoured to be spending my days helping them learn, it isn’t always stimulating for me.”We expect this is something that every homeschooling parent experiences at one point or another. We all love our kids, of course, but it can be difficult to connect with other families, or even just our personal friends, when they operate on a completely different schedule.But it’s also really important that we do because community is a critical part of our mental health! Luckily, though, Julie has been there and done that, and she has some great tips for finding communities online and in your area.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedPreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Looking to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

There’s a dilemma that plagues every homeschooling parent’s mind at some point in their journey, filling threads online and conversations in person: How can we make learning fun?And then the natural follow up question comes up: Do we have to make learning fun? Because the truth is that education won’t be fun 100 percent of the time.This is the dilemma brought to us by our guest Anne Trott, who asked how she can push through these challenging moments and teach perseverance, without hurting her relationship or connection with her kids.It’s a fine line some days, but Julie has some advice to guide you through the difficult daysYou can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedPreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Want to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!) -- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Jenniver Vetter is a brave mother of six who has been homeschooling for nine years. She has embraced the emphasis on relationship and freedom in learning that homeschooling offers, but she worries that her children also need to learn skills that don’t lend themselves as easily to fort building and play.Jennifer asked, “How do I balance the love and creative side of learning with the nuts, bolts and rules side of learning?”We know this is a big question in the Brave Writer community, but Julie has a few ideas for how homeschoolers can meet both of those goals.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedPreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Want to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!) -- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

In this day and age, we are so connected to technology. We carry these magic little screens with us everywhere – and if you’re anything like us, it can start to feel like a third arm! We use them for work and for entertainment, and when our kids see us using these tools, they want to use them too.But what is too much screen time for our children, and what is an appropriate use of that time?Today we’re going to explore those questions with our guest Lindsay McCarthy, a homeschooling mother of a boy and a girl ages nine and five. Lindsay also runs a Facebook community called The Miracle Morning for Parents and Families.When Lindsay reached out for help, she said, “One of my biggest struggles is how to help my kids love to read when they are bombarded with easier ways of entertainment and fact-finding due to technology.“We have a limit for them of 2 hours of screen time a day, but often get complaints from them when we enforce that rule. I'd love some tips on how to balance technology in our homeschool.”So how do we foster a family culture that values what technology offers, without allowing it to take over? Listen to find out.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Please consider donating to Tammy Kim and family, survivors of the Camp Fire in CA. They’ve lost their home and everything in it. gofundme.com/tammykimfundJoin The Miracle Morning for PARENTS & FAMILIES Community on FacebookWant help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedPreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Want to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Today we’re going to talk to a brave mother who wants to support her children’s dreams, is inspired by everything she’s learned about on Brave Writer... but feels stumped. She wants her family to be immersed in a culture of learning, without always being in “school mode,” but she’s struggling to figure out how.That brave mother is Christa Gregg, a homeschool mother of three children with a Master’s degree in social work and a background in counseling.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedPreorder Julie’s upcoming book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)Want to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Over the past four seasons, our help inbox has been flooded with What Abouts: What about the kid who won’t work hard? What about college? What about chores?There are vexing dilemmas that come up in a lot of our home education journeys, and they can lead to a lot of questions and self-doubt. Homeschooling is hard! We get it, and we’re here to help.So we’re calling this season Ask Julie because Julie Bogart is here to help you figure these questions out, while discussing all the ways you can improve your experience of being home with your kids!We’d like to thank the wonderful parents who have given us permission to see the insides of their family lives. It’s incredibly brave to expose their insecurities and feelings of inadequacy so that we can grow together, and we’re honored that they shared their time.So each episode of this season will feature a parent’s or a group of parents’ dilemma, their conversation with Julie, and a follow-up communication sharing how it all turned out.If you’re thinking that all sounds wonderful, but how can I get all of these ideas in one convenient place – well, you’re in luck! Julie has a new book coming out, The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life, which will be published on February 5th, 2019.So let’s meet our first parent, Tammy Kim, who brings forward one of the most common and vexing of homeschool dilemmas: she is experiencing a sense of overwhelm and worry over her effectiveness as a homeschool educator!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-startedLearn more about Julie’s new book at thebravelearner.comWant to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Our guest MacKenzie Koppa (aka Bold Turquoise) is the creator of a slew of resources for families: the Cultivating the Lovely podcast, the Lovely Homeschool online course, and the brand new The Same Page podcast.The Same Page is practically designed with Brave Writer families in mind. The core of each episode is memory work encompassing poetry, Shakespeare, historical facts, and scripture.So in five minutes or less, you can get a spoonful of great literature and, over the course of multiple episodes, you and your family can memorize them while enjoying a shared experience.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Learn more at boldturquoise.comConnect with Mackenzie: Instagram | TwitterListen to The Same PageListen to Cultivating the LovelyRead: The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Homeschooling changes when you transition into the scary world of teenagers, so today I want to discuss teens in general and what you can expect from a homeschool with teenagers.After home births, breastfeeding, babywearing, cosleeping, and having a wonderfully close relationship with her young children, Julie thought that she would seamlessly move into the teen years and escape all of the weirdness that other families talk about. Their family was so tuned in, so it was going to be different.Then Julie had a rude awakening!But even if there are difficult and distant moments, hold onto the memories of when you were close and know that you will be close again – you just have to weather the storm.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Join Julie on Instagram: @juliebravewriterCheck out this free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Before Julie started Brave Writer, she worked as a freelance writer, freelance magazine editor, and a ghostwriter – which is to say, yes, you can simultaneously pursue a dream or passion and homeschool!Whether you want to earn money, go to grad school, start a business, or write a blog, you can do that and still be a phenomenal homeschooling parent.In today’s episode, Julie shares some of her experiences in developing a working lifestyle, as well as what it feels like to earn money while being a woman and a home educator.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Join Julie on Instagram: @juliebravewriterCheck out this free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

After working with parents for years, we have learned that there is often a reluctance to giving your own efforts to your child’s writing. But kids with parents who are involved in their education get better grades, and as a result, they feel more successful – and children who receive no support end up performing worse.Because parental involvement in education is what produces the greatest results in children!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Join Julie on Instagram: @juliebravewriterCheck out this free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

There’s a difference between correct writing and good writing. You can check off all the boxes and put together a series of grammatically correct sentences, but does that engage the reader and make them want to keep reading? Probably not!Even academic writing, at its best, should compel the reader – that’s it’s #1 job!But many popular writing curricula keep perpetuating myths about good writing, and today we’re going to bust them!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Join Julie on Instagram: @juliebravewriterCheck out this free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

One of Julie’s most popular talks is called “Updating Charlotte Mason to the 21st Century,” so when she stumbled upon Leah Boden – AKA Modern Miss Mason – Julie knew that she had found a kindred spirit.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Learn more about Modern Miss MasonConnect with Leah on Instagram: @leahvboden | @modernmissmasonFacebook: facebook.com/modernmissmasonRead: For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer MacaulayJoin Julie on Instagram: @juliebravewriterCheck out this free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Imagine this scene: your child is reading a book, and they’ve been reading for a few months now. Suddenly, you think, “What if I had taught them to read this other way? What if I had used this other philosophy from the beginning? What if my child were in school?”When the "what ifs" show up, they can trigger worry, envy, and despair – and they can show up everywhere – but that isn’t serving you or your children!So how can we keep these “what ifs” from derailing our homeschools? Today I want to address some of the big ones that tend to pop up in our lives.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Join Julie on Instagram: @juliebravewriterRead Brave Writer’s “One Thing Principle”Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Barbara Oakley, Ph.D., educator, writer, engineer, and perhaps most importantly, a female Indiana Jones!Barbara’s work focuses on the complex relationships between neuroscience and social behavior, and we think that any Brave Writer fan is also going to be a fan of Barbara’s newest book – Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens – which teaches kids and teens simple tricks for learning difficult subjects, even if they don’t feel like they’re “good students.”You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources: Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens by Alistair McConville, Barbara Oakley, and Terrence SejnowskiWatch: “Learning how to learn | Barbara Oakley | TEDxOaklandUniversity”Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsJoin the Homeschool Alliance: bravewriter.com/homeschool-alliance-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Do you ever feel stressed out talking about home education philosophies? When Unschooling, Classical Education, or Charlotte-Mason come up, do you ever feel like you’re going to have to defend yourself? Have you ever felt this way in an academic homeschooling community?It’s weird, isn’t it?In this episode, Julie discusses the importance of safe communities, the dangers of ideological purity, the red flags she saw around Unschooling, and three principles for a healthy education.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Before getting into the topic of this episode – the top 10 things to have done by the end of highschool – we want to make something clear: you can’t teach your children everything by the time they’re 18.As a matter of fact, your education wasn’t finished when you turned 18, either!It’s okay to save or discover some things in adulthood. And truly, life would be so much less satisfying if learning and growth just stopped when we turned 18.Homeschooling is, as Charlotte Mason says, providing a feast of ideas and giving your children the opportunity to sample many things, while developing confidence in their own self-educating powers.That said, there are still some things that all parents probably want to equip their children with before the end of high school – and today we’re going to talk about them!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

A disclaimer for this episode: we are not trained experts and our specialty is not special needs, so anything we share today is based on our own efforts to do research and learn from other trained efforts. So nothing in this episode should be considered clinical diagnosis or expert referral – this is all parent-to-parent sharing.And Julie’s children are all adults now, so the stories she has to share come from the perspective of someone who has already made it to the other side and can see how it all worked out.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources: Partnership Writing BundleLearn from Rita Cevasco: rootedinlanguage.comIf you have a child on the spectrum, check out surfershealing.orgCheck out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Are you a happy family… or are you not? Today, we hope to solve that dilemma!There’s a temptation to only consider the family identity when we think about our families, and that can be a wonderful identity to share!But a family is a collection of individuals and we can’t forget that. The friction of human beings living in a family space together is always going to feel a little bit like controlled chaos – and it’s totally okay if that’s the way that it is!However, making space for everyone in your family to have some of your focused attention and some alone time or downtime is the challenge, particularly for big families. So how can we leverage the unique benefits of homeschooling to do that – and what should we avoid?You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsPick up your copy of Family Math -- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

We often see families join Brave Writer or The Homeschool Alliance who get excited about this style of living, but then we struggle to find other like-minded individuals out there in the world.Even in the homeschooling community, there can be a big disconnect between your theory of education and a friend’s. This may be someone you like personally, but they have a different vision of homeschool and it causes a little bit of conflict.There are a few types of friends that you’ll want to cultivate in your homeschooling life, and today we want to share principles and stories that will help you do that.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Join The Homeschool AllianceJoin the Brave Writer Lifestyle Facebook GroupCheck out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsNeed support in sustaining your homeschool commitment? We invite you to read Julie’s three-part A Gracious Space series. You can find print copies on Amazon or digital copies in the Brave Writer store-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Today we want to talk about the roles in our families – and the incredible power of choice. We delve into the labels and roles we use to characterize our kids, how those may limit our children, and how to let young people explore who they want to be through choice.Homeschooling is an empowering choice, and we can leverage that power to provide the best learning environment for our kids!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Connect with Julie on Instagram: @JulieBraveWriterCheck out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Julie spends a lot of time looking at the homeschooling zeitgeist, and she notices a common theme coming up every so often: the search for the one thing that’s going to magically create a flawless homeschool.But really we shouldn’t be aiming for perfection – we should be aiming for progress!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons -- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

In the last episode, Julie started breaking down some research on brain-based learning, or the science behind what it looks like to be a good learner. Today, we’re going to dig into the rest of that research so that we have a holistic understanding of how our children learn!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsFunderstanding.com -- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

When Julie started learning about home education, she read a lot of work by home educators. Of course this makes sense because she wanted to understand the philosophy behind home education. However, learning the philosophy didn’t teach her to understand how learning functions inside a person’s brain.So much of educational training is focused on organizational skills, but it’s also important to understand what’s happening inside our children's’ noggins!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsFunderstanding.com-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Julie coined the term Party School when she was developing her own homeschool experience. Today, we’re going to look at the properties of Party School and how you can turn it into a practice that brings a little enchantment to your homeschool.With these tips and some imagination, you can transform the study of any subject into something more engaging and fun!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsRead: “The Ultimate Collection of Party School Book Club Ideas”-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

As we get older, we go through many different stages of our lives, and it can be challenging to discuss the topic of “Awesome Adulthood” because of this fact. Not everybody feels like they’re in a position to add anything to their lives, let alone an awesome new passion, hobby, or career choice.If you have children under the age of five years old, for example, your primary job to to take care of them and your enriching self-education is going to be look like becoming skilled at parenting.Our hope is that, when you’re in that early stage of parenthood, you will give yourself permission to become effective, understand what you’re doing, and care about that child. It’s a huge responsibility that you have, and they’ll be around for at least 18 years!But as kids start getting to school age, your primary self-educating focus will shift to becoming a career home educator.And like the many career educators in public and private schools, home education is indeed a career – but unlike other career educators, home educators don’t necessarily get any breaks from their students.Without any breaks, the burnout is very real. Too many of us get depressed, feel inadequate, blame ourselves, or isolate ourselves. The joy can dissipate, and the more you devote to the home education task, the worst it gets; “You start to feel like your whole life is consumed with an unattainable task.”Because not only is the act of teaching exhausting, not only do you not get a break, but your identity is directly tied to how your children perform.And unfortunately, when you feel depressed or discouraged or joyless, your kids see that too, and they will reflect it back to you like a mirror.The Remedy is Awesome Adulthood“If you’ve made your well-being dependent on how somebody else is doing, you are no longer the master of your own soul, of your own wellbeing; you have taken this personhood that is yours and relocated it, in your children.”What’s the remedy? Staying connected to the you that was you before the “you” became a “We,” whether that’s through marriage, children, or both.This doesn’t mean you have to find a new career or a time-consuming hobby – you just need to try retaining that piece of you and allow it to express itself.Does the word “awesome” in adulting scare you? Don’t worry, that’s really not the important part! It’s just alliterative!Maybe you think of it as being a Happy Adult, or a Fulfilled Adult, or a Meaningful Adult – but you do deserve some time for yourself.You deserve a prep period, a summer vacation, or a sabbatical… but, unfortunately, that’s not an option. But as a home educator, there’s something you CAN do that other educators can’t: mini vacations!You can’t necessarily take an extravagant trip for yourself when you have children living at home, but you can still do something for yourself!Here are a couple things to think about… If a subject area in school piques your interest, but your kids lose interest, keep going! “Home education is a re-education for mothers.”Every day, build in time for choices that make you happy. Even if it’s just for a moment, do something that reminds you that you have choices, value, and wants. The more that you allow yourself to desire, and be okay with that, the more your children have permission to do the same. It’s hard to teach someone to follow their passion if you don’t have experience cultivating your own. Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!) You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons

As home educators, what does it mean to have a satisfying adult life? How can we nourish and enrich our lives when we are so depleted from giving away so much to our kids? What happens if we spend so much of our time preparing our children that we end up watching our own lives go by?Today we’re going to address these questions, and many more, with a conversation about Awesome Adulting.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources: Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

In 1989, homeschool curriculum programs were few and far between; parents had to assemble products piecemeal, and this problem was far worse overseas. However, Sarita Holzmann decided to help by creating book lists for parents living abroad and then shipping those books to them, all before Amazon and the modern Internet.Fast-forward to present day: Sarita is the co-founder of successful homeschool curriculum brands Sonlight and Bookshark. The book selections are superb, and we especially enjoy the global focus.In this episode, Sarita shares how books help expand a child’s perspective of the world and how she chooses the 300+ books she reviews each year.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsCheck out Sarita’s Curricula at Sonlight or BooksharkDownload Sarita’s FREE, No-Stress Guide to Teaching Language Arts with Purpose: https://www.sonlight.com/language-arts-blueprint.htmlLearn How Literature-Rich Homeschooling Awakens Your Child's Natural Passion for Learning: https://www.sonlight.com/home2litRead: "How Reading Fiction Helps Kids Develop Empathy"Read: "Help Children Succeed in Their Careers by Using a Global Focus"-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

When Julie started homeschooling, all of the curricula she saw focused on what tasks the kids should do – there was nothing explaining to parents what it actually looks like to facilitate that process.In other words, most writing programs and teaching methodologies said what to do, but not how to do it. So when Julie started Brave Writer, her goal was to help parents and children become partners in writing and learning because she saw that as the key element of a successful home education.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsA Gracious Space: Fall Edition | Spring Edition | Winter Edition-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

What’s the difference between Brave Writer and some of the other writing programs available online? Julie originally saw the writing process as a relationship between trusted allies; the child and the parent.You don’t grow a writer simply by focusing on the skill and act of writing – you also have to establish bonds of affection and joy around language.And it’s so easy and natural to find that joy through Poetry Tea Time (so easy, in fact, that we call it the gateway drug to Brave Writer)!You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsDownload the free Poetry Teatime Quick Start GuideGet your own Poetry Teatime Companion Read-Aloud Poems for Young People: Readings from the World's Best Loved Verses by Glorya Hale Poems to Learn by Heart by Caroline Kennedy Americans' Favorite Poems: The Favorite Poem Project Anthology Otherwise: New & Selected Poems by Jane Kenyon You Read to Me, I'll Read to You by John Ciardi Love That Dog by Sharon Creech Poemcrazy by Susan Wooldridge-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Anne Guarnera has always been passionate about learning, languages in particular. Anne shares her passion for language learning with her husband, Daniel, and they are now introducing that love of language to their two young sons – and the rest of the homeschooling community through Language Learning at Home.In this episode, Anne shares how cultural learning can be integrated into any homeschool curriculum, even if you don’t speak a second language yourself.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsAccess Anne’s Learning Language Resource Library: languagelearningathome.com/access-resource-libraryConnect with Anne: Website | Facebook | Twitter “Why I Want My Children to Learn Foreign Languages” “When Your Child is Resisting Learning a Foreign Language” “How to Do Foreign Language Read-Alouds (Even When You Don’t Speak Another Language)”-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Today I want to talk about hominess in homeschool, and how you can you help your kids stay on task, while still experience the peace and comfort that home provides all of us.At Brave Writer, we steadfastly resist images of yellow #2 pencils, school buses, and apples because we are not bringing school into our families. We want to reinforce the properties of home, as opposed to reinforcing the qualities of a faux school.Home is about relaxing; letting go of obligation and pressure. It’s the place you get to show up as yourself – and when we mix in the properties of school, we’re actually violating that sense of hominess.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Dachelle McVey owns and operates Hide the Chocolate, a blog about homeschooling adventures, parenting, and – occasionally – hiding the chocolate! She currently homeschools her daughters, ages 10 and 12, and homeschooled her son, who is in his first year of college.We talk about the value of collaborative learning, how you can bring both local and online communities into your homeschool, and bringing your children on literary adventures.You can read full show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsWant more adventure in your homeschool? Save 25% on a book club with the code “BRAVEWRITER” at www.hidethechocolate.com/book-club-landing-pageConnect with Dachelle: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Today we’re going to look at the habit of perfectionism. We all know, deep down, that we have to let go of this compulsion to do things right on the first try, if we want to get better at living a satisfying life. So if we all know that, why do so many of us have this bad habit?To figure that out, we’re going to explore the different dynamics of perfectionism, look at the topic through a new lens, and come up with some more tools for letting go of the things that just don’t work for us.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Julie has written a lot on the natural stages of growth for young writers, which help parents place their children and figure reasonable expectations. Today we’re looking at the natural stages of development for home school instructors.If you are a home educating parent, this is made for you – and if you are married to someone who is not a home educating parent, this may serve as a helpful guide for them. Even if your spouse is not on the exact same journey, it is valuable for them to understand the unique  journey you’re undertaking.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

Charnaie Gordon is a computer programmer by day, blogger and influencer by night, and a wife and mother of two 24/7. She is also a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, podcast junkie, and diversity and inclusion expert.In Charnaie’s blog, Here Wee Read, she expresses her creativity and passion for reading, diverse literature, and literacy. More than anything else, Charnaie cares about connecting people with great books that they love because she believes – and we at Brave Writer agree – that books are an absolute necessity.You can download show notes for the podcast here: blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:Check out this brand new, free product designed to kickstart your writing program this school year: 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsCheck out HereWeeRead.comConnect with Charnaie: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | PinterestLittle Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison Grandad Mandela by Ambassador Zindzi Mandela (Author),‎ Zazi and Ziwelene Mandela (Author),‎ Sean Qualls (Illustrator)-- Brave Writer is produced by Podcast Masters

To be a home educator is to value learning – if you are part of the Brave Writer community, it is because you value learning. Although your children may not be able to articulate it, they know that your home is about learning, and that that is important to their parents. It is this gift that creates the platform for all else that you do.Truly, if you approach your homeschool from a space of valuing education, as opposed to a fear of public schools, your children have already earned a sacred space in their hearts for learning. Just by living and breathing the value of education around your children, you are already ahead of the game.With that in mind, this episode contains 61 things that Julie did in her homeschool – and that she is proud of!You can download show notes for the podcast here: blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons--Production & Development for The Brave Writer Podcast by Podcast Masters

Julie homeschooled five children, and today each of them is grown and thriving, in very different environments. We know that homeschooling parents often have some anxiety around the aspirations for perfection that are so prevalent in home school education – but we don’t have to be perfect!In this episode, we want to dispel some of that anxiety by sharing 55 thing that Julie did NOT do in her homeschool, but at some point thought she should do (or did do, and at some point thought she shouldn’t do)You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons--Production & Development for The Brave Writer Podcast by Podcast Masters

Today Julie is talking about one of her favorite topics in the world: morning routines! She discusses how you can approach structuring your mornings, five things you can do before noon, and the educational philosophy behind what we’re trying to achieve with our morning routines.This is NOT a list of things you need to do every morning if you want to have a good day of homeschooling – it is an exploration of how morning routines really helped our home school, and how they may be used to help you too.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/Resources:You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessons Making Connections: Teaching and the Human Brain by Geoffrey Caine-- Production & Development for The Brave Writer Podcast by Podcast Masters

We know the early years are crucial when it comes to a child’s development – but do you know, specifically, how it affects the brain?For example, in the first year of life, more than one million new neural connections are formed every second. Adversity impairs these new connections, and the greater the adversity a child faces, the greater the odds of a delay in their cognitive, language, or emotional development.Today we’re going to learn more about the developing brain so that we, as parents and home educators, can incorporate brain-based practices into our family’s lives. Our guest for this episode is Joshua MacNeill, Director of Lakeside’s NeuroLogic Initiative and an expert in trauma-informed education.You can download show notes for the podcast here: http://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/ Resources:You can download Free Writing Lessons here: go.bravewriter.com/free-writing-lessonsLearn more at lakesidelink.com/training/neurologic 101 Brain Breaks & Educational Activities by Joshua MacNeill--Production & Development for The Brave Writer Podcast by Podcast Masters