This is part two of a four part series focused on the story of Alain and Natalie's podcast. Starting with their first episode, Alain and Natalie look back at their journey and talk about why they started their podcast, what their goals were, what motivated them to continue, how they find ideas for new episodes and more. As they go over the past 87 episodes they recall memories and play excerpts of selected recordings. This series is much more than a rewind of the podcast. It is the opportunity

This is part one of a four part series focused on the story of Alain and Natalie's podcast. Starting with their first episode, Alain and Natalie look back at their journey and talk about why they started their podcast, what their goals were, what motivated them to continue, how they find ideas for new episodes and more. As they go over the past 87 episodes they recall memories and play excerpts of selected recordings. This series is much more than a rewind of the podcast. It is the opportunity

Joy in Reading (3:38) What encourages learning? Catching and correcting all a learner’s mistakes or catching that learner doing something right? Dr. Roxanne Owens, Chair of the Teacher Education Department at DePaul University talks to Rachel on Worlds Awaiting about helping children find joy in reading through more encouragement and less criticism. She also suggests that reading together as a family can put a positive spin on the child’s desire to read. Owens has been a faculty member at DePaul

Summer Reading (3:22) What’s summer for anyway? Swimming? Baseball? Movies? Art projects? What about reading? Research says that when kids leave the classroom over the summer, they can lose 1-3 months of learning. Mary Bigler wants adults to keep kids reading during the summer months to avoid losing all that ground. Bigler promotes what she considers to be the “ABC’s of Summer Reading.” She’ll tell us what those are on today’s show. Once a pre-school teacher and now, a professor, Bigler has spent

In part three of this three-parts episode Alain and Natalie finish talking about what is art using a list of 17 art definitions written by Natalie's Navajo students. Part three covers definitions thirteen to to Seventeen. After reading each definition Alain and Natalie talk about what they mean to them, how they relate to them, and what they make them think of. Alain and Natalie end this three parts series of episodes focused on 'what is art?' by talking about what is coming next on their podcast

Graphic Novels (4:05) Who would have thought it possible that reading simple comic books – Spiderman and Superman, you name it – could help a teenager become a better reader and develop a love for even more demanding literature! High School English teacher, Ronell Whitaker, has done this very thing in his classroom. He uses comics and graphic novels as a gateway for leading his students along toward more advanced literature. His method, first developed by fellow teacher, Eric Kallenborn, has grown

In part two of this three-parts episode Alain and Natalie continue talking about what is art using a list of 17 art definitions written by Natalie's Navajo students. Part two covers definitions eight to to twelve. After reading each definition Alain and Natalie talk about what they mean to them, how they relate to them, and what they make them think of.

Moms’ Influence on Kids’ Reading (3:20) Parents often feel pressure to have a mastery of phonics or other elements of reading as they strive to turn their own children into readers. But according to one mom, Wendee Wilcox Rosborough, what has worked best for her children has been her visible example of reading on her own, as well as reading aloud to them and exposing them to libraries and book stores. She talks to Rachel on Worlds Awaiting today. Wendee’s father Brad Wilcox is an educator at BYU

In part one of this episode Alain and Natalie talk about what is art using a list of 17 art definitions written by Natalie's Navajo students. Part one covers definitions one to seven. After reading each definition Alain and Natalie talk about what they mean to them, how they relate to them, and what they make them think of.

Encourage Kid’s Questions (3:32) Do you ever get inundated by a child’s incessant questions? Turns out that this can be a good thing. Being curious can lead to an interest in science or music, sports, or just about anything really. Rebecca Sansom, of the BYU Chemistry Department co-founded the BYU Chem Camp for elementary aged students. She talks to Rachel today about encouraging our kids to notice the world around them and start investigating. Samson has also served as an Albert Einstein

Music Talent (3:48) We humans respond quite naturally to music. It begins at birth, and some even say – before birth. But certainly from our earliest stages of life we have an innate capacity to sway or wiggle with a melody. Just watch a baby who responds and moves almost instinctively to the music all around it. Dr. Steven M. Demorest, professor of music education at Northwestern University, talks with Rachel about our natural affinity for music and how we can nurture that love of music in our

Increase Confidence in Reading (3:42) How do you fix a car motor? Where is Timbuktu? Do Bees sleep? You can learn a lot just by reading. But what if you lack confidence in your reading skills? A lot of things you’re dying to know, might seem far out of reach. Dawan Coombs teaches Reading Pedagogy in the BYU English Department. She talks with Rachel now about how our perception of ourselves as readers can affect our desire to read, no matter what our age. Coombs especially wants children to get

Amy Johnson (3:44) Science and stars; dragons and knights; tigers and turtles; magic shoes and magic carpets; and even a crazy cat in a striped hat who drops in while your mother is out. All these can be found in books – exciting worlds and possibilities available to our children each time we lead them to read. Our first guest today, blogger Amy Johnson, mother of 5 boys, talks to Rachel about why literacy and reading is so important to her as a mom. An avid reader herself, Johnson has established

Book Characters (3:35) In fiction, a successful character is one you can identify with. One you can believe in because he or she seems real. Good writers can pull this off. But how do they do it? The answer might lie in the matter of true empathy and compassion. Our first guest today – young adult author Martine Leavitt talks to Rachel about how she “lives” with her characters for a while to get to know them better. Martine is an award-winning author of books for young adults, with her most recent

In this episode Alain and Natalie discuss the Marketing Success Seminar Series. Part 1 was taught in 2016, Part 2 in 2017 and Part 3 will be taught in 2018. This is a 2 day seminar that takes place in Phoenix Arizona in April. You can see the full description, and register, on the Workshops page at http://www.beautiful-landscape.com/Workshop-home.html

Game On! (3:59) What on earth did kids do in their free time in the 50’s, 60’s, and even the 70’s without cell phones, tablets, social media or computer games? Anyone remember that old-fashioned reality that virtual reality tries to imitate – you know, like hide and seek or freeze tag, riding bikes, fishing, hula-hoops … oh, and television or radio? The world has changed, it seems, in big ways. Our first guest today - author, artist, and Video Game Director Dustin Hansen talks to Rachel about the

In this episode Natalie and Alain talk about the different aspects of the 2017 Fine Art Summit that takes place in Zion National Park in November. The Fine Art Summit is a yearly event organized in a different location each year. We always invite a guest teacher and presenter. This year our guest presenter is Jeff Schewe. Jeff and Alain will both give 4 presentations on Photoshop and Lightroom. They will also work one on one with the participants. The Summit is a combination of classroom

In this episode Alain and Natalie talk about their Little Known workshops. These are advanced workshops which take participants to little known places and focus on advanced fine art photography techniques. The little known Workshops are open to previous workshop participants and are offered by invitation only. If you are interested in participating email us to let us know. my email is on my website at www.alainbriot.com

Book Settings (3:11) If you could travel back in time, where would you want to go? Prehistoric Europe? The land of the ancient Inca civilization? … There’s always Egypt with its untold mysteries, marvels, and mummies. Our first guest, Young Adult book author, Jennifer Nielsen, takes her readers on flights of fancy in her book series, Mark of the Thief. The setting is ancient Rome, with some magic mixed in. Nielsen visits with Rachel about her work behind-the-scenes including the research that goes

Humor and Kids (3:42) You want a little bit of humor? Well, you’re not alone. Just about everyone does, and children are hardly an exception. In fact, one of the best ways to get children reading is to offer them the enjoyment of something funny. Our first guest today, educator and author Mary Bigler, talks to Rachel about why she thinks humor in books for children is important – and that this type of book can boost a child’s desire to read. Mary also will recommend books with jokes, riddles,