Comparison, language arts
IEW Structure and Style vs Brave Writer: which one suits your child?
IEW teaches writing as a fixed, step-by-step method on video with checklists, while Brave Writer grows writing out of the child's own ideas through relaxed, parent-led projects tied to reading and conversation.
The short answer. Neither is better for every child. Choose IEW Structure and Style if your child likes clear rules and knowing exactly what a finished paper should include. Choose Brave Writer if your child has lots of ideas but resists formulas and checklists. Whichever you pick, the level matters more than the brand, so find out where your child is before you buy.
At a glance
| IEW Structure and Style | Brave Writer | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | 3 to 12 | K to 12 |
| Faith content | Neutral, faith-friendly | Secular |
| Teaching style | Video lessons, Classical | Literature based, Charlotte Mason |
| Format | Video, Workbook | Online, Workbook |
| Parent time | Some | Plenty |
| Price | Mid price | Mid price |
| Placement test | No formal test | No formal test |
| Often chosen for | Children who like structure, children who are behind | Children who are behind |
How they differ
| IEW Structure and Style | Brave Writer | |
|---|---|---|
| How a lesson runs | A weekly video lesson, then daily assignments from a suggested breakdown across 24 weeks; on day five the parent collects, grades and reinforces. | No daily script. The parent picks a writing project and adds weekly copywork, dictation and freewriting, often tied to a read-aloud or novel. |
| How writing is taught | Students outline a source text in key words, rewrite it in their own words and add required style techniques, working through nine structural units in a fixed order. | Ideas come first: talk, freewriting and parent-transcribed stories. Structure and essay forms are added as the child matures through Brave Writer's stages of writing growth. |
| How scripted it is | Highly structured. Checklists define what a finished paper must contain, and IEW says not to skip ahead in the course order. | Loosely structured. Guidelines and project ideas rather than a script, so families wanting a clear scope and sequence can feel adrift. |
| Parent role | The video carries the teaching; the parent supervises, helps with outlines and grades. IEW urges parents to also take its teacher training course. | The parent is the program: coach, scribe and conversation partner at every stage, especially in the early years. |
| Reluctant writers | Source texts remove the question of what to write, and the outline and checklist give a clear finish line. Some children find the videos and checklists dull. | Takes the pressure off first: pause writing demands, write down the child's spoken ideas, and use writing that feels less like school before asking for more. |
| Levels against school grades | Level A for grades 3-5, B for 6-8, C for high school, chosen by grade and reading level; every new student starts at Year 1. | Placed by writing stage, not grade. The publisher says ages are loose guides, so an older child may rightly use a younger stage. |
| Screen time | The student watches a video lesson each week, by streaming or DVD. | The home program is books and PDFs; screens come in only with optional online classes. |
Which one suits your child
Choose IEW Structure and Style if
- Your child likes clear rules and knowing exactly what a finished paper should include
- Your child freezes at a blank page and needs to be given something to write about
- You want a video teacher to carry most of the instruction
- Your child needs school-style paragraphs, reports and essays on a steady schedule
Choose Brave Writer if
- Your child has lots of ideas but resists formulas and checklists
- Your child has come to hate writing and needs the pressure taken off first
- You enjoy reading aloud and talking about books, and have time to write alongside your child
- Your family wants writing woven into reading and daily life rather than a weekly course
Why parents choose IEW Structure and Style
- Clear models take the fear out of writing
- Video teacher handles instruction
- Checklists make grading easy
Why parents choose Brave Writer
- Rebuilds confidence in reluctant writers
- Warm, relationship-based approach
- Ties writing to read-alouds
Watch out for, IEW Structure and Style
- Formulaic style can feel rigid
- Teacher training adds parent time
Watch out for, Brave Writer
- Loose structure frustrates checklist-minded parents
- Many products, confusing to buy
Switching between IEW Structure and Style and Brave Writer
From IEW Structure and Style to Brave Writer
There is no level conversion: place by Brave Writer's stage descriptions rather than IEW level or grade, and an older child often lands a stage lower than age suggests. Outlining skills carry over, but children used to checklists can feel lost at first without a set assignment.
From Brave Writer to IEW Structure and Style
Start at Year 1 of the level that matches grade and reading level; IEW says every new student starts at Year 1 and to begin at or below the current level. Brave Writer children often bring ideas and voice but need time to get used to key word outlines and the required style techniques.
Which level of IEW Structure and Style? → Which level of Brave Writer? →
What parents often say
- IEW's required style techniques and checklists feel formulaic at first, and some parents worry they stifle creativity, while others see confidence rise once the method clicks.
- Brave Writer is a method, not open-and-go: parents who want to hand over a workbook tend to burn out, and the many renamed products confuse buyers.
- Reluctant writers split: some thrive on IEW's structure, others find the videos boring and blossom with Brave Writer's relaxed start, so families switch in both directions.
- Some families use both, IEW for structured academic writing and Brave Writer for creative writing and literature.
Point of Progress in 20 seconds
Ready to see where your child stands?
See where they stand →Questions parents ask
Is IEW or Brave Writer better for a reluctant writer?
It depends on why the child resists. A child who freezes because they do not know what to write often does well with IEW's source texts and checklists; a child who resists because writing feels like a chore or a formula often does better with Brave Writer's low-pressure, parent-scribed start.
Can you use IEW and Brave Writer together?
Yes, some families use IEW for academic paragraphs and essays and Brave Writer's copywork, freewriting and literature guides for the rest. It adds parent time, so most families pick one as the main program.
Do IEW and Brave Writer teach grammar?
Neither Structure and Style nor Brave Writer is a full grammar course on its own. IEW sells Fix It! Grammar separately and suggests it alongside Structure and Style; Brave Writer teaches mechanics through copywork and dictation from literature, and families wanting a step-by-step grammar sequence add one.
Which level should my child start in?
Use the publisher's placement guidance for the program you choose; levels rarely line up one to one between programs. If you are not sure where your child stands, an independent adaptive test such as Point of Progress (grades 3 to 10, about forty minutes at home) shows their level and the skills that need work.
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Sources
- iew.com/sss-info
- iew.com/sss/faq
- iew.com/support/blog/how-to-progress-sss
- iew.com/support/blog/four-roadblocks-of-reluctant-writer
- iew.com/support/blog/filling-blank-page-unit-7
- help.bravewriter.com/knowledge/natural-stages-of-writing-development
- help.bravewriter.com/knowledge/resistant-writers
- help.bravewriter.com/knowledge/does-my-child-need-more-grammar-instruc
Know where they stand before you buy the book.
About forty minutes at home, math and reading & writing, grades 3 to 10. The report is ready as soon as the test finishes.
Test your child, $9.99 →or with the ten-week workbook, $19.99This page is Point of Progress's own research, compiled in November 2026 from publishers' websites, placement materials and parent reviews. Publishers update their products, levels, placement tests and prices from time to time, so please verify all information with the provider before you buy. Point of Progress is independent and is not affiliated with any publisher named here.