Bravewriter Questions

[AFthfulJrney]

Hello!

 

I was hoping to get some input on the Bravewriter programs. I've been reading about it along with IEW, but the more I've been learning about Bravewriter, the more I feel like it is going to be a good fit for us.

 

So, my questions are, if you use BW, what are your thoughts on it? Has anyone used both BW and IEW that would be willing to compare them for me? Also, is BW all I would need for LA? From what I've read on their site, it seems that way, but I'm just wanting some clarification on that.

 

Any other input your can offer would be so greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks so much!

[AFthfulJrney]

Some threads comparing

WWE vs IEW vs BW vs DIY as a Plan

BW or IEW or ?

Does anyone use BW and IEW?

The Writers Jungle vs IEW

 

The search function here doesn't always show everything. You have to Google search it. :)

 

IEW and BW are very different. IEW is extremely structured and BW is discrete and more about finding their voice. BW is a lifestyle while IEW is a curriculum. I add additional grammar and spelling to BW along with WWE (because that doesn't take up much time). I mostly use BW Arrows for literature we're already reading. Those include literary elements, copywork, some grammar (depending on the level) and a project or two.

Thank you so much for your reply. I did realize that they were pretty different, but they seem to be the ones that come highly recommended. I like the idea that BW is a lifestyle more so than a curriculum. That's for putting it that way. Makes me feel even better about leaning more towards it for the time being.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what additional grammar and spelling do you use and what is WWE?

 

Thanks so much!

[Jackie]

Brave Writer operates somewhat on the premise that children will pick up on good spelling and grammar through the use of copywork and gentle teaching. This works for some kids, and there would be no need to supplement. Other kids need something more structured. If you are liking the Brave Writer approach, I suggest doing just that for a while. Then if there are topics that your child needs more structured teaching on, you could supplement specifically for those.

[Harriet Vane]

Brave Writer operates somewhat on the premise that children will pick up on good spelling and grammar through the use of copywork and gentle teaching. This works for some kids, and there would be no need to supplement. Other kids need something more structured. If you are liking the Brave Writer approach, I suggest doing just that for a while. Then if there are topics that your child needs more structured teaching on, you could supplement specifically for those.

 

 

Actually, BraveWriter does recommend some formal grammar instruction three times for a year each--one year in elementary school, one year in the middle, and one year in high school. The rest of the time they do advocate copy work and other activities.

[Kathleen.]

If you get The Writer's Jungle do you necessarily need Partnership in Writing or Faltering Ownership?  Does TWJ have writing activities in it or is it more of a manual and the activities are in PW and FO??

 

:)

[Jackie]

If you get The Writer's Jungle do you necessarily need Partnership in Writing or Faltering Ownership? Does TWJ have writing activities in it or is it more of a manual and the activities are in PW and FO??

 

:)

TWJ is more of a "big picture" manual to guide a parent on putting together their own program, with just a few activity suggestions in it. Jot it Down, Partnership Writing, and Faltering Ownership are mostly activity suggestions, with some of the bigger picture guidance specific to that stage.

 

ETA: you can use just TWJ if you are comfortable coming up with the projects yourself. Or you can also use just JID/PW/FO if you want something that is more specific to the stage you are in.

Edited August 17, 2016 by Jackie

[Kathleen.]

Thanks, Jackie. I'd like to get TWJ, but there's so much info on the BW web site that I'm having a hard time justifying it.

[Jackie]

Thanks, Jackie. I'd like to get TWJ, but there's so much info on the BW web site that I'm having a hard time justifying it.

Honestly? I have TWJ, JiD, and PW (and some Arrows). For the majority of people, I think the best piece to purchase is the writing level you want, not TWJ. The writing piece will get you up and running quickly, net you a year worth of projects, and give you general theory on how to work with kids in the particular stage.

 

I like TWJ, but it is a lot of theory with very little how to.

[Farrar]

Agreed with Jackie. Partnership Writing or Jot It Down or Faltering Ownership are better starting points for most people, IMO.

[Kathleen.]

I agree with what you're saying.

[Kathleen.]

Did you feel like you still needed the TWJ? I read on a blog a comment about how there are hundreds of activities in TWJ and it lays out how to help your high schooler. So I thought if TWJ has so much than PW or FO wouldn't be necessary. I'm looking at the current deal on HSBC.

[Jackie]

Hard to say because I started with TWJ. But I found TWJ overwhelming and still didn't know what to actually do on a day to day basis, or where to start. I usually like the big picture, but a manual that covered K-12 was just too big picture. I shelved TWJ and bought Jot it Down because that is where my daughter was at, and I was much happier. As we neared the place where she would shift from Jot it Down to Partnership Writing, I read chunks of TWJ to get a better overall feel and remind myself what other activities we could add in that DD might not have been ready for before.

 

Personally, I wouldn't have stuck with Brave Writer if I only had TWJ. I think it would take a person who is *extremely* confident in their ability to craft their own language arts program to use only TWJ, and that's not quite me even though I would generally consider myself reasonably confident.

 

And FYI - there has been a regularly running deal on HSBC for Brave Writer for as long as I've known BW exists. Years. So don't feel rushed.

[Kathleen.]

That's good to know about the HSBC deal.  I've actually been looking at BW all year.  I've read a lot of the posts and watched lots of periscopes and listened to podcasts and we do some of the suggested things. I just started to feel that there's so much great information on her web site what more could be in TWJ.  I looked at the sample again and I do see writing activities sprinkled here and there.

Edited August 18, 2016 by Kathleen.

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

I started my BW love by reading TWJ.  Since then, I've

 

Honestly? I have TWJ, JiD, and PW (and some Arrows). For the majority of people, I think the best piece to purchase is the writing level you want, not TWJ. The writing piece will get you up and running quickly, net you a year worth of projects, and give you general theory on how to work with kids in the particular stage.

I like TWJ, but it is a lot of theory with very little how to.

 

I agree with this.  I started by reading TWJ before the other products existed.  I loved it and was very inspired by it, but was still left going, hmmmm, now what?  

 

JID and PW are much more accessible, while still contain most of the essence of the BW life.  Additionally, watching Julie Bogart's periscope talks will fill in all the other holes in how to live the BW life in your home.  To me, at this point, BW is an inspiration for how to establish and nourish a literary lifestyle/culture in your home and family.  

 

Having said that, i have found other materials that I actually prefer for teaching the process of writing.  Particularly:

 

The Most Wonderful Writing Lessons Ever for creative writing and the expository writing book by the same author (Mericonda)

Killgallon materials for improving style

Imitating published works for scientific narrative writing

Apples and Pears for spelling (I have bad spellers)

Drawing Sentences for grammar

 

 

 

[Kathleen.]

Thanks, Monica. Do you suggest not getting TWJ or just not yet? From other comments I think I might just get Partnership Writing to see what it's like. My youngest is a young ten so it should still be interesting for her, I wish HSBC had Faltering Ownership too.

Edited August 18, 2016 by Kathleen.

[newhsmom]

Another vote for getting Partnership Writing.  I also have TWJ and have read it at least three times, but it was only after doing PW that I really went back to TWJ and pulled out some of the activities to use with my kids.  I don't know if TWJ is as essential now that Julie is so active on Periscope.  I think she does a great job of explaining the BW lifestyle through Periscope and has really answered so many questions I had even though I had read TWJ.  I am also hoping that Faltering Ownership will eventually be available on HSBC.  

[Kathleen.]

I've decided to get PW.  I'll think about TWJ after we try out PW, but then on HSBC I saw Help for High School in a bundle with TWJ.  Ahh, so many choices.  I hope these prices last for a while.  What are you using if you've finished FO?  Is that when you could rely TWJ or do you jump into Help for High School?

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

Frankly, I would not invest in TWJ.  If you want to be cost-effective, get PW.  If you like it or are intrigued by BW in general, invest time instead of money and watch Julie's periscopes.  If you love THAT, then maybe consider joining her coaching online group called Homeschool Alliance.  

 

TWJ is rather rambling and roundabout and although it's a treasure trove of ideas, it requires a lot of digging to get them out and organize them into a home-made curriculum.  

 

 

[Kathleen.]

Do you feel like most of TWJ is now mostly on the BW web site, blog, periscopes and such? Is there anything in TWJ that's not on the site that you've seen?

[Jackie]

I do find that it's mostly scattered through the free resources. But as hard as it is to wade through TWJ when trying to put something together, it would be even harder for me to find it in all the website, blogs, and videos, so it's nice to have TWJ as a go-to place. But I think there are a lot of people doing BW that have never read TWJ and they do just fine with it.

[desertflower]

If it's any consolation Kathleen, I have not read TWJ yet.  I have read PW and JID and are currently using both. 

 

I guess I should also mention that I'm in between a braveschooler and a classical schooler. 

[Kathleen.]

I discovered Charlotte Mason a few years ago and I felt like it clicked, but I also have classical tendencies. I felt the same when I started poking around the BW web site.

[Kat w]

..

[Kat w]

Charlotte Mason and classical fir me, I've found go quite well together :)

[kasien]

Just adding my 2 cents.  We used (sort of) Arrow last year, and I thought it was kind of a joke.  There were pages upon pages of redundant paragraphs.  There were pages of redundant exercises, so my kids would say "We already did this."  If you want to read a book and have a couple of things to draw the child's attention to, it's fine, but that is about it.

[Kathleen.]

Thank you to all who responded. I appreciate your advice and expertise. I bought Partnership Writing last night. Yay😂 It's all printed, hole punched and in a binder-wish I had a color printer. So far I've skimmed through the projects and began reading the intro. I'm really glad I took the advice to just get PW first, I think I would have been bogged down with reading before getting to the really awesome looking projects. My 10yo is already excited. She'll help to pull in my 12yo - I can hope.

 

Thanks all you great ladies. Keep giving great advice.

Edited August 21, 2016 by Kathleen.

[Ariston]

Where were all of you people 4 years ago when I bought TWJ only to have it collect dust?  I am seriously considering Partnership Writing for my 10 year old who loves to write and my 12 year old who is dyslexic/dysgraphic and loves to think but is scared/pained by writing.

 

From the samples it looks like you are supposed to get some lessons from Arrow...do you need a subscription to that to use PW (which would put it out of our budget) or is it complete as is?

 

[desertflower]

I don't think you need a subscription to Arrow to do PW.  I've read through it and I think only have done 1 project. 

[Jackie]

I don't think you need a subscription to Arrow to do PW. I've read through it and I think only have done 1 project.

Agreed. PW is a standalone writing program. The Arrow would add in dictation, mild grammar and spelling, and some literary elements - and is a standalone piece for those things. You can use either independently, or both together, depending on what you are looking for.