Brave Writer

Chances are someone you know will have a sick child hospitalized at some point. In this episode, Melissa explains how you can best support that parent and caregiver. Melissa herself has had two of her kiddos hospitalized so her suggestions come from lived experiences.First, Melissa discusses the practical physical items you can bring to a caregiver in the hospital: toiletries, quality food, and a kettle or wand for warm drinks. She also describes some digital gifts that you can send. Then she describes what little acts of service you can do: doing the laundry, lending an ear, and taking care of the siblings of the hospitalized child.Sometimes caregivers are so overwhelmed or shy that they don’t know what to ask for. If your friend is having trouble expressing what they need, start with the items in this episode and then go from there.Resources:Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.Melissa’s Medical Summary TemplateThe embroidery kits mentioned in the episode can be found at cozybluehandmade.comCheck out libro.fm to buy audiobooks from independent sellers (rather than Amazon/Audible)Here are the nice pens Melissa mentioned in the episode: Jetpens.comCheck out the Brave Writer Practice PagesVirtually wonder through the Brave Writer Book ShopLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs Read all Brave Writer class descriptionsCheck out the Brave Writer Fall Class Schedule Join Brave Writer 101Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterTwitter: @bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksTwitter: @melissawileyProduced by NOVA Media

Leaves changing color, evenings getting chillier–autumn is a wonderful time of the year to turn our attention toward the natural world around us. Today’s episode is all about how to facilitate nature study for your kids.We cover resources that can help you on your journey. We also give you specific practices you can try out with your family. Most importantly, we dig into why nature study is so beneficial to educational development and well-being. Remember, if you have nature study projects that you have really enjoyed, please share them with us!Resources:Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.For all the books mentioned in this episode, check out the Brave Writer Book Shop. Learn more about the 1000 Hours Outside platform.Learn more about nature studies at JohnMuirLaws.com.Check out the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs. Read all Brave Writer class descriptions here. Check out the Brave Writer class schedule for Fall Learn more about Brave Writer 101 Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterTwitter: @bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksTwitter: @melissawileyProduced by NOVA Media

We tend to have a pretty clear idea of what practice looks like for musicians and athletes. But what does practice look like for writers? In today’s episode, Julie and Melissa discuss what writing practice can look like for writers of all ages and developmental stages.Julie and Melissa describe their own daily writing practices and those of well-known authors. Then they dive into how you can facilitate your child’s practice. They anchor their discussion with the new Brave Writer product “Practice Pages.”With references to Flannery O’Connor, judgy teenagers, and gleefully vindictive youngsters with the red editing pen in their hands, this conversation is as entertaining as it is informative. Enjoy!Resources:Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.Watch this space for our new Brave Writer Practice Pages—including a sample you can download (available in late October)For the books we mention in this episode, check out the Brave Writer Book ShopLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs Take a look at all the Brave Writer class descriptions Check out the Class Schedule for Fall Register for Brave Writer 101 Listen to Episode 202: “Make It Stick”Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterTwitter: @bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksTwitter: @melissawileyProduced by NOVA Media

Ever have one of those days where the kids won’t stop bickering, everything seems difficult, and overall there’s just bad energy? In today’s episode, we give you tips and tricks on how to turn the mood around…or at least keep your own internal peace.We give ideas that are focused on the body: movement and the five senses. We also give tips that are focused on the surroundings: making a small, new setting in your home or even going out to new learning spaces.For a full list of the ideas we share in this episode, go to our website and download the PDF we have ready for you.And remember, if all else fails, it’s ok to let the kids watch TV for a little bit while you hide and eat chocolate.Resources:Download our PDF of the ideas we’ve shared in this episode (link to come—we can add it to the doc later)Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.Learn more about Brave Writer’s “Becoming a Critical Thinker” workbookPeruse the Brave Writer Book ShopLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsCheck about all Brave Writer class descriptions Click here for the Class Schedule for Fall Sign up for Brave Writer 101 Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterTwitter: @bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksTwitter: @melissawileyProduced by NOVA Media

What does it mean to be adultist? Do children have a right to not brush their teeth… or the right not to have cavities? Eloise Rickman joins the show today to discuss her new book, “It's Not Fair, Why It's Time for a Grown-Up Conversation About How Adults Treat Children.”We have a big juicy conversation about human development, education, societal structures, lived experiences, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.If you’re looking for absolute answers, then this episode isn’t for you. But if you want to hear three homeschool moms discuss how they find the daily balance between guiding children and listening to them, you’re in the right place.Resources:Connect with Eloise on Instagram: @mightymother_Check out Eloise’s website: EloiseRickman.comFind her book, “It’s Not Fair: Why It’s Time for a Grown-Up Conversation About How Adults Treat Children” in the Brave Writer Bookshop: bravewriter.com/book-shopLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsCheck about all Brave Writer class descriptions Click here for the Class Schedule for Fall Learn more about Brave Writer’s “Becoming a Critical Thinker” workbookStart a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.Read the UN Convention on the Rights of the ChildWatch “School Circles” Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterTwitter: @bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksTwitter: @melissawileyProduced by NOVA Media

The sound of Moroccan Arabic, the smell of dried buffalo chips, the taste of sugary mint tea, the view of an open prairie–in today’s episode Julie and Melissa reflect on immersive learning experiences and how education becomes a part of a person for the rest of their life.Julie is back from her trip to Europe, having spent a significant amount of her time in Spain. Always the homeschooler, she describes events on her journey that illuminated the true meaning of learning and teaching. She and Melissa discuss the joy that comes from being a lifelong learner alongside adult kids.As the academic new year begins, this episode is a great way to fall back in love with education.Resources:Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics Programs Peruse the virtual bookshelves in the Brave Writer Book ShopRead all the https://bravewriter.com/online-classesCheck out the Fall Class ScheduleSign up for Brave Writer 101 Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterTwitter: @bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksTwitter: @melissawileyProduced by NOVA Media

Elizabeth Christie, a dedicated homeschooling mom of six whose children are thriving in college, shares her insights on preparing young writers for higher education. She discusses how her kids excelled in college application essays and her daughter's success as a paid writing tutor. The importance of read-aloud sessions and daily writing practices are highlighted as essential tools in fostering strong writing skills. Elizabeth also emphasizes the balance of individual learning rhythms and creative education, showcasing the transformative power of homeschooling.

“Structure” might be one of the most anxiety-provoking words for a homeschooling parent. If you feel like you’re always struggling to achieve structure in your household or if you don’t even know what level of structure is best for your kids, this episode is for you. This episode is a previously recorded webinar about parties. Yes, structure and parties are one and the same in the Brave Writer world.Julie explains parties are, in fact, highly structured events. They have indicators of beginning, middle, and end stages. They have the clear purposes of reducing stress, increasing interactions between people, and making memories– which happen to be the foundational pieces of deep learning. Don’t worry, Julie also gets into the details of what this practically looks like for homeschooling families. This episode is full of examples of how to use the party-structure lens in your homeschooling: snacks, candles, games, movement, decorations, music, and more. You’ll be surprised how much easier learning happens with this structure, even if you have to put up with a little more confetti on the floor.Resources:Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.Create a party structure with these Tools for the Art of Writing.Find “Becoming a Critical Thinker” in the Brave Writer Book Shop.Check out all class descriptions here. Take a look at the Braver Writer fall class schedule. Sign up for Brave Writer 101. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterTwitter: @bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksTwitter: @melissawileyProduced by NOVA Media

Julie, an expert in teaching literary analysis to children, shares engaging strategies to make literature fun and relatable. She emphasizes that literary analysis should deepen emotional connections rather than create distance. Julie advocates for interactive learning, using read-aloud sessions and even media like TV shows to spark curiosity. Each age group can explore literature differently, and she introduces concepts like 'poetry tea time' to foster joy in reading. Her insights encourage parents to build critical thinking skills while nurturing a love for storytelling.

Explore the intriguing metaphor of grammar as the rules of a word-party, punctuation as the decorator, and spelling as a personal stylist. Discover innovative teaching strategies that emphasize natural learning and emotional safety to enhance children's writing skills. Embrace a creative, supportive approach to writing for homeschooling families, moving away from conventional practices. This refreshing perspective highlights the importance of self-expression over memorization, fostering a joyful relationship with literature.