COHORTS FEATURE:
- Time off between classes for burnout-busting writing breaks
- Progression of coursework that builds essential skills
- Variety of writing genres to progress toward full writing fluency
- One instructor per cohort for a cohesive learning experience
BENEFITS:
- Save $50 on your class package
- Pay in monthly installments with Shop Pay
- Skip ahead of our registration line and secure your seats early. No need to panic click when the onslaught happens on December 4th!
- Follow our suggested path of well-rounded writing instruction
HOW IT WORKS:
- Choose a level below
- Age ranges are a guideline only. For students on the cusp, read our age-specific advice in each level and choose the best fit.
- Choose a semester option and proceed to payment
- For Charter School or other grant payment, enter the code CHARTER2024 at checkout
- Semester registration is open November 28–December 1, 2023
- Keep an eye on your inbox to download a document detailing next steps
Choose a Level
Elementary classes are designed for students ages 5-10 and their parents.
All elementary classes are family classes. Learn more about them here.
In a family class, you can enroll multiple children for one price! Enroll one student now and write to us at [email protected] to open additional seats as needed.
For upper elementary students (ages 9 and above) who are handwriting with relative ease and are ready for an independent experience, opt for our Middle School Semester.
Gentle Literary Journey
Playing with Poetry: Exploration
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Shakespeare Family Workshop
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$458.00 $408.00
If you’ve ever wondered how you’ll tackle literature outside your comfort zone, here’s our secret: do it while your kids are young and open to experimenting!
You might be intimidated, but they aren’t yet. The elementary years are prime time to stretch into genres previously known as “hard.” This whimsical pairing introduces you and your child to engaging poetry and Shakespeare! We learn a lot about writing when we read widely, exploring the ways that language can twist and turn.
Susanne Barrett
Susanne has a B.A. in Literature and a Master of Arts in English. She has taught freshman composition, MLA research, German, ancient/medieval world literature, and even a bit of Shakespeare at several universities. For twenty years she’s been our emoji queen, teaching literature courses (including Shakespeare and poetry) to late elementary through high school students here at Brave Writer®.
Young Storytellers—Unleashed!
Elementary Writing: Story Switcheroo
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Elementary Writing: Telling Tales
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$298.00 $248.00
The elementary years are full of creative ideas and delightful scenarios! Wild plots, crazy characters, and surreal elements abound in the imagination of a child. No concept is too unreal and no story too fantastical.
It’s tempting to think that children this age are not equipped to be writers because of their developing mechanical skills. Myth busted! Children don’t need to perfect mechanics before they can write. These are the very best years to write. Join this cohort as a family and see how.
Jen Jackson-Ellery
Jen is ready to lead this team of storytellers because she is one herself! Since completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, she has self-published a collection of poetry and dipped her toes into a vast pool of writing genres including novels, short stories, and blogs. Many of her hobbies revolve around storytelling, including tabletop gaming. Be prepared for exciting times with this creative thinker!
Words, Words, Words!
Playing with Poetry: Discovery
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Groovy Grammar Workshop
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$458.00 $408.00
Words are the building blocks of language. What better way to learn than to PLAY with those blocks?
Our unconventional activities introduce students to the more concrete elements of writing without stifling their creativity. We show how grammar, literary devices, and vocabulary can accentuate a writer’s ideas and imagination. Perfect for families who want a foundation in the enjoyment of language.
Recommended for ages 9 and up.
Susanne Barrett
Susanne has a B.A. in Literature and a Master of Arts in English. She has taught freshman composition, MLA research, German, ancient/medieval world literature, and even a bit of Shakespeare at several universities. For twenty years she’s been our emoji queen, teaching literature courses (including Shakespeare and poetry) to late elementary through high school students here at Brave Writer®.
Middle school classes are designed for students ages 9-14.
Classes in these cohorts are either:
- independent student-to-instructor interaction classes
- parent/student partner classes (Brave Writer 101, 102, 201)
For upper elementary students who would benefit from extra parental support, opt for the Elementary Semester.
Students older than 14 who are resistant writers or writing at a remedial level are welcome to enroll in the Middle School Semester.
High School Prep
Analyzing Lit: Middle School
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Middle School Writing: Passion Projects
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Essay Prep: Dynamic Thinking
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$647.00 $597.00
This semester does it all. Analysis. Formats. Critical thinking. Don’t drop your teen into high school writing without giving them the skills to navigate big ideas.
This semester is a transition between the personal experience-driven writing of youth and the more disciplined, rhetorically-driven thinking of academic writing. Rather than simply leaving childhood writing behind, students can experiment with applying their personal flair to increasingly academic tasks.
Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Ethan Jacobs
Ethan gets it. A Montessori-educated wide ranging traveler and reader, Ethan has the ability to connect with young writers, be they skeptical or enthusiastic. Adept at both academic and fiction writing, Ethan is a seasoned writer-for-hire who teaches in various spaces online and in person. Students applaud him for being knowledgeable, patient and fun to work with.
Writing across Subjects
Middle School Writing: History Projects
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Writing a Greek Myth
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Middle School Writing: Science Projects
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$597.00 $547.00
The answer to the question: When will I use these writing skills anyway? Writing pairs with every subject!
Perfect for the middle grader who loves variety, information, and a concrete finished product. Pairing writing with fun topics is a much easier entry point for many students this age. Experience with different formats is essential preparation for the high school years ahead.
Kendra Price
Kendra was made to lead this cohort of classes! Using writing to communicate complex concepts led her to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry and later a certification to teach high school science. After years in research and government, she taught in public schools and now homeschools her own children. She has a passion for communication and reading classic fantasy novels.
Foundations for Writing
Brave Writer® 101: Guided Writing Process
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Brave Writer® 102: Learning to Revise
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Write for Fun: Go Wild
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$597.00 $547.00
Perfect start for those new to Brave Writer or searching for a “no tears” approach that works!
At this stage your kids need more input from you, so learn our methods to use at home! With the one-on-one help of an expert coach, you'll partner with your student to walk through the entire writing process in a stress-free, engaging way. When you’re done, you’ll be able to handle drafting, edits, and revision at home on your own. Finish the semester with a fun independent writing experience for your child! Two words: game changer.
Aimee Gonzalez Niebuhr
Aimee is a sought-after writing coach at Brave Writer®, and this is your chance to work with her for an entire semester. Her nurturing support is empowering to parents and students alike. When Aimee is not coaching for us, she is freelancing, blogging, and diving deeply into books to publish. Lately she’s been lending her talents to our class writing team!
High school classes are designed for students ages 13-18.
Classes in these cohorts are independent student-to-instructor interaction classes.
12-year-old independent writers at an advanced level of writing may enroll in the High School Semester.
High school students who are resistant writers or writing at a remedial level are welcome to enroll in the Middle School Semester.
Persuasion and Analysis
Analyzing Lit: High School
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Essay Writing 102: Persuasive Essay
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Movie Discussion Club
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$617.00 $567.00
The internet has habituated us to persuasive language, but scholarly writing requires elements that TikTok doesn’t.
This semester plan offers your teens the chance to experiment with persuasive writing tactics in the realm of literary analysis, essay composition, and media commentary. We help them acquire the skills needed in academic persuasive writing including thesis statements, convincing structure, logical flow, compelling writing, and how to use sources correctly to avoid plagiarism.
Meaghan Williams
Meaghan is the quintessential student herself, having completed her doctoral degree in political science at the University of Toronto earlier this year. She credits her love of literature for sustaining her through the trials and triumphs of a career in academia. She hopes to show your teens that non-fiction and academic writing can be as compelling and captivating as creative fiction.
Cultivating Clarity: Thinking and Writing
Essay Prep: Dynamic Thinking
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Essay Prep: Reading the Essay
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High School Writing: Current Events
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$737.00 $687.00
Teens crave risk and adventure! Even in their academic pursuits. When your high schooler experiences a mental itch, that’s the best time to start writing.
This cohort offers a chance to look at new and familiar issues and perspectives as we guide teens to think critically and take a stance with nuance and grounding. Students will practice academic thinking with creative thought experiments and share their writing in prescribed formats. Great experience before essay writing in the future!
Anna Josephson
Anna is a big thinker. She’s been a city planner, environmental activist, homeschool mother, and a teacher of Socratic seminars for teenagers. Anna is always willing to engage in big juicy conversations all while ensuring she is a welcoming ear for students to try on their ideas (and writing!) for size. Your teen will find her attitude toward writing refreshing.
Research to Writing
Essay Prep: Research and Citation
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Essay Writing 101: Analytic Essay
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High School Writing: History Lab
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$737.00 $687.00
These days it’s easy to confuse a sound argument with an opinion piece, a blog post, or lengthy Instagram rant. Students need to learn how to read a range of sources, evaluate arguments, and then take a position to defend intelligently, with nuance.
Research is the grounding beneath good nonfiction writing. These classes have been updated to reflect the challenges of doing academic research online. Learn to vet a website, discern bias, and cite sources correctly. Help your teen “write not rant” this semester!
Hanne Bjornstad
Hanne’s work is defined by her passion for research and writing. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English Literature. Her career has included projects that range from freelance magazine writing to writing technical manuals to teaching conversational English over the phone to blogging. Teaching students how to research is something she feels strongly about. We think you’ll find her enthusiasm is contagious!