Read-Aloud Revival ®

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

If you’re a homeschooling mom, chances are good that you’re familiar with Sally Clarkson. She is one of the most beloved names in homeschooling worldwide, and it’s no wonder why. 

She homeschooled her own four kids to adulthood and has been writing and encouraging homeschool moms for decades. She also happens to be one of our most frequently requested guests here at Read-Aloud Revival.

So we have a treat for you today! 

A few years back, Sally Clarkson joined us in RAR Premium and shared the advice she wished she could have given to her younger self. With the gifts of hindsight and experience, she tells us what she would have said if she could rewind the clock and whisper a few sage words to her younger self. She even broke it down into the advice she wishes she’d had at different phases of parenting and homeschooling! 

Now we’re sharing her valuable wisdom with all of you.

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• Why you and your unique gifts and skills are the most essential part of your homeschool
• The key to a successful homeschool experience (hint: it’s all about you, mama!) 
• How to cultivate trusting, open relationships with your teenagers that will get them through the hard times

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/advice-to-younger-self

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

In the last couple of episodes, we’ve discussed the importance of fairy tales, especially in the development of the hearts and minds of our children.

And you might be wondering . . . now that you know about the Gospel connections and symbolism of fairy tales, do you need to dissect every story and present all of the details to your kids?

Experts say no. But it can be incredibly edifying for you as an adult!

Today, we’ll discuss how to bring these “truer than true” stories into your kids’ lives and how deepening our own understanding of their symbolism and meaning enriches our reading lives too.

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• Why your children don’t need you to point out the deeper meanings and connections in fairy tales
• How fairy tales provide us an opportunity to shape our child’s loves
• Why simply reading fairy tales aloud to your kids is enough

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: https://readaloudrevival.com/how-fairy-tales/

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

How can our families cultivate healthy relationships with technology? 

We’re all trying to impose limits on how, when, and why our kids interact with technology. But in our increasingly tech-driven world, it can be hard to navigate.

Writer Erin Loechner is joining me on the podcast to discuss her new book, The Opt-Out Family, and to offer her life-giving take on building lasting connections with your kids. 

We discuss everything from the importance of boredom to Erin’s practical and easy-to-implement advice for becoming unplugged. I hope this conversation leaves you inspired to pursue a life less documented and more delightful!

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• What we can learn from tech about capturing our kids’ attention 
• Why our kids need more space for curiosity, wonder, and boredom (and how our phones tend to get in the way)
• Why you don’t have to be all-or-nothing with technology 

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: https://readaloudrevival.com/more-than-technology/   

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

Fairy tales are the stories that shape so many of our childhoods, but they are more than just whimsical tales for children.

They can hold deep, gospel truth and offer profound insight into the Christian life. They have the power to inspire hope, ignite courage, and spark delight in not only our children, but in us, too. 

Fairy tales aren’t merely stories, they’re vessels of light in our modern world. They have the capacity to become companions to us, to buoy us along the journey. 

In today’s show, I talk about why fairy tales are worth sharing with our families, as they shape our understanding of the world and our own part in it. 

Don't miss our brand-new fairy tale book list! Text “fairytale” to 337777 or visit readaloudrevival.com/243 to see the lists. (They’re separated by age groups, and there’s something for everyone!) 

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• What makes fairy tales “truer than true” 
• How fairy tales teach children about hope and confronting fears
• Why you probably need to worry less about “the weird stuff” than you think, and trust your gut on what your child is ready for

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: https://readaloudrevival.com/why-fairy-tales/

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

A picture book is an art gallery for the lap. 📚

That’s something we say all the time here at Read-Aloud Revival, and today we’re going to introduce you to one of our absolute favorite examples of this.  

We're diving into the enchanting world of illustrated picture books with Scott Gustafson, the master illustrator behind the breathtaking illustrations in the beloved Classic Fairy Tales picture book.

Classic Fairy Tales is my all-time favorite illustrated collection of fairy tales, and it’s one of our picks for the RAR Family Book Club, A Fairy Tale Summer.

Scott’s breathtaking work has captivated the imagination of readers of all ages. He brings these stories to life in a way that is nothing short of magical.

And because audio alone could never do these gorgeous illustrations justice, we also recorded a video of our conversation, in which Scott shares many of his fabulous illustrations on-screen. 

You can find the video along with the full show notes at readaloudrevival.com/242 or on the Read-Aloud Revival YouTube page.

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• How Scott’s use of light and color helps the reader journey through each painted scene
• Why Scott uses people, costumes, and objects as references in his paintings
• Scott’s best advice for budding artists and illustrators

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/art-gallery-for-the-lap

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

Summer is fast approaching, and here's what we propose: a relaxed and simple summer that offers just enough structure to keep those long sticky days from melting into chaos... and just enough fun to keep your kids asking for more.

Also: Fairy Tales. 

Last week, I did a couple of live workshops on three simple steps to have a Fairy Tale Summer with your kids, no matter how old they are.

In today’s episode, I share the workshop recording, and you can also watch the video workshop that includes all of my slides.

If you want to join us at RAR Premium for a Fairy Tale Summer, head to readaloudrevival.com/fairytale or text “fairytale” to 33777, and we’ll send you an invitation.

Here's what we'll talk about:

• How reading fairy tales can make your summer easier (and more fun)
• The fairy tales Sarah recommends for every age
• The tippy top thing you can do to make sure your kids make delightful memories this summer (it’s way less work than you think)

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

Are you intimidated by the thought of teaching Shakespeare? 

You’re not alone. 

A lot of people struggle to connect to Shakespeare’s work, even if they really want their kids to be familiar with his plays. 

What if I told you there's a way to make teaching Shakespeare to your kids enjoyable for them…

…AND delightful for you? 

In today’s episode, Ken Ludwig, celebrated playwright and author of How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare, argues that the reason so many of us feel like we don’t get Shakespeare is because people don’t know why (or how!) to teach it. 

But figuring out how to teach Shakespeare well is worth it, because not only was he groundbreaking in his time, but he has so much to teach us about what it means to be human. 

Don’t miss this replay of our live conversation where Ken shares all his best tips on teaching Shakespeare to your kids and answers audience questions. 

Plus, Sarah shares her favorite resources for helping kids get excited about Shakespeare. 

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• How to break down passages for young kids one at a time
• Is it possible to teach Shakespeare with a wide range of ages?
• What do we do with Shakespeare’s—ahem—thornier content? (After all, there is a lot of it)

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/how-to-teach-shakespeare

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

Can you believe it? The Read-Aloud Revival Podcast is ten years old!!

That means it’s time for a party! 🥳🥳

Ten years is a long time to have a podcast, but we’re not slowing down anytime soon. We’re having WAY too much fun for that.

In honor of this milestone, I’ve got a Casey Kasem-style countdown for you of the top ten episodes from the first ten years of Read Aloud Revival.

And as a way to say thank you to YOU for listening, if you leave us a review before April 30, 2024, you’ll be entered into our raffle to be one of ten winners of an exclusive, all-around fabulous RAR tote bag (these currently aren’t for sale, so don’t miss your chance to win!) 

Ready to party?

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• Some of my all-time FAVORITE pieces of wisdom from our guests
• How the RAR team developed a few of our best resources for homeschoolers
• Essential advice for teaching from rest

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/top-10-in-10

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

When you hear the name Max Lucado, what comes to mind for you?

Max Lucado is best known as a pastor, speaker, best-selling inspirational author, and, in many Christian families, he’s a household name.

His books are written for everyone—especially those who are hurting, lonely, and discouraged. In his writing, he constantly points his readers back to the truth: that God loves you and you should let Him love you. 

Max is also an author of children’s books, several of which are favorites around here. 😊

Sarah invited him to Read-Aloud Revival to discuss his newest picture book, Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone, illustrated by Eve Tharlet. It’s a cozy, gentle book, perfect for snuggling up and sharing with your kiddos.

How are stories uniquely positioned to help readers feel seen and understood? Which books did Max Lucado love as a child? And what does he hope his books will do in the lives of his readers, young and old? We dig into all of it.

Listen in to hear: 

• The power of stories to meet people where they are and touch their hearts
• Why Max Lucado wanted to write a book about loneliness
• How reading with your kids builds their sense of comfort and safety

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/max-lucado

The Circle with Sarah Retreat begins August 2nd. Join us!

Do you ever find yourself wishing you had more time to read?  

Oh, every day? (Yeah, we get that.)

We’re pretty confident that every mom wishes she had more time to read. 

Carving out a little time to enjoy your own reading life is worthwhile, even in those seasons when you think it’s impossible. (Sarah has six kids, and when three of them were babies age one and under, it definitely felt like an impossible season!)

But reading makes us better humans, better mamas, and better women. It also makes us happier. And that matters. 

Why? Because the key to a successful homeschool is a peaceful, happy mother. 

When you know you can count on your reading life to be a source of joy and refreshment regardless of how tough the day is, you just might find yourself being a little happier. A little lighter. A little more joyful.

On today’s show, we’re talking about how to make time for your own reading life, even when it feels like you don’t have five minutes to spare. 

Listen in for:

• Ideas for sneaking in time to read (even on your busiest days)
• How to make the most of surprise pockets of time
• Strategies for handling interruptions, prioritizing your reading, and finding time to pick up a book even when you’re exhausted

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/make-time-for-reading