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Brave Writer

326. Big and Little Families

Brave Writer

Julie Bogart and Melissa Wiley

Education For Kids, Education, Kids & Family, Books, Arts

4.8 • 927 Ratings

🗓️ 11 February 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 media@bravewriter.com


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

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Looking for a great math program?

0:03.0

CTC Math provides online video tutorials that make learning math easy and effective

0:10.0

by using creative graphics and animation that are sure to grab and keep your child's attention.

0:16.0

Here's a great testimonial from Lori.

0:18.0

She said one day, my 10-year-old was in tears over math.

0:23.6

I tried my best to help, but I ended up in tears as well. That very night, I received an email offer for CTC Math.

0:31.6

The following Monday, we reviewed the curriculum together. She was willing to give it a shot, and we have never looked back.

0:39.9

Start your free trial today by visiting ctcmath.com.

0:50.3

Welcome back, everyone, to the Brave Rider podcast.

0:53.4

Melissa is here. Hi, Melissa. Hi, Julie. It's great to see you.

0:58.5

Oh, gosh, every week, this is my favorite time. I love talking on the podcast. Thank you all for listening.

1:06.0

What are we going to talk about today? Oh, my gosh. Well, so I get the question a lot, like, what do I do? I have six

1:12.5

kids or I have five kids or I even have three kids and how do I manage them all at once?

1:17.6

But I also get another question that you and I are less skilled at answering, but we're going to try.

1:23.6

And that is what do you do if you have a small family, just one child or two kids? There are different

1:29.3

dynamics at play in both kinds of families. So today, we're going to try to give you tips for what to do

1:37.7

with a big family and what to do with a small family when you're trying to create happy learning

1:43.8

in the home.

1:45.2

Sound like a plan?

1:46.2

Love it.

1:46.9

Love it.

1:47.6

Now, first of all, Melissa has six kids, so she's the true expert on big families.

...

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