Brave Writer

Check out my in-depth interview with Julie Bogart, founder of Brave Writer, on the Teach Your Kids Podcast

Brave Writer Review

Brave Writer was founded by Julie Bogart, a seasoned homeschooling mother of five, with the mission of enriching the homeschooling experience by nurturing a passion for writing. Recognizing a gap in available resources that catered to both the technical and creative aspects of writing, Julie aimed to empower parents to be effective writing coaches. Her program stands out not only for its comprehensive approach to writing education but also for its community-oriented support structures, which have helped make it a highly acclaimed choice in homeschooling circles​ (Modulo)​​ (Brave Writer)​.

Grades: K-12

Brave Writer’s programs are designed to cater to a wide range of ages, from young beginners to college-bound teenagers.

Cost: $49-$249

Costs for Brave Writer’s services vary. Online classes typically range from $100 to $200 per three-week session, while comprehensive year-long curriculum bundles fall within the same price range​ (Modulo)​.

Differentiation: What Makes It Special

Brave Writer distinguishes itself through its philosophy that emphasizes the development of a child’s unique writing voice over rigid instructional methods. This approach integrates creativity with the mechanics of writing, making it adaptable to the individual needs and pace of each student. The program is notably flexible, accommodating various educational methodologies like Charlotte Mason and Montessori, and supports self-expression through diverse writing projects and literature-based learning​ (Modulo)​.

How to Get Started

To begin with Brave Writer, parents are advised to assess their children’s educational needs and select from the variety of courses available, which cater to different age groups and writing stages. The program offers both independent homeschool curricula and instructor-led online classes, providing flexibility in terms of parental involvement and scheduling​ (Brave Writer)​.

How It Works

Brave Writer is designed to be integrated into daily homeschool routines flexibly. Parents can choose how involved they wish to be—either leading the learning themselves using the homeschool curriculum or opting for the structured online classes that require less direct parental involvement. Recommended daily interaction varies, but the essence is to make writing a natural and enjoyable part of everyday learning, with activities that encourage creativity and self-expression​ (Modulo)​.

What Educational Concepts It Teaches

  • Development of a personal writing voice

  • Critical thinking through literature-based analysis

  • Creative writing across multiple genres

  • Technical writing skills essential for academic success

  • Grammar and mechanics within the context of writing

What’s Good About It

Users often praise Brave Writer for its effective blend of rigor and flexibility, which makes learning engaging and adaptable to various learners' needs. The program’s strength lies in its ability to foster a positive writing culture at home, with parents reporting significant improvements in their children’s writing enthusiasm and competence. The community support and resources like webinars and master classes also receive high marks for their quality and helpfulness​ (Modulo)​.

What Could Be Improved

While many appreciate the program's comprehensive approach, some parents find the vast amount of resources and the open-ended nature of the curriculum a bit overwhelming at first. The lack of a structured pathway can be challenging for those who prefer more guided instruction. Additionally, the need for considerable parental involvement might not fit every family’s homeschooling approach​ (Modulo)​.

Any Advice from Parents on How to Get the Most Out of It

Experienced users of Brave Writer suggest taking full advantage of the community features like the webinars and discussion boards to get tips and support. They recommend starting with small, manageable goals to gradually integrate writing into the homeschool routine without overwhelming either the parent or child. Embracing the program’s flexibility to tailor the curriculum to the child’s interests and pace is also advised​ (Modulo)​.

Who It’s an Ideal Fit For

Brave Writer is ideal for families who embrace a holistic approach to education, valuing creativity and individual learner’s pace over traditional benchmarks. It’s particularly well-suited for parents who are ready to engage deeply with their children’s writing education and who appreciate a philosophy that integrates writing as a natural part of the learning process​ (Modulo)​.

Who It’s Probably Not a Fit For

Families looking for a highly structured, traditional approach to writing instruction might find Brave Writer less suitable. It’s also less ideal for those who prefer clear daily instructions or minimal parental involvement in the learning process​ (Modulo)​.

Ways to Get It

Brave Writer’s products and services can be accessed through their official website, offering everything from individual courses to full-year curricula. The site also provides resources like sample lessons and webinars to help parents make informed decisions​

Explore More High Quality Writing Programs for Homeschoolers

Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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