Author Archive

Make Learning Stick: Two-Product Bundles

Brave Writer

I once met a lady who homeschools
While juggling a baby who drools
She fought to teach writing
Stop the toddlers from biting
And forgot a semicolon’s rules

Is this you? It was surely one of my best friends. She came to me with exasperation.

How was she supposed to know all the rules of punctuation?

How could she teach it without the kids devolving into a fight?

We talked—and lo and behold! She discovered she, too, could lead a writing program even without a copyeditor’s knowledge of all the grammar rules! You can too.

I designed a bunch of programs that are kid (and parent!) friendly.

Two-Product Bundles

You can purchase two-product bundles to get started or to supplement Growing Brave Writers (if you’ve already got it). These products teach literature, grammar, punctuation, and developmentally scaled writing assignments.

Hop on board so that we can rewrite that limerick to read:

I once met a lady who homeschools
At ease with writing rules
Her kids self-expressed
Wordy missives—the best!
Brave Writer gave her the tools

Brave Writer Bundles

If you’re looking for some additional support, check out our online classes.

Psst: Do you have new-to-Brave-Writer friends? You can get a discount for them and for yourself using our Refer-a-Friend program!

Brave Writer Bundles

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The Importance of Rest

Brave Writer

We cannot underestimate the power of fatigue to crush the life out of even the strongest of us! Take a nap, swing in a hammock, snooze.

The most difficult resource to keep in stock is rest.

Yet rest changes everything!

It affects our:

  • mood
  • energy level
  • outlook
  • ability to respond to crisis
  • tolerance for chaos and noise
  • generosity toward childishness
  • wellbeing
  • ability to concentrate

When you find yourself short, disorganized, bored, sounding the alarm that the world is ending, ask yourself when last you got 6-8 hours of sleep without constant interruption.

It’s difficult to catch up when you breastfeed or have a chronic bedwetter. I know. That’s why taking naps, having a partner who can swap sleeps with you (so you’re not on call every night), and even resorting to booking a room at a hotel for a night just for you can change your life.

When in doubt, assume you need more sleep. Then find a way to get it.

(Also: throw in a dose of sunshine. Get outside where the sun can kiss your skin… it helps.)

This post is originally from my @juliebravewriter Instagram account.
Follow along for more conversations like this one!

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[Podcast] Building a Family Heritage through Homeschool with Amber O’Neal Johnston – Part One

Brave Writer Podcast

The heart and soul behind heritagemom.com and a proud contributor to the Wild + Free homeschooling community, Amber O’Neal Johnston has woven her experiences into a beautiful narrative in her book, A Place to Belong.

Amber O'Neal Johnston
Amber O’Neal Johnston

Amber’s book serves as a rich resource for families across the spectrum, exploring homes that are:

  • inclusive,
  • culturally rich,
  • and socially conscious.

Today on the Brave Writer podcast, we’re diving deep into this narrative with Amber, talking author to author and homeschooling mom to homeschooling mom about the essence of A Place to Belong.

Show Notes

Inspiration for “A Place to Belong”

A heart-wrenching personal awakening around her eldest child’s struggles with self-worth and identity spurred Amber to pen this literary gem. Recognizing the gaps and unintentional omissions in her child’s education about race and identity, Amber addresses the need to move beyond extreme colorblindness, emphasizing the importance of embracing our unique roots, culture, and identity. As Toni Morrison beautifully put, “If there’s a book that you want to read and it hasn’t been written, then you should write it.” And so, Amber did.

What the Book is About

In A Place to Belong, Amber delves into the significance of introspection and awareness for parents. It’s not merely about understanding our children but also diving deep into our emotions, biases, and beliefs. She underscores that confronting and navigating through the emotional discomfort of parent-child conversations, especially those revolving around race, identity, and culture, is paramount. Amber also takes us on a journey through the tapestry of family culture. She emphasizes that it’s not just about annual traditions or favorite family pastimes but delving deeper into the realms of cultural heritage and background. What messages are we unconsciously sending our children through our chosen way of life? Importantly, she reminds us that these discussions and introspections about cultural heritage aren’t exclusive to any particular racial or ethnic group. White families, black families, brown families – every household has a story, a history, and a culture worth exploring and celebrating.

Evaluating Family Culture

Every family is unique, and every child should feel at home in their family culture. To truly embrace inclusivity, parents should:

  • Reflect on their social circles and children’s friends.
  • Ask if these circles reflect diversity or are they insular?
  • Evaluate their stance on race, stereotypes, and biases.

Inclusivity isn’t just about certain months dedicated to specific histories. It’s about making inclusivity a way of life, not just a topic of discussion. It’s about moving from compartmentalization to integration.

Being an “Askable” Parent

Coined by Dr. Gordon, the term “askable parent” is a badge of honor. It signifies a parent’s commitment to be available, open, and honest with their child. From answering unexpected questions to addressing bold or “inappropriate” topics, being an askable parent means creating a safe space for your child to grow and learn. And sometimes, it means saving those pressing public questions for a private chat in the car.

3 Types of Books

Every book holds a lesson, but not all books represent every reader. Amber classifies books into:

  • Mirrors: These reflect a reader’s life.
  • Windows: These give insights into others’ lives.
  • Sliding Glass Doors: These are so relatable that readers envision themselves in the narrative.

While many families have ample mirror books, the challenge lies in balancing these with window books, enabling kids to see the vibrant tapestry of our world. For Amber, this realization came when she noticed her child’s library was lacking diversity. It’s not about blame but about continuous learning and updating our bookshelves.

The crux of our journey with Amber is simple yet profound: To promote joyful inquiry and introduce our children to a diverse literary realm. Let’s embrace this vibrant world, hand in hand with our kids, leading them towards a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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When to Change Course

Brave Writer

ALL that matters is that you not persist in a program that deadens the life and learning capacity of your child. If either of you aren’t happy and energized…it’s over.

Remember: you are cultivating a LIFE. Your child’s experience of learning is the key to a healthy, valuable education.

Try all the tricks:

  • candles,
  • tea,
  • cookies,
  • back rubs,
  • blanket forts,
  • twinkle lights,
  • moving the lesson outside,
  • music,
  • petting the dog.

If the program continues to oppress, however, and deaden the atmosphere of the home, there is NO price you paid for it worth ruining your daily lives. See the cost as R&D (research and development).

Change course.

Notice what energizes and move toward THAT.

You have plenty of time to learn. That said, don’t waste your precious days harming your children’s feelings about learning.

Ain’t nobody got time for that!

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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Flash Sale: Updated Arrows!

Brave Writer

Great news! 

Seven of our older Arrows are back and better than ever! 

Keep reading for details on the 72 hour sale! (Scroll down for the Discount Code.)

We love our Arrows, but don’t take our word for it!

Here’s what parents like you have to say! 

It is a completely different way to teach language arts. My kids were interested and excited each time we did a lesson. They know things now that we’ve never even looked at in any other grammar or spelling program. Any time you can get kids excited about learning, you’ve got a winner. — Betsy

It’s an in-depth but gentle tool. — Megan

It takes the guesswork and planning out of it for me and keeps reading and language arts at an extremely attainable level. My kids do not fight me on it at all! That’s huge! — Becky

That IS huge! Are you ready?

This is the perfect time to jump in or stock up on Arrows (ages 11-12)!

We’ve recently given seven beloved classic Arrows a make-over.

  • New content!
  • New design!

Same high-quality grammar, punctuation, spelling, and literary device instruction!

And don’t forget, Book Club Party ideas! (Text a friend to book club together with one of these Arrows!) 

These best-selling Arrows will help you bring language to life through living literature!

  1. Wonder
  2. Redwall
  3. Stuart Little
  4. The Wild Robot
  5. In the Beginning
  6. The Bad Beginning
  7. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Don’t blink, or you’ll miss the sale!

Offer ends September 20, 2023 at midnight ET.

Use FLASH2023 and get $5 OFF each Arrow above. 

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