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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

 


Winter Classes (2008)

Registration is now open and LIVE!

Please read the following instructions in order

to successfully register your children for classes.

A reminder: You may sign up for more than one class for your child(ren) however, you may not sign up for two classes that overlap in dates. Be sure to compare course dates before you select your classes.

To join a class, please read the instructions below.

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.

You will receive an email notification that confirms a successful registration; that confirmation is not the same as being enrolled. 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 for the class and continue with payment (if you did not pay at the time of registration).

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.

Three Step Registration Process

There are three steps necessary to complete your intention to enroll in a Brave Writer class:

Step One: Registration Link

Registration is the step where you will fill out a form which includes your children's names and ages, your personal contact information, and which classes you intend to join.

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: Tuition Payment Link

This is the step where you will send either a PayPal payment or find instructions about how to send a check payment. Details about cancellation of enrollments can also be found here.

Step Three: Username Registration Link
Creation of a username is essential for participation in Brave Writer classes. We conduct classes in private folders where access is offered to students who have created usernames and passwords. Do NOT forget to complete this step. You cannot partcipate in class without a username and password.

Winter Classes

Attention: The Kidswrite Basic class is offered three times in winter. KWB1 indicates the first session. KWB2 indicates the same course but offered on different dates (the second session). These are not sequels; the numbers indicate to us which session you are taking. The material in KWB1 and KWB2 is identical.

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

(March 20-23 is off)

For junior high and high school:

For college bound high school students:

Class Structure Description 

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 mom) 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. You are not required to be online at any specific time. We have students from all over the world participating in our classes so "live" discussion is impossible. Instead, the online platform where we hold classes enables the instructor to post information and assignments when it is convenient to the instructor. Then when it is convenient for you, you come to the forums and read the latest postings.

Instructor feedback to student writing is offered on the forums for all participants to read. Writing 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).

We're offering three Kidswrite Basic courses in one quarter. If you've had difficulty in the past getting into a class, we have hopes that this quarter will be different.

In this class, parents 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: Three classes:

January 7 - February 1 (KWB1) (One class)

February 25 - April 7 (KWB2) (Two classes)

Writing Coaches:

KWB1 - Christine Gable

KWB2 - Jean Hall

KWB2 - Christine Gable

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

Class size: 20 families per session

Children's Ages: 9 - 18

Just So Stories

The Just So Stories (JSS) course uses Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories as a source of inspiration for your children to write their own stories about animals and their unique traits. It's one of our most popular courses with kids and moms. The class is especially suited to elementary and junior high aged kids. Those who've taken Kidswrite Basic will find that this course offers another way to engage your young writers while working with an instructor. Just So Stories follows a similar format to Kidswrite Basic. Parents interact with the instructor and work with their children at home. KWB is not a prerequisite, however, and so all are welcome. To read some of the Just So Stories written by Brave Writer kids, check out our forums.

Class Dates: February 4 - February 29 (four weeks)
Tuition: $150.00 (no family discount)
Writing Coach: Rachel Boyer
Class Size: 20 students

Ages: 9 - 16

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: January 7 - February 15 (Six weeks)
Tuition: $175.00
Writing Coaches: Rachel Ramer and Jean Hall
Class Size: Two concurrent courses of 25 students each

Ages: 11-16

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: February 25 - April 4 (Six weeks)
Tuition: $175.00
Writing Coach: Rachel Ramer
Class Size: 25 students

Ages: 14 - 18 years old

SAT/ACT Essay Writing

This course is designed for college bound high school students as preparation for the writing portion of both the SAT and ACT tests. We will write a total of nine essays in four weeks. This course trains students to work with their knowledge base while addressing sight unseen questions. We'll look at preparation strategies as well as techniques for writing under the pressure of a timer. How do you incorporate support for points without reference matierals? How do you craft a surprising thesis? What can be done about revising if you have twenty-five minutes? These are the kinds of issues this class will address.

This course is not recommended for high school students who have never written essays. Start with the Expository Essay course or with the Help for High School home study course.

Highly Recommended!

Class Dates: January 7 - February 1 (Four weeks)
Tuition: $175.00
Writing Coach: Julie Bogart
Class Size: 20 students

Ages: 15 - 18 years old

 

 

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