IEW Advice Needed

[Meadowlark]

I am trying to make a decision. Here are my choices:

1. Buy SSS Level A and do it with my 4th and 5th graders next year (followed by year 2)

OR

2. Wait and start IEW SSS Level B when they get into middle school (already purchased).

The dilemma is, I keep reading about how formal writing is not needed until middle school. So that would certainly save me some money and time. But then I’ll read a random post about the more years with IEW the better, so I’m conflicted.  Your responses will probably decide this so thanks in advance for your help!

[Slache]

I vote buy now. My eldest is in 4th.

[freesia]

4th and 5th grade is a perfect time to do SSS Level A.  I've done that twice and it went really well.  I don't think of IEW as formal writing in the way people are using it.  IEW is perfect for building a foundation for children to use.  If money is a huge thing, however, you could wait and do B next year with your 5th and 6th grader.  I did B with a reluctant writing fifth grader and it went just fine.  You could also just use B next year and take it slowly.  Both A and B start at the beginning and B just expects to move a bit faster through.  At one time you could get the A handouts to go with the B if you were doing that.  They are a bit easier reading than the B.  You want the texts they use to be easy for them so that they can work on the writing, not worry about comprehension.

Ok, I don't think that that is much help other than to give you more options.

[My4arrows]

We tried IEW in 3rd, but it wasn't a good fit for us then and we chose to use Writeshop during the elementary years.  Now that ODS is in middle school he chose to do IEW and I think it's a better fit.  He grew with an enjoyment of writing using Writeshop and now he'll learn more technical writing with IEW.  

[Momto6inIN]

We did IEW theme books in elementary and then the videos in middle school. It was fun and low pressure but still got them comfortable with the writing process.