April 2023 - A Brave Writer's Life in Brief A Brave Writer's Life in Brief
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A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

Thoughts from my home to yours

Archive for April, 2023

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May Day Sale + 3 Tips for Using Growing Brave Writers!

May is a super time to jump in!

Here are some tips for using Growing Brave Writers at the end of the year! 

1. Freewriting

Go directly to the Freewriting chapter.

This chapter offers 25 pages of effective freewriting practices—including feedback strategies to help your young writer grow!

  • Banish writer’s block.
  • Select engaging writing topics with your child.
  • Give effective (helpful!) feedback based on effort, content, and curiosity.
  • Troubleshoot writing resistance.
  • Learn strategies for struggling hand-writers. 

And that’s just one chapter! There are 236 pages to explore! 

2. Revise and Edit End-of-Year Samples

Use effective revision and editing strategies in Chapters 8 and 9 to polish end-of-year writing samples.

These easy-to-impliment practices will help you and your child end the year on a high note!

3. End-of-Year Reports

Utilize sample narrative sketches and word banks throughout to help you write end-of-year reports.

Plan from behind by giving you and your child credit for what you’ve achieved this year—even when it does not look like “school.” The sample sketches and word banks give you the language your need to write end-of-year reports with ease.

Growing Brave Writers is the tool you need no matter where you are in your homeschool journey—kids from ages 5–18! 

Growing Brave Writers

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Friday Freewrite: Explanation

Friday Freewrite

Think of the last time you explained something to someone. Write the conversation.

New to freewriting? Check out our online guide.

Tags: Writing prompts
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Podcast: How it Feels to Find Yourself with Meera Lee Patel

Brave Writer Podcast

We know that parents and home educators often feel like they aren’t living up to their own ideals, which can lead to a crisis of self-esteem. As we face new seasons in life, our previous skillsets might not always be adequate for the task at hand, leaving us feeling frustrated, lonely, and sometimes like we’re failing.

So, how do we move forward with courage and clarity?

We’re delighted to have Meera Lee Patel on the Brave Writer podcast today to help us chart a course through the winding maze of adulthood. Meera is a best-selling author, known for her book “Start Where You Are,” and uses her colorful artwork and perceptive essays to help us navigate each stage of life and the emotions that come with it.

Meera Lee Patel
Meera Lee Patel

Our conversation with Meera is insightful and uplifting, as she shares her wisdom on embracing the journey of self-discovery and growth with grace and resilience.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Meera’s personal journey and the inspiration behind her books
  • How to embrace change and adapt to new stages in life
  • The power of self-compassion and forgiveness in overcoming setbacks
  • Practical tips for maintaining mental and emotional balance during challenging times

Join us in welcoming Meera Lee Patel to the Brave Writer podcast and explore her wisdom on finding your way through the maze of adulthood.

Show Notes

Letting Go of Productivity Guilt

It may come as no surprise to those who know her, but Meera is a self-professed workaholic. She shared her personal struggle with productivity guilt, which was rooted in the intersection of American and immigrant cultures. Becoming a parent helped her gain perspective and prioritize what truly matters, as she found herself focusing on her child’s needs and valuing the time spent with her. Parenthood provided her with a filter to distinguish between work that was important and what could be set aside in favor of more meaningful experiences.

One key takeaway from our conversation with Meera is the importance of focusing on what’s in front of us, rather than getting bogged down in the endless cycle of what we could or should be doing. Children, by nature, are not oriented towards productivity but are more focused on the process of learning and discovery. By leaning into the freedom that children embody, parents can find inspiration to challenge the harmful mindset of productivity guilt and instead embrace the value of the journey.

As we strive to create a nurturing environment for our children, it’s essential to recognize the cultural values that have shaped our beliefs and practices. By acknowledging the ways we’ve been indoctrinated and identifying the values we disagree with, we can raise our children in a culture that, instead of the constant pursuit of productivity, prioritizes:

  • personal growth,
  • self-worth,
  • and the joy of learning.

Check out Meera’s new book, “How It Feels to Find Yourself,” releasing on May 23rd, 2023.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights on navigating the various stages of life with courage, clarity, and a strong sense of self.

Resources

  • Meera Lee Patel’s website: meeralee.com
  • Purchase “How It Feels to Find Yourself” by Meera Lee Patel
  • Connect with Meera on Instagram: @meeraleepatel
  • Subscribe to Meera’s newsletter, “Dear Somebody”: meeraleepatel.substack.com
  • Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
  • Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
  • Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Go to bravewriter.com/getting-started
  • 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

Connect with Julie

  • Instagram: instagram.com/juliebravewriter
  • Twitter: twitter.com/bravewriter
  • Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter
Brave Writer Podcast

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Refer-a-Friend!

Brave Writer Refer-a-Friend

We hear from you ALL THE TIME!

You and your homeschool pals:

  • plan book club parties!
  • brainstorm unit studies—sharing all the books and resources!
  • lean on each other when you don’t feel you’ve done enough! (You have!)

Wish more of your homeschool friends would homeschool the Brave Writer way?

Think of all you could do together.

Help them take the leap!

Join Brave Writer’s Refer-a-Friend program!

Give $10! Get $10!

It’s always a great time for your friends to jump into Brave Writer! And everyone gets a discount!

Here’s how it works: 

  1. Use this link to refer new-to-Brave-Writer friends—refer as many as you like.
  2. Your new-to-Brave-Writer friend will receive a $10 discount code for a purchase in the Brave Writer store.
  3. Once your friend purchases, you’ll receive a $10 discount code good for anything in the Brave Writer store.
  4. Use one code per purchase in the Brave Writer store (excludes online classes).

Sharing was never so easy!

Help more friends find the joy in homeschooling with Brave Writer. Refer-a-Friend! 


Growing Brave Writers

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Friday Freewrite: Cookie Jar

Friday Freewrite

The title of today’s writing prompt is: A Day in the Life of a Cookie Jar. Go!

New to freewriting? Check out our online guide.

Tags: Writing prompts
Posted in Friday Freewrite | Comments Off on Friday Freewrite: Cookie Jar

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