Play isn’t a reward for learning, it is the learning. In this episode, we dig into the puritanical reflex to be suspicious of anything fun, and rebuke it with developmental science and lived experience. We give ideas on how to create playful conditions for deep, sustainable learning for your kids and even yourself.

We also break down how to evaluate homeschool learning you’re already doing: How does it look like play? How are you capitalizing on tools, clothing, kinesthetic energy, excitement, and engagement? Does the skill being honed lead to something the kids actually want to do?

If you’re feeling stuck and bored with your homeschooling, or if your kids are feeling that way, this is the episode for you.

Resources:

• Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
• Check out the Brave Writer Practice Pages
• Peruse the Brave Writer Book Shop
• Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
• Read all the Brave Writer class descriptions
• Check out the Class Schedule for Fall
• Sign up for Brave Writer 101
• Explore Tools for the Art of Writing
• Read Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness
• Read How Children Learn
• Read Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life
• 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
• Twitter: @bravewriter
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

• Website: melissawiley.com
• Substack:

Chances are someone you know will have a sick child hospitalized at some point. In this episode, Melissa explains how you can best support that parent and caregiver. Melissa herself has had two of her kiddos hospitalized so her suggestions come from lived experiences.

First, Melissa discusses the practical physical items you can bring to a caregiver in the hospital: toiletries, quality food, and a kettle or wand for warm drinks. She also describes some digital gifts that you can send. Then she describes what little acts of service you can do: doing the laundry, lending an ear, and taking care of the siblings of the hospitalized child.

Sometimes caregivers are so overwhelmed or shy that they don’t know what to ask for. If your friend is having trouble expressing what they need, start with the items in this episode and then go from there.

Resources:

• Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.
• Melissa’s Medical Summary Template
• The embroidery kits mentioned in the episode can be found at cozybluehandmade.com
• Check out libro.fm to buy audiobooks from independent sellers (rather than Amazon/Audible)
• Here are the nice pens Melissa mentioned in the episode: Jetpens.com
• Check out the Brave Writer Practice Pages
• Virtually wonder through the Brave Writer Book Shop
• Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
• Read all Brave Writer class descriptions
• Check out the Brave Writer Fall Class Schedule
• Join Brave Writer 101
• 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
• Twitter: @bravewriter
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

• Website: melissawiley.com
• Substack:

Leaves changing color, evenings getting chillier–autumn is a wonderful time of the year to turn our attention toward the natural world around us. Today’s episode is all about how to facilitate nature study for your kids.

We cover resources that can help you on your journey. We also give you specific practices you can try out with your family.

Most importantly, we dig into why nature study is so beneficial to educational development and well-being. Remember, if you have nature study projects that you have really enjoyed, please share them with us!

Resources:

• Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.
• For all the books mentioned in this episode, check out the Brave Writer Book Shop.
• Learn more about the 1000 Hours Outside platform.
• Learn more about nature studies at JohnMuirLaws.com.
• Check out the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs.
• Read all Brave Writer class descriptions here.
• Check out the Brave Writer class schedule for Fall
• Learn more about Brave Writer 101
• 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
• Twitter: @bravewriter
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

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

Produced by NOVA Media

We tend to have a pretty clear idea of what practice looks like for musicians and athletes. But what does practice look like for writers? In today’s episode, Julie and Melissa discuss what writing practice can look like for writers of all ages and developmental stages.

Julie and Melissa describe their own daily writing practices and those of well-known authors. Then they dive into how you can facilitate your child’s practice. They anchor their discussion with the new Brave Writer product “Practice Pages.”

With references to Flannery O’Connor, judgy teenagers, and gleefully vindictive youngsters with the red editing pen in their hands, this conversation is as entertaining as it is informative. Enjoy!

Resources:

• Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.
• Watch this space for our new Brave Writer Practice Pages—including a sample you can download (available in late October)
• For the books we mention in this episode, check out the Brave Writer Book Shop
• Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
• Take a look at all the Brave Writer class descriptions
• Check out the Class Schedule for Fall
• Register for Brave Writer 101
• Listen to Episode 202: “Make It Stick”
• 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
• Twitter: @bravewriter
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

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

Produced by NOVA Media

Ever have one of those days where the kids won’t stop bickering, everything seems difficult, and overall there’s just bad energy? In today’s episode, we give you tips and tricks on how to turn the mood around…or at least keep your own internal peace.

We give ideas that are focused on the body: movement and the five senses. We also give tips that are focused on the surroundings: making a small, new setting in your home or even going out to new learning spaces.

For a full list of the ideas we share in this episode, go to our website and download the PDF we have ready for you.

And remember, if all else fails, it’s ok to let the kids watch TV for a little bit while you hide and eat chocolate.

Resources:

• Download our PDF of the ideas we’ve shared in this episode (link to come—we can add it to the doc later)
• Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.
• Learn more about Brave Writer’s “Becoming a Critical Thinker” workbook
• Peruse the Brave Writer Book Shop
• Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
• Check about all Brave Writer class descriptions
• Click here for the Class Schedule for Fall
• Sign up for Brave Writer 101
• 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
• Twitter: @bravewriter
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

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

Produced by NOVA Media

The sound of Moroccan Arabic, the smell of dried buffalo chips, the taste of sugary mint tea, the view of an open prairie–in today’s episode Julie and Melissa reflect on immersive learning experiences and how education becomes a part of a person for the rest of their life.

Julie is back from her trip to Europe, having spent a significant amount of her time in Spain. Always the homeschooler, she describes events on her journey that illuminated the true meaning of learning and teaching. She and Melissa discuss the joy that comes from being a lifelong learner alongside adult kids.

As the academic new year begins, this episode is a great way to fall back in love with education.

Resources:

• Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics Programs
• Peruse the virtual bookshelves in the Brave Writer Book Shop
• Read all the https://bravewriter.com/online-classes
• Check out the Fall Class Schedule
• Sign up for Brave Writer 101
• 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
• Twitter: @bravewriter
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

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

Produced by NOVA Media

As homeschooling parents, one of our biggest concerns is ensuring our children are ready for college when the time comes (if they choose that path). Today, we’re joined by Elizabeth Christie, homeschooling mom of six, who tells us about how her Brave Writers are now excelling in college.

Tune in to hear how Elizabeth’s kids sailed through college application essays, how her daughter was recruited to be a well-paid student writing tutor, and how her son has excelled as a technical writer.

If you’ve ever wondered about the power of read-aloud time or chunk writing, this is the episode for you.

Resources:

• Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention.
• Check out all the 2024-2025 Brave Writer Mechanics and Literature Program class descriptions.
• Take a look at the Class Schedule for Fall.
• Learn more about Brave Writer 101.
• 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
• Twitter: @bravewriter
• Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

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

Produced by NOVA Media