Read-Aloud Revival ®

Latest Episodes:

Best of RAR: What to Do When Reading Becomes a Slog Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

There is something kind of tragic that happens when our kids become readers of their own right. It doesn’t always happen, of course, and there are ways for us to prevent it. But it’s awfully common. That thing I’m talking about? When reading starts to feel like school.

It happens to all of us at one point or another, and it’s very common especially at this time of year when school is well underway. Parents will notice a significant drop in how much their kids are reading for pleasure…if they’re reading for pleasure at all.

Obviously this isn’t what we want for our kids. But it’s easy to feel frustrated or panicked that our kids no longer seem to enjoy reading.

The good news? This is simpler to guard against than you might think.

Today, I’m revisiting an episode from a few years ago about what to do when reading becomes a slog. What do we do when reading starts to feel like school?

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The proven, positive impacts of free, voluntary reading
Why curriculums with long book lists raise red flags for me
Ideas for making reading an invitation to enjoyment, not another thing to check off the list

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/when-reading-isnt-fun

RAR #237: How Fairy Tales Re-Enchant Us Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

What are fairy tales? Why do we love them so much? And why do these stories continue to capture the imaginations of countless generations?

To help me answer those questions, I’m welcoming author Sarah Arthur to the podcast.

Personally, I fell in love with Sarah’s writing through A Light So Lovely, on the spiritual legacy of Madeleine L’Engle. And when I found out she was working on a young adult fantasy, and that it was a sort of love letter to fairy tales? I had to have her on the show.

She joins me to talk about what makes fairy tales so powerful, the benefits of embracing the imaginative and the fantastical in our reading, and lots more.

Sarah Arthur is the author of a dozen books for teens and adults, including the bestselling Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey through The Lord of the Rings. After over 25 years working with youth she plays a wicked game of Four Square—but absolutely refuses to eat cold pizza from a box, ever. She has served as preliminary fiction judge for the Christianity Today Book Awards, was a founding board member of the annual C. S. Lewis Festival, and co-directs the Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreats. She’s a mom of sons, a writer, and today’s highly esteemed guest.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The elements that draw us into fairytales
How “escapist” fiction actually helps us understand the truth
How imaginative stories create an invitation rather than a prescription for experiences

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

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

Best of RAR: No More Bookish Overwhelm Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

Today, I’ve got another Best Of RAR episode for you.

I wanted to revisit this episode because it feels extra relevant this time of year as we’re thinking about setting goals and resolutions for the year ahead.

Personally, I tend to feel a little overwhelmed by it and I bet some of you can relate.

And when it comes to books and goals for our reading lives, one of the things we hear at Read Aloud Revival all the time is, “There are so many books and so little time!”

There are SO MANY good books we want to read aloud with our families and we’re always trying to figure out how to fit more in. But we don’t want our read-alouds to become merely another item on our lengthy to-do lists. So how do we quell the bookish overwhelm?

That’s what I’m breaking down in this replay of an Ask Sarah episode with that exact question.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What it really means to read aloud “every day”
Why it’s okay if you don’t get to all of the books (promise!)
Simple ways to expand the genres you and your kids read

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/how-to-quell-overwhelm

Best of RAR: Your New Favorite Tradition - Jolabokaflod Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Today we’re airing one of my favorite episodes from last year, all about Jolabokaflod, which is a Christmas “book flood,” in the Icelandic tradition.

What if I told you this tradition makes your life easier, not harder?

During Jolabokaflod, you gift members of your family with new books, and everyone drinks hot cocoa and spends the whole of Christmas Eve reading. If I didn’t get your attention before, I’ve got it now.

There is so much that happens this time of year that adds to our to-do list, that puts more on our plates, but Jolabokaflod is truly a joy. It is a moment of rest and refreshment for you too.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Where the tradition came from
3 super-simple steps to your own Jolabokaflod
How other mamas just like you have made the tradition their own

I hope you bring this tradition to your family and that you have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas.

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

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

RAR #235: How to Give Feedback on Your Child’s Creative Writing (Even If You Aren’t a Writer!) Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

I know that if you’re an RAR Family, you are raising kids who love to read, because that’s what we do around here!

And with a love of reading often comes the inspiration to write. And those young writers will come to you looking for feedback on their stories. But what if we, as parents, don’t see ourselves as experts or writers and feel like we don’t have much to offer in the way of feedback?

It happens for a lot of homeschoolers. We know that homeschools are fabulous places to grow young writers, but that we can also feel a little ill-equipped as their writing mentors.

Which is where today’s guests come in. Brett Harris and Kara Swanson were both homeschooled and they share a commitment to mentoring young writers and helping parents become better mentors to their own young writers.

They’re here to reassure you that you do know what makes a good story, and share some of their best advice for giving your child useful feedback on their creative writing.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Six key elements of story that you probably already know, but just didn’t have words for
Questions to ask your young writer that will set them up for future story–and even career–success
Why expressing your support for your child’s writing is probably the most important thing you can do

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/how-to-give-feedback

RAR #234: Encouraging Creativity: Insights and Inspiration from Author Millie Florence Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

I want to introduce you to one of my new favorite authors.

She's younger than most published authors. In fact, she says she decided to publish her first book at nine years old. When she was 10, she attended her first writing conference. When she was 13, she self published her first book. She was homeschooled. You probably could have already guessed that. And she has been on a roll ever since.

Now she's 20 and she's making books I know your families are going to love.

Millie Florence shares her journey from whispering stories to herself under the covers to published author, plus her advice for aspiring young writers and their parents.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Millie’s homeschool experience informed her writing, and vice versa
Why it was so important that Millie’s parents took her professional writing aspirations seriously
Why Millie encourages young writers to choose quantity over quality in their projects

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/advice-for-young-writers

Best of RAR: Is My Child Dyslexic? Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

On today’s Best of Read Aloud Revival episode, I’m replaying one of our most popular episodes.

Without fail, at every homeschool conference, at least one person comes up to me and says, “Dyslexia was not even on my radar until I listened to the episode with Marianne Sunderland.”

And that’s because most of us don’t understand what dyslexia really is and the signals to look for in our kids. And we don’t know what to do when they do show signs of having a dyslexic brain.

It’s important to remember that a dyslexic brain is not a disorder. Nothing needs to be fixed. It’s the way God made your child’s brain. And it’s genetic, so it’s the way God made your brain or your husband’s brain too.

Dyslexia means your child processes language differently, which means we need to teach dyslexic brains in a way that makes sense to dyslexic brains.

If you have any academic frustrations with your kids of any age, listen to this episode. Even if dyslexia is nowhere on your radar, I encourage you to listen. You might be surprised.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Dispelling myths about dyslexia as a learning disability or sign of low intelligence
Signs and signals to look out for beyond difficulties with reading
How homeschooling can provide better support for dyslexic kids than traditional schools

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/is-my-child-dyslexic/

RAR #233: Audrey is Back, and She’s Answering Your Questions! Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

By far the most popular episode we’ve ever done here on Read Aloud Revival is the episode with my oldest daughter, Audrey, when we looked back together on homeschooling from her vantage point as a sophomore in college.

We discussed what worked, what didn’t, and about our homeschool experience in general.

And last spring, at the Great Homeschool Conventions, you all kept asking me when Audrey would be back on the podcast.

She’s now about to start her senior year at Franciscan University, so it seemed like a great time to check back in with her and get her perspective now that her college experience is almost complete.

Today, she’s answering your questions from inside the RAR Premium forum and the RAR Instagram.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What gave Audrey the solid foundations for writing as an English major
Audrey’s advice for high school students and college freshmen
What parents can do to help their children build a strong sense of faith

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/questions-for-homeschooling-graduate

RAR #232: How to Know If You’re Doing Enough Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

There is one question that plagues us, that we all ask, and that we ask all the time: Am I doing enough?

When we constantly ask ourselves if we’re doing enough in our homeschool, it makes it difficult to stay present and engaged and actually enjoy it. Whether you’re relatively new to homeschooling or a seasoned veteran, we all wonder.

Today, I'm sharing the last of my sessions from The GHC Conferences 2023.

This one is all about taking the overwhelm out of that question and practical advice for putting your worry to rest.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why “Am I doing enough?” is an incomplete question
Why we have to remember that our kids are not recipes
What’s at the heart of good education

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/doing-enough-homeschooling

RAR #231: Homeschooling with Babies and Toddlers Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

Today, I’m sharing another session from the Great Homeschool Conventions in 2023 all about homeschooling with babies and toddlers.

If you are homeschooling with babies and toddlers underfoot, this one's for you. Or if you have a friend who is homeschool with babies and toddlers, this one's for her, so please share it!

Full disclosure: My favorite part about going to the Great Homeschool Conventions is all the babies I get to snuggle and hold. So I created a session that would ensure I got maximum baby snuggles. This session was so much fun because the room was absolutely packed with babies and toddlers and there is something just next-level about being in a room with so much life. I LOVED it.

In this session, I talked about the lessons I learned from homeschooling with my own babies and toddlers underfoot, and strategies for not just surviving this time, but enjoying it, too.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why your babies and toddlers are not a distraction
Three strategies for handling fussy, grabby toddlers in your homeschool
Practical tips for doing less in your homeschool

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/homeschooling-with-babies

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