You’re Not Wasting Time

Brave Writer

You might think you’re wasting time when you invest in one thing—one subject, one task, one idea, one skill—at a time.

But I’m here to tell you that you inadvertently waste a lot of time trying to do too many things at once.

You have time!

In fact, if you accomplish one thing well, it will provide momentum to do more things well. If you only do a lot of things poorly, you always feel behind, in a rush and like you’re not doing anything productive.

This week invest in depth rather than breadth (ALL THE THINGS). Stick with something long enough to”get it”—why it’s cool, useful, interesting, provocative.

Follow the rabbit trail, be much more curious about what your kids need to understand in order for this experience, this lesson to be meaningful to them.

Need more help?

Everything we produce is meant to help you do the things you want to do well and with depth.

I believe in you!! Rooting for you big time!

This post was originally shared on Instagram.
Watch the accompanying reel for more.

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Brave Learning: Tips for Enticing Your Children to Write

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

Tips for Enticing Your Children to Write

You can change how your kids feel about writing right now!

Try one of these today.

Create a treasure hunt—that rhymes! Send your kids hunting for some treat with clues you design. Then later, ask them to make one for you (on your birthday!).

Put Sticky Notes all over the bedroom door of your child. Fill them with jokes, silly word pairs, or aphorisms. Jot down comments about your child’s strengths, brief memories of their exploits, hints about the fun you will have during winter break, questions of the universe (“Who am I and why am I here?”, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”)… You decide. This is a stealth operation to be performed after your child is asleep. In the morning, your child will discover the door of notes! Leave a stack of sticky notes and a pen nearby. See if the child reciprocates. Some will.

Use lipstick to leave love notes on the bathroom mirror for your kids. [Keep reading]

Subscribe to Brave Learning on Substack where we chat, discuss, problem-solve, and create together. Here’s what you can expect: weekly themed content, freewriting prompts, and a podcast for kiddos called Monday Morning Meeting (first 6 are free)! 

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

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[Podcast #301] A Gentle Rollout to Your Homeschool Year

Brave Writer Podcast

One of the best parts of homeschooling is the freedom to start the year in a way that works for your family. Instead of overwhelming everyone with a full schedule on day one, you can begin with connection and fun—like a “Not Back to School” outing, a day of games, or a creative project.

Personal notes to each child, wish lists of activities, and a few well-chosen dates on the calendar can keep momentum going all year. By adding subjects gradually, stocking up on creative supplies, and valuing the experience of learning, you set the tone for a joyful, sustainable year.

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we share practical tips, creative ideas, and mindset shifts to help you roll out your homeschool year gently while building:

  • curiosity,
  • creativity,
  • and connection.

Listen in for ways to make your start feel exciting and doable—for both you and your kids.

Show Notes

Personal notes to spark connection

Write a short, personalized note to each child, sharing what you’re looking forward to learning together this year. Mention both academic goals and personal interests—maybe learning fractions, teaching you a favorite card game, or visiting the zoo. These little notes communicate that you see and value your child as a whole person.

Invite your kids to share their own “wish list” for the year. By scheduling a few of these special activities on the calendar—like an apple-picking trip or skipping math for a day—you give them something to look forward to and break up routine fatigue.

Feather in academics

Instead of starting with a full schedule, introduce one subject at a time over several days. Begin with a beloved read-aloud, then add math the next day, history the day after, and so on. This approach prevents burnout and allows everyone to ease into new materials and routines.

For subjects like math, spark interest by letting kids flip through the year’s book and choose a page they find intriguing. Use that as a goal to work toward, identifying the skills needed to get there. This gives learning a sense of purpose and progression.

Stock up on supplies for creativity

A well-stocked supply cabinet is the secret weapon of a smooth homeschool start. Overfill it with markers, scissors, glue sticks, manipulatives, art paper, modeling clay, dress-up clothes, and other open-ended materials. Having resources on hand means you can follow inspiration without a midday store run.

For younger children, prioritize large paper for big movements; for older ones, consider giving them more control over their tools—perhaps a favorite mug, notebook, or even a backpack if they want one. And remember: quality paper can make even the cheapest watercolors look beautiful.

Value the experience of learning

A gentle rollout isn’t just about pacing—it’s about atmosphere. Do fairy wings make math more fun? Does a glue gun help bring a story to life? These touches make learning feel good, which keeps kids engaged.

There’s no need to stand up your whole homeschool in the first week—or even the first month. Start small, layer in new elements, and focus on building an environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and connection. Over time, the routines will form naturally, and your homeschool year will be off to a joyful, sustainable start.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

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Take Teens Seriously

Brave Writer

Teens intimidate us.

  • What if all they want to do is play video games or watch TV?
  • What if they’re interests seem more like entertainment and less like actual schooling or learning?
  • How can we ensure that our kids will grow up to be responsible adults when they seem so irresponsible between the ages of 12 and 18 ?

Even when their interests seem dumb or uninteresting to us, following a teen’s passions or interests or curiosity will lead to learning. Teens need to know that the stuff they love has value for the adult lives they will eventually get to lead!

Our job is to show them that the adulthood waiting for them is more interesting than merely paying bills and doing housework faithfully. Trust the process!

Take a teen interest that unnerves you and find the value in it.

Watch my Instagram reel to learn more.

Also my book RAISING CRITICAL THINKERS can help!

Raising Critical Thinkers

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Brave Learning: Partnering with Your Child

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

Partnering with Your Child

Partnership Writing is the most overlooked stage of writing development.

I want to share with you a story from my own childhood, because I think it’s illustrative of the failure of the system that requires children to write without help.

My mother was a freelance author, wrote 75 books, and taught writing to professionals.

When I came up through the ranks as a child, my mother made sure I had opportunities to explore writing. She provided me with all kinds of tools—pretty pens, little journals. For my birthday one year, she gave me an All About Me book that includes my very first original story. She took me to the library every week. We read together. She took me to plays and movies. She encouraged me to make handmade cards and to play word games and to complete crossword puzzles. [Keep reading]

Subscribe to Brave Learning on Substack where we chat, discuss, problem-solve, and create together. Here’s what you can expect: weekly themed content, freewriting prompts, and a podcast for kiddos called Monday Morning Meeting (first 6 are free)! 

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

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