I just had to go and look at IEW's Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales!

[Tiramisu]

Why did I do it??! Why did I have to see that this is the curriculum I've been waiting for??!

[Lovedtodeath]

OOOOO this sounds gooooood! I have to go look. ;) Is IEW hard to use? (Teacher intensive, learning curve?)

 

Of course I already have two other writing programs picked out. :tongue_smilie:

Edited December 18, 2008 by Lovedtodeath

[Tiramisu]

Of course I already have two other writing programs picked out. :tongue_smilie:

 

I thought I did, too!

 

Is IEW hard to use? (Teacher intensive, learning curve?)

 

From what I've heard here, the subject specific IEW products like history are open and go. I think the Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales should be, too. I was going to use Writing Tales and then go on to the IEW subject books, but I could do this next year and just stick with IEW.

[Trivium Academy]

Not that I will switch b/c I like WT's games but how does IEW Myths, Fables, et al. compare to Writing Tales?

[rafiki]

.

[Lovedtodeath]

IEW's Fables, Myths, and Fairytales theme book and Writing Tales 1.

 

We tried IEW's theme book first. It is open and teach. The student resource e-book that comes with it if you order directly from IEW is wonderful and will help them for years to come. You can also purchase the e-book individually for ~ $5. My son did really well with the Fables section which is pretty much units one and two of IEW, using an outline to rewrite. Myths use Unit 3. This was too much for him, he quickly became frustrated. The myths were complex to understand and there was to big of a jump from doing units 1&2 and unit 3. I ended up selling it.

 

We then went with Writing Tales 1. We are halfway through it. Writing Tales is much more age appropriate. I like that it includes grammar, games, checklists, and a variety of activities to really understand the story before they are to write about it. The thing I don't like is it only teaches one style of writing. My boys much prefer to write non fiction, perhaps it's a boy thing? However, ds has done very well writing basic narratives without using an outline and I appreciate the confidence WT has given him in doing so.

 

Thanks for the thorough reply! So does an IEW themebook, in contrast, teach more than one style of writing? If not, then what does? IEW without a themebook?

[rafiki]

.

[Lovedtodeath]

Thanks again! Well, I know that WT is written for a younger student... around 10, and it seems from what I am learning here IEW is for an older student... 12 or 13 maybe. I will be interested in the next installment of WWE to see what we get for these ages.

[Melmc]

I took a look at the IEW sample. I'm teaching WT1 to two 3rd grade boys (my son and my friend's son) using the coop lesson plan and WT2 to my 5th grade daughter. All of us are having so much fun with WT. I also supplement grammar with GWG. Since WT is going to finish before we're done with GWG, I plan to get the IEW book to continue on the writing portion. The Fables part seems like it'll be a nice extension for them while we finish up our grammar before taking the summer off. I really think the boys will do better by maturing a little before we dive into WT2 in the fall for 4th grade. And it'll be good to re-expose my oldest to IEW methods since that's what she learned at her private school.

 

I'm hoping to set up the IEW fable assignments like WTs co-op plans since I only meet with the other boy on Mondays. I'll know more once I have some money after Christmas to order it and can read through it. But I'm excited to have found it since I was looking for something to extend our writing without having to create it myself.