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[Podcast #231] Artistic Homeschooling with Hana of Pepper and Pine

Brave Writer Podcast

Hana’s Instagram account, Pepper and Pine, is one of the most beautiful accounts on the internet: colorful, full of books and art. Her homeschooling approach is much the same. Using the Waldorf philosophy, she blends creativity and curiosity into her lessons, keeping them targeted to specific developmental stages.

Hana of Pepper and Pine
Hana of Pepper and Pine

Today on the Brave Writer podcast, we have a rich conversation with Hana about the dynamic of learning and growing as a parent while teaching your child at the same time. We talk about:

  • the anxiety about gaps in your kids’ education,
  • how to find time to plan lessons,
  • and the joy of seeing them grow into adulthood.

We also discuss the role art and handwork plays in our own lives as adults, both in terms of meditative relief and spiritual growth. The whole episode has the aesthetic of Pepper and Pine: deep, meaningful, beautiful.

Show Notes

Waldorf Philosophy and Art

Hana comes from an artistic family where the older siblings attended a Waldorf school. Although she only spent about a year at a Waldorf school herself, when it came time to homeschool her own kids, she knew she wanted to pursue that teaching philosophy. Specifically, she focused on shaping her teaching to her kids’ developmental stages, blending in their culture and religion. 

Education Gap Anxiety

Almost all homeschool parents worry that they have missed something in their kids’ education. Whether it’s modern history or pre-calculus, there’s always a fear that we have somehow failed them. As the parent of grown homeschooled children, Hana assures other homeschool parents: As long as you have protected their sense of curiosity and confidence, they can always keep learning as adults.

These days, Hana has a little more time for her own art and handwork. And lucky for us, she shares it on Instagram. So be sure to check it out as you tune in for this week’s episode.

Resources

  • Learn more at PepperandPine.com
  • Follow Hana on Instagram @PepperandPine
  • 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
  • Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention!
  • Good news: There are enough weeks left to do a writing project with your kids that will leave you feeling confident and accomplished this school year. Sign up for a Brave Writer online writing class. Our classes start every Monday, and each one only lasts three to six weeks. Sign up today!

Connect with Julie

  • Instagram: @juliebravewriter
  • Threads: @juliebravewriter
  • Twitter: @bravewriter
  • Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa

  • Website: melissawiley.com
  • Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
  • Instagram: @melissawileybooks
  • Twitter: @melissawiley

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

Posted in Podcasts | Comments Off on [Podcast #231] Artistic Homeschooling with Hana of Pepper and Pine

Mechanics & Literature: April 2024

Brave Writer

April’s Dart, Arrow, Boomerang, and Slingshot explore unique relationships amid complicated circumstances. While exploring writing, mechanics, and literary devices, your family will have much to discuss thanks to an unforgettable cast of characters featured in this month’s books. 

This month’s Quill is blooming with botanical big ideas and hands-on activities. We’ll have colorful conversations categorizing flowers and discovering all we can learn from petals and seeds!

A note about content

This month’s Arrow, Boomerang, and Slingshot issues include themes that open the door to deep conversations with your kids. You, as the parent, can decide how far you want to step into the room of discourse as you explore the books. We encourage parents to read ahead in order to be prepared.


Brave Writer Quill
Quill (ages 5-7)

Flowers

Stop to smell the roses with the next issue of the Quill!  

In the Brave Writer Book Shop, you’ll find books about flowers that we adore! These are not required (you can use any books about these topics that you have in your stacks or discover at your library), but we find it’s helpful to have a list to get you started.

In this Quill, we’ll:

  • create a plant poster bursting with fun facts;
  • have a colorful conversation about flower hues;
  • gather a bouquet of botanical words;
  • stretch our fine motor skills while planting flowers on a page;
  • discover what petals and seeds can teach us about odds and evens; and
  • cultivate the concept of categorization!

Get the Quill.


Brave Writer Dart
Dart (ages 8-10)

Big Foot and Little Foot by Ellen Potter

Meet Hugo, a young Sasquatch who longs for adventure, and Boone, his young human friend. Join this unlikely pair on a grand adventure searching for mythical beasts.

This month’s literary device focuses on Maps. We’ll also:

  • encounter a classic storytelling opening hook;
  • sidle up next to a comical juxtaposition;
  • explore a superlative way to make words the biggest and best;
  • discover the ins and outs of dialogue;
  • marvel at words with multiple meanings;
  • investigate an array of end marks; and so much more! 

Purchase the book.

Get the Dart.


Brave Writer Arrow
Arrow (ages 11-12)

Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood and Greg Dawson

This is the moving true account of a Ukrainian Jewish piano prodigy who avoids capture during the Holocaust. Told in verse, this story is sure to spark big juicy conversations in your home!

This month’s literary device focuses on Rhythm & Rhyme. We’ll also: 

  • admire alliteration and its awesome attributes;
  • watch possessive adjectives take ownership;
  • be treated to tercets;
  • see common nouns become proper;
  • cement how concrete poems are created;
  • appreciate anaphora again and again; and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Arrow.


Brave Writer Boomerang
Boomerang (ages 13-14)

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

History comes to life in this riveting story about communist Romania in 1989.

In this Boomerang, we’ll:

  • sit with scintillating symbolism;
  • touch on tools for emphasis;
  • consider, then consider again, the power of repetition;
  • appreciate the art of allusion;
  • look ahead to foreshadowing;
  • admire ambiguous endings, and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Boomerang.


Brave Writer Slingshot
Slingshot (ages 15-18)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Set in 1920s New York, this classic novel tells the story of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Studied for decades, it’s a story sure to spark lively bookish discussions.

In this Slingshot, we’ll:

  • flutter through a frame narrative with a first-person narrator;
  • survey some spectacular vernacular
  • dissect dialogue conventions;
  • associate images and ideas with allusions and similes and metaphors;
  • weigh opposites with oxymorons;
  • climb to the climax;
  • sink deep into symbolism; and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Slingshot.


Brave Writer

Posted in Arrow, Boomerang, BW products, Language Arts | Comments Off on Mechanics & Literature: April 2024

2024 BOGO Flash Sale!

Brave Writer BOGO Flash Sale 2024

“Buy One, Get One Free” Literature Single Sale
Ends April 3, 2024 (midnight EDT)
SALE HAS ENDED


It’s that time of year!

You’ve hit the wall. Tired of the routine. Got a household of antsy kids—and parents!

You’re ready to try something NEW! 

We get it! It’s the perfect time to mix it up! 

Buy one literature single and get another literature single free!

You can mix and match levels—Quill (5-7), Dart (8-10), Arrow (11-12), Boomerang (13-14) and Slingshot (15-18).

Each lit single offers you a month of language arts based on literature.

For a twist of fun…

Let your kids pick from our 200 titles!

  1. Turn your kids loose on the Literature Singles page.
  2. Ask them to pick books they’d like you to read with them.

Risky? That’s the point.

Be prepared to be surprised!

Your children’s curiosity can spark big juicy conversations, deep dives into grammar and writing, and get you to the finish line with joy.


Brave Writer Literature Singles

Posted in BW products | Comments Off on 2024 BOGO Flash Sale!

[Podcast #230] An Invitation to Poetry Teatime

Brave Writer Podcast

Today’s podcast episode is a Poetry Teatime: You drink tea, people pick poems to read aloud, you listen and enjoy them while you’re eating a delicious snack. 

Of course, since this is Brave Writer, we take time between the poems to talk about our love for poetry and how we use it to teach children about language:

  • similes,
  • imagery,
  • space,
  • expression,
  • connection,
  • and more.

So join us in Julie’s family tradition, which started way back when her kids brought their stuffed animals to the table and believed store-bought cookies were a special treat. Enjoy!

Show Notes

Poetry as Experiential Learning

Poetry Teatime started as a family tradition when Julie’s kids were young. She got the idea from another homeschool mom who tried to make learning geography more exciting for her kids by teaching it in a teatime setting.

Julie immediately applied it to poetry and the tradition still stands strong today. By simply allowing kids to enjoy and savor poetry, they’re able to deeply grasp the power of language–both when rules are followed and when they are broken.

Poetry as Inspiration

As a writer, Melissa reads poetry every morning. It often provides her with a jumping-off point: A word, phrase, or image will catch her attention and then she’ll play with it in her own work. Even for the most experienced writers, poetry gives fresh perspectives to language and meaning.

Joy and play are cornerstones to learning–for all ages. We really hope you enjoy this special episode.

Resources

  • Find our favorite poetry selections on our Poetry Teatime website: https://poetryteatime.com/
  • For a list of books mentioned on Brave Writer Podcast episodes, check out our Bookshop: https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/list/podcast-recommendations
  • 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
  • Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention!
  • Good news: There are enough weeks left to do a writing project with your kids that will leave you feeling confident and accomplished this school year. Sign up for a Brave Writer online writing class. Our classes start every Monday, and each one only lasts three to six weeks. Sign up today!

Connect with Julie

  • Instagram: @juliebravewriter
  • Threads: @juliebravewriter
  • Twitter: @bravewriter
  • Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa

  • Website: melissawiley.com
  • Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
  • Instagram: @melissawileybooks
  • Twitter: @melissawiley

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

Posted in Podcasts | Comments Off on [Podcast #230] An Invitation to Poetry Teatime

Try It: Terrific Titles

Brave Writer Try It

Assign Family Members Terrific Titles!

Today’s Try It prompt is from Week Two of our Amari and the Great Game Arrow.

Think about your parents’ or siblings’ special talents. Is your brother a fabulous dog walker? Does your dad make magic in the kitchen?

Work with your kids to assign job titles to each person in your family. It’s okay if they’re zany!

Here are a few examples to get you thinking: 

  • Mom, Chief Director of Fun Times
  • Lydia, Director of Theatre Productions
  • Baby Toby, President of Naps and Noises

Let us know how it goes (#bravewriterlifestyle)! 


The Complete List of Try It Activities


Brave Writer

Tags: Try It
Posted in Activities | Comments Off on Try It: Terrific Titles

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