A Brave Writer's Life in Brief - Page 6 of 753 - Thoughts from my home to yours A Brave Writer's Life in Brief
  • Start Here
    • For Families
      Multiple Ages
    • Ages 5-7
      Beginning Writers
    • Ages 8-10
      Emerging Writers
    • Ages 11-12
      Middle School Writers
    • Ages 13-14
      High School Writers
    • Ages 15-18
      College Prep Writers
  • Digital Products
    • Core Products
    • Bundles
    • Literature Singles
    • Practice Pages
    • Homeschool Help
    • Special Offers
  • Online Classes
    • Class Descriptions
    • Class Schedule
    • Classroom
    • How Our Classes Work
    • Our Writing Coaches
    • Classes FAQ
  • Community
    • Brave Learner Home
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Calendar
    • Brave Writer's Day Off
  • Cart
  • My Account
    • My Online Classes
    • My Account
  • My Account
    • My Online Classes
    • My Account
  • Start Here

    If you’re new to Brave Writer, or are looking for the best products for your child or family, choose from below:

    • For Families
      Multiple Ages
    • Ages 5-7
      Beginning Writers
    • Ages 8-10
      Emerging Writers
    • Ages 11-12
      Middle School Writers
    • Ages 13-14
      High School Writers
    • Ages 15-18
      College Prep Writers
  • Digital Products

    If you’re already familiar with Brave Writer products, go directly to what you’re looking for:

    • Core Products
    • Bundles
    • Literature Singles
    • Practice Pages
    • Homeschool Help
    • Special Offers
  • Online Classes
    • Class Descriptions
    • Class Schedule
    • Classroom
    • How Our Classes Work
    • Our Writing Coaches
    • Classes FAQ
  • Community
    • Brave Learner Home
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Calendar
    • Brave Writer's Day Off
  • Search
  • Cart

Search Bravewriter.com

  • Home
  • Blog

A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

Thoughts from my home to yours

Educational Gaps

Brave Writer

Will your kids have education gaps if you homeschool them?

Let me rephrase the question: Do you?

There’s no finish line for learning.

Your kids don’t need to learn every subject to mastery by 18.

Our biggest task is to fuel the desire to learn so that your kids keep wanting to learn for the rest of their lives.

Let me add a caveat—because I can already picture some of the negative reactions. There’s a difference between a gap and a child who hasn’t mastered the fundamentals, like reading, writing, and basic math.

We do want to pay attention to whether or not our child is displaying a learning disability, or if the model of instruction is failing. I do wish I had learned math in a more effective manner. I believe I have the aptitude to learn it. The instruction method failed me. Even so, I have launched a successful business without math acumen.

It’s important to remember the scale of what education is and can be. A quality education isn’t simply the result of pushing your children to follow a curriculum so that you don’t leave anything out. Learning has to be effective (meaningful) if it’s going to last a child’s lifetime.

Gaps are inevitable. The key is to embrace a lifelong learning journey.


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


Brave Writer

Posted in Homeschool Advice | Comments Off on Educational Gaps


Brave Learning: Connection, Bluebonnet Learning, and more!

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

Turn your resentments into connection [Public]

Want to know how to turn those moments of frustration into moments of connection? Keep reading. Affirmation isn’t only for a child’s successes, but can also support a child who is struggling. [More]

Bluebonnet Learning

How Texas public schools are supporting a Christian curriculum. [More]

Friday Freewrite: Clouds 1-8 [Public]

If the expression, “being on cloud nine,” means you’re extremely happy then what would you feel on clouds one through eight? [More]


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

Posted in Brave Learning on Substack | Comments Off on Brave Learning: Connection, Bluebonnet Learning, and more!


[Podcast #278] Comics Make You Smart!

Brave Writer Podcast

Many parents think comics and graphic novels are just a fun diversion, but they are actually a powerful tool for learning.

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore how comics:

  • build literacy skills,
  • introduce advanced vocabulary,
  • and foster a love of reading.

We also discuss how graphic novels bring history and literature to life while encouraging kids to create their own stories.

If you’ve ever wondered whether comics are “real reading,” this episode will change your mind. Tune in now to discover why graphic novels belong in your child’s learning journey!

Show Notes

What if comics aren’t just a tool for building literacy skills—what if they are real literature in their own right?

We’ve all seen children pour over comic books, deeply engaged, laughing at jokes, and even rereading their favorites until the pages are worn. That enthusiasm is not just entertainment—it’s learning in action.

The Power of Visual Literacy

Reading a graphic novel requires a complex interplay of skills. Unlike traditional prose, comics combine text and imagery, encouraging readers to decode meaning from both. Young readers pick up visual cues, interpret body language, and follow non-linear storytelling techniques, all of which strengthen comprehension skills.

Additionally, comics introduce an advanced level of vocabulary in an accessible way. A study found that comic books average more rare words per thousand than adult literature—yes, more than adult books! Comics like Calvin and Hobbes introduce words like “magnitude,” “consequently,” and “hypothetically” in a way that makes kids eager to understand them. Humor, storytelling, and expressive visuals work together to provide context clues that help kids naturally absorb new language.

Expanding Horizons Through Comics

Graphic novels aren’t limited to superhero tales (though those have plenty of merit, too). Many introduce historical events, complex social issues, and diverse cultures in ways that traditional textbooks can’t. Books like March (about the Civil Rights Movement), Persepolis (a memoir about growing up in Iran), and They Called Us Enemy (George Takei’s account of Japanese internment camps) make history come alive in powerful ways.

Even classic literature gets new life in graphic format. Adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays, The Odyssey, and other time-honored works help students grasp complex narratives in a more engaging way.

Comics Encourage Creativity

Beyond reading, comics invite kids to create. Whether it’s drawing their own stories or crafting dialogue bubbles, children learn how to sequence events, express emotions visually, and develop their storytelling skills. Even reluctant writers may find that creating comics feels less intimidating than writing long paragraphs.

If your child struggles with traditional book reports, try having them summarize a historical event or scientific process in comic form instead!

Giving Comics a Place on Your Bookshelf

For parents hesitant to embrace graphic novels as part of their child’s learning, consider this: if something gets your child excited about reading, it’s worth celebrating. Comics don’t hinder reading development—they enhance it.

So the next time you see your child curled up with a Bone or Zita the Spacegirl book, know that they’re not just enjoying a story—they’re building skills that will serve them for life.

Resources

  • Check out Julie’s new author website: juliebogartwriter.com!
  • Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters: Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic
  • Try out our Brave Writer Practice Pages
  • Find our kids’ graphic novel & nonfiction recommendations in the Brave Writer Book Shop: https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/list/podcast-recommendations
  • Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
  • Read all Brave Writer class descriptions
  • Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
  • Boomerangs mentioned in this episode:
    • https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/book/american-born-chinese
    • https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/book/dragon-hoops
    • https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/book/march
    • https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/book/the-odyssey-a-graphic-novel
    • https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/book/romeo-and-juliet-graphic-novel
    • https://bravewriter.com/book-shop/book/they-called-us-enemy
  • 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
  • Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa

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

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

Posted in Podcasts | Comments Off on [Podcast #278] Comics Make You Smart!


Living Literature: Folktales, Myths, and Storytelling

Brave Writer

Use folktales, myths, and storytelling to teach:

  • grammar,
  • punctuation,
  • spelling,
  • and literary devices.

Check out the hand-selected literature guides below (picked for you!).

Just scroll to your child’s age, select a title, and go on a literary adventure!


For Ages 8-14

Dart (ages 8–10) 

  • Big Foot and Little Foot
  • Once Upon a Camel

Arrow (ages 11–12)

  • The People Could Fly
  • Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
  • Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Boomerang (ages 13–14) 

  • American Born Chinese
  • A Snake Falls to Earth
  • The Lightning Thief

For Littles

Quill (ages 5–7)

Develop pre-literacy skills in reading, writing, and math with your younger children! 

  • Wordless Picture Books
  • Superheroes and Heroes

Want more recommendations based on setting, time period, or theme?

Check out our handy Search and Sort spreadsheet and dive down the storytelling rabbit hole!


Brave Writer Mechanics Literature

Posted in Language Arts, Living Literature | Comments Off on Living Literature: Folktales, Myths, and Storytelling


Brave Learning: School Rights, Self-Awareness, Chat GPT, and more!

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

Local School Rights Infringed by Federal Government

What happened to the concept that local school districts ought to have more power than the federal government in determining education? Are we really okay with that? [More]

Fostering Self-Awareness [Public]

The chief skill we need to impart for successful relationships in life is self-awareness. [More]

Chat GPT and Teen Writing [Public]

A new topic in my new book! [More]

Friday Freewrite: Background [Public]

If someone took a photograph of you freewriting right now, what would they see in the background? Describe in detail what (or who!) is behind you. [More]

Brave Learning with Julie Bogart on Substack

Posted in Brave Learning on Substack | Comments Off on Brave Learning: School Rights, Self-Awareness, Chat GPT, and more!


« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
  • Search the Blog

  • Julie Bogart
  • Welcome, I’m Julie Bogart.

    I’m a homeschooling alum -17 years, five kids. Now I run Brave Writer, the online writing and language arts program for families. More >>

    IMPORTANT: Please read our Privacy Policy.

  • New to Brave Writer? START HERE

  • FREE Resources

    • 7-Day Writing Blitz
    • Brave Writer Lifestyle Program
    • Brave Writer Sampler: Free Sample Products
    • Freewriting Prompts
    • Podcasts
  • Popular Posts

    • You have time
    • How writing is like sewing
    • Best curriculum for a 6 year old
    • Today's little unspoken homeschool secret
    • Do you like to homeschool?
    • Don't trust the schedule
    • You want to do a good job parenting?
    • If you've got a passel of kids
    • You are not a teacher
    • Natural Stages of Growth in Writing podcasts
  • Blog Topics

    • Brave Learner Home
    • Brave Writer Lifestyle
    • Classes
    • Contests/Giveaways
    • Friday Freewrite
    • High School
    • Homeschool Advice
    • Julie's Life
    • Language Arts
    • Movie Wednesday
    • Natural Stages of Growth
    • One Thing Principle
    • Our Team
    • Parenting
    • Philosophy of Education
    • Podcasts
    • Poetry Teatime
    • Products
    • Reviews
    • Speaking Schedule
    • Students
    • Writing about Writing
    • Young Writers
  • Archives

  • Brave Writer is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees (at no extra cost to you) by advertising and linking to amazon.com

    Content © Brave Writer unless otherwise stated.

What is Brave Writer?

  • Welcome to Brave Writer
  • Why Brave Writer Works
  • About Julie
  • Brave Writer Values
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Speaking Schedule

Brave Writer Program

  • Getting Started!
  • Stages of Growth in Writing
  • The Brave Writer Program
  • For Families and Students
  • Online Classes
  • Brave Writer Lifestyle

…and More!

  • Blog
  • Classroom
  • Store
  • Books in Brave Writer Programs
  • Contact Us
  • Customer Service
© 2025 Brave Writer
Privacy Policy
Children's Privacy Policy
Help Center