Make Learning Stick: Emerging Writers

Brave Writers Emerging

You know what feels like magic to kids?

Seeing their own words on a page!

That magical moment when thought gets preserved in writing is as big as the first word your child spoke. But this time, the CHILD is as enamored of their own linguistic power. They get to feel the wonder of seeing their ideas and words valued on the page!

This process can begin even when a child is still learning to handwrite, read, and spell. It’s possible to have the experience of being an author as a little rascal!

Introducing Brave Writer’s Emerging Writers Bundle!

The Emerging Writers Bundle:

  • Provides a compelling read aloud for every month of the school year
  • Supports the growth of your early readers and hand writers
  • Gives meaningful writing activities that kids love (like secret codes, designing their own island chain, and creating a catalog for a history research project)
  • Teaches YOU how to teach original writing—from soup to nuts—every step from idea generation to first drafts to revision to editing and polishing!

This program is our most flexible. My kids did these activities all together when the age range was 6—13 years old. It’s also our most popular bundle!

Brave Writer Bundles

We have materials for every age and stage of development. Join Brave Writer this year for an amazing writing program!

Psst: Do you have new-to-Brave-Writer friends? You can get a discount for them and for yourself using our Refer-a-Friend program!

Brave Writer Bundles

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Whole Life Education

Brave Writer Whole Life Education

Homeschooling is more than an education for kids. It’s a life-practice. It’s a path, a way, a philosophy of living that guides, well, everything while you are living a homeschool life.

What would happen if we stopped seeing learning as confined to “school hours”? What if all of a child’s life could be celebrated as the laboratory for learning?

In fact, even if you don’t homeschool or aren’t any longer, education can continue to be a way of life rather than something “done to your kids” six hours a day away from home.

When I call homeschooling a life-practice, a path, a way—I mean that we, the adults, remain curious about who our kids are becoming. We keep bringing our attention to the whole person who is learning EVERYTHING all the time.

We don’t divide how they are doing into:

  • “They’re fine academically, but socially awkward.”
  • “She’s bad at math, but loves writing.”
  • “He’s obsessed with video games so I’m going to put him in soccer.”
  • “Homework always comes first.”
  • “I wish my child would read better books, not comics.”

All of Life Teaches

Education as a whole life means that we’re as curious about a child’s fascination with cooking as we are supportive of their struggle with multiplication. Once we see the struggle and we identify the joy, we look for ways to bring those two together—where is this difficult lesson, concept, idea a part of this child’s real life? How can we bring them together to make meaning, to help connect the dots between abstract lessons and hands-on learning?

  • We see helping a child learn to make friends as valuable—as important as learning to read.
  • We take time off of a difficult subject in order to shore up the child’s confidence in their strengths before returning to it.
  • We notice that tonight, our youngest child is whiny at bedtime—and then recall that this child got the least amount of conversation, eye contact, and attention today. So we come alongside this child to talk, to listen, to connect.

Homeschooling, education as a way of life means: ALL of life teaches. Our only task is to slide into that slipstream, notice where our kids are, and meet them there.

This post is originally from Instagram and @juliebravewriter is my account there so come follow along for more conversations like this one!

Stages of Growth in Writing

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Mechanics & Literature: September 2023

Brave Writer

September’s Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang selections show what’s possible with courage and the support of a trusted sidekick or family member—all while exploring the writing, mechanics, and literary devices featured throughout these stories.

And this month’s Quill is designed to spark interest and ingenuity! Get inventive as your family reads picture books, sizes up schematics, and explores biographies!

Brave Writer Quill
Quill (ages 5-7)

Inventions & Inventors

Are you ready to get inventive with a brand new Quill? Check out our Inventions and Inventors book list to start curating your September read-aloud stack!

In this Quill, we’ll:

  • scour the pages for schematics and sketches;
  • take an up-close-and-personal look at biographies;
  • spell out some step-by-step instructions;
  • invent a writing implement;
  • tally kitchen-related math-inspired inventions; and
  • get our wheels turning with a close look at circles!

Get the Quill.

Brave Writer Dart
Dart (ages 8-10)

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective by Amy Butler Greenfield

Can a lazy cat and his sidekick, a beetle, really crack a mystery? Find out when you read this comical mystery brimming with historical details and wacky fun!

This month’s literary device is red herrings.

Inside this Dart we’ll also:

  • make some hoopla about a terrific opening hook;
  • explore a setting full of palm trees and papyrus;
  • click some onomatopoeia into place;
  • contemplate context clues;
  • unpack articles;
  • enjoy a good action beat as we discover dialogue punctuation;
  • deploy some dots in an array of end marks; and so much more! 

Purchase the book.

Get the Dart.

Brave Writer Arrow
Arrow (ages 11-12)

Wildoak by C.C. Harrington

Join Maggie and a snow leopard named Rumpus in Wildoak Forest. This beautifully written story—a triumphant celebration of the interconnectedness of the human, animal, and natural worlds—is a perfect read aloud.

September’s literary device is Alternating Points of View.

In this Arrow we’ll also: 

  • pause to ponder the prologue;
  • savor the suspense that hooks us as readers;
  • keep things short and sweet with sentence fragments;
  • listen to the rhythms of alliteration, assonance,and consonance;
  • sniff out the power of sensory details;
  • immerse ourselves in the imagery and lyricism of the writing; and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Arrow.

Brave Writer Boomerang
Boomerang (13-14)

Brother’s Keeper by Julie Lee

This work of historical fiction provides a rare look at North Korea on the brink of war in 1950. We’re confident this important story will inspire thoughtful conversations in your homeschool.

In this Boomerang, we’ll:

  • feature flashbacks;
  • savor sensory detail;
  • bask in the book’s back matter;
  • compare characters: main, secondary, and minor;
  • hear about the hero’s journey;
  • highlight historical fiction; and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Boomerang.

For ages 15-18, check out the Slingshot.

Brave Writer

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Friday Freewrite: Three Kittens

Friday Freewrite

You wake to find three kittens (that you’ve never seen before!) on your bed. What happens next?

New to freewriting? Check out our online guide.

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[Podcast] How to Become a Better Reader

Brave Writer Podcast

Have you noticed the shift from reading novels, newspapers, and research papers to watching 2-minute videos or skimming 280-character tweets?

If you’ve got a student in the house, you might’ve seen them use tools like ChatGPT, the latest AI wonder, to draft their college papers. It’s like a quick jump from A to Z, bypassing the entire traditional writing journey.

The world’s rapidly leaning towards the quick and efficient—but are we paying attention to what we might be losing in the process? Let’s discuss.

Show Notes

Same Problems, New Platform

Picture this: It’s circa 2000, and Jimmy finds an online ad for someone willing to write his college essay for him. Fast forward to 2023 and he may be tapping into generative AI to write his thesis. Avoiding tedious tasks isn’t a new-age concept; the means have just gotten fancier. But we can’t ignore one critical question: Do age-old educational methods like essay writing still hold value? If reading or writing is all about that shiny grade or pleasing someone, naturally, we’ll opt for the easiest route. If we expect someone to put in the effort, they need to understand and value the deep, personal growth that arises from genuine engagement with literature and the act of writing.

The Inherent Value of Reading & Writing

Have you ever realized the marvel that is reading? The mere act of interpreting symbols on a page transformed our brains and how we process information. While a dramatic movie scene or a touching podcast can tug at our heartstrings, reading allows for a more profound, introspective experience. For instance, reading promotes more analytical thought compared to the reactive emotions often evoked by videos or audio. Yes, platforms like YouTube are fantastic to watch a quick DIY or a recipe, but they can’t replace the in-depth comprehension achieved by reading. And learning to write? It’s less about the grades and more about personal growth. For homeschooling families, this presents a golden opportunity to focus on genuine life skills, minus the pressures of conventional grading.

Rekindling a Reading Habit

It’s hard to convince a child that reading is so important or enjoyable when they never see you doing it. We get it; life happens, and before you know it that enticing book on the shelf gathers dust for months. If you’re looking to jump back into the reading wagon, here are some nifty tricks that have saved us:

  • Re-reading is still reading! Dig out those old favorites and relive some of your fondest reading memories.
  • If the act of reading requires focus, audiobooks could be a game-changer—especially with a compelling narrator and a background activity like knitting or walking.
  • Constant notifications from apps distracting you? Use app blockers to keep just your Kindle app running.
  • Short writings, be it captivating essays or soul-stirring poetry, often act as perfect jump-starters (and give you a sense of completion in one sitting!)
  • If you’re into physical books, ensure you have a cozy reading spot with just-right lighting.

The transition from traditional reading and writing to a world dominated by short-form media and tech tools has its perks and its pitfalls. It’s essential to remember that while technology offers ease, the depth, introspection, and personal growth that come from engaging with reading and writing are irreplaceable. As we gear up for the future, striking the right balance between efficiency and depth becomes even more important for fostering personal growth and preserving the timeless joys of reading and writing.

Resources

  • Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention!
  • Enrollment is open for our online classes! Brave Writer 101 is our flagship class, but it doesn’t end there! Learn more at bravewriter.com/online-classes.
  • 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
  • Want help getting started with Brave Writer? Go to bravewriter.com/getting-started
  • Sign up for the Brave Writer newsletter to learn about all of the special offers we’re doing in 2022 and you’ll get a free seven-day Writing Blitz guide just for signing up: https://go.bravewriter.com/writing-blitz

Connect with Julie

Produced by NOVA Media

Brave Writer Podcast

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