Hi Reader, Books are so much more than just a collection of words. They are lanterns that illuminate our lives in so many incredible ways. Today, I want to share a story with you about a group of women who also believed in the power of books to transform lives. So much so, that they were willing to endure quite a lot of hardship to get books into the hands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to them during a difficult period of American history. In this episode, I’m talking with...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, In the email I sent you earlier this week, I mentioned that when I first heard the phrase "teach from a state of rest," I was equally intrigued and skeptical. The idea that it might be possible to homeschool with unshakable peace and real, true, joy sounded...thrilling. Also: impossible. 😅 I'll remind you of what life looked like for me back then: Nothing about my life reminded me of "rest" or "peace." So let's define some terms, shall we? REST, for example. Ever heard of it? 😆...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Sometimes I get the feeling that people think I wrote a book called Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace because I’m a naturally peaceful person. That is… not true. [We can pause for a moment while my closest friends erupt in hysterical laughter 😅] Actually, I remember quite vividly the first time I heard the phrase, “teach from a state of rest.” I was pregnant with twins, and my other kids were 11, 9, 7, and 1. I was homeschooling. I was pretty sure I was...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, Nurture Your Own Reading Life We're so often sharing books with our kids, but when the days are full and life is bustling we can forget to nurture our own hearts and minds through story, too. Whether you're looking for a heartwarming fiction book to curl up with or a compelling non-fiction title, this list has something for you. Download it Now The Latest Podcast Here at Read-Aloud Revival, we're always being asked to create virtue-based booklists. In this episode, we talk about...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, You know those reels where a person with a camera stops random people on the street and asks them basic questions? You know the ones... What's the capital of New York? Who is the current Vice President? Name all of the continents And we sit there at home cringing, because they can't answer them? I think we are all kind of terrified this is going to be our kids someday. 😩 There they'll be, walking down the streets of New York in their twenties, and someone will walk up to them with...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, Here at the Read-Aloud Revival, we’ve been asked more times than I can count to create virtue-based book lists. And I always say no. But it's not because I don't believe books can build virtue in our kids. So today on the show, I invited Audrey, our Creative Director, back with me to talk about why we don’t make lists of books that specifically set out to teach kids about kindness, honesty, or other virtues. The reality is, all good books have a powerful capacity to inspire us...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, When you think about the various work that goes into making a children’s book, research probably isn’t at the top of your list. It might not make it on your list at all! But research is often an essential part of the process. And I can tell you from personal experience that research can be a time-intensive, sometimes overwhelming, but often the most delightful task. Today on the show, we’re hearing from some incredible authors and illustrators about the research that goes into...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Wordless Picture Books Seeking a bit of quiet refreshment and respite after the busyness of spring? Wordless books invite us to slow down, make connections, and linger over a good story. Read Our Favorites The Latest Podcast One of the most common questions we get around here is "Homeschooling high school...how?" On this episode, homeschool mama and author of Their Future is Shining Bright, Rachel Kovac, joins Sarah to talk about everything from instilling a growth mindset in your...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that when you hear me talk about RAR's Summer Adventure and hear me say things like: ...you feel like something like this: Maybe it sounds like: “I barely understand Shakespeare myself. How am I supposed to TEACH it?” Or even: “No summer school for us, thanks. My kids will hate it.” Can I just say? In fact, after last year's Shakespeare Summer program, we got lots of emails from shocked moms who didn’t believe me, either. 😆 But then afterward,...
3 months ago • 1 min read