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Watch the following trainings for Jot it Down:

Jot It Down! provides ten month-long writing projects such as, letters, fairytale narrations, posters, mini-books, lists, writing about numbers, and body art. Guidance for poetry recitation, word play, nature study, art appreciation, music, and movies…

Kids need to know what writing is really all about. It’s not about producing pages for the homeschool folder. It’s not a means of torture designed by sadistic mothers and school teachers. Writing is simply capturing the lucid and true thoughts of human…

A perfect pair! Kids grow naturally from fluent speakers to powerful writers when they have developmentally appropriate tools and an enthusiastic partner to guide and support them. You're that partner; we've got the tools. In this two-product bundle,…

Learn how to use the Jot it Down! planner and skills tracker pages! Build your confidence by naming and quantifying the learning your children are getting.

Grab your Scatterbook for notes as Dawn shares:What collaboration is aboutHow it plays out in different environmentsHow to use it throughout the writing process

The Wand teaches your youngest kids to read and write simultaneously with hands-on activities, scripts for the parent, and delightful books your kids will want to read again and again.

Kids grow naturally from fluent speakers to powerful writers when they have developmentally appropriate tools and an enthusiastic partner to guide and support them. You're that partner; we've got the tools. In the Beginning Writer’s Bundle, we combine…

Join Julie as she discusses how to use the Wand, Dart or Arrow while feathering in writing projects from Jot It Down and Partnership Writing into your homeschool.

If you purchased a Brave Writer Bundle—either Jot it Down! or Partnership Writing—watch this video for tips for how to implement the program. If you have questions, be sure to post them on the Brave Writer Discussion Board in the Community…

In Brave Learner Home, we like to say start with "one thing." You started with the Wand or Arrow, and then you feathered in some writing projects from Jot it Down! or Partnership Writing.  The next "one thing" is to incorporate The Writer's…

Would you like a starter kit for making the Brave Writer Lifestyle a natural part of your homeschool experience? We've got you covered! For FREE resources and ideas to practice plus Julie's hand-lettered pdf downloads →SIGN UP for Brave Writer…

How do we academically prepare our homeschooled kids for college? We know they have to be socially and emotionally ready, too, but we as parents specifically worry a lot about high school credits and the other "requirements" that come with high school.…

Story Switcheroo is a family class. Click on the "Family Class" tab above to learn more. Tales to Tantalize! In Story Switcheroo, your family will explore mixed-up lands galore! Find a rich soil planted with assorted fairy tales that will inspire your…

A mother asked us at Brave Writer if she was doing enough writing with her child. She told us that her son wrote in his journal on Monday, wrote a poem on Tuesday, crafted a short three paragraph essay on Wednesday, sent a thank you note to his…

Josh joined Julie on her podcast to help homeschoolers learn more about the developing brain so that we, as parents and home educators, can incorporate brain-based practices into our family's lives. You can find more of Joshua’s fun and…

For this month's two-star level, we'll see how we can get to Mars through the Brave Writer Lifestyle. Yes, it's possible to connect living language arts with science! We've curated a list of ideas you can choose from, but feel free to expand! Poetry…

"I'm going on an adventure!"Bilbo Baggins Adventures, fears, crises, and triumphs are a part of each person's life. Perhaps that's what makes the hero's journey as a narrative framework appealing — it gives voice to essential experiences we all have as…

Charlotte Mason maintains that artwork offers children the chance to fill the halls of their imaginations with the great works of art that are a part of our cultural heritage. I agree. By enjoying artwork, we can expand several important areas of…

This is the big one—where someone keeps track of each day's experiences, includes some memorabilia (if available), and writes a summary of what took place. You can certainly have each child do this, but it is a duanting, schoolish responsibility…

This one-star challenge is so easy-peasy! Simply pay attention to the art that is all around you. The only goal is to heighten awareness of art in daily life—to help artwork go from "wallpaper" that you don't see, to the beauty that you deliberately…

This month is the time to break out of eating ruts with your kids! Try some recipes from other places (real or not). You may find you even have to get some new tools! Involving your kids in cooking from other cultures requires some time to first…

This class is a family class. Click on the "Family Class" tab above to learn more. Sure, you know the stories of Robin Hood and John Henry. But have you heard the tales of the Runaway Pancake, the Thirsty Frog, and the Glass Knight? How about the Buried…

Hi everyone! Several of you mentioned that you liked the idea of writing a narrative of how your homeschool is going (taking a written snapshot of a day or activity). Here's what you want to include: Dialogue between kids, with you,…

Knowing Nature through Your Notebooks Julie's blog post, "Nature Journaling Wherever You Are," describes how once she turned her "attention to nature, it erupted into view as the varied, wild, fascinating world I hardly noticed every other…

The magic of surprise is a powerful ally in learning. Surprise can take the form of doing something surprising with our kids, which is probably the first thought many of us have. However, surprise can mean showing up in surprising ways, and it can also…

The final challenge is the one that is nearest and dearest to my heart.  Pick a category: animals, trees, birds, insects, spiders, arrowheads, rocks, feathers, pinecones, owl pellets, wildflowers, cloud formations, stars, planets, grasses,…

Family culture isn't something we can order from our favorite homeschool catalog. And even if that were possible, it would zap all the fun out of the process! Likewise, "create family culture" isn't a task to jot down on a to-do list and accomplish on a…

At the heart of The Brave Learner are the twelve Superpowers. These Superpowers can be used to bring about an intimate encounter with all manner of subjects, skills and topics: The Four Forces of Enchantment—Surprise, Mystery, Risk and…

When you first began homeschooling, you were probably full of thoughts about curriculum and learning resources. You probably did a lot of research about how homeschooling could replace the academic aspects of school. What may have taken you by surprise…

When it comes to thinking like a writing coach, the key concept to keep in mind is: Writing is the record of the mind life, of the thinking that is already going on inside. How do we help our kids access their mind life? So glad you asked! Jot it…

Do you feel pressure to have your kids put pen to page and produce writing? Let's explore the academic benefits of a “go slow to go fast” approach and practical steps to implement it in your homeschool. Grab your Scatterbook and tea and get ready…

Word Magic Have you heard of the novel Frindle? In the book (for grades 3-7), a fifth grader decides to start calling a pen a "frindle," and the new word catches on.  Your two-star challenge this month is for your family to conjure up a new…

“History contains hard stories. They are hard to read and hard to hear. And yet, the stories are still worth being told.” (A Place to Belong, page 152) What is hard history? How do we know when we’re encountering hard history? After all, a hard…

The biggest challenge that most homeschool parents face is the anxiety that they can't know their child is learning what ought to be learned or at the appropriate pace. While we intuitively understand that inspiration-led learning is the core of…

Your homeschool is a combination of great ideas and executing those ideas. You can intentionally shape your homeschool without overwhelming yourself or your kids. Step-by-step, you will get there! We keep the process manageable because we know…

May your hands be an extension of your heart and may you do the work of love with them. Aja Monet An exploration of the skilled trades is an exploration of how our world works, how things get made and fixed. The clues and evidence of this…

Meet: Dart Language arts for brand new readers and writers! Covers the early essentials in grammar, punctuation, and spelling! Even if you’ve never done copywork and dictation practice before . . . We’ve got you—and your wee ones—covered! Features A…

Homeschooling is a bright sparkly journey punctuated by frustration, perplexity, and worry. All parents want the best for their children—particularly their education. Whether you stumbled into homeschooling because of the pandemic or you've chosen it…

"If, ten years ago, some kind soul had given me hard information on how to turn my dreams into realities, instead of just assuring me blandly that it could be done, it would have saved me an incredible about of time and anguish." -Barbara Sher In Brave…

What's it like to be an author? For our three-star challenge, help your kids think about what it's like to be an author. You could watch or listen to one of these: Julie's podcast interview with Kwame Alexander, the Newberry-winning poet whose…

Switch up your language arts routine with intentional lightness and laughter. According to Ed Dunkleblau, Director of the Institute for Emotionally Intelligent Learning (quoted in edutopia.org), “Humor builds a learning relationship through the joyful…

Many homeschool parents feel the outer expectations to make this a special time of year. But you also feel the inner expectations of learning goals. This year, strike a balance of leaning into the joy and coziness of the season and recognizing the…

Wanted: Personal Tutor Available each monthGives instructions in plain EnglishTeaches parents and kids togetherCovers the early essentials in grammar, spelling, and punctuationPlayful and friendly Meet: DartFor brand new readers and writers! Our…

It’s the 21st century, but we still feel Shakespeare’s arc of influence on the English language 450 years later. We read, speak, and hear his words in our daily lives, often not realizing it. How did he become such a word master? We can't say…

"We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up . . . discovering we have the strength to stare it down." -Eleanor Roosevelt Books, movies, and stories are delightful and worthy pursuits, yet heroes…

Whether you’re new to homeschooling or starting your tenth year, visit these ideas for a fresh start to your year. 1. Establish a philosophy of education, first. Consider your “why's" and "hows” of homeschooling. You may shift or modify your philosophy…

When Maureen Murdock presented her idea of the heroine's journey, Joseph Campbell reportedly said: “Women don’t need to make the journey. In the whole mythological journey, the woman is there. All she has to do is realize that she’s the place that…

How far back are we traveling? Get an overview of the different periods that formed part of Ancient Egypt—peruse a timeline or make your own using a template. Why did an ancient civilization sprout up in a desert? Read about why the Nile River was so…

You may wonder how to fit in writing projects alongside Brave Writer's Literature and Mechanics guides. If you are looking for more of a predictable rhythm, here is a routine to consider when you put together how you teach writing. WEEK ONE Monday:…

You may wonder how to fit in writing projects alongside Brave Writer's Literature and Mechanics guides. If you are looking for more of a predictable rhythm, here is a routine to consider when you put together how you teach writing. WEEK ONE Monday:…

Use these topics to focus on one small thing each week. Journal and reflect in your Scatterbook. You can also download the prompts below for a printed version. Week One Raising and homeschooling children has stressful moments. It's inevitable you'll…