No More Comprehension Questions!

Brave Writer

I can’t think of a quicker way to kill a love of reading than to test kids on trick bits of information to prove that the child has read the book.

Psst: if you live with your kids, you know if they’re reading the book or not. If you want to find out what they are getting out of the story, try this…

Go out for a frappucino or some ice cream.

Ask normal questions you’d ask any friend in a book club:

  • Did you freak out when X happened?
  • Were you as mad as I was that X character did Y to that other character?
  • I loved the ending but I wondered what happened to Z. What do you think happened them?
  • This book reminds me of… What does it remind you of?
  • I wish there were a movie version. I’d cast [insert amazing actress] for the main character and [insert talented male actor] as the love interest. You?

When you talk with an open heart, curious about your child’s REAL reaction to the story, you’ll see comprehension bloom!

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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Brave Learning: Why Poetry Teatime Works

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

Why Poetry Teatime Works [Public]

Life gets better with poetry and tea.

We joke that poetry teatimes are the ‘gateway drug’ to Brave Writer. They’re the lure, the enticement of all we’re about. And they’re free—no product purchase necessary.

But let’s look at why it works and what it does in your family, if you’ll just give it a go (even if right now, you think you hate poetry).

Here’s what happens when you take time to read poetry and drink beverages in tea cups or mugs with a few sweet treats for munchies. [More]

Subscribe to Brave Learning on Substack where we chat, discuss, problem-solve, and create together. Here’s what you can expect: weekly themed content, freewriting prompts, and a podcast for kiddos called Monday Morning Meeting (first 6 are free)! 

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[Podcast #289] A Round Table with Katie Doughty about Julie’s New Book

Brave Writer Podcast

Do your kids say they hate writing? You’re not alone—and they’re probably not telling the whole story.

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we’re excited to share Katie Doughty’s interview with Julie about Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing! from the Raising Kind Humans podcast. That’s right—this week we’re turning the tables!

Katie Doughty
Katie Doughty

Together, Katie and Julie explore why so many children struggle with writing and what we can do to restore their natural love for self-expression. From rethinking how we approach mechanics to embracing the role of a writing coach (not a referee), we share practical strategies to help your child find their voice.

We also explore how playful tools like freewriting, oral storytelling, and pretend play can unlock creativity and confidence. Writing isn’t about getting it “right”—it’s about being real. And when we start there, the rest follows.

Show Notes

Too often, writing is reduced to a checklist: topic sentences, three supporting details, a tidy conclusion. But when we fixate on structure, we risk extinguishing the very spark that makes writing worthwhile: the desire to be heard.

Many of us grew up writing for someone else’s approval. We learned to chase good grades, not to chase our own thoughts. That same system now shapes how we teach our kids. We imagine a staircase of writing progress, each year preparing for the next assignment: a report, an essay, a research paper. But where, in all of that, is the writer?

Writing as Self-Expression

We believe writing should begin as it always has throughout human history—with expression. Long before standardized spelling or formal education, people made marks on cave walls to communicate stories and emotions. That impulse is still alive in our children. Just look at how they engage online: texting, captioning, role-playing in games, writing fanfiction. They’re not afraid of writing—they’re hungry for connection.

The Mechanics Myth

So what gets in the way? School, often. And the misconception that mechanics—grammar, spelling, punctuation—must come first. But those are editing tools, not the heart of writing. When children are judged on mechanics too early, they either shut down or simplify their ideas to avoid mistakes. That’s a tragedy. We’d never correct a toddler’s first sentences with a red pen; we celebrate the effort and model better language over time. Writing deserves that same patience.

From Referee to Coach

One of the most powerful shifts we can make as parents is to partner with our children as writing coaches, not referees. A coach sees potential, scaffolds growth, and celebrates effort. A referee calls fouls. When we shift to coaching, we stop policing mistakes and start supporting ideas. We create a space where writing becomes playful again, not performative.

Making Writing Playful Again

That’s where tools like freewriting come in. Freewriting gives kids permission to write anything—yes, even “I hate writing.” In doing so, they learn to connect their hand to their thoughts without the pressure of getting it “right.” Over time, they find their voice. And when they’re ready, we can model revision not as punishment, but as play. Change a few words. Try saying the opposite. Act out a scene. Make it fun.

Protect the Joy First

The truth is, not every piece of writing needs to be polished. It just needs to be real. Real thoughts, real voice, real expression. From there, we can teach structure. But first, we must protect the joy of self-expression.

We want our children to write because they have something to say, not because they’re afraid of getting it wrong. That begins by honoring their words as worthy, exactly as they are, and helping them discover the power of their own voice.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

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Reading Aloud Is Not Just for Books

Brave Writer Reading Aloud

I’m hearing from some of you that your kids don’t like stories read aloud to them.

Try reading aloud:

  • billboards on your drive to Target
  • the recipe instructions while you’re baking muffins
  • a field guide for birds while you look for them at a bird feeder

You might also invite MOVIES to do the reading aloud! Turning on subtitles (even for an English-language film) has a heap of benefits!

And how about this: Read your child’s WRITING aloud back to your child with real pleasure and delight! Catch your child in the act of self expression, jot it down, and later that evening read it aloud to the family. See how that goes!

Reading aloud can grow as a happy habit even if your kids aren’t quite ready for novels.

Two Tips for Sharing Stories

If you want to share novels with kids who say they don’t like them read aloud, here are two suggestions. You might:

  1. read the book during breakfast (captive audience with full, non-complaining mouths)
  2. play audiobooks in the car (captive audience belted in)

Do not require kids to like the book or to tell you how they feel. Be matter of fact and simply offer reading aloud rather than insisting on it.

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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Brave Learning: Fantasy Teatime Syndrome

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

Fantasy Teatime Syndrome [Public]

The key to Poetry Teatime is simply having one.

I got into a conversation with a mom who shared that she never has time for Poetry Teatime. There’s the baby who needs nursing, the toddler who is cranky, the older girls who are working on their math (and shouldn’t be stopped because it’s hard enough to get them started!) and so on…

But as I thought about it, I remembered that I have five kids and we’ve been having teatimes longer than I’ve homeschooled.

So I asked her why she didn’t have her family teatime when the toddler had already eaten lunch, the baby was napping, and the girls had finished math. She paused. “Well, then I wouldn’t have made the blueberry muffins.” [More]

Subscribe to Brave Learning on Substack where we chat, discuss, problem-solve, and create together. Here’s what you can expect: weekly themed content, freewriting prompts, and a podcast for kiddos called Monday Morning Meeting (first 6 are free)! 

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

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