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[Podcast #296] Bad Writing Assignments

Brave Writer Podcast

Do you ever wonder if the writing assignments your child receives are actually supporting their growth—or just making writing feel like a chore?

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore why it’s not only okay but essential to judge and adapt writing assignments for your kids.

We talk about:

  • how rigid or uninspiring tasks can stifle self-expression,
  • why playful and flexible approaches unlock learning,
  • and how you can confidently take charge of your child’s writing journey.

We also share practical tips for adapting assignments and supporting your child’s natural development as a writer.

Show Notes

Why It’s Okay to Judge Writing Assignments

Many parents assume that published writing curricula are above critique. But the truth is, you are the best judge of what works for your child. If an assignment feels pointless, uninspiring, or overly rigid, trust your instincts. We want to give you full permission to step back, assess the purpose of each activity, and decide if it serves your learner. If it doesn’t, you can absolutely adapt, skip, or replace it with something better.

How “Bad” Assignments Get in the Way

Some writing programs treat language as a formula—build a sentence word by word, or force a child to describe a dirt clod or write three perfectly formed sentences. These exercises can sap all the joy out of writing and put unnecessary pressure on kids. When assignments are boring and high-pressure, children are left frustrated or blocked. The truth is, kids already know how to play with language. We don’t need to “dumb it down” or make it overly mechanical. Instead, we can capitalize on their natural ability for playful expression and curiosity.

Embracing Flexibility and Self-Expression

The best writing grows from genuine interest and meaningful conversation. Rather than asking your child to fill in lines on a worksheet or stick to a restrictive outline, give them space to explore their ideas. Use tools like jotting down their spoken words, brainstorming together, or allowing them to choose topics that matter to them. Encourage creativity—even quirky approaches like writing sideways or using colored pens can unlock inspiration. Remember: writing isn’t about ticking off boxes; it’s about communicating ideas in a way that feels alive and authentic.

Support, Not Surveillance

We believe that writing is best taught the way we support language acquisition in toddlers: with patience, modeling, and lots of practice. Give your kids permission to make mistakes, write rough drafts, and revise at their own pace. Be a conversation partner, not just an evaluator. Ask open-ended questions, explore ideas together, and let your kids see you engaging in the messy, creative process of writing yourself.

You Have the Power to Adapt

If your child is assigned an uninspiring topic or a rigid format, you are allowed to make changes. Choose a new subject, bend the rules, or even skip the assignment. Writing instruction should be tailored to your child’s needs, interests, and natural learning style. Above all, prioritize the relationship your child is developing with words, ideas, and their own voice.

Let’s champion a writing life that prioritizes discovery, delight, and genuine communication. When we give ourselves permission to judge (and improve) writing assignments, we set our kids up for a lifetime of confident self-expression.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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Start Now

Brave Writer

Can you imagine having a 16 year old who refuses to write?

This was the predicament of a mother-son pair in my first Brave Writer class that I taught 25 years ago. The mom, a conscientious and organized homeschooler, was fit to be tied. Her 16 year old hated writing, yet wanted to go to college.

Her last ditch effort to change the course of his academic life found its way into my humble, newly created writing program.

I told her—”I’ve got you!”

I thought—Oh no! What it I can’t help him?

Instead of panicking, I taught writing to him the exact same way I taught a new-to-writing small child. I started with this 16 year old’s current skills without judgment.

I began by asking him to name his passion. “Baseball,” he said.

We walked through a process I call the “Topic Funnel” where he whittled down his general love of the sport all the way to his memory of a “perfect catch” in an important game.

Once I knew what he cared most about, I knew we would find his writing voice.

I told his mother:

“Jot down whatever your son says about that catch. Tell him to close his eyes to remember it in detail. Get it all down on paper—even if he goes out of order. Then type his words into the computer and send them to me. I will walk the two of you through each step of revision and editing.”

This mom trusted me.

She did what I asked and a day later, an email pinged my inbox with a full paragraph of this 16 year old’s memory of his best catch ever. It was full of his energy, pride, and joy!

I responded by commenting throughout the little missive. I admired his skill, noticed a well-placed metaphor, honored his natural organization, and I asked follow up questions to draw out more detail.

  • “What color blue was the sky?”
  • “How did you manage seeing the ball with the sun in your eyes? Did you squint?”
  • “Can you tell me more about the sound the bat made when the player connected to the ball?”
  • “What did you feel in your body when the ball thunked in your glove?”
  • “Who was proud of you?”
  • “How did your team react?”

Our 16 year old struggling writer eagerly responded to these curious questions. He dictated his thoughts again. His mother jotted them down, thrilled to see her son rise to the occasion.

We went through several rounds of revision. The son became more and more interested in getting the language just right.

When the class finished, our baseball player was startled to realize that the voice and ideas that lived inside him were, in fact, the very words he was supposed to put on the page.

Our teenage writer began his journey the same way a six-year-old will in our program. But the amazing news is this: he sped through the stages of growth in writing in only two years.

This student’s name? Bennett. Bennett went on to college and got an A- in his first composition class only two years later. Today he is married with two kids and is the regional manager of seven states for a major corporation. He writes with ease and competence.

I’ve received a few personal cards and notes from Bennett over the years (and from his mom too!) thanking me for that remarkable turn around we engineered in only six short weeks.

Once I saw his success, I knew I had something that would work for others too.

Growing Brave Writers

Our easy-to-use guide called Growing Brave Writers has all the tools and practices I used way back in the year 2000 (25 years we’ve been at this!) and a slew more!

You can give your kids the gift of confidence and joy in writing, just like I did for Bennett.

Don’t wait until your child is a teenager and hates writing.

Start now.

Invest in your child’s academic success, yes, but also their self confidence in self-expression!

It’s never too late!

Growing Brave Writers

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Brave Learning: How Learning Comes Alive

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

How Learning Comes Alive

And why a “felt sense” in learning matters to your homeschool.

The one thing I wish every home educator knew is that learning and schooling are not the same thing.

Once you embark on homeschooling, the temptation is to figure out a style of school instruction.

  • Will you use workbooks and textbooks?
  • Will you follow a literature-based program or organize history through a classical model?
  • How many hours a day will your kids be expected to work on math, handwriting, and grammar?
  • What sequence will you do the subjects?

Certainly part of homeschooling is envisioning what an ordinary day will look like. Super important to have a routine so that you can function without panic!

However, sometimes what gets lost in all that planning is thinking about how you will help you child understand what you have slated to learn.

For instance, it’s not enough to think about which math program to purchase or how many problems per day to solve. What matters infinitely more is asking: “How can I ensure my child understands the principle of addition?” [More]

Subscribe to Brave Learning on Substack where we chat, discuss, problem-solve, and create together. Here’s what you can expect: weekly themed content, freewriting prompts, and a podcast for kiddos called Monday Morning Meeting (first 6 are free)! 

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

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[Podcast #295] Brave Writer Lifestyles of the Educationally Rich

Brave Writer Podcast

Do you ever wonder how to create a homeschool life that feels rich and connected, rather than just checking off boxes?

In this podcast episode, we explore the Brave Writer Lifestyle—moving beyond rigid schedules to routines that foster:

  • connection,
  • flexibility,
  • and joy in daily learning.

We discuss how to anchor your days with simple routines, value real-life learning, adapt to your family’s needs, and protect space for inspiration and downtime. The conversation highlights the power of memory-making moments and the freedom to design a homeschool experience that is meaningful for both parent and child.

Show Notes

A Lifestyle of Learning, Not Just Schooling

We often find ourselves answering questions like, “What curriculum should I buy?” or “How do I schedule my homeschool day?” These questions, while practical, can sometimes miss the point. Homeschooling isn’t just about transferring school to the home—it’s about crafting a unique family culture that reflects your values, rhythms, and needs. Home is not a school, and our homes should feel fundamentally different from a classroom. Instead of rigid schedules, we advocate for routines that flow with your family’s natural energy and allow for flexibility, connection, and joy.

The Power of Routines Over Schedules

One of the most powerful tools we’ve discovered is the routine—a predictable pattern that provides security without the rigidity of a minute-by-minute schedule. We often anchor our days around meals, using breakfast, lunch, and dinner as natural gathering points. These “hooks” in the day help us organize learning in a way that feels organic. For example, mornings might start with quiet play or a favorite creative activity, followed by poetry or read-aloud time during breakfast. Lessons, explorations, and hands-on projects find their rhythm in these predictable pockets, but always with the freedom to adapt based on the needs and interests of the moment.

Embracing Flexibility and Connection

Flexibility is at the core of the Brave Writer Lifestyle. Our routines adapt as our families grow and circumstances change—whether that’s accommodating a working parent, a new baby, or shifting seasons of interest. We prioritize connection: learning together, embracing curiosity, and making time for the “pearls” of memory-making that will stand out years from now. Whether it’s reading on the couch, a spontaneous nature walk, or diving into a creative project, we cherish these moments that foster both learning and relationship.

Letting Real Learning Shine Through

The most meaningful education often happens in unexpected ways—while reciting a poem at bath time, learning about birds from the backyard, or discussing rock history on a car ride. We give ourselves permission to value these experiences as much as any workbook. Instead of measuring our success by completed checklists, we look for evidence of understanding in our children’s everyday discoveries and passions. The Brave Writer Lifestyle is not about perfection, but about cultivating a home environment where learning is alive, enjoyable, and deeply personal.

Protecting Space for Downtime and Inspiration

Finally, we guard unstructured time in our days. Children (and parents) need room for boredom, creativity, and inspiration to take root. By resisting the temptation to fill every moment with activities, we make space for the connections and creative sparks that define a rich homeschool life.

By focusing on routines that suit our family culture, embracing flexibility, and celebrating authentic learning moments, we build an educational experience that supports both our children’s growth and our own enjoyment of parenthood.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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The Unsolicited Gift of Despair

Brave Writer

If you’re anything like me, you want life to be smooth sailing and believe it to be possible! But I’ve noticed that in the darkest hours, that’s when I hear my own voice and all the unspoken words that now must be faced.

I heard a speaker call this experience the unsolicited gift of despair. When you reach the end of your rope, the good news is there’s no more rope. It’s the realization that you can’t salvage your life or anyone else’s. You get to make a new (scary) choice.

So on the day your nerve fails, your children break your heart, and you’re out of energy for other people’s nonsense, you’re nearer to your breakthrough than you imagine. Throw it all out: the plans, the beliefs, the expectations, and put your peace first.

Take one step

Plan one thing today that feels like chicken noodle soup, a cozy blanket, a long hug.

  • Book time with a therapist.
  • Take a class.
  • Spend a weekend alone.

Let your peace of mind be your guide—even if it takes you in what you have always been told are scary directions. You’ll know you are on course when you can breathe, when you aren’t looking over your shoulder, when you smile, when you glimpse a future you want to have.

In other words: your despair is the first clue that a new, different life is possible.

You don’t have to move quickly. Keep going in the direction of: joy, rest, confidence, relief, safety, curiosity.

You don’t have to do it alone!

There are so many communities that offer you tools designed to support you. I’ve written books and we have a membership community called Brave Learner Home if your struggle is related to homeschooling.

No matter what, you have the strength, courage, and wisdom to trust that something new can emerge.

Rooting for you always.

PS: If this message stops you in your tracks, start by pausing and writing your thoughts. You can take a match to the paper later. Write the wrong thing and let yourself know your truest thoughts. You’ll be okay.

Brave Learner Home

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