Is IEW easy to use?

[Mommy7]

I'm interested in using it maybe for 7th grade and not doing a lot of writing before that. Is that possible or not smart????

[MIch elle]

We like the IEW History Based WRiting Lessons by Lori V.

[FloridaLisa]

I'm interested in using it maybe for 7th grade and not doing a lot of writing before that. Is that possible or not smart????

 

 

IEW does have a bit of a learning curve, but once done, it's not difficult to use IMHO. We got off to a quick start using IEW SWI with the DVDs. Pudewa did the teaching, I sent my dc off to do the writing assignment, we reviewed, corrected and edited it together. BUT, I wasn't a huge stickler for all of the dress-ups and openers. My dc have had to conform to IEW's checklists in their co-op classes, but I don't require all of it at home.

 

Now, your second question was waiting to do much writing until 7th grade. I would strongly encourage you to have your child write all along. What is your reason for waiting? We use oral narrations, written narrations, free writing, summarizing, notetaking, outlining and more. Formal writing will be much less foreign to a child who writes frequently and naturally as part of their weekly schoolwork.

 

HTH,

Lisa

[plimsoll]

IEW is very easy. My 9yo is doing very well with it.

[calandalsmom]

I hope to butt in and get some more information on IEW.

 

My children do not write frequently or naturally because they hate it. They are 8 and 11.

 

The 11 yo is completing Wordsmith Apprentice having also done Can Do Cursive (which was a good transition for someone who is allergic to putting pencil to paper.)

 

We signed both boys up for an IEW seminar with Pudewa late this month and Im excited about it because it will be sort of a preview for me and will help me decide if I want to order TWSS.

 

What are these dress ups? What is the technique taught? Is this really worthwhile?

[pixeldog]

I've used IEW (both TWSS and SWI level 1....have listed both For Sale, BTW) and both my son and I got a lot out of it. I watched the TWSS videos and then watched as Pudewa taught on the SWI. I was really unsure about teaching and evaluating writing. Pudewa makes it easy. He uses a checklist format where he teaches a concept (i.e. "dress ups" - adjectives, adverbs) and then goes through step by step on how to use them. The checklist comes in when it's time for the student to write and use the checklist to be sure they've included the concepts that have been taught. There is plenty of review and my son has retained what he learned.

 

It certainly took the guesswork out of it for me and has given me the confidence to teach and evaluate my son's writing. Hope this helps.

[calandalsmom]

Would you please compare Writer's Jungle and IEW for me, if you don't mind?

 

Also, will my child enjoy IEW?

 

How does it go when you assign something? is there whining, like I dont know what to saaaaaaay or I dont knoooooooooow and the like?

[jellogirl]

IEW is not a textbook that you can hand to your child. You have to figure it out and then teach it.

 

Encourage your kids to write. But you should be fine waiting until 7th grade to make writing a subject of its own.

 

As for the dress-ups and things, they're great for a few assignments, but once they get the hang of writing with variety, throw them away so they don't get in the way.

[scrapbabe]

There shouldn't be any whining about "I don't know what to say" because the whole premise behind IEW is that children don't enjoy writing because they don't know what to say. So IEW takes that out of the equation, and they give you the "what" so you can just focus on the writing. They give you a paragraph. You take each sentence and pick out three words from each sentence that will help you remember what that sentence was about. Then you take that outline and use it to rewrite the paragraph in your own words. Does that make sense?

I really like IEW. My 12 year old enjoys doing it too. I think it's really good for boys.

 

Smiles,

Shalynn