[Podcast #297] Chronicle Your Homeschool Adventure

Brave Writer Podcast

Do you ever find yourself wondering what you’ve truly accomplished in your homeschool? Chronicling—through blogs, scatterbooks, journals, quick notes, or even voice memos—offers families a way to:

  • celebrate growth,
  • capture memories,
  • and gain confidence in the learning journey.

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we discuss the many forms of chronicling, how it transforms our outlook from focusing on what’s missing to noticing the richness of what’s already happened, and why the tools you choose should fit your style and life.

Whether it’s a scatterbook, a five-year diary, or a few lines in your phone, recording your days can turn fleeting moments into lasting meaning.

Show Notes

Turning Memories into Meaningful Records

When we take time to record our days—whether through a blog, journal, calendar, or even voice notes—we create a rich archive of experiences. This archive isn’t just for nostalgia; it’s a living resource our families can return to, sparking memories and insights that would otherwise be lost. What may have seemed like ordinary days become treasured stories, reminding us of moments we’d likely have forgotten: a funny comment on the way to the grocery store, a spontaneous science lesson in the backyard, or the first time a child read aloud on video.

The act of chronicling is more than just keeping records—it helps us see the depth and variety in our homeschool lives. Looking back, we’re often surprised by how much we’ve truly done, even when it didn’t feel like much at the time.

Choosing Your Tools, Honoring Your Style

Chronicling doesn’t require a perfect system or daily commitment. The best approach is the one that feels natural to you and your family. Some parents love to write blogs or keep detailed journals; others prefer quick notes on a phone calendar, voice memos, or even scatterbooks filled with lists, ticket stubs, and little observations. For some, a five-year diary or a private digital archive can provide structure and a sense of continuity. The important thing is to choose tools that invite you to participate, not ones that feel like another chore.

Today’s technology also makes chronicling more accessible than ever. Searchable blogs, note-taking apps, and even AI-powered tools can help us organize, reflect, and rediscover recurring themes in our homeschool journey. It’s easier than ever to trace a thread of learning, see which interests keep resurfacing, and adjust our plans accordingly.

The Transformative Power of Looking Back

One of the most powerful outcomes of chronicling is the shift from focusing on deficits—what hasn’t happened yet—to celebrating what has happened. Especially in homeschooling, it’s tempting to zero in on gaps, unfinished curriculum, or developmental timelines. But when we look back through our records, we see real growth, creativity, and resilience. We’re reminded of challenges overcome, joyful moments shared, and how our children—and we ourselves—have grown in ways that don’t always fit into neat checkboxes.

Regular reflection also primes us to notice more beauty and meaning as it happens. By cultivating a habit of jotting down stories, conversations, or little victories, we become more present and attentive to the richness of ordinary days.

Start Small, Celebrate Often

Chronicling your homeschool adventure doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Start small: a weekly note, a funny quote, a photo, or a single sentence. With time, these fragments build a mosaic that tells the story of your unique family journey. The practice isn’t about perfection or completeness; it’s about creating touchstones that encourage, affirm, and inspire you.

In the end, chronicling is a gift to yourself and your children—a tangible way to honor the life you’re building together, one day at a time.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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Connection Is Everything

Brave Writer Raising Critical Thinkers

Our students need to believe that they can rely on parents and teachers who will stand by them, not abandon them—even when we find their reasoning incomplete.

The tough part about raising teens is that they test a belief system that sometimes feels illogical or dangerous to you.

  • Stick by them.
  • Talk with them.
  • Be curious and interested.

Teens deserve parents who are capable of holding space for their developing brains. Don’t worry. The things you thought you knew so confidently at 15 underwent revision in your 20s and 30s and 40s. Ideas can grow and change when we feel free to think, rather than defend.

What you don’t want to lose is connection between parent and child. Your kids are good. They’re your beautiful children. They are playing with ideas the same way they played with Melissa and Doug toys. You can do it!

Connection is everything.

—exceprt from Julie’s book RAISING CRITICAL THINKERS

Raising Critical Thinkers

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Brave Learning: The Power of Talking

Brave Learning

Recently on Brave Learning…

The Power of Talking

Why talking is so important to writing.

We want words, lots of them, churned out on reassuring sheets of lined paper, with curlicue cursive ‘r’s and proper punctuation reflecting both the demands of syntax and emotion. When the words fail, we try to coax them out.

What sometimes gets missed in this process is the power of talking. Speaking leads to writing more than any other skill. Getting words formed in the head and then out through the mouth leads to better writing. It doesn’t even matter if they are organized or concise or logical. What matters is the process of dredging them up, giving them room to develop in the mind and then speaking them through the lips by way of the tongue. [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

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[Podcast #296] Bad Writing Assignments

Brave Writer Podcast

Do you ever wonder if the writing assignments your child receives are actually supporting their growth—or just making writing feel like a chore?

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore why it’s not only okay but essential to judge and adapt writing assignments for your kids.

We talk about:

  • how rigid or uninspiring tasks can stifle self-expression,
  • why playful and flexible approaches unlock learning,
  • and how you can confidently take charge of your child’s writing journey.

We also share practical tips for adapting assignments and supporting your child’s natural development as a writer.

Show Notes

Why It’s Okay to Judge Writing Assignments

Many parents assume that published writing curricula are above critique. But the truth is, you are the best judge of what works for your child. If an assignment feels pointless, uninspiring, or overly rigid, trust your instincts. We want to give you full permission to step back, assess the purpose of each activity, and decide if it serves your learner. If it doesn’t, you can absolutely adapt, skip, or replace it with something better.

How “Bad” Assignments Get in the Way

Some writing programs treat language as a formula—build a sentence word by word, or force a child to describe a dirt clod or write three perfectly formed sentences. These exercises can sap all the joy out of writing and put unnecessary pressure on kids. When assignments are boring and high-pressure, children are left frustrated or blocked. The truth is, kids already know how to play with language. We don’t need to “dumb it down” or make it overly mechanical. Instead, we can capitalize on their natural ability for playful expression and curiosity.

Embracing Flexibility and Self-Expression

The best writing grows from genuine interest and meaningful conversation. Rather than asking your child to fill in lines on a worksheet or stick to a restrictive outline, give them space to explore their ideas. Use tools like jotting down their spoken words, brainstorming together, or allowing them to choose topics that matter to them. Encourage creativity—even quirky approaches like writing sideways or using colored pens can unlock inspiration. Remember: writing isn’t about ticking off boxes; it’s about communicating ideas in a way that feels alive and authentic.

Support, Not Surveillance

We believe that writing is best taught the way we support language acquisition in toddlers: with patience, modeling, and lots of practice. Give your kids permission to make mistakes, write rough drafts, and revise at their own pace. Be a conversation partner, not just an evaluator. Ask open-ended questions, explore ideas together, and let your kids see you engaging in the messy, creative process of writing yourself.

You Have the Power to Adapt

If your child is assigned an uninspiring topic or a rigid format, you are allowed to make changes. Choose a new subject, bend the rules, or even skip the assignment. Writing instruction should be tailored to your child’s needs, interests, and natural learning style. Above all, prioritize the relationship your child is developing with words, ideas, and their own voice.

Let’s champion a writing life that prioritizes discovery, delight, and genuine communication. When we give ourselves permission to judge (and improve) writing assignments, we set our kids up for a lifetime of confident self-expression.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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Start Now

Brave Writer

Can you imagine having a 16 year old who refuses to write?

This was the predicament of a mother-son pair in my first Brave Writer class that I taught 25 years ago. The mom, a conscientious and organized homeschooler, was fit to be tied. Her 16 year old hated writing, yet wanted to go to college.

Her last ditch effort to change the course of his academic life found its way into my humble, newly created writing program.

I told her—”I’ve got you!”

I thought—Oh no! What it I can’t help him?

Instead of panicking, I taught writing to him the exact same way I taught a new-to-writing small child. I started with this 16 year old’s current skills without judgment.

I began by asking him to name his passion. “Baseball,” he said.

We walked through a process I call the “Topic Funnel” where he whittled down his general love of the sport all the way to his memory of a “perfect catch” in an important game.

Once I knew what he cared most about, I knew we would find his writing voice.

I told his mother:

“Jot down whatever your son says about that catch. Tell him to close his eyes to remember it in detail. Get it all down on paper—even if he goes out of order. Then type his words into the computer and send them to me. I will walk the two of you through each step of revision and editing.”

This mom trusted me.

She did what I asked and a day later, an email pinged my inbox with a full paragraph of this 16 year old’s memory of his best catch ever. It was full of his energy, pride, and joy!

I responded by commenting throughout the little missive. I admired his skill, noticed a well-placed metaphor, honored his natural organization, and I asked follow up questions to draw out more detail.

  • “What color blue was the sky?”
  • “How did you manage seeing the ball with the sun in your eyes? Did you squint?”
  • “Can you tell me more about the sound the bat made when the player connected to the ball?”
  • “What did you feel in your body when the ball thunked in your glove?”
  • “Who was proud of you?”
  • “How did your team react?”

Our 16 year old struggling writer eagerly responded to these curious questions. He dictated his thoughts again. His mother jotted them down, thrilled to see her son rise to the occasion.

We went through several rounds of revision. The son became more and more interested in getting the language just right.

When the class finished, our baseball player was startled to realize that the voice and ideas that lived inside him were, in fact, the very words he was supposed to put on the page.

Our teenage writer began his journey the same way a six-year-old will in our program. But the amazing news is this: he sped through the stages of growth in writing in only two years.

This student’s name? Bennett. Bennett went on to college and got an A- in his first composition class only two years later. Today he is married with two kids and is the regional manager of seven states for a major corporation. He writes with ease and competence.

I’ve received a few personal cards and notes from Bennett over the years (and from his mom too!) thanking me for that remarkable turn around we engineered in only six short weeks.

Once I saw his success, I knew I had something that would work for others too.

Growing Brave Writers

Our easy-to-use guide called Growing Brave Writers has all the tools and practices I used way back in the year 2000 (25 years we’ve been at this!) and a slew more!

You can give your kids the gift of confidence and joy in writing, just like I did for Bennett.

Don’t wait until your child is a teenager and hates writing.

Start now.

Invest in your child’s academic success, yes, but also their self confidence in self-expression!

It’s never too late!

Growing Brave Writers

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