Here’s something your non-homeschooling friends probably don’t know. The term “homeschooling” is sometimes a misnomer.

My kid has chess on Tuesdays, co-op on Thursdays, and on Wednesdays my daughter meets up with her friends to do art after science class. This week there’s a fantastic exhibit at the gallery so…

That’s right! Many HOMEschoolers are often NOT at home! 

We know that, because we’re a company of homeschool parents. We know the value of flexibility. Who wants to skip an awesome workshop on animal physiology at the zoo because you have to watch a live video for a scheduled online class? 

With Brave Writer online classes, participate when it’s convenient for your family!

In our classes, you’ll find:

• Time—no need to type quickly in the text box while a teacher is talking
• Room—no pressure to jump on the microphone as a live teacher puts you on the spot
• Freedom—log into our classroom when it’s YOUR best time

You have time and room to think before writing. Now that’s homeschool freedom at its finest!

Brave Writer Online Writing Classes

We want our kids to write—even if it’s messy, muddled, or misspelled for now.

No words on the page means no words to grow on. 

Brave Writer’s online class Write for Fun: Dream Big offers a frolic through a slew of entertaining, active writing processes that get your children’s creative juices flowing! Our primary objective is to support and empower each student.

This class is totally doable. 

• Manageable workload, a little structure
• Only 3-week commitment
• Practice for middle graders having gentle deadlines
• Friendly support from our writing coach! 

Support is NOT simply saying “Good job!”

Here are some instructor comments directly from the Write for Fun classroom.

We point out what they’re doing well:

“Hip hip hooray for dogs! You have also structured this paragraph rather expertly. By letting me know how many reasons you are going to list, I know just what to expect!”

We invite more details:

“I am curious to find out what you decide to go for. Will this be a rhyme of gardening advice, where a master gardener is being asked for some top tips? Or perhaps the whimsical answer of a sassy gardener whose aim is to mislead!? I will have to be patient to find out!”

We respond to content:

“Oh, no! You describe a roller coaster of emotion, Scott! You’re super excited about your cubes. You invest in them, anticipating the fun you’ll have, only to have your hopes dashed!”

We model good writing: 

“Surprises, twists, and turns add spice to a story and keep your reader on their toes and engaged!”  

We encourage:

“You’re definitely onto something! Understanding, or at least trying to understand, why someone is behaving in the way that they are is an excellent step toward finding solutions that work for all involved!”

So if your child balks at the mere mention of writing, no amount of spelling or handwriting practice can fix that. Mechanics don’t build confidence the same way support and trust do.

That’s why Brave Writer devotes several of our online classes to lifting children UP while improving their writing skills.

Persuasive writing is everywhere! A writing form equally at home in the classroom, in the media, and on the pages of your favorite influencers. 

In fact… BLOG POSTS like this one are a huge way you interact with persuasive writing!

Let me show you. I plan to call this essay:

“Beyond Five Paragraphs: Why You Should Take Essay Writing 102 This Fall”

Introduction and Opening Hook

A stressed-out student is hunched over a desk with a pot of coffee near at hand. A spotlight lamp shines down on an empty piece of paper. It’s midnight. There’s an essay due… tomorrow morning.

You know this is going to happen to your teen one day. Is your kid ready?

My thesis statement:

Although Brave Writer® has a reputation for “creative writing,” our approach is actually the most effective method to teach your teen how to write a persuasive essay.

Why should teens take Essay Writing 102?

Main Point #1

This class uses college techniques taught in university combined with the creative writing strategies of Brave Writer®. The result? A new twist on learning the old ways. 

Researchers from the University of Sussex report that creative writing processes have a strong link to proficiency in essay writing. Creative writing strategies have been found to enhance academic writing in university. (Creme & Hunt)

Main Point #2

Essay writing is more than just a format. We explore the spark that leads to all good persuasive essays—taking an informed stance. Students spend the whole first week of Essay Writing 102 focusing on learning and thinking critically about their topic.

Findings from The Centre for Cognitive Processes in Learning (Queensland University) report that students need more focus on the understanding of their topics, with less emphasis on just retelling information. Competent essay writing skills require a “relationship between students’ understanding of the content and their ability to write about it.” (Campbell, et al.)

Main Point #3

Good essays require a series of elements to work together. “Write an essay with 5 paragraphs” doesn’t cut it. Our class covers:

• Making a strong argument
• Evaluating proofs
• Incorporating research and citations
• Transitions and connections
• Drafting and revising

In a study about metacognition, researchers found that giving students “topics and simple instructions” was less efficient than a more complex approach, whereby the writing structure involved more “planning and revising, monitoring, evaluating, and editing.” (Cer)

Conclusion

The expository essay is the primary writing format that ought to be learned before college. This class helps students become comfortable with the demands of academic writing using the persuasive essay format. 

Brave Writer® takes teaching the essential skills of persuasive essay writing to the next level by utilizing a creative, multifaceted, and complex approach. 

Bottom line? You can sign up your teen here:

REGISTER

Works Cited

Campbell, J., Smith, D. & Brooker, R. From conception to performance: How undergraduate students conceptualise and construct essays. Higher Education 36, 449–469 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003451627898

Cer, E. (2019). The Instruction of Writing Strategies: The Effect of the Metacognitive Strategy on the Writing Skills of Pupils in Secondary Education. SAGE Open, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019842681

Creme, P., & Hunt, C. (2002). Creative Participation in the Essay Writing Process. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 1(2), 145-166. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022202001002003