Read-Aloud Revival ®

Sarah Mackenzie
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Read-Aloud Revival ®

Sarah Mackenzie helps your family fall in love with books, and helps *you* fall in love with homeschooling.

  1. 14 NOV

    RAR #254: What’s So Great About A Christmas Carol?

    "Marley was dead, to begin with." That is one of the most famous first lines in English literature. It comes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which is perhaps the greatest Christmas ghost story ever told. What is it that speaks to so many of us about this story of Scrooge and his ghosts? Today I want to talk about what makes this story so beloved and enduring–from its original bestselling release in 1843 through countless adaptations–to the place of fondness and tradition it has in so many of our homes today.  In this episode, you’ll hear from RAR Premium members; Joe Sutphin, who did the beautiful illustrations for Little Christmas Carol; Samantha Silva, author of Mr. Dickens and His Carol; and some RAR kids on the lasting impact of Dickens’s tale and what they love so much about A Christmas Carol. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Why we love A Christmas Carol as a read-aloud for the whole familyHow Joe Sutphin illustrated and populated Scrooge’s world for Little Christmas CarolThe real backstory of why Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, which inspired Samantha Silva’s novel Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/all-about-a-christmas-carol Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

    31 min

  2. 4 NOV · BONUS

    BONUS: The Power of What You’re Already Doing (Sneak Peek Inside RAR Premium)

    As homeschooling moms, we often focus more on what we’re not doing than what we are doing. We fret about the lessons we should be teaching or the projects we should be creating. But here’s what we want you to remember (and what we try to remind ourselves): what you’re already doing is powerful. It’s purposeful. And best of all, what you’re already doing builds an enduring family culture. In this bonus episode, you’ll discover the power of what you’re already doing and why the culture we create in our homes matters much more than whatever curriculum we use. Today, we’re unlocking our most recent Circle with Sarah Live, a regular RAR Premium event where I mentor homeschooling moms like you. After all, we believe that the key to a successful homeschool is a peaceful, happy, homeschooling parent. You’ll hear about all the things you’re already doing that make a significant impact in your homeschool. Plus, you’ll get an insider look at RAR’s framework for making rich and meaningful connections with your kids through books.  There are cupcakes involved. Whether you’re ready to join RAR Premium or not, I think this episode will help you think about how you structure your homeschool and discover how the things you’re already doing have a huge impact on your family culture. Remember, you’ve got everything you need to teach with peace that transcends all understanding. You were made for such a time and such a homeschool as this. I’m praying for you. Books mentioned in this episode: James Herriot’s Treasury for ChildrenThe Vanderbeekers of 141st StBecause BarbaraA Place to Hang the MoonThe Power of MomentsWhere the Mountain Meets the MoonWhen the Sea Turned to Silver Links: Find out more about RAR Premium!RAR #248: Nurturing Creative Dreams (Your Child’s and Your Own) Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

    58 min

  3. 31 OCT

    RAR #253: How We Choose Books to Recommend at RAR

    How do you know a good book when you see it? I remember walking into the big, beautiful children’s section at the library with my oldest, who was a baby. I wanted to find books to read aloud to her, but it was hard to know which ones we would love.  That longing to find good books for my children was the spark that eventually became the Read-Aloud Revival podcast and RAR Premium community, where we’re always trying to find and share the very best books to read aloud with your family. Today, RAR Premium Coordinator Leilani Curtis joins me to chat about how we select the books for our booklists here at Read-Aloud Revival. We’re also going to share our best advice for being more confident in choosing books to bring into your home, whether it’s at the bookstore or the library. In this episode, you’ll hear:  How our booklists can help you choose quality books to share with your familyThree quick questions to help you decide if a book is worth a longer lookThe qualities we look for in books we recommend Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/how-we-choose-books Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

    1h 4m

  4. 17 OCT

    RAR #252: The Making of Because Barbara

    A library should be a kind of paradise, don’t you agree? Author and illustrator Barbara Cooney certainly thought so.  Barbara Cooney was an extraordinary author and illustrator of over 100 children’s books with stories that span the world, from the shores of Greece to the mountains of Appalachia. The more I learned about Barbara, the more I wanted to tell the story of this beautiful artist who, in every aspect of her life–from raising four children to traveling to gardening to winning awards for her illustrations–was committed to capturing the beauty in (and for!) the world. Because Barbara: Barbara Cooney Paints Her World has been nearly six years in the making. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes and introduce you to the team that made it happen, from the very first draft to the final, beautiful book you’ll hold in your hands. In this episode, you’ll hear:  The many drafts, revisions, critiques, and edits that brought me to the throughline of Barbara’s wonderfully full and creative lifeHow the art team took on the daunting task of styling and illustrating the book to echo Barbara’s style without directly imitating itHow sound design and animation bring the audio and video books to life  Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the Newsletter Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/making-because-barbara Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

    43 min

  5. 3 OCT

    RAR #251: Fostering Wonder and Creativity, with S.D. Smith and Carolyn Leiloglou

    Raising creative kids is a beautiful, worthwhile endeavor, but not one that is always neat and tidy!  In today's episode, I’ve invited two of my good friends and fellow creatives—authors S. D. Smith and Carolyn Leiloglou—for a conversation on how our creative work as adults impacts our kids. We discuss everything from the challenges of nurturing creativity in our families to the influence of stories on our hearts and minds.   S. D. Smith is the author of the wildly popular and perennial Let the Kids Speak favorite Green Ember series and is a father to four imaginative children.  Carolyn Leiloglou is the author of the middle-grade fantasy series The Restorationists and a homeschool mom to four creative kids. In this episode, you’ll hear:  How connecting with the wonder in our kids fuels and enhances creativityThe value of boredom (a best-kept creative secret!) The nuances of how we measure creative success Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/fostering-wonder-and-creativity  Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

    1h 15m

  6. 19 SEPT

    RAR #250: Relaxed, Bookish, and Ordinary

    What if I told you that your homeschool could be relaxed, bookish, and ordinary? If you’re anything like me, that’s music to your ears.  Our kids thrive–and we do too–when our day-to-day homeschool is relaxed, bookish, and ordinary. In fact, that's what over 726 experienced homeschool moms told me were the three most important qualities.  Today, I’m sharing a recording from a session I did at a series of homeschool conferences  earlier this year called “Relaxed, Bookish, and Ordinary”. If you’re hoping that your homeschool can be any or all of those things, listen in–I bet you’re closer to it than you think. In this episode, you’ll hear:  How a relaxed approach impacts your child’s ability to learn and your peace as a homeschoolerThe academic, personal, and relationship benefits of having a bookish homeschoolWhy you don’t need to strive for an extraordinary homeschool to do it well Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the Newsletter Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/relaxed-bookish-ordinary Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

    59 min

  7. 5 SEPT

    RAR #249: How a “Best Moments” List can Help You Love Your Homeschool featuring Jon Acuff

    Which of these two activities would be easier for you?  Describe the best life you could achieve over the next twenty years.Describe the best things that have happened to you over the past twenty years. I know that as a busy wife and mama, dreaming for the future can feel daunting. As I was reading Jon Acuff’s book, All It Takes Is a Goal this summer, I was struck by how this exercise can shift our perspectives as homeschool mamas and mentors of our children.  In today’s episode, New York Times bestselling author and speaker Jon Acuff is joining me to discuss how to actually achieve those goals amidst the busyness of daily life (hint: you’re probably already doing more than you think!).  We’ll also chat about the book he wrote with his teenage daughters, How Teens Win: The Student’s Guide to Accomplishing Big Goals, which comes out September 10, 2024. In this episode, you’ll hear:  How looking back at our best moments, big and small, can help us create a vision for the futureWhy it’s okay that your imagination for your kids is bigger than your calendarHow auditioning small goals helps you successfully transition from optimism and realism for yourself and your kids Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the Newsletter Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/best-moments-in-homeschooling Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

    46 min

  8. 22 AUG

    RAR #248: Nurturing Creative Dreams (Your Child’s and Your Own)

    Do you have a child who dreams of being a writer? Or maybe it’s your dream? How do you support those dreams and foster creativity while also raising kids and running a household? Today, I’m delighted to welcome back author Laura Martin, who’s giving us her very best advice for how to nurture your child’s creative dreams and your own. Laura Martin is the author of some of my very favorite page-turners for kids, including The Edge of Extinction series and Glitch, and she has a new book out, Wander Lost, that I know you’ll love too.  We talk about the importance of capturing ideas as they come, what creative writing curriculum gets wrong about being a writer, and lots more. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Why Laura says that ideas are like lightning bugsHow Laura nurtures her daughter’s creativity with time, space, and access to materialsHow Laura honed in on what she needs in order to write while juggling four children Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie: Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the Newsletter Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/nurturing-creative-dreams Get Christmas SchoolOrder a copy of Beyond Mulberry Glen by January 7, 2025 to get your free gifts!

    46 min
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Trailer

Hosts & Guests

About

Sarah Mackenzie helps your family fall in love with books, and helps *you* fall in love with homeschooling.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Mackenzie
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2024
  • Episodes
    275
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2015-2024 Sarah Mackenzie Media LLC
  • Show Website
    Read-Aloud Revival ®

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