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Try It: Book Hooks!

Brave Writer Try It Book Hooks

Looking for a fun way to introduce “opening hooks” to your kids? Keep reading!

The most famous opening hook in children’s literature comes from Charlotte’s Web.

“Where’s Papa going with that ax?”

Startling, right? Do you want to know what happens next?

That’s the power of a great opening hook—it compels you to keep reading!

See if any other standouts are in your home library. Rank your favorites!

Book Hooks

  1. Collect a stack of 10 books.
  2. Open them one at a time.
  3. Take turns reading the opening lines aloud.
  4. Vote on which is the most compelling and which is the least compelling.
  5. Rank all 10 in order.
  6. Discuss why the most compelling is so good.
  7. Revise! How might you change the least compelling to make it better?

TIP: If you’ve done this before, try it with nonfiction books—or movies (watch the first few minutes).

Writing depends on hooking readers. Remember to hook your readers when you write!

If you try it, let us know how it goes! Share on social with the #bravewriterlifestyle hashtag.

All ‘Try It’ Activities

Brave Writer® programs teach writing using your child’s body, mind, and heart.
Discover why writing is the key to all of learning!

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Trust

Brave Writer

Home education is bringing learning to all of life—trusting the process, trusting our families, trusting ourselves.

That awful word “trust.” Trust sounds so risky, doesn’t it?

Like, how careless would I be to “trust” a process or my family or even myself? I want certainty! I want guarantees!

Alas—the fact of life is you can’t count on outcomes. But perhaps—just perhaps—you can count on resources to be there for you, however.

The whole energy of being human is to do everything in your power to mitigate risk! Avoid the warthog, get out of the blizzard, and never watch twaddle TV like SpongeBob Squarepants!

Everything Can Teach Anything

Yet, the truth is—learning abounds even in those risky, unnerving, or spurious moments of your life! Trust simply means that you believe you have enough resources to meet challenges and to transform experiences into learning.

Homeschooling is built on trust. I’m here to tell you that you have everything you need to be good at it—

  • community,
  • libraries,
  • curriculum that works for you,
  • friends who will troubleshoot your thorniest problems,
  • and your own bright mind that knows how to google when the going gets tough!

Trust is possible because you can always find what you need—you are NOT alone or without tools and support.

I trust you!

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The Definitive High School Class Guide

Brave Writer

What’s your teen’s attention span like? 

We know there are tons of apps, songs, videos, and texts competing for your teen’s attention. And that’s just on their phones! 

We’ve noticed this trend. That’s why we took our essay writing curriculum and broke it up into manageable chunks. 

We made our online class program more flexible for YOU, too!

Whether you’re using Brave Writer® as your plan, or addressing your teen’s writing needs as they come, there’s something that works for everyone!

  1. Want a long-term plan that’s got you covered?
  2. Like to do things your own way?
  3. Finding a gap in your teen’s skillset?

Below are the 3 main ways families use our program. Read on to find YOUR preferred style!

OPTION 1: Ducks in a Row 

Here’s the simple formula:two core classes per school year + one elective.

CORE CLASSES:

Essay Prep Series ← Start here if you have a tween or young teen who is just beginning!

Essay Writing 101: Analytic Essay
Essay Writing 102: Persuasive Essay

Essay Writing 201: Critical Response Essay
Essay Writing 202: Timed Essay

Essay Writing 301: Advanced Composition
Essay Writing 302: MLA Research Essay

High school for Option 1 can look like this:

In between classes, students will practice the skills they’ve learned in class, re-writing essays with new topics.

OPTION 2: Sooooo Chill

You’ve probably noticed: We tackle one essay type per essay writing class. It just makes sense! 

Here are some reasons why you might want to choose your classes à la carte.

  • Back up to review an essay style studied previously
  • Gain a completed, polished essay for the portfolio
  • Stretch out processing time between learning sessions
  • Choose classes that appeal most to your child

High school for Option 2 can look like this:

📚 A deep dive into 4 weeks of intense learning with our instructor

🏠 Time at home to practice new skills and re-do exercises with new topics

🧠 A brain break while they do some different types of writing for a little while

👉 Pick a new class and start again with a fresh mind and energy

🌀 Repeat!

OPTION 3: On a Need-to-Know Basis

Perhaps your charter school or co-op is covering much of the mechanics of essay writing, but do they cover…

  • A playful approach to academic writing? (EW 101)
  • Paraphrasing in detail? (EW 102)
  • Decoding essay questions? (EW 202)
  • Deciphering images in the news? (EW 201)
  • Avoiding accidental plagiarism ← that’s a biggie! (EW 102)
  • Situating an original text in its historical, social milieu? (EW 301)
  • How to navigate a specific style like MLA? (EW 302)

Our short, focused essay writing classes mean that you don’t need to ditch your homeschool co-op entirely or devote an entire year to boosting a single skillset. Easy peasy!

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[Podcast #219] The 4th R: Relationship

Brave Writer Podcast

Today’s Brave Writer podcast episode is about what I call “The 4th R.” Most of us are familiar with the three R’s: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. But in order for those subjects to click with your kids, you need a 4th R: Relationship.

Everything in your home and homeschool flows from how well you connect with your kids. This episode is meant to turbocharge for putting the relationship you have with your children at the center of your homeschool.

Show Notes

The Essence of Bi-directional Relationships

Bi-directional relationships in homeschooling mean acknowledging that both the parent and child have a significant influence on the educational process. It’s about moving away from the one-sided, authoritarian style of teaching to a more collaborative and respectful dynamic. This approach allows for a richer and more nuanced understanding of each other’s needs and perspectives.

Transactional Relationships: A Balance of Needs

Transactional relationships focus on the give-and-take between parents and children. It’s about finding a balance, where both parties feel heard and their needs are met. This balance fosters a positive learning environment, where children feel valued and parents feel effective in their role.

Fostering Empathy and Understanding

A key element in this relational approach is empathy. By actively listening and empathizing with our children, we create a space where they feel safe to express their thoughts and ideas. This empathy leads to a deeper understanding of their motivations and challenges, enabling us to tailor the learning experience to suit their unique needs.

Avoiding Negative Cycles

In every relationship, there are potential pitfalls. It’s crucial to be aware of negative cycles that can arise from misunderstandings or unmet needs. By being mindful and proactive, we can prevent these cycles from taking root, ensuring a healthy and productive homeschooling environment.

Engaging with Children’s Interests

One effective strategy is engaging with our children’s interests, be it through incorporating their favorite subjects into the curriculum or participating in activities they enjoy. This not only makes learning more enjoyable for them but also strengthens our bond.

The journey of homeschooling is as much about education as it is about relationship building. By embracing bi-directional and transactional relationships, we create a nurturing and effective learning environment. It’s a journey we undertake together, growing and learning side by side with our children.

Resources

  • Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention!
  • Curious about Brave Writer but not quite sure what it’s all about? Join our free 7-Day Writing Blitz to transform your writing program in just one week!
  • Want to give your kid the best chance at learning a musical instrument but don’t know where to start? Join Hoffman Academy to get award-winning piano lessons online at hoffmanacademy.com and use discount code LEARN for 10% off!
  • 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

Connect with Julie

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Produced by NOVA Media

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Make Life Better

Brave Writer

It’s up to you! It’s not up to the school system, the homeschool community, your mother, or the books you love. The reason so many of us lose heart is we’ve delegated authority over our choices to someone outside ourselves.

One thing I’ve learned about being an adult is that when we recognize that we have the responsibility for our experience and lives, we gain power. The temptation to want to follow a plan, a curriculum, a school district’s scope and sequence to the letter means you are delegating your authority to an outside source.

But if you can recognize that you have freedom to make choices, to modify choices, and to pivot when you change your mind, you gain a sense of control over your own life. You stop being a victim of someone else’s choices.

Adulthood is the recognition that you own everything that happens to you. You’re in the driver’s seat. You make choices and grow.

A Gift of Home Education

One of the gifts of home education is that you become responsible for educating yourself—and the sheer joy of realizing that it is up to you holds freedom and power.

Once you take hold of that power, the victim narrative dies.

So make life better. You can be bold, you can make mistakes, you can recover.

It IS on you. That’s a good thing!

This post is originally from Instagram and @juliebravewriter is my account there so come follow along for more conversations like this one!

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