Describe your relationship with the wind.
New to Freewriting?
Freewriting is that wonderful key that unlocks the writer within. It’s the vehicle by which we trick our inner selves into divesting the words and ideas that we want to share but are afraid won’t come out right on paper if we do. So, read the freewriting prompt, set the timer for 5-10 minutes then write whatever comes to mind. Just keep the pencil moving!
Need more help? Check out our free online guide.
Literary analysis shouldn’t be a cold dissection that increases the distance between the reader and the text, but rather a way for the reader to more deeply engage with the text.
Today’s podcast is a rebroadcast of a training webinar where we talk about Brave Writer’s approach to teaching literary analysis and writer’s craft to your kids.
Noticing a writer’s craft can start before your child even learns how to read! Daily read-aloud time, with pauses to notice feelings about the text and guess what comes next, builds your child’s critical thinking skills. Literary analysis doesn’t need to be bound to books either–using a remote while watching TV shows or movies can work in much the same way.
Also, if you find this episode helpful, be sure to check out our Brave Writer 101 training, where we coach you on giving kinder, more meaningful writing instruction to your child.
Noticing
The first step of literary analysis is to notice how a text makes you feel. You can start teaching your kids this before they can even read or write themselves. Read aloud to them every day and pause to ask them questions about how the text is making them feel—nervous, sad, happy, excited? You can do this with TV shows and movies too. Teach them how to notice how the material makes their body feel.
Naming
The next step in literary analysis is to recognize the author intended the reader to feel a certain way, and that they used literary devices to achieve their goal. You can teach literary devices by having your student identify them in text. Then you can have your student master them in their own writing. This stage of literary analysis education gives your child the vocabulary to more deeply discuss their interaction with the text and appreciate the writer’s craft.
Thinking Critically
The final step of literary analysis is critical thinking (all these steps are part of an ongoing cycle, of course). This is where you engage your student in questions like: Why did the author want to make the reader feel a certain way? Did they achieve their goal? How does a reader’s own context shape how they interpreted the text? Critical thinking is the ultimate goal in teaching your child about writing.
Connect with Julie
Connect with Melissa
Produced by NOVA Media
Our in-person lives tend to put us in relationships built on agreement.
The internet, however, introduces us to people we would never meet in person. That’s both wonderful and challenging. We never know the condition of a person’s mind, heart, or personality when we encounter them online. Others come to us without context.
Yet we also have the chance to learn perspectives that would otherwise be completely hidden from us if we didn’t have online life together with so many different types of people and experiences.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that if we declare a “fact” with a source of authority, everyone will fall into line and agree with us. Isn’t that what happens in school? One right answer for each test question, established by the authority, enforced by that teacher, regardless of who you are.
So we are struggling to adapt to a world where lots of answers with many sources of authority compete for space and truth value. It’s a huge adjustment! It will take time to overcome.
This post was originally shared on Instagram.
Watch the accompanying reel for more.
Also, for extra support in the process, my book Raising Critical Thinkers goes into much more depth about these ideas.
From the garbage can’s point of view, describe what it would be like to be taken to the curb and left overnight to wait for the garbage truck the following morning.
New to Freewriting?
Freewriting is that wonderful key that unlocks the writer within. It’s the vehicle by which we trick our inner selves into divesting the words and ideas that we want to share but are afraid won’t come out right on paper if we do. So, read the freewriting prompt, set the timer for 5-10 minutes then write whatever comes to mind. Just keep the pencil moving!
Need more help? Check out our free online guide.
Welcome to today’s Brave Writer podcast! Since Julie is taking a short break to focus on her newest book, we’re replacing our typical podcast with a broadcast of her webinar, The GPS of Writing: Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling.
Throughout this episode, Julie weaves a metaphor for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Most importantly, Julie reminds anxious parents that, at the end of the day, what children really need to learn is how grammar, punctuation, and spelling serve their self expression. It’s not about memorizing rules or being perfect. It’s about repeated exposure to meaningful experiences with living literature.
Grammar
Grammar is the rules of a word party. It sets the expectations. If the readers are schoolteachers and grandmothers, the rules of the party will be more straightlaced. If the readers are the general public, the rules of the party will be generic. If the readers are people who can deeply relate to you personally, the rules will be more lax.
Punctuation
Punctuation is the party decorator and bouncer. It adds an extra layer of meaning to the party and controls the ambiance. Periods say “let’s stay put together, people.” Commas say “take a breath.” Exclamation points are like clapping loudly.
Spelling
To wrap up the metaphor, spelling is the personal stylist. It makes sure all the words are looking their best. Misspellings are like spinach stuck in your teeth or a mascara smudge–they’re not the end of the world, but they can be a little distracting.
This kind of metaphor helps adults and kids embody grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Embodiment of these tools, rather than memorization of rules, is at the heart of the Brave Writer curriculum. Through repeated exposure to meaningful experiences with living literature, your kids can truly learn how to write well.
Connect with Julie
Connect with Melissa
Produced by NOVA Media
