How it started: dinosaurs, daisy chains, phonics and lapbooks.
How it’s going: citations, quotations, note-taking and ChatGPT.
Yikes! The high school years are upon you and it’s a whole new world.
You know you want to prepare your kids for college writing, but the task can seem daunting.
How much essay writing should they be doing?
How do I best prepare them for what’s next?
What really matters?
Add to the mix worries of the rising use of AI writing generators, and you may feel like giving up before you even start.
Let Us Help!
Brave Writer is here to shine a light on the high school writing path.
Kirsten Merryman (Director of Online Classes) and Jen Holman (class writer and coach) give you practical tips and show you how our writing program can help you address these burning concerns:
Expectations from colleges
Increasing issues related to AI
Gaining age appropriate skills
Covering all the bases
Why it matters to infuse your essays with authenticity
Discover how to balance AI and human creativity in your teen’s writing journey.
Free Webinar Replay
Listen as we talk aboutHigh School Writing in the Age of AI.
October’s Dart, Arrow, Boomerang, and Slingshot selections spotlight protagonists who are brave and thoughtful. These stories provide loads to talk about and consider as your family explores writing, mechanics, and literary devices!
And this month’s Quill—Music & Song Lyrics—will get your feet tapping and fingers snapping as your family reads picture books, looks at lyrics, and explores a symphony of symbols!
Quill (ages 5-7)
Music & Song Lyrics
Tune up your singing voices and get ready to tap to the beat! The Music & Song Lyrics Quill is here! Check out the Music & Song Lyrics booklist to help curate your read-aloud stack!
In this Quill, we’ll:
look lovingly at lyrics on the page;
spot a slew of symbols that make meaning;
enjoy a bit of rhyme time—and make a few of our own;
The lush terrain of Sri Lanka comes to life in this tale of friendship for fans of adventure and Robin-Hood inspired stories! We’re confident you won’t want to put this one down!
We’re “tickled pink” and “happy as clams” to share this month’s literary device—idioms. This device makes writing sparkle, inserts humor, and amplifies messages. Join us in October for a closer look!
Inside this Dart, we’ll also:
litter a list with commas;
ask a rhetorical question (or will we?);
in-vestigate a common preposition;
admire some action beats;
take a look at words that can be both nouns and verbs;
see how words grow from big to bigger to biggest; and so much more!
In this historical fiction novel, Zomorod Yousefzadeh is making a fresh start with a new home and a new name. But fun and adventure can’t distract her from troubles brewing back in Iran and anti-Iran sentiments hitting too close to home. This poignant but lighthearted story will spark Big Juicy Conversations your family will remember!
October’s literary device is Figurative Language.
In this Arrow, we’ll also:
consider the clever comma;
dive into dialogue punctuation;
assess the power of snazzy synonyms;
discover the power of detailed descriptions;
gather golden lines;
see how a hearty dose of humor lightens a tense scene; and so much more!
This modern classic features a highly discussable plot that touches on deep topics. You might want to budget extra time for the Big Juicy Conversations this book is likely to inspire!
In this Boomerang, we’ll:
ride the escalating action;
ponder puzzling irony;
toss around commas galore;
juggle the question of genre;
hunt for allusions;
track the crisis all the way through the turning point until resolution; and so much more!
We’re continuing our deep dive discussion into Amber O’Neal Johnston’s new book, A Place to Belong.
Previously in Part One, we talked about what led Amber to write the book—having a big juicy discussion around family culture, normalizing difficult conversations, and building a framework for inclusion within the family. We also talked about the different ways books can be viewed through a cultural lens: As mirrors, windows, or sliding doors.
Amber O’NealJohnston
Today on the Brave Writer podcast, we’re picking up the conversation around curating the home library.
Show Notes
Representation in Children’s Literature
Children’s literature plays a pivotal role in shaping young minds. It’s essential for every child to find themselves mirrored in the stories they read, building both self-identity and empathy. However, the landscape of children’s books isn’t always as diverse as it should be. Black, middle-grade authors, for instance, often find themselves limited by industry expectations, pressing the need for a broader range of stories that reflect varied experiences. Still, we must work towards expanding our children’s libraries from ones that are colorblind to ones that are colorful.
The Problem with the “Single Story” Approach
Relying on a “single story” approach in literature can inadvertently limit a child’s understanding and perpetuate stereotypes. Imagine a librarian recommending books based solely on racial assumptions, missing the mark on the actual experiences of the readers. Such instances highlight the broader challenge of biases in literature and underscore the importance of diverse narratives.
Living Books & Home Libraries
The term “living books” captures the essence of literature that deeply resonates with readers. But how can parents curate a collection of such impactful books at home? The key lies in selecting stories that not only entertain but also:
educate,
inspire,
and mirror diverse life experiences.
A well-thought-out home library can be a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration for young minds.
Family Culture & Legacy
Family traditions, recipes, and shared stories form the bedrock of our cultural heritage. By cherishing and passing down these memories, we offer children a sense of shared history and identity. This rich tapestry of familial experiences serves as a foundation, grounding children and giving them a clear sense of belonging and identity.
Legacy Mindset
Every action today shapes the legacy of tomorrow. Instilling a “legacy mindset” in children means teaching them to recognize the importance of their current experiences in crafting their personal and collective histories. Whether it’s cherishing today’s moments or planning for the future, understanding the significance of the present empowers children to shape a brighter, more intentional future.
The stories we share with our children, the traditions we uphold, and the values we instill form the backbone of their worldview. As guardians of the next generation, it’s our responsibility to curate experiences that are both reflective of their identity and expansive in perspective. By embracing diverse literature, cherishing family legacies, and fostering a forward-thinking mindset, we empower our children to navigate the world with:
empathy,
curiosity,
and a strong sense of self.
Let’s commit to laying down a foundation rich in stories and values that will guide them today and inspire them tomorrow.
Sign up for the Brave Writer newsletter to learn about all of the special offers we’re doing in 2022 and you’ll get a free seven-day Writing Blitz guide just for signing up: https://go.bravewriter.com/writing-blitz
I once met a lady who homeschools While juggling a baby who drools She fought to teach writing Stop the toddlers from biting And forgot a semicolon’s rules
Is this you? It was surely one of my best friends. She came to me with exasperation.
How was she supposed to know all the rules of punctuation?
How could she teach it without the kids devolving into a fight?
We talked—and lo and behold! She discovered she, too, could lead a writing program even without a copyeditor’s knowledge of all the grammar rules! You can too.
I designed a bunch of programs that are kid (and parent!) friendly.
Two-Product Bundles
You can purchase two-product bundles to get started or to supplement Growing Brave Writers(if you’ve already got it). These products teach literature, grammar, punctuation, and developmentally scaled writing assignments.
We cannot underestimate the power of fatigue to crush the life out of even the strongest of us! Take a nap, swing in a hammock, snooze.
The most difficult resource to keep in stock is rest.
Yet rest changes everything!
It affects our:
mood
energy level
outlook
ability to respond to crisis
tolerance for chaos and noise
generosity toward childishness
wellbeing
ability to concentrate
When you find yourself short, disorganized, bored, sounding the alarm that the world is ending, ask yourself when last you got 6-8 hours of sleep without constant interruption.
It’s difficult to catch up when you breastfeed or have a chronic bedwetter. I know. That’s why taking naps, having a partner who can swap sleeps with you (so you’re not on call every night), and even resorting to booking a room at a hotel for a night just for you can change your life.
When in doubt, assume you need more sleep. Then find a way to get it.
(Also: throw in a dose of sunshine. Get outside where the sun can kiss your skin… it helps.)
This post is originally from my @juliebravewriter Instagram account. Follow along for more conversations like this one!
Posted in Homeschool Advice | Comments Off on The Importance of Rest
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