The Brave Learner

Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

By: Julie Bogart, Susan Wise Bauer - foreword

Narrated by: Julie Bogart

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

A joyful and accessible approach to homeschooling that harnesses children’s natural curiosity and makes learning a part of everyday life, whether they’re in elementary or high school

Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards? 

In this book, Julie Bogart distills decades of experience - homeschooling her five now grown children, developing curricula, and training homeschooling families around the world - to teach parents how to make education an exciting, even enchanting, experience for their kids, whether they're in elementary or high school. 

Enchantment is about ease, not striving. Bogart tells parents how to make room for surprise, mystery, risk, and adventure in their family's routine, so they can create an environment that naturally moves learning forward. If a child wants to pick up a new hobby or explore a subject area that the parent knows little about, it's easy to simply say "no" to end the discussion and the parental discomfort, while dousing their child's curious spark. Bogart gently invites parents to model brave learning for their kids so they, too, can approach life with curiosity, joy, and the courage to take learning risks.

©2019 Julie Bogart (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A masterpiece. This is the deepest, most meaningful book on parenting I have ever read. If you want to raise your child to be a happy learner, whether via homeschooling or conventional schooling, read this book.” (Barbara Oakley, author of Learning How to Learn and A Mind for Numbers)

“Julie Bogart’s everyday magic is her knack for combining galvanizing inspiration and hands-on practicality. Her writing is frank, funny, and full of charm. Her approach to homeschooling - and to parenting in general - emphasizes a spirit of adventure and camaraderie, placing relationship at the center of a family’s educational journey. This is the guidebook I wish I’d had when I was starting out.” (Melissa Wiley, author of Fox and Crow Are Not Friends)

"Success in homeschooling is more about mindset than method, and relationship than academic minutiae. Julie Bogart unpacks what this looks like for her in powerful and practical ways that will inspire you to personalize your own homeschool journey." (Heather Haupt, author of Knights in Training) 

Audio Version is Challenging

This review is just for the audiobook version.

While I love Julie Bogart's podcasts, and while I like the print form of this book, this audiobook didn't work for me. The book has lots of lists, which are helpful when you're reading along and can skim, but are tedious to listen to. Also, Julie's persona doesn't come through. Her voice seems artificial, modulated, yet sing-songy. Like a first year kindergarten teacher.

good, with a heaping grain of salt

I've been homeschooling for 10 years. I was also a teacher before having kids. This book has a good heart with plenty of tidbits to glean and tuck into your homeschool lifestyle as you see fit, but also a lot of wildly outlandish, impractical bits as well. Don't consume this one thinking it's a homeschool wisdom gospel. It has great parts- particularly the last section- but a lot of nonsense, too.

Uplifting

Julie Bogart is the most uplifting author. She makes you feel as though you have all the support in the world. Definite must listen!

Relationship based-Enchanted Lives for All Families 🖤

I’ve been a Julie Bogart Super Fan for years! Although I couldn’t wait to read her book, The Brave Learner, I thought it would *just* be a recap of all her years of fantastic Podcasts, Periscopes, Blog Posts, and fantastic Instagram account - but it’s so much more!!

Julie’s calm, inquisitive, supportive nature, coupled with the experience of both home educating and public educating her 5 children, who are all now successfully thriving adults, wrote to my mama heart. The Brave Learner is the articulation of my ideal family relationship methods; it’s what I’ve tried to create in my home and with my family. From creating coziness and Poetry Tea Time, to Gaming Family validation and choosing a child-centered, interest-led education, Julie has a step-by-step guide that incorporates the gentle, supportive, loving guidance I work to achieve in my own home.

Whether you are a young parent, grandparent, public, private, or home educator - Julie’s Brave Learning ideas will spark enchantment and joy within your home, family, and yourself. Her ideas for striking out your own path to Awesome Adulting and repeatedly encouraging yourself to lower the bar to find success are so positively impactful in our world of bigger, better, more — you have permission to be human, to be yourself, you are enough.

Thank you, Julie, for this cozy guide to creating relationship-centric families 🖤

A must for homeschooling parents!

Let Julie guide you through seeing what’s so special about being at home with your children, and how to foster snuggly warm moments becoming the norm during your home educating years. She’s practical and enchanting, and listening to this book feels like you’re having tea with a big sister who’s been through it all and has come out shining on the other side. This is a very special book!

Mocking tradition methods of homeschooling

I wish I had read some of the reviews before purchasing. This wasn’t my favorite book. I think it simply came down to the reason we homeschool! We homeschool to teach our kids what and how we want them taught. I did feel like Julie was mocking certain styles of homeschooling and ways of life. Go read other reviews before purchasing. I agree with reasons others have given for not recommending this book.

Absolute must have!

I originally purchased the hard copy book but realized if I was every going to be able to read something for myself I needed it on audible as well. I was not a fan of the reader who was very monotone and where she did have inflections it was not where I would have. That is literally my only complaint about the audible version.

Life changing.

I know it may seem extreme to say “life changing,” but I was at a point where I felt so overwhelmed, worried that I wasn’t doing enough for my kids, and afraid I was damaging their educational future. In steps Julie Bogart. She instantly feels like a lifelong friend who puts her arm around you and says, “Everything you are doing is enough. MORE than enough. YOU are enough.” Julie gives practical advice and builds your confidence in your homeschooling abilities. Her TOP priority is the children and how they learn best and she walks along with you explaining and showing you the best ways you can help your children.

I'd rather have read the book

While I don't mind the reader (aka: author) I found times when I wanted to make some notes about things she mentioned so I wish I had simply read the book. Book has ideas to think about though I don't know that I agree completely. Ask me again when I'm done homeschooling.....in about 17 years.

Didn’t want it to end

I bought this book in hardcopy, read it through twice and then decided I needed it in Audible to listen to whenever I needed a pick me up. I think every single homeschooling parent needs to read this book. There is so much more to homeschooling than just checking boxes and getting your kids ready for college. Julie’s wit and insight make it a super fun read that will have you laughing one minute and tearing up the next minute.

Listened on Audible. Then bought the hard copy, which I read while listening again.

Awesome book, very pragmatic and reassuring to home educators who want to encourage the natural learning process while also actively introducing new concepts to their home educated. I love the focus on partnership and joy. And the reminders to not focus on comparisons that may induce anxiety and fear. Highly recommend this book.

An absolute must have!

This is such a wonderful, encouraging, practical book that deserves a place in everyone's home. Julie writes so beautifully about how we can make education enchanting and create magical learning environments for our children. And best of all - none of these ideas require a huge investment of time, money, or energy!

This book stands out for being filled with practical ideas on how to apply what she writes about, and also how to connect with our kids and put relationships first. It is a parenting book as much as a book on education.

I would recommend it to every parent, teacher, grandparent, and home educator. It will be a book that you come back to again and again. Reading it is like having a cup of tea with a wise and encouraging friend.

Masterpiece!!

Wish I had discovered this book earlier however better late than never! An absolute masterpiece!

Perfect for a new homeschooler

Really enjoyed this. Lots of tips for a happy homeschooling life. I highly recommend.

wonderful

loved it, made me dream and gave me hope that I will do very good in my upcoming homeschool project

love it.

its a joy to listen to this book. very engaging and easy to underatand. love author's enthusiasm

Enchanting & Real

I felt obliged to write a review for this fantastic book by Julie Bogart. This is so much more than an educational book or philosophy; it liberated my mind to become creative and live and find the magic in everyday life. She helps to reimagine home life and teaches a connected way of parenting where children are educated in the ambience of love and delight.

I love this book!

I've listened to it twice and just about to start again. Great for home educators.

great book!

Great book, with lots of helpful tips. I really enjoyed listening to her story. I will read this book again and take notes.

such a nice support for positive parenting

how to become the perfect parent and human being. how to take care of your kids while still caring for yourself. highly recommended for homeschoolers as well as anyone who wants to be an intentional self-actualized nurturing parent.