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A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

Thoughts from my home to yours

[Podcast #240] Struggling with Math? An Interview with Pat Murray of CTC Math

Brave Writer Podcast

There are two major pain points in homeschooling: writing and math.

Our guest today on the Brave Writer podcast helps us with the math part. Pat Murray is the founder of CTC Math, which should sound very familiar to listeners as CTC Math has been an incredible sponsor for many of our episodes.

Pat Murray, CTC Math
Pat Murray, CTC Math

Listening to how Pat has designed his program, why he makes all levels available to subscribers, and the stories he’s accumulated over the years is a real treat. We’re so glad he joined us!

Show Notes

The All-To-Common Math Trajectory of Students

Pat describes to us the all-too-common trajectory of many students. When they are very young, they’re fine with math. Then as they start to get older and learn fundamental skills, they miss something. Maybe they zoned out during a long lesson, maybe they didn’t write it down to help with retention–there are a million reasons. Then as the weeks, months, and years go by, other skills are built on top of that missing skill and things start to fall apart. Instead of slowing down and figuring out the missing skill(s), they get pushed to keep up with where they “should” be. Soon, they just identify themselves as someone who’s not “good at math” and that story is baked in for life.

CTC Math’s Approach

Pat has built CTC Math to specifically prevent and respond to this trajectory. He keeps the video lessons around 5 minutes long, with super clear and concise explanations. He has students immediately do practice questions so they can implement what they just learned. This helps the concept stick, and it provides quick wins for the student. CTC Math’s tests are designed to identify any missing or weak skills, providing a full library of lessons for remediation or moving to the next level with confidence.

Resources

  • Sign up for a free trial at www.CTCtmath.com
  • Here are the books for Brave Writer’s 2024-2025 Mechanics & Literature programs!
  • Attend our free June Training Webinars! Register here.
  • Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
  • Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684

Connect with Julie

  • Instagram: @juliebravewriter
  • Threads: @juliebravewriter
  • Twitter: @bravewriter
  • Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa

  • Website: melissawiley.com
  • Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
  • Instagram: @melissawileybooks
  • Twitter: @melissawiley

Produced by NOVA Media

Posted in Podcasts | Comments Off on [Podcast #240] Struggling with Math? An Interview with Pat Murray of CTC Math


Brave Writer Training Program

Brave Writer Training

AVAILABILITY VARIES

We’ve heard you! 

  • You want to help your child grow their skills in writing, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and reading comprehension.
  • You want them to find joy in literature and writing. 
  • You want to leave behind the strict and ineffective workbooks. 
  • You want something different! 

But you aren’t sure how to get started or how to take the leap into what feels like the unknown. 

We’ve got you! Brave Writer Training (if registration isn’t open, you can get on the waiting list here) is designed to guide you through a comprehensive and enjoyable learning experience that will provide you with a strong foundation in the Brave Writer principles and practices used in our programs. 

Why Choose Brave Writer Training?

Brave Writer isn’t just another writing program. It’s a holistic approach that nurtures your child’s creativity and critical thinking skills, making writing a meaningful and integral part of their everyday life. Our mentor-led training program will show you how to foster your child’s writing development through Brave Writer programs.

Here’s what you can expect:

Personalized Learning Experience

Four Dynamic Zoom Meetings: Dive deep into the Brave Writer philosophy with Julie Bogart, our founder, and Dawn Smith, our Director of Publishing. These sessions are tailored to provide you with the essential tools and insights to help your child thrive as a writer and to help you excel as their personal writing coach.

Community and Support

Connect and Collaborate: Engage with a supportive community of coaches and fellow cohort members inside Brave Learner Home. Share experiences, challenges, and wins in a space dedicated to mutual growth and encouragement. You’ll be added to the Brave Learner Home community for four months as part of your training membership.

Practical Resources

Helpful Tips and Tricks: Receive regular emails and audio messages packed with actionable tips and tricks to enhance your child’s writing journey. These insights are designed to be practical and easy to implement, ensuring you are prepared for the writing journey ahead.

Accountability

Group Support: We understand the importance of staying on track. Our mentorship program includes built-in accountability measures to help you maintain a consistent and productive homeschool writing routine and continue to develop your skills as an educator. 

Expert Access

Monthly Open Office Hours: Have burning questions? Get them answered by Dawn Smith, our Director of Publishing. These sessions are a golden opportunity to gain clarity and direction tailored to your children’s specific needs.

Join Our Mentorship Cohort

Training Schedule

Our comprehensive four-month training program kicks off in August and runs through November. This gives you ample time to learn Brave Writer practices and integrate our program into your homeschool while having direct access to coaches and members of the community. The program includes:

  • Four Zoom Meetings with Dawn and Julie
  • Community Discussion inside Brave Learner Home (you will have access!)
  • Regular emails with tips and tricks
  • Accountability
  • Troubleshooting Office Hours each month with Dawn

Join Brave Writer Training and watch your child’s writing skills flourish in ways you never thought possible. Let’s embark on this exciting journey together!

Brave Writer Training

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2024-2025 Mechanics & Literature Programs

Brave Writer Book Reveal

The wait is over! Below are the themes and titles for our 2024-2025 Mechanics & Literature programs ($20 OFF during the month of June!).

The Quill covers pre-literacy skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.

The Dart, Arrow, Boomerang, and Slingshot programs teach:

  • grammar,
  • punctuation,
  • literary devices,
  • and more through living literature!

Did you miss a live broadcast? Here are the REPLAYS!

May 30: For Kids Ages 5-10

May 31: For Kids Ages 11-18


QUILL (ages 5-7)

The Quills can be done in any order—start with the list (Frog or Hedgehog) that has themes of most interest to your child. Both lists include the Wordless Picture Books Quill because it provides a helpful foundation for exploring picture books with your child. 

FROGHEDGEHOG
Wordless Picture Books
Riddles & Jokes
Art
Wild Animals
Transportation
Poetry
Cooking
Rocks Rock
Buggy Bugs
Spectacular Sports
Wordless Picture Books
Under the Sea: Sea Mammals
Inventions & Inventors
Music & Song Lyrics
Weather: Clouds
Space: Planets
Superheroes and Heroes
On the Farm
Pets
Flowers

DART (ages 8-10)

  • August: A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
  • September: Bob by Wendy Mass 
  • October: Ra the Mighty: The Great Tomb Robbery by Amy Butler Greenfield  
  • November: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate 
  • December: The Greatest Gift (Heartwood Hotel #2) by Kallie George
  • January: Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt
  • February: The Turtle of Michigan: A Novel by Naomi Shihab Nye
  • March: Thirst by Varsha Bajaj
  • April: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Arrow (ages 11-12)

  • August: Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
  • September: The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown
  • October: The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day 
  • November: Eagle Drums by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson
  • December: The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz
  • January: The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri
  • February: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia
  • March: Figure it Out, Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis
  • April: The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat 

Boomerang (ages 13-14)

  • August: The Princess Bride by William Goldman
  • September: I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai
  • October: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
  • November: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
  • December: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L‘Engle
  • January: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
  • February: American Wings: Chicago’s Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky by Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein 
  • March: The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas
  • April: The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Slingshot (ages 15-18)

CLASSIC

  • A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
  • Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
  • Animal Farm by George Orwell
  • The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

CONTEMPORARY

  • The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  • The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  • Swing by Kwame Alexander

If you need extra support, we’re offering a personalized Training Program for Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang users (only $25)!

Hope you’ll join us for an AWESOME year of learning and reading.

Excited for you as your family embarks on an inspired reading journey!

Brave Writer

Posted in BW products, Language Arts | Comments Off on 2024-2025 Mechanics & Literature Programs


[Podcast #239] Tools to Buy Instead of Curriculum

Brave Writer Podcast

When parents map out the annual homeschooling budget, there’s a tendency to only focus on curriculum. In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we encourage you to prioritize tools that really bring learning to life. Plus, we give you tips on how to get them on the cheap.

The right tools make all the difference in having a happy learning life. We hope our suggestions spark creativity and joy in you and your kids! 

Show Notes

Affordability 

Keep in mind, there are ways to get many of these tools at low-cost.

  • A secondhand shop like Goodwill can be a great place to start.
  • Look for local tool libraries or traditional public libraries where you can check out items like sewing machines.
  • Buy in bulk (with the added benefit that then you always have what you need on hand).
  • Keep an eye out for informal groups like puzzle swaps.

And remember, family and friends are often happy to buy these kinds of tools as holiday gifts for your family.

Physical Tools

We give you a long list of tried and true tools that have made our homeschooling lives better. We group them into six buckets:

  • writing utensils,
  • art and handicraft supplies,
  • baking ingredients and tools,
  • science kits,
  • games and puzzles,
  • magazines and field guides.

Be sure to check out the Tools for the Art of Writing page on our website for some links.

Experiential Tools

We also give examples of experiential, rather than physical, tools that are great for homeschool families. We’re big fans of annual memberships to art museums, zoos, botanical gardens, science museums, etc.

Volunteering at local theaters or animal centers can be a great way to access fun learning environments. By returning to an experiential site over and over, your kids can deeply connect with the material and feel at home with it.

Resources

  • Find books we’ve mentioned on the podcast here: Brave Writer Bookshop 
  • Check out our list of Tools for the Art of Writing
  • Buy the new Becoming a Critical Thinker workbook 
  • Sign up to attend the free Brave Writer Book Reveal webinars!
  • Shop Jim Weiss audiobooks
  • Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention!
  • Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
  • Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684

Connect with Julie

  • Instagram: @juliebravewriter
  • Threads: @juliebravewriter
  • Twitter: @bravewriter
  • Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa

  • Website: melissawiley.com
  • Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
  • Instagram: @melissawileybooks
  • Twitter: @melissawiley

Produced by NOVA Media

Posted in Podcasts | Comments Off on [Podcast #239] Tools to Buy Instead of Curriculum


FREE Training Webinars

Brave Writer

Join us for four FREE June webinars that help you understand both the philosophy and practice of Brave Writer’s literature + writing mechanics programs for ages 5-18.

Each webinar is jam-packed with information to help you be successful this coming school year, in addition to helping you understand Brave Writer materials.

REPLAYS are linked below!


Reading Aloud: Why Teach Writing Mechanics with Living Literature?

The best books, the best words—allow your children to be bathed in high quality writing while they learn the mechanics and craft of writing.

REPLAY


Teaching Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Through Literature

Our programs offer a gentle, seamless way to build strong writing skills! Julie will show you how.

REPLAY


Teaching Literary Analysis & Writer’s Craft Through Books

To grow a writing voice, it helps to listen to and learn from a wide variety of writing voices. Not only that, literary analysis can be the tool that unlocks buried treasure in a book and we intend to help you dig!

REPLAY


The Power of a Book Party

There’s nothing like a party to help kids make meaningful connections to literature. Brave Writer programs make it easy to create memorable bookish experiences for your children to deepen their learning. Join Julie to learn more about throwing a family book club party!

REPLAY


Brave Writer

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