Write a story to go with this picture from the point of view of the…mushroom!
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February 2019 Arrow Book Club
Can you believe it’s already 2019?! We can’t either. But believe it or not, February is coming up and with it the next Arrow Book Club.
If you’re looking for an easy way into online classes for your child, our book clubs are great for that! Kids love “talking” (a.k.a. writing) about books. In these Brave Writer classes, they will be able to discuss the books freely with instructor guidance and encouragement.
Also a FREE digital copy of our language arts guide based on the book is provided.
[This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases,
Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]
February’s Arrow Book Club selection is Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling.
Meet the tenacious Harriet Tubman and follow her journey as she not only escapes slavery but returns to the South to lead slaves to freedom by a secret route called the Underground Railroad. The story begins with seven-year-old Harriet tending a baby and ends with her passing at the age of ninety-three.
Purchase the novel here.
The Arrow Book Club provides an online discussion space (asynchronous, bulletin board style) for students to learn to discuss literature using literary analysis vocabulary without the pressure of writing “essays.” Homeschool students especially need the chance to talk about what they read—-yet the busy mother-of-many doesn’t always have time to take the discussion to a written form.
Let Brave Writer help you. These book discussions are drawn from entertaining works of fiction that your kids are sure to love!
REGISTER HERE
Caveat: Please remember that you’re the parent. If you have doubts about the content of a particular book, please check the reviews of the novel or read it for yourself first.
Also starting in February are our Boomerang and Pouch Book Clubs.
The Brave Learner Birthday!
Joseph-Beth Booksellers is holding a special book signing and reading party on the publication date of my book (THE BRAVE LEARNER)!
Do you live in the Tri-state area? If so, please join me on February 5, 2019 at Joseph-Beth Cincinnati in Rookwood. I would be honored to have you attend. Truly! I can’t wait to be with my Cincinnati family and friends—and I would love for our Brave Writer friends and fans to show up too.
We’ll have special Buskens cookies and some other fun gifts for you. It’s going to be wonderful!
Please click the link below for details & RSVP.
Brave Learner Book Signing and Reading Party
Brave Writer Podcast: Awesome Adulting with Jessica Hammond
We want three things:
- Seamless connection with our children
- An orderly home
- Time for our own interests & passion projects (Awesome Adulting!)
As you juggle your roles as parent, partner, and home educator, that sacred time for yourself is probably the first ball to drop. But it doesn’t have to be!
Grab your earbuds—you don’t want to miss this episode of the podcast.
Jessica Hammond wrote to me saying, “I want connection with my kids, but I also want to be my own person who does cool things on my own. And right now it feels like a constant tug of war between the two.”
Together, we come up with strategies for nurturing yourself in the midst of nurturing small people.
Trust me—it’s possible—and these ideas will work for you, too.
Make sure you listen to the end of the episode for Jessica’s recap—it’s truly inspiring.
What About Awesome Adulting?
Lower the bar to experience success.
For example, Julie’s routine when she homeschooled included:
- free time in the morning to wake up and get ready for the day,
- a project or activity in the afternoon,
- chores,
- dinner,
- and finally family time and/or working in the evening.
It can be helpful to focus on a routine, as opposed to a schedule.
You don’t have to be rigid, but give yourself the ability to enjoy the choices that you make.
Julie’s Advice
- This conversation with Jessica reminded us of a quote from Julie’s upcoming book, The Brave Learner: “The point is that you can’t expect learning to magically occur if your energy is directed at maintaining a tidy, attractive home. Our need for a perfect learning moment and the perfect cleaning environment are in conflict. You must pick one.”
- So schedule an established day/time for house maintenance and laundry. It could be 4-6 PM while you listen to a podcast or an audiobook. But even if you have a schedule, there will still be some days when the laundry will matter the most and you’ll have to miss out on the other options.
- When you are working on your own project and are distracted or interrupted by a child, you can indulge in that moment (like a cuddle while you’re journaling), but try to finish that particular project so you can give your FULL attention to the next thing.
- Let your children know, “I’m about to do _____. What do you need from me before I get started?”
- Keep in mind that young children will keep getting older and things will change at every stage.
- Try choosing one day a month or week where everyone only does what they feel like doing.
- Remember that “Squirrel Mind” is normal! It’s okay for your mind to dart and it’s okay for you to take breaks when you need them.
- Also remember, when we do commit time to being with our children, it may not always line up with your fantasy or ideal vision — that is OK!
- When you are trying to accomplish something for yourself and it’s not going to happen at that moment, for whatever circumstances: recognize it, accept it as a natural stage of homeschool, give it a date or time to revisit it, then pivot.
- If your mind wanders, practice the mindfulness of just returning: “I’m here, this is where I’m directing my energy.” No guilt about mind darting! No guilt on missing out! Your emotions are not the boss of you.
Remember: imaginative play without adult supervision teaches children a myriad of things. You’re can be a a space-giving parent, and that’s fantastic.
Resources
- Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Head over to bravewriter.com/getting-started
- Sign up for The Brave Learner Conference (July 19, 2019 in Cincinnati, OH): https://thebravelearner.com/conference
- Order Julie’s book at thebravelearner.com (releasing Feb. 5th, 2019)
- Looking to kickstart your writing program this school year? Download the FREE 7-Day Writing Blitz (and tag your creative young writers using #BWBlitz on Twitter & Instagram!)
Download the FREE Podcast Transcript
Friday Freewrite: Exercise
Do you enjoy exercising? Why or why not? Describe how it feels to work your muscles.
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