[Podcast #237] 2024-2025 Book Reveal Talk! with Dawn Smith

Thrilled to add Melissa Wiley to the podcast icon! Having Melissa co-host the show has been such a gift to me and all of you. Plus that cheery smile!

It’s almost time for our annual Book Reveal! Every year we curate a new list of books to be part of our Mechanics & Literature programs.

Dawn Smith spearheads this undertaking and she joins us today on the Brave Writer podcast to describe how she picks which books to be on the list.

Dawn Smith
Dawn Smith

The reason the book release is so highly anticipated is because Dawn chooses books that she knows are going to:

  • elicit kids’ buy-in,
  • lead to big, juicy family conversations,
  • and give kids tools to tell their own stories.

Dawn explains the journey she goes on to put together the Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang programs and how she is intentional about centering what is activating, engaging, and flexible. 

Plus, stay tuned until the end to learn how to sign up for the book list announcement webinars and the giveaways you may win!

Show Notes

Provoke Kids’ Buy-in

The key to learning is buy-in. Dawn chooses books that kids will genuinely enjoy and be interested in. She doesn’t start with a list of concepts that must be covered. Instead, she picks books that she thinks will interest students, then she makes sure that all the necessary concepts are covered across the entire book collection.

Lead to Big, Juicy Conversations

Dawn chooses books that lead to big, juicy family conversations. The conversations might:

  • be about what was in the author’s mind when they were writing the book,
  • cover what adverbs the kids like and don’t like,
  • or just generate more questions, sparking more wonder and curiosity. 

Provide Tools

Tools are more fun and engaging than rules. Teaching the mechanics of reading and writing from a place of rules creates stress and disconnection. Teaching them from a place of tools of expression creates wonder and empowerment. Dawn puts together the Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang programs so literature is a space for creation and experimentation.

The book lists will be announced on May 30 and May 31. Sign-up to join the announcement webinars and you just might win one of the giveaways! 

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

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BIG Choices

Brave Writer

When the way things are is too costly to your well-being than the way things could be if you blew up your life to expand your choices, you’ll change course.

Big choices feel big because they are. They alter how you see yourself.

  • Putting your kids in school or pulling them out.
  • Staying married or getting a divorce.
  • Going to grad school or putting it off.
  • Doing chemo or stopping it.
  • Moving away from your family or moving back to be near them.
  • Staying in your religious faith or leaving it.
  • Exploring a new perspective or doubling down on the one you have.
  • Having another baby or stopping.
  • Working outside the home or being a SAHM.
  • Giving up an addiction…

You’ll know when you know.

You deserve to lead a life that gives you hope.

You deserve as good a life as the one you want for your children.

One question that helped me was: “If I were to counsel one of my kids about this issue once they’re an adult, how would I lean?”

One idea that helped me: “You get to keep making choices. This isn’t the last one you’ll ever make.”

Keep going. Rooting for you.

No one changes course until the tipping point. It’s okay if the tipping point hasn’t yet tipped. Be patient. You’ll know when you know. You’ll move in the direction of your hope and release at the right time for you.

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

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A Mother’s Day Gift for You!

Brave Writer Mother's Day Gift

It’s Mother’s Day!

We see you and all the work you do! So…

👕 Put the laundry on the couch. 
📺 Turn on the TV for your little ones. 
☕ Pour a cup of tea. 
🎁 And open your special gift from us to you! 

OFFER HAS EXPIRED

Brave Writer Gracious Space: Spring

A Gracious Space: Spring Edition gives you brand new readings for the next leg of your year’s homeschool journey. Daily readings are provided to give you support and encouragement in your homeschool adventure.

The 50 non-sectarian essays offer:

  • new ways to think about homeschooling,
  • comfort for when you run up against your limitations,
  • and energy for tackling your highest aspirations!

Each day’s reading includes a quote from a parent or notable individual, as well as a sustaining thought to take with you through the day.

Happy Mother’s Day! 

P.S. Share with a mama friend who needs a little gracious space! 

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Friday Freewrite: Too Much to Do or Not Enough?

Friday Freewrite

If you had to pick, would you rather have too much to do or not enough to do? Explain your answer.

New to freewriting? Check out our online guide.

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[Podcast #236] Happy Book Birthday: Becoming a Critical Thinker by Julie Bogart!

Brave Writer Podcast

Hooray! Today’s the publication day of my (Julie’s) new workbook, Becoming a Critical Thinker.

If you’re a longtime listener of the Brave Writer podcast, you know that I’m pretty strict about workbooks. They should lead a child:

  • to mastery,
  • to embodiment,
  • to knowing the content for themselves. 

That’s the approach I took to creating this workbook. I’ve reduced each of the activities to one key point. I’ve written just enough text for students to get that idea and then to practice it in the activity.

Becoming a Critical Thinker

I designed this workbook to help students (ages 12-18) grow as critical thinkers by turning the focus to their own thoughts.

  • Why do they believe what they believe?
  • What flaws can they notice in their own thinking?
  • How do they reach conclusions?

I dive into all this in-depth in today’s episode. Thank you for joining me on this special day!

Show Notes

The Foundation: Understanding Critical Thinking

Part one is called The Foundation: Understanding Critical Thinking. It’s got activities like The Academic Selfie, Says Who, Fab Vocab, Quick Write, The Fact Strainer, Itch to Fit, Silent Films, Spot the Misinformation, Red Flags Waving, and more.

The Practice: Growing Your Thinking Skills

Part two is called The Practice: Growing Your Thinking Skills. The activities in this section include teaching students to notice:

  • the ways symbols influence how we think,
  • the importance of perspective,
  • the idea of tolerance,
  • and how people have different memories of the same events.

The Application: Learning the Art of Interpretation

Part three is called The Application: Learning the Art of Interpretation. This section of the book has activities to show students how our bodies trigger us when we’re reading information that we don’t want to be true or information we secretly hope is true. There are also activities around framing arguments, the courage to change your mind, and the future impact of AI on our beliefs.

This is just a brief overview. To learn more go to RaisingCriticalThinkers.com.

Thank you for joining me on this special day!

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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