What if the best critical thinking curriculum is already in your closet?

This week, we explore why board games and card games do more than pass the time. From Monopoly and Settlers of Catan to Quiddler, Pandemic, and even Operation, we unpack how games build patience, strategy, communication skills, resource management, and flexible thinking—all through play. We share personal stories, favorite family games, and one powerful rule: when your child asks to play, say yes.

Ready to rethink learning? Pull out a game tonight and let it do the teaching.

Resources:

1. Find our favorite board games in the Brave Writer Book Shop
2. Brave Writer class registration is open!
3. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
4. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
5. Find community at the Brave Learner Home
6. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
7. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
8. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
9. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
10. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
11. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

Are you wondering if you’ve done “enough” this year? What if the real question isn’t about subjects completed—but about the atmosphere you’re creating?

Melissa developed a simple framework to help her notice what was filling her children’s days. She called it the “Rule of Six”:

1. Living Books – Rich, engaging books written by authors with passion and depth.
2. Encounters with Beauty – Art, music, and nature woven into daily life.
3. Meaningful Work – Household responsibilities and academic efforts that truly matter (not busywork).
4. Imaginative Play – Unstructured time for creativity, games, and exploration.
5. Big Ideas to Ponder and Discuss – Narration, conversation, and reflection on what’s being learned.
6. Reflection – Ending the day with gratitude, prayer, or thoughtful review.

This week, we revisit this concept as a method of filling our children’s days with living books, beauty, meaningful work, imaginative play, big ideas, and reflection. From accidental learning to on-purpose instruction, we explore how to balance immersion with explicit teaching—so our kids gain both joy and skill. If you’re feeling that mid-year wobble, this conversation will help you notice what’s thriving, what’s missing, and how to move forward with clarity.

Resources:

1. Read about Melissa’s Rule of Six
2. Discover our favorite readalouds and nonfiction in the Brave Writer Book Shop
3. Brave Writer class registration is open!
4. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
5. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
6. Find community at the Brave Learner Home
7. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
8. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
9. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
10. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
11. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
12. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

What do you—and your kids—have the right to think, question, and say?

This week, we unpack a “Critical Thinking Bill of Rights” and apply it to homeschooling life. We explore the pull of group identity, the courage to disagree with leadership, the power of private thoughts, and the freedom to change your mind. We talk about fairness in co-ops, resisting performative values, and raising kids who can think for themselves without fear. If you’ve ever felt pressure to conform or questioned whether you’re “doing homeschool right,” this conversation will steady you.

Join us—and then talk through these rights with your kids.

Resources:

1. Read Julie’s Substack post on her Critical Thinking Bill of Rights
2. Find our favorite readalouds and nonfiction in the Brave Writer Book Shop
3. Brave Writer class registration is open!
4. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
5. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
6. Find community at the Brave Learner Home
7. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
8. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
9. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
10. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
11. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
12. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

What does it really mean to think critically in a world that never stops shouting at us? In this episode, we slow things down and explore how to stay grounded when information, emotion, and opinion collide. We talk about noticing our own reactions, asking better questions, and learning how to separate facts from the stories wrapped around them. Along the way, we share practical tools you can use with your kids—and yourself—to build clarity, curiosity, and courage. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the noise or unsure how to model thoughtful engagement, this conversation offers a steady place to begin. Join us, and keep thinking well.

Resources:

1. Find Raising Critical Thinkers and Becoming a Critical Thinker on Julie’s website at juliebogartwriter.com
2. Brave Writer class registration is open!
3. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
4. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
5. Find community at the Brave Learner Home
6. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
7. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
8. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
9. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
10. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
11. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

Homeschooling looks different depending on how many kids you’re teaching—and that’s exactly the point. In this episode, we explore the real-life rhythms of homeschooling in both big families and small ones, offering practical strategies for group learning, one-on-one time, and everything in between. We talk about releasing guilt, using creative resources to keep kids engaged, and recognizing the unique opportunities that come with each family size. Whether you’re juggling many ages or navigating the intensity of homeschooling an only child, this conversation is full of reassurance, ideas, and perspective. Join us—and let’s rethink what “doing enough” really means.

Resources:

1. Find great readalouds and read-alones in the Brave Writer Book Shop
2. Brave Writer class registration is open!
3. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
4. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
5. Find community at the Brave Learner Home
6. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
7. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
8. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
9. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
10. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
11. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

What if enchanting learning didn’t require themed parties, elaborate prep, or constant performance? In this episode, we unpack the myth of magic-making and show why real enchantment is rooted in connection, not production. We share simple, practical ways to revive lessons that feel stuck, from eye contact and movement to snacks, forts, music, and letting kids take the lead. Along the way, we explore how curiosity, comfort, and collaboration create learning that actually sticks. If you’ve been feeling burned out or pressured to “make school magical,” this conversation offers a deep exhale and a fresh way forward. Join us and rediscover how easy magic can be.

Resources:

1. Listen to our episode with Emily Glankler on “Not Boring History”
2. Find Julie’s favorite book on improv in the Brave Writer Book Shop
3. Brave Writer class registration is open!
4. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
5. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
6. Find community at the Brave Learner Home
7. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
8. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
9. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
10. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
11. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
12. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

What happens when we slow down long enough to really wonder? In this episode, we explore the difference between rabbit trails and rabbit holes—and why both matter in learning and in life. From telephone poles and faded signs to classic children’s literature and everyday neighborhood mysteries, we reflect on how curiosity deepens when we resist quick answers and allow questions to linger. We talk about active wondering, mental stillness, and the surprising richness of slow learning in a fast world. Join us as we rediscover how noticing, wondering, and waiting can transform ordinary moments into meaningful education.

Resources:

1. Listen to our episode on Rabbit Holes and Rabbit Trails
2. Find John Stilgoe’s Outside Lies Magic in the Brave Writer Book Shop
3. Brave Writer class registration is open!
4. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
5. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
6. Find community at the Brave Learner Home
7. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
8. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
9. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
10. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
11. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
12. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

What if the most powerful way to strengthen focus, creativity, and connection in your home is…quiet? In this episode, we explore the growing trend of silent reading parties and why shared, sustained reading helps both kids and adults reclaim attention in a scrolling world. We talk about body doubling, device fatigue, reading rituals that actually work, and how simple practices like DEAR time or candlelit reading can change the rhythm of a homeschool day. If your family struggles to settle into books, this conversation offers gentle, practical ways to read together again. Join us—and then grab a book.

Resources:

1. Grab a discounted copy of our Brave Writer Guide to the Winter Games!
2. Big props to Christopher Frizzelle, whose Silent Reading Parties are one of the inspirations for this episode.
3. Find Sue Monk Kidd’s Writing, Creativity, and Soul in the Brave Writer Book Shop. And don’t miss our selection of books that make great companion reads for the Winter Games!
4. Brave Writer class registration is open! Our Building Brave Writers classes are a great pick for a winter jumpstart.
5. Check out the Boomerang for Jack London’s The Call of the Wild and White Fang
6. Share William Wordsworth’s sonnet “The World Is Too Much With Us” with your kids
7. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
8. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
9. Find community in our membership forum, the Brave Learner Home
10. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
11. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
12. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
13. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
14. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
15. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

What if your child’s hardest behaviors aren’t a problem to fix, but an invitation to grow? In this episode, we sit down with Mary Van Geffen, author of Parenting a Spicy One, to explore what it really means to raise a strong-willed, sensitive, or explosive child. We talk about nervous systems, repair after blow-ups, and why slowing down is often the most effective parenting move. You’ll hear practical strategies, deeply humane insights, and a reframing of “difficult” kids that just might change everything. Join us, and let’s rethink what supportive parenting can look like.

Resources:

1. Preorder Parenting a Spicy One for special bonuses! Details at Mary Van Geffen’s website: https://www.maryvangeffen.com
2. Follow Mary on Instagram @maryvangeffen
3. Find books mentioned in this episode in the Brave Writer Book Shop
4. Brave Writer class registration is open!
5. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
6. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
7. Find community in our membership forum, the Brave Learner Home
8. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
9. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
10. Give your child the gift of music! Sign up for a free month of private lessons with Maestro Music and let your child discover their own musical voice: www.maestromusic.online/brave
11. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
12. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
13. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
14. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA

If your homeschool doesn’t produce stacks of worksheets, does that mean learning isn’t happening? We explore why meaningful education often leaves very little paper behind. From embodied grammar lessons to spontaneous moments of insight, we talk about how children actually learn and why traditional record-keeping can miss the point. We also share practical, low-pressure ways to document growth without turning your home into a classroom clone. If you’ve ever worried that your homeschool doesn’t “look like enough,” this conversation offers reassurance, clarity, and permission to trust what you see unfolding every day. Join us and rethink what counts as real evidence of learning.

Resources:

1. Find delicious reading selections for kids and adults in the Brave Writer Book Shop
2. Brave Writer class registration is open!
3. Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
4. Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
5. Find community in our membership forum, the Brave Learner Home
6. Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
7. Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
8. Give your child the gift of music! Sign up for a free month of private lessons with Maestro Music and let your child discover their own musical voice: www.maestromusic.online/brave
9. Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
10. Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
11. Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
12. Interested in advertising with us? Reach out to [email protected]

Connect with Julie:

1. Instagram: @juliebravewriter
2. Threads: @juliebravewriter
3. Bluesky: @bravewriter.com
4. Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter

Connect with Melissa:

1. Website: melissawiley.com
2. Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
3. Instagram: @melissawileybooks
4. Bluesky: @melissawiley.bsky.social

Produced by NOVA