This is a parent interaction class. Please click the "Parent is the Student" tab above to learn more. #
[Former class name is Brave Writer®201: Kind, Dynamic Revision]
What makes quality writing now that my kids are older?
What writing tools do college-bound students need to have?
Am I making my child’s academic writing boring? Does it need to be?
Brave Writer® 201: Academic Revision pulls back the veil to reveal specific techniques writers use to create nonfiction and academic writing that packs a punch.
In all types of writing—from research papers to novels and short stories, revision is where this magic occurs.
And yet: revision is the hardest part of the writing process once kids are writing essays and reports.
Brave Writer® 201 to the rescue!
Perhaps you and your child struggle to
Identify the strengths in their writing
Write appropriately according to audience
Beef up skimpy paragraphs and essays
Know what to cut, what to keep
How to uphold structure via smooth transitions
They are going to have to do this by themselves one day! In Brave Writer® 201, we’ll give you the hands-on training you need to show them the way.
In this class, you will:
Apply the techniques our coaches use—with their help!
Identify where your child’s writing has power and impact
Give constructive feedback directly on your child’s writing
Have concrete steps to replace nagging, ranting, criticizing…
Your child will:
Learn specific tips to make their writing SHINE
Practice using these powerful elements in their nonfiction writing
Go from freewrite to revised writing to final edited copy
See how to using these practices enhances their academic writing
We’ve honed our staff training over the years to produce the absolute best writing instructors around, and now we’re going to pass those skills along to you!
No more wondering what to say about your kids’ writing. We’re going to empower you to grow engaged and confident writers who are ready to revise.
Class Structure #
- Class is held in a private discussion board with 25 other families.
- Class is asynchronous—you log in when it is convenient for you each day of the week at no specific time of day.
- It is text-based—no video.
- Student writing assignments are posted in a text box, published to the classroom, and all students are able to read student writing.
- Class is a writing workshop format, with all coaching feedback available to be read.
- Class work, writing, and coaching feedback can be downloaded and saved in a PDF format.
Note: In most cases, you won't need to enroll more than one student in this class to reap the benefits. Enroll with one child and do class activities with your other kids offline.
Brave Writer® 201: Academic Revision is designed for older writers (ages 11 and up) who already have a foundation in the Brave Writer® approach to writing.
For more information about how the classes are run, please read about online classes.
To explore our Brave Writer® classroom, click here to access a sample class.
Brave Writer® online classes are specially designed with the busy homeschooling parent in mind.
Class Structure Overview #
- Class is held in a private discussion board with 20-25 other participants.
- Class is asynchronous—you log in when it is convenient for you each day of the week at no specific time of day.
- It is text-based—no video.
- Student writing assignments are posted in a text box, published to the classroom, and all students are able to read student writing.
- Class is a writing workshop format, with all coaching feedback available to be read by all families.
- Class work, student writing, and coaching feedback can be downloaded and saved in a PDF format.
Class Length and Time #
Classes last anywhere from three to six weeks. We offer courses that address a specific writing need so that you can take the ones that suit your family throughout the school year. Short class sessions enable you to work around family vacations, out-of-town swim meets, recovering from wisdom teeth removal, and visits from grandparents. We operate on the quarter system, including a summer session. Our most popular classes repeat each quarter, while others are seasonal.
We operate "asynchronously" (which means that the discussion is not live, but that posted information remains available to you in your time zone at your convenience). Instructors check the classroom throughout the day to answer questions and give feedback on writing. Writing is done at home and then typed into the classroom, and shared with both the instructor and other classmates. You're not required to be online at any specific time of the day. We have students from all over the world participating in our classes so "live" discussion is impossible. Instead, the online classroom 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 classroom and read the latest postings.
Private Classroom Space #
Our classes meet in a customized online classroom, designed specifically to meet the needs of Brave Writer®. Only registered students and the instructor have access to the classroom to ensure your privacy. Assignments and reading materials are posted by Brave Writer® instructors each week (no additional supply fees necessary, unless otherwise indicated). Either you (homeschooling parent) or your child (homeschooling student) will visit the classroom daily at your convenience to read helpful information about the current topic or to find the writing assignment.
Instructor feedback to student writing is offered 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.
Safe Community #
Brave Writer® takes seriously the need for encouragement and emotional safety in writing. No student is ever at risk of being humiliated or mistreated. All online dialogue is respectful and supportive of your child's process. This is the core of Brave Writer® philosophy. You can read about Brave Writer® values here.
What makes our program especially unique in the world of online education is that we value a corporate experience. Rather than teaching your child in a tutorial format, we prefer students to have the opportunity to both publish their work for an audience (other students) and also to have the chance to read other student writing. In no other setting is this possible. Schools-in-buildings rarely have students read each other's work. Homeschooled children are rarely in a classroom environment to begin with, so the opportunity to read peer-writing is nil.
Our classes provide an utterly unique experience in the world of writing instruction. Since most writers grow through emulation of good writing, it is a real advantage to Brave Writer® kids to get the chance to read the writing of their fellow home-educated peers. They love it! They get to examine and internalize other ways of writing, analyzing and expressing ideas similar to their own. They have the chance to validate and cheer on their peers. And of course, the best part of all is that they receive the praise and affirmation of kids just like them.
Not only that, all instructor feedback is posted to the classroom for all students to read. That means your kids get the benefit of instructor comments on many papers, not just their own. We've noted that this style of instruction is especially effective and hope you'll agree!
To explore our Brave Writer® classroom, click here to access a sample class.
The Brave Writer® 201: Academic Revision class is unusual in the Brave Writer® list of classes. The parent is enrolled as the "student" in the online classroom. Your student will complete writing for the class and the instructor will teach you, the parent, how to comment on that writing! You are being taught how to be an effective writing coach to your children, while your children are learning how to write! You will complete the exercises or assignments with your children at home. Then, you will report back to the instructor by posting your children's work. The instructor will give direct feedback on your feedback, guiding you in how to become that kind of writing partner to your child for all future writing excursions.
The structure of this class is that the parent is the enrolled student, and the kids are the active participants. Our hope is that you and your children will discover the joy of working together as a writing-editing team over the four weeks you spend in class.