IEW questions

[3girls4me]

Hi ladies

I am trying to figure out what I am going to use for writing next year. 3rd and 6th grade girls. Both do a fairly good job with writing. I may continue W&R or switch over to Classical Composition, but I'm also considering starting them both on IEW.

I would love to use the medieval writing book with my oldest if possible since that is what we will be studying but it's not mandatory.

Here are my questions. How would you go about starting IEW for these ages? Where do I begin? What would you recommend for each one? Also, do you do the same thing all year or could I go back and forth with IEW and W&R?

FYI - my rising 3rd grader loves to write. Loves it!!! In case that helps. Rising 6th grader doesn't love it but probably would say she likes it and definitely doesn't resist it or complain about it.

Thanks so much for any help!

[aaplank]

For both of those ages, I would use Student Intensive - Level A, and maybe beef it up for the 6th grader. You could definitely go back and forth with IEW and W&R, using principles from each interchangeably.

[NatashaBrady]

You could totally use the medieval one for both girls. My girls (4th and 7th) are both doing the ancient book right now. I LOVE what is taught in IEW. It will stick with them. Even if you don't do IEW every year, I think it's a good background to have.

[TracyP]

My 4th and 7th grader both used the American history theme based book this year. I bought the teacher manual and 1 student manual, so my kids did the writing on separate paper. I introduced the lesson with both kids together. Then they worked separately - my oldest was pretty independent, my younger son needed a bit more hand holding. I'm not familiar with W&R but I wouldn't switch back and forth if you go with a theme based book. I'd focus on IEW this year, then switch the following year.

[mschickie]

The one thing I would say is that if you are not familiar with the IEW process and are going to jump into a Theme Book (I loved the Medieval book) you might want to get the teacher DVDs so that you understand what is being asked of them.  We did student writing intensive A and continuation course A before we did a theme book.  By that time both dd and I understood the process.  I can say that I love IEW and think it is a wonderful program.

[3girls4me]

Thanks everyone! I have SWI-A that she used for the online summer class last year. Should I just go back through that again and then start the medieval book? Or do I need TWSS? Are the theme books intended to last a full year?

[OneStepAtATime]

Thanks everyone! I have SWI-A that she used for the online summer class last year. Should I just go back through that again and then start the medieval book? Or do I need TWSS? Are the theme books intended to last a full year?

TWSS is a big help but if you already have SWI-A you could probably just use that if you feel comfortable.  You can use the SWI to help with the theme book.  In other words, as far as I can see, you could use the SWI to help with instruction from the Theme book.  

 

Take it at a pace that is not overwhelming.  Prep ahead of time so you can see were there might be need for additional review of the process.  You can do a theme book over a year or speed up to do it in a semester.  Depends on your child and your goals.  At those ages I would think you would want to just pace it over the course of the year or even a bit longer if necessary.

[TracyP]

Thanks everyone! I have SWI-A that she used for the online summer class last year. Should I just go back through that again and then start the medieval book? Or do I need TWSS? Are the theme books intended to last a full year?

 

I had no experience using IEW before using a theme based book this year. The instruction in the student book/TM was fine on its own. I never had a problem understanding how to use it even though I hadn't used other IEW products. There are 31 lessons in the book, so yes, pretty much a full year.