Brave Writer

Parenting can be one of life's most fulfilling yet challenging journeys. Josh MacNeill, former teacher and now the CEO of InMind Services, has dedicated his life to understanding child behavior. With certifications in child trauma and multicultural education, he brings unique insights into the art of mindful parenting. This guide, inspired by Josh’s insights, aims to provide you with essential too...

Ever found yourself feeling emotionally and physically drained? Do you wonder if what you're experiencing is burnout? And importantly, do you know how to combat it? Today's podcast continues our conversation with Tanya Tarr, an expert on resilience, to talk about burnout and the strategies we can use to counter it. Be sure to tune into Part One if you haven’t listened to it yet! Resources: FREE Sc...

Do you ever feel like your energy reserves are just being depleted, and you can't seem to replenish them? It might be more than just fatigue or exhaustion; it could be burnout. We had a riveting conversation with Tanya Tarr, a behavioral scientist, columnist, corporate educator, and the founder of Cultivated Insights, who had plenty to say on the subject of burnout. In fact, we had so much to disc...

As homeschooling parents, we understand the unique challenges that arise when the academic year ends. Summer is here, and so begins a time without the structure and routine of homeschooling. Our children, the very ones we've been teaching, are still with us, ready to start each day, and they need things to do. This lack of schedule or routine doesn't alleviate pressure. If anything, it can feel ev...

Dive into a captivating conversation with our special guest Sarah Collins, a skilled occupational therapist turned homeschooling consultant. I met Sarah, known for her lively and engaging conversations, at the Michiana Homeschool Conference and there began an insightful dialogue about the powerful impact of her work. Sarah shares her transformative journey from being introduced to homeschooling in...

Let’s discuss a topic that I believe is fundamental to the homeschooling journey: persistence. Regardless of where you are in your homeschooling adventure—whether you're still contemplating the idea, just embarking on your first year, already ten years deep, or even approaching your final year—it's essential to understand what it takes to persevere. My most frequently shared piece of advice is a s...

At Brave Writer, we believe that writing is at the heart of education. Our approach is to teach kids to write by reading books they’ll love, and organically – but methodically – bringing up discussions that expand upon how the books were written. The focus of today's discussion is the youngest among us: those just embarking on their literary journey, learning to read and write for the first time....

While the field of reading science is buzzing today with various theories, philosophies, and approaches, Brave Writer's method stands out. Let's be clear, Brave Writer is not a reading program. We don't teach phonics or whole language. We aren't focused on reading instruction, but we do recognize that the ability to write effectively relies heavily on proficient reading skills. This conversation g...

Get ready for an entertaining journey into homeschooling on this episode of our podcast! We delve into an inspiring approach to education that proves learning can be fun, dynamic, and full of joy. This episode features an exciting discussion with our special guest, Lise McGuinness, a veteran preschool teacher and homeschooler with an infectious enthusiasm for what she calls 'party school'. Don't m...

Today, we're going back to the root of it all the ask – and answer – one incredibly vital question: Why homeschool in the first place? Everyone has their own personal reasons, but I thought we could explore the origins of why we began homeschooling in the first place, as well as five reasons we think homeschooling could benefit any child. This episode will resonate with those already in the homesc...

One of the most popular questions we get as a company is to define (or identify) our underlying worldview. Parents who sift through the Internet looking for homeschool programs want to find companies that align enough with their values that they can trust them as tools to educate their children. There are lots of ways curriculum companies operate. Some align explicitly with a particular religious...

Meg Maloney is the author of an intriguing memoir, "Slow Your Roll," where she chronicles her transformative journey across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, a renowned network of pilgrimages culminating at the shrine of apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostola. With its spiritual aura, this trail has attracted millions over the years, becoming a beloved route for spir...

In the realm of children's literature, certain authors create captivating worlds that inspire young readers to explore, imagine, and grow. One such author is Anna James, the British writer and journalist based in North London, known for her middle-grade novels series, "Pages and Co." We’re discussing her writing process, the inspiration behind her series, and the value of getting lost in the world...

Are you a homeschooling parent who has heard about unschooling but isn't quite sure what it means, or whether it's right for your family? Don't worry, you're not alone. Unschooling is a flexible and learner-centered approach to education that encourages curiosity, self-direction, and personal growth. In this podcast, we'll dive into the world of unschooling and share some valuable insights, experi...

Are you struggling with family drama and looking for ways to create a more harmonious home environment? You’re not alone! We recently sat down with Nedra Tawwab, a licensed therapist and New York Times bestselling author of "Set Boundaries, Find Peace" and "Drama Free," who shared valuable insights and advice on setting boundaries, navigating relationships, and maintaining a peaceful family life....

We know that parents and home educators often feel like they aren't living up to their own ideals, which can lead to a crisis of self-esteem. As we face new seasons in life, our previous skillsets might not always be adequate for the task at hand, leaving us feeling frustrated, lonely, and sometimes like we're failing. So, how do we move forward with courage and clarity? We're delighted to have Me...

Do you ever wonder if there are benefits to letting your kids reread, rewatch, and revisit their favorite books, movies, and TV shows? Here, we delve into this practice and its numerous advantages for children and their families, highlighting how revisiting beloved stories can foster critical thinking, emotional growth, and shared experiences. You can download show notes for the podcast here: http...

In our last discussion, we explored what it takes to feel good about home education and parenting, and we were left with a tantalizing idea: the key lies in habit formation. Eager to learn more, we sent Melissa on a research mission to understand the ins and outs of habit building, both from personal experiences and contemporary habit science. In this episode, we will delve into our own experience...

In the first part of our series answering the question “How do I know if I’m doing enough for my kids’ education?” (which you should definitely listen to if you haven't already), we discussed how to ensure you've done enough preparation and research for your homeschooling journey, as well as how to navigate subject mastery in pre-kindergarten and elementary school to meet the educational requireme...

A question that often comes up repeatedly in the minds of many homeschooling parents is: "Am I doing enough?" We know how stressful it can be — we've all been there. We're going to explore three key aspects to help you navigate the world of "enoughness" in homeschooling: what constitutes enough preparation and training for parents, determining enough mastery of subject areas for different age grou...

Do you wish you were more spontaneous? Or do you think you should “stick to a schedule”? I share an experience I had learning the hard way that planning work best when our kids are included in the process, as well as a novel solution for bridging the gap between planning and spontaneity. You can download show notes for the podcast here: https://blog.bravewriter.com/category/podcasts/ Resources: Si...

Have you ever felt anxious about homeschooling and worried that you're not doing enough? In this episode, you'll hear our advice on how to create a well-rounded learning experience for your kids and learn how even the least "schooly" moments can be opportunities for growth. Join us as we explore the idea that every day counts and that it's all enough. You can download show notes for the podcast he...

Are you a parent or teacher who feels overwhelmed by the challenge of helping all of your students achieve their reading goals? Then you won't want to miss today's episode of our podcast! We're thrilled to be joined by Dr. Marnie Ginsberg, the founder of Reading Simplified, a program designed to support educators in teaching an evidence-based system of reading instruction. In this episode, Dr. Gin...

Looking into our analytics, we discovered a surprising fact: Most of our listeners are Millennials or Gen X! In today's episode, Melissa and I will be exploring the unique challenges faced by young Gen-Xers and Millennials who choose to homeschool. We've been looking into generation theory to better understand the characteristics and demands that may be affecting this group of homeschoolers. Our g...

Melissa and I just discovered an interesting coincidence about us: We both grew up as theater kids! Although we didn't pursue theater professionally, we bonded over our kinesthetic approach to home education. Our products, such as the Quill, Dart, Arrow, Boomerang, and Slingshot (affectionately abbreviated to Q-DABS), are designed to incorporate movement into learning. For example, when writing th...