IEW: a guide
So you hear about a curriculum, it sounds like it might be a solid option, you jump over to their website and think — yup, this level will work….unless that curriculum is IEW, in which case most people become completely overwhelmed the first time they check out their curriculum options. (Hi, this was my experience, too!).
My goal in this post is to break down the IEW elementary writing options in a clear and concise way — so here we go!
The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) is a longstanding writing curriculum in the homeschool community. They offer systematic, explicit writing curricula for students from elementary age all the way through high school.
Why systematic and explicit instruction?
Much like reading, children need direct instruction in writing. Writing is an art AND it is a skill. Yes, some children are naturally inclined towards writing (physically putting the words on a page). Others have excellent storytelling skills and can narrate a lesson like it's their job — but when it comes time to put those big, lengthy thoughts in writing, they freeze.
Regardless of whether your child is filling up notebooks with thoughts or staring at a blank page, the research is clear — all students need to be taught the writing process and to become fluent in writing mechanics.
How do I teach writing systematically/explicitly?
With a formal writing program that walks children (and us as home educators!) through teaching the writing process, different purposes and genres of writing, sentence fluency, and more.
I like several resources for writing, including The Writing Revolution (TWR), Write By Number, and Rooted in Language strategies. But many of those resources include a lot of heavy lifting for the parents when it comes to tying it to content areas, developing a scope and sequence, pacing, and the actual teaching of the skills. If you are a home educator who just wants someone to walk you through all the steps and even possibly do it for you, then IEW is my top recommendation.
IEW Offerings
When it comes to IEW, there are three main offering types.
1. General Writing Curriculum
Primary Arts of Language: Writing Teacher Manual and either the DVD or the printed student manual (K-2nd ish)
Structure and Style for Students (3rd-5th ish)
2. Theme-Based Writing Curriculum (Elementary)
People and Places in Our Community (1st-2nd)
Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales (3rd-5th)
Wonders of Science (3rd-5th)
Adventures in Writing (3rd-5th)
Discoveries in Writing (3rd-5th)
Ancient History (3rd-8th)
3. Home-Educator Training
If you are not using a foundational literacy program that includes writing instruction (Pinwheels), then I recommend starting some kind of writing instruction in 1st grade. There are many options for writing instruction, which I will go into in future blog posts).
Head over to my YouTube Channel For a look inside some of the IEW offerings….
Primary Arts of Language: Writing and Teaching Writing: Structure and Style
All Things Fun and Fascinating
If you want to use IEW, then your options are:
Option 1:
1st Grade | Primary Arts of Language: Writing
This is a gentle approach to writing instruction based on familiar stories. Skip part 1, jump into part 2.
2nd Grade | People and Places in Our Community
3rd Grade | A Theme-Based Program OR Structure and Style for Students
4th Grade | A Theme-Based Program OR Structure and Style for Students
5th Grade | If you have not done Structure and Style for Students yet, now is the time. If you have, then either continue with the next level or switch to a theme-based option.
* Consider taking the “teacher” course, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, sometime between 3rd grade and 5th grade; however, this is not a requirement.
Option 2:
1st Grade | People and Places in Our Community
2nd Grade | All Things Fun and Fascinating OR Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales
3rd Grade | A Theme-Based Program OR Structure and Style for Students
4th Grade | A Theme-Based Program OR Structure and Style for Students
5th Grade | If you have not done Structure and Style for Students yet, now is the time. If you have, then either continue with the next level or switch to a theme-based option.
* Consider taking the “teacher” course, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, sometime between 3rd grade and 5th grade; however, this is not a requirement.
Option 3:
1st Grade | People and Places in Our Community AND Teaching Structure and Style
2nd Grade | DIY Following the Teaching Structure and Style Course OR Theme-Based
The home-educator course, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, is incredibly in-depth (hours and hours of video, practical application, instructional plans) and teaches you the tools you need to adapt IEW methods to any content area.
3rd Grade + | DIY Following the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style Course OR Theme-Based OR Structure and Style for Students
Starting IEW with Students 3rd Grade and Up:
Any of the above options are still appropriate!
Looking to Outsource Writing?
IEW offers live Structure and Style for Students courses for students 4th grade and older. For more on live classes, head here.
FAQs
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It depends on the child! If they are using Pinwheels by Rooted in Language for reading instruction, you do not need to start a formal writing program until you finish Pinwheels. If you are using a different reading curriculum, then maybe 1st grade, definitely include formal writing instruction by 2nd grade.
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I think this depends on what you consider secular. They are, in my opinion, non-sectarian — meaning they do not have a religious agenda. While they do offer courses that are Christian-based, such as Bible Heros, their other programs are not religious.
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IEW is systematic and explicit — it teaches skills as a foundation. Style is taught in what appears to be a formulaic manner (checklists often include things like “include 2 -ly adverbs”). Some (many?) kids benefit from this level of explicit instruction.
IEW includes a ton of scaffolding, or support, for beginning and developing writers. Will your student always need a checklist to remind them to add things in like -ly adverbs and clincher ends? No. These tools and methods are like the training wheels of writing instruction. I’d rather have a student know how to get their thoughts from their head to the paper and then go back in to fancy it up than a kid who stares at a blank piece of paper, not knowing where to start. -
IEW offers a specific method for approaching writing in different genres. You can easily switch to IEW from another program or alternate between IEW and another program.
