[Podcast #246] Living Through Books with Lindsay Smith

Brave Writer Podcast Living Through Books

Lindsay Smith caught our eye on Instagram (@LittleSchoolofSmiths) with all the cool book projects she does with her homeschool kids. We are thrilled she accepted our invitation to be our guest on today’s show to tell us more about them.

We discuss the importance of fun, visual timelines of accomplishments:

  • books read,
  • skills gained,
  • and milestones achieved.
Lindsay Smith
Lindsay Smith

Timelines also act as lessons themselves, building summary skills and even historical inquiry chops.

Plus, Lindsay gives us her perspective as a homeschooling mom currently using the Brave Writer Dart program, and explains what it is like to be in our Refer-a-Friend program.

Show Notes

The Accordion, Clothespin Line, or Tree

Lindsay has a cool Instagram reel of an accordion-fold project she made with her ten-year-old daughter. After she finishes a novel, her daughter decorates a letter-sized envelope with a design that represents the book. Then she fills the envelope with parts of the story:

  • setting,
  • characters,
  • problem,
  • resolution, etc.

Or sometimes she puts in free writing that she has done that is inspired by the book. That envelope then gets added to the accordion of all the other envelopes of books she has read. The result is a beautiful visual timeline of everything her daughter has read and learned.

If the accordion idea is too complicated, you can simply use a clothesline with envelopes pinned on it.

You can also go with the tree model instead. At the beginning of the year, draw an outline of a tree on a big piece of paper and then as your kids finish a book, they summarize it on a leaf-sized piece of paper and tape the leaf to the tree. 

History Timelines Down the Hallway

In their homeschooling days, Julie and Melissa both created long history timelines that stretched down the length of their home hallways. As their kids went about their learning–reading historical fiction, etc.—they would post their work to the corresponding era. They even put themselves on the timeline to underscore that we are all part of history. 

Visual timelines are powerful tools for kids. If the timeline is of their own progress, kids can feel proud and motivated to learn more. If the timeline is of history, kids can better understand linear cause-and-effect, including what brought us to the present moment.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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