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What others are saying about Brave Writer writing courses.


When I review all the things we learned in this class, I realize that Laura learned way more by working with me than she would have learned if I had allowed her to struggle through the mechanics on her own. That’s why these online classes have helped me so much. I needed to be guided through the process of how to teach writing, and you have done just that. Before we discovered Bravewriter classes, we simply were’t taking on such writing projects because she didn’t know where to start and I didn’t know how to help her. —Joyce Y

An important "Aha!" for me is to be free of trying to fix everything that is wrong with my kids' writing. If I try to fix everything that I think is wrong, then the writing becomes mine instead of my kids' writing. We've used different writing manuals and became bored very quickly with them. The manuals have the usual great ideas - how to begin with a topic, set up paragraphs with supporting sentences, and finish with a concluding paragraph. The resulting writing can be very dull.

Not only that, upon opening up whatever book we were using at the time, my kids would begin to fidget, look away, etc. I would get comments like "Do I have to look at all these examples?", or "But, Mom, of course this is perfect writing - all this stuff was written by an adult! My paper will not look like this!" They were exactly write (pun intended).

With this course, the kids were able to write a well-organized paper without ever looking at what they call "a boring textbook." All of the exercises used in this course gave us the tools we need to write well - without the intimidation of me telling my kids, " Here, your writing should look like the example in this book. Never mind that it was written by a professor of English!" —Angela S

I can't tell you how much better you made me and my son feel about the writing process. I learned the most in this little venture. I was way too bogged down in the mechanics of writing. I sucked all the life out of his imagination and creativity. He would moan and groan every time I tried to have him do a writing assignment. He dreaded them so much, and I have to say I dreaded the whole process too. Writing equaled a BAD time in this house.

You started this class...this dreaded writing course, with a game of all things. You drew him in from the start. You had such positive comments for him that he began to look forward to the next thing Mrs. B would have him do.

I appreciated so much the way you gently set me straight about the terrible mechanics thing. There is a time and place for that, but I will not get so focused on a grammatically correct paper that I miss the sheer pleasure of reading his original thoughts.

I really did not know what to expect of him and his writing. He is much more willing to write about things out of his head now. Every paper I had received from him had a very definite Mario game flavor. I asked him today to do a list of ideas for his next story that he will start on tomorrow. He very happily got started. He is going to write about an iguana named Iggy. Iggy lives in a tropical rain forest that is in danger of being cut down. I could not believe it! No Mario in sight!

I think that is the area that we both grew the most. My unconditional acceptance of anything that he took the time to put down, and he learned of the sheer joy of making up his own stuff. I think that having a professional third party over-see our growing process was priceless. Thank you. —Cheryl S

You help us "deconstruct" the process into "digestible" components and then help us to "reconstruct" it all into a coherent whole.

My biggest challenge is that I was not able to explain HOW to write. Sure, I could correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors and teach the components of a sentence, but how could I communicate the SPIRIT behind what we write? In addition, your class gives me the tools to help me more effectively communicate my deep love of language and literature. I have learned more from your Bravewriter class in six weeks than I could have learned in 16 years from other sources! Your class has set me on the right path for all my future writing assignments. —Nancy S

 


Fall Class Schedule 2008

Registration is now LIVE!

Registration for the One Thing Workshops is also open here.

To join a Brave Writer class, there are two primary steps.

1. Registration: You register for the class you wish to take by following the three step process below. Registration does not guarantee that you are enrolled in the class. Registration is your intent to be enrolled in a Brave Writer class. We have size limits on the classes so it is possible to register, receive confirmation of your registration and still not be enrolled in the course. If you register after the class is full, we will email you right away (within 24 hours) to let you know that you are on the waiting list and your tuition (if you've paid it) will be refunded.

2. Enrollment: Enrollment occurs when you receive a registration confirmation, have paid your tuition, have sent us your username and you have not been told that you are on the waiting list. A confirmation notice of your completed enrollment will be sent via email once we have received your registration, tuition and username.

You will receive an email notification that confirms a successful registration. If the class filled while you registered, you will be notified within 24 hours that you have been added to the waiting list and any paid tuition will be refunded. If you do not hear from us in 24 hours, assume you are registered and continue with payment (if you did not pay at the time of registration).

There are no reminders of tuition deadlines. If you do not pay tuition by the deadline, you will be dropped from class and your slot will go to a member of the waiting list.

Tuition Due Dates:

KWBA, KWBB, EE, LA: Monday, August 11

KWBB, KWI, LA: Monday, September 29

To register for a Brave Writer Fall 2008 Course, please follow this three-step process.

Please be aware that these pages associated with the links may need to be refreshed several times (or you may need to clear your cache) to be sure that you are looking at the Fall 2008 pages.

Step One: Registration Link

You should be automatically redirected to each of the following steps. If you are not, please use the following links to complete your registration.

Step Two: Payment Link

Step Three: Username Registration Link

Fall Classes

For those new to Brave Writer or elementary/junior high kids:

For junior high and early high school:

For upper high school or advanced writing students:

One Thing Workshops: We offer several one month workshops that specifically address language arts and writing practices. Please check out our fall schedule for these by going to the One Thing Workshop page. Registration for these will also open on August 1.

Brave Writer online classes are uniquely designed with the busy homeschooling mother in mind. Classes last anywhere from three to eight weeks. We offer courses that address a specific writing need so that you can take one or more over the course of a school year. We keep the class sessions short so that you may work your family vacations around the length of our courses.

Classes meet on the forums page of the Brave Writer website in specially created forums for private use. Only students and the instructor have access to the forum to assure your privacy. Assignments and reading materials are posted by Brave Writer Instructors each week. Either you (homeschooling parent) or your child (homeschooling student) will visit the forum daily at your convenience to read helpful information about the current topic or to find the writing assignment.

Writing is done at home and then typed into the forum and shared with both instructor and other classmates. All work is visible to all students and the instructor. This is part of our pedagogy. Students do their best work when they have a real audience. By sharing your writing with one another, you also grow as writers - borrowing ideas and writing styles from one another. Questions are welcomed and encouraged! That's the point of class. We aim to give you immediate support as you face writing obstacles.

Instructors offer feedback and insight into how to grow your young writers in an affirming yet instructive manner. No student is ever at risk of being humiliated or mistreated. All online dialog is respectful and supportive of your child's process. This is the core of Brave Writer teaching and we take very seriously your child's need for encouragement and affirmation in the process of learning to write. Course descriptions follow.

Kidswrite Basic 

If you're new to Brave Writer, the KWB course is where to begin. KWB is the foundational Brave Writer course, which empowers mothers to teach their children to write through an interactive format on the Brave Writer website. Freewriting, keen observation, revising, editing, and publishing are all taught in entirely new ways (not seen in other curricula).

In this class, mothers interact directly with the instructor in the private forum through posting assignments and questions. The children do not post. As you work with your children at home, the instructor will support you, answer your questions and give you guidance so that you succeed in becoming your child's best writing coach and ally.

Class Dates: Four Sessions:

Kidswrite Basic (KWBA): August 18 - September 26 (Six Weeks)

Kidswrite Basic (KWBB): October 27 - December 5 (Six weeks)

Writing Coaches:

KWBA - Jean Hall

KWBB - Christine Gable

Tuition: $175.00 for the first child in a family ($50.00 for each additional child)

Class size: 22 families per session

Children's Ages: 9 - 18

Kidswrite Intermediate

KWI is the natural follow-up to Kidswrite Basic, particularly for 7th to 9th graders or high school students who've had little experience with writing. KWB is not a necessary prerequisite, however. This course enables students to develop their writing voices while it teaches them how to think rhetorically. We use a variety of exercises such as a study of the role of language in creating meaning and musicality, how to develop effective metaphors, keen observation of ideas, investigating a topic from a variety of angles and a final project called "collage writing."

 

This is one of our most popular Brave Writer courses.

Class Dates: October 6 - November 14 (Six weeks)
Tuition: $175.00
Writing Coach: Jean Hall
Class Size: 25 students

Ages: 12 and up

Expository Essay

The EE class is especially designed for high school students. It is the primary writing format that ought to be learned before college. This course will cover both open and closed form writing as well as training students in the art of paraphrase, thesis statement generation, how to select points and particulars as well as how to make the essay both engaging and personal. Students should already be competent writers. Kidswrite Intermediate is a recommended preparatory course, though not required.

This class always fills quickly so be sure to sign up early.

Class Dates: August 18 - September 26 (Six weeks)
Tuition: $175.00
Writing Coach: Rachel Ramer
Class Size: 20 students

Ages: 14 - 18 years old

Literary Analysis: Huckleberry Finn

The Literary Analysis (LA) course is for competent high school writers. Jon Bogart (MA American Literature), adjunct composition and fiction professor for Xavier University, is a favorite with Brave Writer students. This course will feature Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain . Students are expected to read the novel over the summer. Then they will come prepared to engage in discussion that analyzes the novel during the first three weeks of the course. Students will be provided with literary criticism that helps them to unfold the themes of the novel. The second three weeks will be spent composing an essay that uses these sources in their writing.

You don't want to miss this chance to prepare your kids for college writing.

Class Dates:August 18 - September 26 (Six weeks)
Tuition: $175.00
Writing Coach: Jon Bogart
Class Size: 20 students

Ages: 15 - 18 years old

Advanced Composition: Textual Criticism

Advanced Composition (AC) is intended for high school students who have already learned to write an expository essay. Students need to have completed either the Help for High School writing manual or taken the Expository Essay class or studied the essay in some other setting. Please be prepared to explain your student's essay writing background, if asked for it. If you are uncertain whether or not your child is a fit for this class, please send a writing sample (essay) to Julie for her consideration in advance of registration.

Julie Bogart will teach this course using materials she's designed for working with original sources (texts). The AC course will use primary source reading which will be provided to the students. Class discussion will focus on how to analyze the text and then how to compose an essay that analyzes it from a variety of perspectives. You students will study and analyze a text, compose an analytical essay and will learn how to cite sources for that essay.

In my opinion, this class is the best preparation for college writing, particularly for students who will major in any of the humanities. I strongly recommend it to juniors and seniors.

Class Dates: October 13 - November 7 (Four weeks)
Tuition: $150.00
Writing Coach: Julie Bogart
Class Size: 20 students

Ages: 15 - 18 years old

 

 

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