A Brave Writer's Life in Brief - Page 13 of 758 - Thoughts from my home to yours A Brave Writer's Life in Brief
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A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

Thoughts from my home to yours

Advice for Newbies – Part One

Brave Writer Advice for Newbies Part One

Listen. Most homeschoolers already feel like they’re not doing enough. Do they need to feel pressure to also create a backyard farm? It’s OK if you have one! But you’re not an inferior homeschooler if you aren’t also running an urban homestead. (I needed to hear this in year 2 of my homeschool career.) You’re not missing the mark if you’re tending three gaming systems rather than three goats.

You have a career already. It’s educating your kids. If that education includes bread baking or chicken coops without sending your stress through the roof—by all means, carry on!

This post is for those of you who are adding unnecessary pressure to your home education vision and feeling at loose ends.

Your kids will be fine if you live in an apartment, near an outdoor mall.

Do you!

Lead your kids in learning. Anything you all love can teach everything you all need.

For newbies, especially, the learning curve for home education is significant. If it’s taking most of your energy: PERFECT. Rely on modern conveniences to support you.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, add an herb garden or churn one pint of whipping cream into a tablespoon of butter for fun. Or level up in MarioKart!

The key is reducing stress and finding joy in learning.

Here’s Part Two!


This post was originally shared on Instagram.
Watch the accompanying reel for more.


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Brave Learning: Natural Stages, Valenteatime, Educating Teens, and more!

Brave Learning

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]

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

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[Podcast #274] The Value of One-on-One Time

Brave Writer Podcast

Homeschooling can feel overwhelming, especially when managing multiple children. One of the most powerful ways to revitalize learning and relationships is through one-on-one time.

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore how small, intentional moments with each child can:

  • strengthen connection,
  • build trust,
  • and even make academics more enjoyable.

From playing games to taking a walk, we discuss simple ways to incorporate this practice—without feeling like it’s just another thing to schedule. If your homeschool routine is feeling stagnant, this episode might be the refresh you need.

Tune in now to hear how one-on-one time can transform your homeschool and family life!

Show Notes

In the whirlwind of homeschooling, parenting, and managing daily life, it’s easy to fall into the rhythm of group activities and structured learning. But one of the most powerful tools we have as parents and educators is often overlooked: one-on-one time with our children.

Carving out individual moments with each child isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential. This intentional connection fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and enhances the learning experience in ways that structured lessons never could.

Why One-on-One Time Matters

A household is dynamic, especially when juggling multiple children, responsibilities, and a packed schedule. The thought of carving out individual time with each child might feel overwhelming, but the benefits make it worth prioritizing.

When a child gets our undivided attention, they feel valued—not as a student, a sibling, or part of the family unit, but as an individual. They experience being seen, heard and understood. This personal connection builds goodwill, making them more receptive to learning and family collaboration.

One-on-one time also allows us to shift from the role of a parent-instructor to that of a companion. Instead of directing, correcting, or instructing, we get to simply be with our child—at eye level, sharing an experience and allowing curiosity and conversation to flow naturally.

What Counts as One-on-One Time?

It doesn’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming. While big outings are wonderful, one-on-one time can be as simple as:

  • Playing a board game
  • Cooking a meal together
  • Taking a short walk
  • Sharing a bedtime conversation
  • Listening to music or a podcast together
  • Working on a creative project side-by-side

The key is engagement—being fully present, not checking off a task or sneaking in a lesson. This time isn’t about directing but about participating alongside your child.

The Ripple Effect in Homeschooling

One of the surprising benefits of one-on-one time is how it impacts the overall homeschool dynamic. When children feel connected and prioritized outside of structured learning, they become more cooperative during academic time. That one walk, that game of cards, that inside joke—these things build the trust that makes it easier to approach challenges together.

In a household where individual attention is spread thin, keeping a simple rotation can help. Whether it’s a weekly outing, a standing ritual (like weekend art nights or post-dinner walks), or even quick check-ins throughout the day, it all adds up.

A Small Shift, A Big Impact

One-on-one time is not an extravagant luxury—it’s a necessity that fuels the whole homeschool experience. It transforms our children’s relationship with learning and deepens the bond that makes our homeschool and our family life thrive.

So, if homeschooling feels like a grind, if connections feel distant, or if engagement is low, the solution might not be another curriculum tweak—it might just be more connection. Start small. Look for natural openings. Say yes to their invitations. And watch how these moments transform not just your homeschool but your relationship.

Resources

  • Check out Julie’s new author website: juliebogartwriter.com!
  • Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters: Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic
  • Preorder Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing: How to Turn Struggling Students into Brave Writers
  • Try out our Brave Writer Practice Pages
  • Brave Writer Book Shop: https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/list/podcast-recommendations
  • Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
  • Read all Brave Writer class descriptions
  • Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
  • 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

Connect with Julie

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

Connect with Melissa

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

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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Help! My Kid Hates Writing

Help! My Kid Hates Writing

When it’s time to write, if you have a child who:

  • rolls their eyes 
  • heaves a big sigh
  • tips their chair back
  • complains that their hand hurts
  • writes “poop” 16 times in a row
  • can’t think of anything to write
  • thinks writing is stupid
  • hates writing

…this book is for you!

It’s also for parents of kids who love writing…because most parents were taught writing using methods that cause harm. Your one task is to ensure your child goes on loving writing so that they don’t grow to hate it.

In other words: I wrote this book to protect children and to heal parents.

Writing is the one subject where kids are routinely harmed by our methods of instruction. You can turn that around. It’s not even difficult! 

I’m here. I’m rooting for you. I can show you how.

Order here!

Posted in Help! My Kid Hates Writing | Comments Off on Help! My Kid Hates Writing


The Homegrown Variety

Brave Writer

Something that can make homeschoolers feel bad is comparing home education to traditional school.

The chronic feeling of overwhelm, guilt, and pressure to perform often comes from the “ghost of public school past.”

Why do we let public school expectations dictate how we feel about our homeschools? We literally opted out of that method and system!

We create an emotionally draining environment when we continually measure our experience of education against the one we chose not to use.

It’s like measuring your homegrown strawberries against the perfectly sized flawless-looking berries in a supermarket display.

You literally grew your own strawberries for specific reasons that are meaningful to you. The way they grow strawberries for supermarkets is a completely different method and a process that you have chosen not to do in your own backyard because you prefer the homegrown variety! BRAVO!!

REPEAT AFTER ME: It’s emotionally draining to hold my homeschool to a school standard.

Keep growing wild strawberries…please!

Love you.


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