A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

“What are children learn at home is largely invisible to us — directly connected to their experience of well-being — the atmosphere of family life.” ~The Brave Learner

Get the atmosphere right and learning blooms. Oh I know. I used the word “right” and immediately that plunges you into a pit of despair!

Let me define “right atmosphere.” Ready?

Space to Create

• Lots of talking
• Freedom to be yourself
• Snacks
• Second, third, and fourth chances
• Hope
• Optimism
• Love expressed as admiration, support, collaboration
• Time
• Following your hunches
• Faith in learning, not just curriculum
• Willingness for mess, mistakes, and makeovers
• Growing as an adult learner too
• Add your own!

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The atmosphere that promotes learning is free, emotionally nurturing, and filled with learning opportunities of all sorts. It will look different in each family, yet the “feel” of it will be similar—growth and learning valued and sustained.

I’m reading Ainsley Arment’s book and love this quote in particular:

“Trust your natural instincts, even when you don’t know what to do, because if all else fails, you still know how to be a parent.” ~The Call of the Wild and Free

What creates the “right” atmosphere in your home? Pick one from the list above or add your own.

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

Who’s begun a Great Wall of Questions this year? I talk about how to do it on pages 73-74 in The Brave Learner.

“One way to ignite interest in a subject, then, is to interrogate it— to resist the temptation to know the answers. If seventh grade science is nothing more than paperwork in your mind, stop assuming you understand the scientific method. Ask science your boldest questions. Provoke it into a response. Don’t stop until you’re amazed. Same thing goes for your kids. Answers are not nearly as interesting as questions” (73).

Here’s what you do:

• Put a stack of sticky notes next to a clean surface.
• Include markers to write questions.
• All questions for the whole week go on sticky notes (even questions like, “Where’s my toothbrush?”).
• Stick the notes to the window or the whiteboard or the wall.
• At the end of the week on Sunday over dinner, start peeling them off, reading them, and discussing them (inevitable).

You’ll be amazed at how much learning is catalyzed simply by valuing questions for a whole week. Try it!

Let me know how it goes.

#greatwallofquestions