I spent all of February diving into Julie Bogart’s new book Brave Learner.
I usually don’t spend an entire month reading one book, but I wanted to let all the homeschool goodness soak in.
We’re about to celebrate one year of homeschooling and the truth is I’m still trying to figure out what works best for us. I am still scared I’m going to mess up Jackson’s education.
This book renewed my hope.
It sparked a fire deep within me to create a learning environment where Jackson thrives.
It encouraged me to let go and relax a little.
It gave me permission to throw traditional out the window.
It’s scary.
It’s exciting.
It’s my desire to homeschool in a way that takes me outside my comfort zone; even if I’m shaking every step of the way.
Julie writes: Sometimes you must disrupt your own narrative: how you thought it all should go, how it should look, how it should feel. Sometimes the best educational choice you can make is the one you never in a million years considered. In fact, isn’t that how some of us came to homeschooling?
I cannot recommend this book enough – to current homeschool mamas and mamas who are considering it – order it now!
Julie dares to do education differently; and I want to follow in her footsteps.
Here are five things that stuck with me after reading Brave Learner:
Connection Is Everything
More important than memorizing math facts or learning to read, is my relationship with Jackson. Period!
Julie writes: The foundation of secure homeschool is connection – seeing the truth about your child’s interests and aptitudes, and then providing the space for those to flourish, all while scaling the study of academic subjects to an appropriate pace for the child.
I Am Powerless
I cannot produce academic results in Jackson.
I can stop striving.
I can focus on connecting with Jackson, meeting him where he is academically and trusting God with the rest!
Freedom Is At My Fingertips
I am the very definition of a Type-A person! I like to check things off my list. I like to have a plan. I like to fill our day with lots of school stuff. That’s a super stressful way to live and Jackson often picks up on my stress.
Julie’s book taught me that homeschool brings freedom. I am allowed to throw out the lesson plans and live in the moment. I am allowed to trust and believe that Jackson is always learning. I can ditch the curriculum and we can get creative in the way we learn.
It’s okay to have a bad day.
I love what she has to say about a day that doesn’t go as planned: On a day gone wrong, reading a book to your child can reassure you that you did, in fact, provide a quality day of homeschooling.
We Have Permission To Do It Our Own Way
Julie writes: Intelligence extends beyond the boundaries of traditional schooling.
After reading this book, I want to use Julie’s program Brave Writer as our language arts curriculum. I love her ideas and how she teaches writing in a unique and fun way.
I love how she encourages a child who struggles with handwriting to copy a single word or work on a single writing assignment for an extended period of time.There’s no need to overdo it. Small steps and assignments are just as beneficial – if not more for struggling students.
One way we are working on handwriting, spelling and reading this year, is by writing our Pen Pal on a regular basis. Who says we’ve got to teach these subjects with a traditional textbook.
There Are NO Educational Emergencies
This might be the most important paragraph I read in the entire book, especially as the mother of a child with special needs.
Julie writes: The pressure I felt to ensure my child would be college ready…caused me to unfairly push my child and resulted in tears, hurt feelings and low performance. I can allow my child to learn to read at her own pace…If we believe that education is unique for each child, we can relax into whatever time it takes to learn rather than flipping out when our kids don’t line up with what Becky’s children are doing down the street!”
This. Was. Freeing.
You Gotta Celebrate
No matter how small the victory!
When you hear your 7-year-old with severe Apraxia of Speech sing the ABC’s for the first time – celebrate.
When he memorizes his dad’s phone number in record time – celebrate.
When he sits and completes a math worksheet without your help – celebrate.
Every moment matters!