[Podcast #224] A School Principal Chooses Homeschooling: An Interview with Mandy Davis

Brave Writer Podcast

In the realm of homeschooling, the journey from traditional educational frameworks to embracing a homeschooling lifestyle is both inspiring and transformative. This transition, often sparked by a desire for a more personalized and engaging learning experience, is richly illustrated by the story of Mandy Davis, a former traditional education professional who embarked on a homeschooling journey with her family.

Mandy Davis
Mandy Davis

Through Mandy’s experience, we uncover:

  • the profound benefits of child-led learning,
  • the integration of real-world experiences,
  • and the importance of community support.

Show Notes

The Beauty of Child-Led Learning

At the heart of homeschooling lies the principle of child-led learning, a philosophy that respects the child’s natural curiosity and interests. This approach allows children to explore subjects that fascinate them, leading to deeper understanding and retention of knowledge. Mandy Davis’s transition from a structured education system to homeschooling highlights the flexibility and freedom homeschooling offers, enabling her to tailor the educational experience to her children’s unique interests and needs.

Integrating Real-World Experiences

One of the most compelling aspects of homeschooling is the opportunity to integrate real-world experiences into the learning process. Whether it’s through hands-on projects, exploring nature, or engaging in community activities, these experiences provide valuable life lessons that go beyond academic learning. Mandy’s move to a 10-acre land, for example, offered her family an invaluable platform for experiential learning, from homesteading activities to exploring the natural environment.

Overcoming Challenges through Community Support

Transitioning to homeschooling is not without its challenges. However, the support of like-minded communities plays a crucial role in navigating these obstacles. Mandy shares how finding support in communities like Wild and Free helped her family adjust to the homeschooling lifestyle, offering both resources and a sense of belonging. This underscores the importance of seeking out and engaging with homeschooling networks, both locally and online, for guidance, inspiration, and companionship.

Embracing Flexibility and Trust

A key takeaway from Mandy’s story is the importance of embracing flexibility in the homeschooling journey. Letting go of rigid schedules and curricula to allow for child-led exploration requires trust in the process and in our children’s innate ability to learn. This flexibility not only fosters a love for learning but also accommodates the unique pace and style of each child, ensuring a more personalized and effective educational experience.

Resources for the Homeschooling Family

Mandy Davis’s commitment to supporting other homeschooling families is evident in her offering of free resources and her book, A Matter of Principle. These resources provide practical advice, inspiration, and support for those embarking on or currently navigating the homeschooling journey.

Homeschooling offers a unique opportunity to create a learning environment that is tailored to the child’s interests, needs, and pace. Through the experiences of families like Mandy Davis’s, we see the transformative power of a homeschooling approach grounded in child-led learning, real-world experiences, and community support. As we navigate the challenges and celebrate the successes of homeschooling, we are reminded of the profound impact this personalized approach to education can have on our children’s development and lifelong love of learning.

Resources

Connect with Julie

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Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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Try It: Free Writers

Brave Writer Try It Free Writers

Liberate your young writers with freewriting!

See thoughts and ideas develop right on the page with this core writing practice for young and old! 

Veteran freewriters, keep scrolling for a fun ranking activity! (And get some neat insights into your kid-writers!) 

New to Freewriting?

Here’s a quick guide:

  • Hand out pencils.
  • Hand out scratch paper (you might wrinkle it first so it’s clear it’s not meant to be perfect).
  • Give this writing prompt: If I had all the money in the world or all the time in the world, I would… (Or pick a prompt from our blog or write whatever comes to mind.)
  • Set the timer for three minutes.
  • Everyone writes (including YOU!) for the full three minutes.
  • Punctuation and spelling errors are welcome.
  • Write “I’m stuck” if you run out of things to say.
  • Stop when the bell dings!

Don’t read your child’s writing! Invite them to read their own freewrite aloud (if they want to—not required).

Celebrate the content and the effort.

Write again on another day!

Already Freewriting Regularly?

Play with freewriting in new places! 

  • under the table
  • in a tent
  • on the floor next to the dog
  • in the hammock with a clipboard 
  • on the big rock at the park
  • in a blanket fort
  • under a beach umbrella 
  • in the car

After a few playful writing sessions, encourage each child to rank the spots and share what they liked best about writing there! 

All ‘Try It’ Activities

Brave Writer® programs teach writing using your child’s body, mind, and heart.
Discover why writing is the key to all of learning!

Brave Writer Get Started

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Make Grammar Concepts Stick

Brave Writer Grammar

Home education is not about having it all figured out but rather about the process of discovery along the way.

Have you ever doubted your ability to teach any of the subjects to your kids? I felt that way about math. In fact, I felt like I was learning the subject as I was teaching it. (Psst: that’s allowed!!)

When I designed the Brave Writer® program, I kept in mind that the average educated adult didn’t remember anything about grammar. I was aware that most full grown adults with high school and college degrees couldn’t remember the rule for using a semicolon. I also understood that most native speakers have a pretty good sense of syntax—how to speak intelligibly with clear meaning and good grammar.

With this in mind, I asked myself a question: “What would it take for children and parents to learn grammar concepts, so that they stick and support powerful communication?”

Living Literature

That’s how I began our literature and grammar programs. I realized everyone needed to see spelling, punctuation, and grammar concepts in quality writing. So we use living literature to highlight how authors use language to pack a punch.

Then we created games and activities that help children not only explore those concepts, but play with them and master them. Once a child understands what a powerful verb is, that child can use powerful verbs in their own writing. They can’t get there if your focus is on filling out a worksheet. They need you to understand the role of a powerful verb in quality writing too.

Enter Brave Writer’s:

We cover it all! It counts and does the job for both you and your kids.

It’s okay not to know enough yet. We’ll help you get there!

Brave Writer

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Friday Freewrite: Water or Earth?

Friday Freewrite

Water is upset because our planet’s name is “Earth” (after the ground we walk on) and yet over 70% of the surface is covered in water. Write the debate between Water and Earth on what our planet’s name should be.

New to freewriting? Check out our online guide.

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[Podcast #223] Lessons from Leaving a Cult with Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames (The Vow)

Brave Writer Podcast

In our latest Brave Writer podcast episode, we took a closer look at the tough topic of leaving cults and the importance of thinking for ourselves.

We had a deep chat with Sarah Edmondson and Anthony ‘Nippy’ Ames, who shared their brave story of getting out of the NXIVM cult.

Sarah and Nippy
Sarah and Nippy

This episode isn’t just about their story; it’s about how we all can learn to think more critically and stand up for our own beliefs.

Important note about content: Since the Brave Writer podcast is usually a family-friendly show, I wanted to make you aware that the content of this episode touches on adult experiences and there’s a pretty casual use of language throughout, so you might want to listen with earbuds or tune into this particular episode when your kids are not in earshot.

Show Notes

Thinking for Ourselves

One big takeaway from our talk is how crucial it is to always ask questions and think critically. Cults, and really any kind of misleading information, rely on people not questioning what they’re told. By teaching ourselves and others to always question and think deeply about the information we come across, we can protect ourselves from being misled.

Learning as a Way Out

Education plays a huge role in helping people move away from cults. When we learn about how cults work and the tricks they use to control people, we’re better equipped to avoid them. This is why it’s so important to include lessons on how to think critically and how to spot misleading information in what we teach our kids and each other.

Support for Those Affected

Recovering from being in a cult is a tough journey, but there are a lot of resources out there to help. Support groups, books, and podcasts like Sarah Edmondson’s can offer guidance and understanding to those trying to rebuild their lives after leaving a cult.

The Power of Sharing Stories

Sarah’s book, “Scarred,” and the “A Little Bit Culty” podcast are great examples of how sharing stories can help. These stories not only raise awareness about cults but also show people going through similar experiences that they’re not alone and that there’s a way out.

Building Strength and Keeping the Conversation Going

Sarah and Nippy’s story underlines how important it is to be resilient and to keep talking about these issues. By sharing our own experiences and what we’ve learned, we can create a supportive community where everyone feels heard and understood. This is how we help each other stay strong and keep our minds open.

Reflecting on this conversation, we’re reminded of how powerful education and open conversations can be in overcoming challenges. Even though our chat was about cults, the lessons we talked about apply to all areas of life. As we go through our own learning journeys, let’s remember the importance of questioning, understanding, and supporting each other.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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