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Two homeschool language arts programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: what each one teaches, how your child feels about writing, and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
These two are close: the differences are small, so price, grade range and what parents say below may decide it.
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| Brave Writer | Wordsmith | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | K–12th | 4th–12th |
| Covers | writing | writing |
| Approach | Relaxed, conversation-first writing | Literature-based creative writing, written to the student |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches | The parent teaches |
| Parent prep | Moderate (parent facilitates discussion and early transcription) | Low to moderate (parent guides using the teacher's guide) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Mostly offline (books and paper) |
| Video lessons | Not yet checked | Not yet checked |
| Faith | No religious content | No religious content |
| Cost | Partnership Writing Collection One $97; Jot It Down $50 (PDF) | Student Book $10 + Teacher's Guide $8 = $18 total |
| Parents love |
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| Common complaints |
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Parents whose kids resist formal writing describe Brave Writer as a genuine turnaround: conversation and oral narration come first, with the parent transcribing early on, so a reluctant writer never faces a blank page alone. The trade-off is a real lack of a fixed scope and sequence, which unsettles parents who want a clear plan, and the per-stage and online-class costs add up.
Parents of reluctant writers point to the friendly, direct-to-student tone as especially effective at getting kids writing without a battle, respecting student intelligence without being overwhelming. The books are quite short and thin relative to their price per page, some editions show their age, and the scope is writing only with no grammar or spelling component.
Neither is better for every child. Brave Writer is the stronger fit for finds it hard; gentle, literature-based; relaxed, interest-led. Wordsmith is the stronger fit for others.
Brave Writer: writing. Wordsmith: writing.
Brave Writer: Partnership Writing Collection One $97; Jot It Down $50 (PDF). Wordsmith: Student Book $10 + Teacher's Guide $8 = $18 total.
Summaries are in our own words.