Writing with Structure and Style (IEW Units 5-7, Level A)

Students are often expected to write (and write well), but they may have never been taught specific skills and techniques. Writing is a skill that CAN be learned with incremental instructions.  Learning specific techniques gives students confidence to create their own work.  

This class will improve your child's writing skills, whether they are just beginning or need some challenges.  

This class follows the IEW writing methods and techniques, but does not require you to buy any other IEW materials.  I have taught IEW for so long that I have my own materials that I can tailor to student interests and not break copyright. 

Although it is better if you have some familiarity with Units 1-4, IEW is flexible enough for you to jump in the latter units- you will be able to catch up! 

This class focuses on the latter units of an IEW year, the ones that are sometimes overlooked because you run out of time!  We will spend 3 weeks on each of these units:

We start with Unit 5, Writing from Pictures.  This builds on Unit 3 (the Story Sequence Model) but allows for more creativity, while still creating a structure.  Students are given a series of pictures to prompt creative writing. 

Unit 6 focuses on fusing sources and outlines to create reports.  We will read and take notes from several sources, then learn how to combine them. 

Unit 7 teaches how to create an outline to write "from your brain" with a given subject.

It is helpful if students have had some IEW Writing experience before taking this class, but it is not necessary.  Contact me if you are looking for earlier units as I have many ongoing classes that may fit what you need. 

Since this class is 18 sessions, we will spend approximately six sessions on each unit.  

Expect to have homework!  You can't learn a new skill without practicing it.  I will give a checklist for each assignment.  Parents are expected to edit or help their child as necessary.  We review the checklist in class so students learn how to self-edit.  We share and read in class.  I do not "grade" papers in this class, but I always have individual sessions open if you are interested.