A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

Recently on Brave Learning…

Local School Rights Infringed by Federal Government

What happened to the concept that local school districts ought to have more power than the federal government in determining education? Are we really okay with that? [More]

Fostering Self-Awareness [Public]

The chief skill we need to impart for successful relationships in life is self-awareness. [More]

Chat GPT and Teen Writing [Public]

A new topic in my new book! [More]

Friday Freewrite: Background [Public]

If someone took a photograph of you freewriting right now, what would they see in the background? Describe in detail what (or who!) is behind you. [More]

We’ve kicked off our five-minute weekly podcast for your kids on Substack!

My goal is to give your kids actionable steps to take control of their learning experience, to make it more meaningful and delightful to them.

The idea is to play the podcast over breakfast and then make a little time that day or later in the week to do the thing.

• 01 – Hidey Holes: create a “hidey hole” as a study space.
• 02 – History of YOU: teaches your child to think like a historian.
• 03 – Break a Reading Record: encourages kids to read a little longer in one sitting.
• 04 – Write On—Graffiti! gets your kids writing even when they think they hate it!

I look forward to supporting you by going direct to your kiddos and inspiring them to be the brave learners you want them to be.

Enjoy!

Recently on Brave Learning…

College: How to Entice a Teen 

Help cast the vision for college, even if your kid is reluctant to go [More]

Let’s talk about parental anger [Public]

It’s good to remember how vulnerable our little charges are and how much they do depend on us…for everything. [More]

What I learned as a parent

My kids didn’t like the way I worried about them or saw them as projects. When I dropped that energy, life got better for all of us. [More]

Friday Freewrite: Brushing Teeth [Public]

For a news segment, how might a reporter describe you brushing your teeth? [More]

Recently on Brave Learning…

The Long Haul of Homeschooling [Public]

This post is for the veteran—the homeschooler who can teach a child to read while stir frying dinner—and also for the parent who is tired—when cracking open a new set of math books isn’t as exciting as it once was. [More]

Getting Teens to “Do School” 

The way your kids care about their interests is the same pathway to caring about academics. Let’s talk about it! [More]

It Gets Better [Public]

I can promise you that things in your life will get better because I know YOU. You are the kind of person that strives toward that end—that’s who you are. [More]

Friday Freewrite: Cold [Public]

You’re out for a wintry walk (and you’re wearing a wooly hat, heavy coat, snow pants, gloves, and boots), when a tree overhears you grumbling about the cold weather. What does the tree have to say in response? [More]

Recently on Brave Learning…

The Natural Stages of Development for Home Educators [Public]

Even as a home educator, you go through your own developmental stages. Let’s talk about them because it may help you feel more comfortable with your journey. [More]

Poetry Valenteatime [Public]

If you want to shift the energy in your home from recalcitrance and curmudgeonliness (I’m picturing grumpy faces, in other words), the surefire breathe-life-into-kids mechanism is…. Poetry Teatime! [More]

A Truth About Educating Teens

If we start from the premise that we can’t get a teen to care, we are much closer to creating a healthy learning environment. [More]

Friday Freewrite: As a Toddler [Public]

Pick a book character who’s a teen or an adult. Now describe what they might have been like as a toddler. [More]