Author Archive

A Mother’s Day Gift for You!

Brave Writer Mother's Day Gift

It’s Mother’s Day!

We see you and all the work you do! So…

👕 Put the laundry on the couch. 
📺 Turn on the TV for your little ones. 
☕ Pour a cup of tea. 
🎁 And open your special gift from us to you! 

OFFER HAS EXPIRED

Brave Writer Gracious Space: Spring

A Gracious Space: Spring Edition gives you brand new readings for the next leg of your year’s homeschool journey. Daily readings are provided to give you support and encouragement in your homeschool adventure.

The 50 non-sectarian essays offer:

  • new ways to think about homeschooling,
  • comfort for when you run up against your limitations,
  • and energy for tackling your highest aspirations!

Each day’s reading includes a quote from a parent or notable individual, as well as a sustaining thought to take with you through the day.

Happy Mother’s Day! 

P.S. Share with a mama friend who needs a little gracious space! 

Brave Learner Home

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[Podcast #236] Happy Book Birthday: Becoming a Critical Thinker by Julie Bogart!

Brave Writer Podcast

Hooray! Today’s the publication day of my (Julie’s) new workbook, Becoming a Critical Thinker.

If you’re a longtime listener of the Brave Writer podcast, you know that I’m pretty strict about workbooks. They should lead a child:

  • to mastery,
  • to embodiment,
  • to knowing the content for themselves. 

That’s the approach I took to creating this workbook. I’ve reduced each of the activities to one key point. I’ve written just enough text for students to get that idea and then to practice it in the activity.

Becoming a Critical Thinker

I designed this workbook to help students (ages 12-18) grow as critical thinkers by turning the focus to their own thoughts.

  • Why do they believe what they believe?
  • What flaws can they notice in their own thinking?
  • How do they reach conclusions?

I dive into all this in-depth in today’s episode. Thank you for joining me on this special day!

Show Notes

The Foundation: Understanding Critical Thinking

Part one is called The Foundation: Understanding Critical Thinking. It’s got activities like The Academic Selfie, Says Who, Fab Vocab, Quick Write, The Fact Strainer, Itch to Fit, Silent Films, Spot the Misinformation, Red Flags Waving, and more.

The Practice: Growing Your Thinking Skills

Part two is called The Practice: Growing Your Thinking Skills. The activities in this section include teaching students to notice:

  • the ways symbols influence how we think,
  • the importance of perspective,
  • the idea of tolerance,
  • and how people have different memories of the same events.

The Application: Learning the Art of Interpretation

Part three is called The Application: Learning the Art of Interpretation. This section of the book has activities to show students how our bodies trigger us when we’re reading information that we don’t want to be true or information we secretly hope is true. There are also activities around framing arguments, the courage to change your mind, and the future impact of AI on our beliefs.

This is just a brief overview. To learn more go to RaisingCriticalThinkers.com.

Thank you for joining me on this special day!

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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Becoming a Critical Thinker!

Becoming a Critical Thinker

In the era of social media news, every parent of teens I talk to is worried that their kids are being schnookered!

  • How will their kids sort accurate data from misinformation?
  • Why do teens feel strongly about ideas that seem dangerous or unimportant to their parents?
  • What can teens do to improve their ability to think for themselves rather than following along with their peers?

These are the kinds of questions I address in my new workbook: BECOMING A CRITICAL THINKER.

I wrote it because I know how much teens are capable of becoming capable, nuanced thinkers if they are given the right tools. The practices and processes in this workbook are enough to fill an entire school year with activities that will deepen and expand how well your teens critically think about everything from their favorite music to issues of the day to how to form their values.

BECOMING A CRITICAL THINKER is out now!!

Celebrate with me as I talk about the workbook on a special episode of the Brave Writer podcast!

This workbook is consumable so you may want one for each of your kids between the ages of 12-18.

Because I know you’ll ask: yes, adults can use this workbook too. Just be aware that the tone of the writing is directed to teens, even though the activities themselves work for any age.

If you are new to my work: you may also like RAISING CRITICAL THINKERS which is my nonfiction book for parents to help them be effective thinkers themselves all while teaching their kids to think well too.

Editor’s Description

At a time when we’re constantly flooded with contradictory information and opinions, critical thinking skills are more important than ever. This accessible workbook is full of valuable insights, thought-provoking questions, and useful exercises to help teens and preteens expand their perspectives, skillfully navigate thorny issues, recognize bias, identify misinformation, and become more comfortable with dissent and differences of opinion. Becoming a Critical Thinker offers essential tools for students to mature into thoughtful, curious, and empathetic learners.

While I have you here: Thank you for supporting the work I do in the world. It means so much to me to be able to share what I’ve learned in my three decades of examining thinking—

  • why we think what we do
  • why we think we’re right and the “other guy” is wrong
  • why we get so unsettled when someone we love doesn’t think the way we wish they would

Critical thinking is essential for our teens especially. They are bombarded with loud, clanging information that has the appearance of truth but may simply be manipulation. We can help them learn how to tell the difference.

There is no better course you can give your teens than the tools to think well about every issue under the sun—including the ones that concern you most as their parent.

I hope you and your kids enjoy working with these tools! I can’t wait to hear how it goes.

I’m grateful for you.

Becoming a Critical Thinker

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2024-2025 Book Reveal!

Brave Writer Book Reveal 2024-2025

Are you getting excited?!

Each year, I announce the line ups for our wildly popular literature programs!

For the Quill (ages 5-7), I reveal themes you’ll explore while building foundational pre-literacy skills in reading, writing, and math.

For the Dart (ages 8-10), Arrow (ages 11-12), Boomerang (ages 13-14), and Slingshot (ages 15-18), I give updates and announce the book titles for the coming academic year!

Book Reveal Dates!

Click the links to register for the Zoom webinars (space limited).

For kids ages 5-10: Thursday, May 30 (12:00 pm EDT)
For kids ages 11-18: Friday, May 31 (12:00 pm EDT)

(Or watch on Facebook.)

When you register, you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of our fantastic GIVEAWAYS!

SIX FAMILIES will win:

  1. A gift card to purchase ALL the books for the year-long program of your choice
  2. A bundle of enchanted tools for writing—markers, pretty papers, sidewalk chalk and more!*

You don’t have to attend the webinars live to be eligible to win, but you do have to register! So be sure you add your name to the webinar registration for at least one of the days.

*International customers will receive one gift card that covers costs for both books and tools for writing!

Come live! The chat will be FLYING!!

Use this PDF Download to keep track of the book titles during the lives.

The Programs

Our Mechanics & Literature programs teach:

  • grammar,
  • punctuation,
  • literary devices,
  • and more through living literature!

The big reveal is also exciting for you because these are:

  • books your family will read aloud together and treasure all year 
  • books that naturally teach all the stuff you worry about! (See above!)

Selecting the Books

Here at Brave Writer, we take the selection of these book titles Very Seriously!

All year, we read, discuss, and delight in the year’s latest fiction as well as relishing the classics.

  • We aim for diversity of authorship and protagonists
  • We incorporate a variety of genres: fantasy, poetry, nonfiction, historical fiction and the classics
  • We carefully orchestrate the sequence of the books
  • We balance book length against the holiday demands of a given month
  • We alternate moving, poignant books with silly, lighthearted books
  • We launch the year with a sure-fire winner and end with a warmhearted one

By the time we’ve settled on a book list, we’re chomping at the bit to share it with you!

You can expect a lively, inspired reading journey.

Our 2023–2024 year-long programs are still in the store! 
After May 27, they will only be available as Literature Singles! 

Brave Writer

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[Podcast #235] Why Moms Make the Best Advocates with Shannon Watts

Brave Writer Podcast

Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action, a six-million member organization she describes as “maybe the world’s largest real life field experiment for what happens when you show women how their abilities and their burning desires and their values align, and how they come alive and can achieve things they never imagined possible.”

We are thrilled to have her on the Brave Writer podcast today to talk about her upcoming book, Fight Like a Mother.

Shannon Watts
Shannon Watts
Chris Langford Photography

In this episode, we talk about:

  • how both misogyny and motherhood shape women’s journey to, and through, advocacy,
  • how to withstand blowback and the discomfort that comes with growth, including celebrating small wins and “finding your people,”
  • and how social media has allowed women to bypass traditional media gatekeepers.

Our conversation with Shannon about the intersection of motherhood, feminism, and activism is one that will keep us fueled for a long time. We hope you enjoy it.

Show Notes

Moms and Advocacy 

The fierce protective nature commonly found in moms can help them bust through the misogynistic baggage that’s been heaped upon them their whole lives. Whether it’s advocating for common sense gun laws or advocating for a child in the education system, the love a mother has for her child can bring out the best in her as an advocate and as a fully empowered adult.

Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

Just like being pregnant or parenting teens, moms have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable when being activists. Bucking authority and facing backlash can make many stop their advocacy before it even really starts. In her book, Shannon acknowledges this and gives concrete ways women can overcome these obstacles and build stamina for the fight.

Media Gatekeepers

Despite creating one of the largest grassroots groups in American history, and being an expert on policy, Shannon still often gets shut out from major media appearances. When she is let in, she’s often relegated to the role of describing the emotional side of the issue. Shannon talks about how social media has been huge for her and other women to bypass traditional media gatekeepers to get their voices heard.

Our conversation with Shannon about the intersection of motherhood, feminism, and activism is one that will keep us fueled for a long time. 

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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