IEW Theme Based Writing Units Review // HOMESCHOOL

[@annaramponi4505]

gosh, i miss your homeschooling vids. but kids grow up ! hoping you put out new high school curriculum choices for 22/23. thanks, melissa

[@erica_arndt]

I will! :)

[@homeschooledaroundtheworld4660]

I just realized that we really need the continuation level before doing those units. We did level A and could not do the Ancient History book because it covers areas that are in the continuation level. Thank you for another great review🌺

[@lukeisaac8118]

InstaBlaster...

[@brittanyedwards3293]

This is an excellent review! You answered all of my questions. Thank you so much!

[@ashleysovereen1024]

Always love your curriculum suggestions!

[@leanneballard7691]

Thank you for this! I've been very curious about this curriculum and the units look fabulous! Is one year of the Structure and Style (I would be using Year 1 level A) sufficient before beginning the units?

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, I think so. We did Level A continuation as well.

[@wk477]

Hello, I have a question ❓ Can I use the IEW for writing, history or science to substitute it as curriculum in middle school or high school? Would it count as hight school subjects? I hope you understand what I am trying to say. 😅 Thank you

[@abbigailgutierrez6880]

FYI they are updating it all with the student writing intensive and you can no longer buy the Intensives and or the continuations so this may be a little confusing for a newby, in the beginning of your video.

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, I put a note in the video description :) They're going to the streaming and I think that's a better option since most computers are getting rid of CD players.

[@heathercampos2326]

@@erica_arndt so would a high schooler still start with student intensive C? and would that be her entire writing for the year?

[@misholivetderosito1525]

Thanks for mentioning this! I was very confused and looking everywhere on the website for the "SWI" and the so mentiones "continuations" without any luck LOL!!! SO, now it is only the Structure and Style for Students? Should we start with that one before moving to the theme based units? I hope I got it ;) We are international homeschoolers living outside the USA, so a loooooong phone call to a IEW representative is too expensive for us, so I thank you in advance and really appreciate your opinion/help. ;)

[@MsZarate88]

Yay more homeschool videos please!

[@journalofahomeschooler]

Thank’s for the thorough review.

[@MichelleGold]

Super helpful! WOW thanks

[@globetrecker84]

Hi Erica, thanks for posting this video. It was quite informative. Do I need to do the "Teaching Structure and Style" Lessons prior to starting the IEW program? My son is interested in Narnia. He will be going into Gr. 7 but is not strong in grammar and writing- Trying to decide where to place him. At the moment we are working through Writing and Rhetoric: Fables (Book 1) and he requires much assistance. Thanks for your thoughts.

[@erica_arndt]

Hi, I didn't do the teacher lessons, but I do suggest completing their Structure and Style for Students program before going into their themed based writing units.

[@jacob7862]

Thank you for this review!

[@heathercampos2326]

Hi Erica, I'm thinking about using IEW this year. What would you suggest starting with for an 11th grader?

[@erica_arndt]

Hi Heather, Check their website, they have a 'decision tree' link under the green shop tab. It will guide you as to where to start. If you haven't used any of their products before and your student needs help with writing, I would start with Structure & Style.

[@heathercampos9114]

Hi Erica, my daughter did the Student Structure and Style videos this year. She will going into 12th grade, so it's her last year of high school. Should she do the continuation videos or can she do a theme based book?

[@erica_arndt]

Hi, you can either do the theme based books, or you might even look into their High School Essay Intensive. We found that really helpful for preparing to write college essays!

[@kellyalbertson257]

Erica, I know you mentioned that you should do the intensive first, but honestly, if you’re familiar with it and the structure of IEW writing, COULD you do these w/o doing the intensive? I’ve been wanting to do these units, but we haven’t done the intensive, even though I am familiar with it. Ty!

[@markiecooks7635]

Kelly Albertson I have the same question. Plus the intensive is so expensive.

[@ZannaTheGreat]

I wouldn't attempt these without doing the teacher course or the intensive first

[@kellyalbertson257]

Markie Cooks it is & my kids are not going to sit through 45 minute lectures & frankly, I don’t have time for that either. I think it’s an awesome writing curriculum, even bought it, but I returned it b/c of the videos. I’m very familiar with the style, so I think I’d be fine.

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, I think as long as you're familiar with the IEW style you could do a theme based unit.

[@erica_arndt]

We split some of the videos in half if they were longer and just watched them over two sessions instead of one. It's really not as scary as it seems :) But I do think you need to be familiar with the IEW style of writing before trying a themed based unit. Just my opinion :)

[@GraceFilled]

I love these books!!!!

[@tajeune]

Does the Narnia book, Vol. 1, go through the typical structure units: note-taking, retelling a narrative, summarizing a text, etc.?

[@erica_arndt]

They have all of the details on their lessons on their website :)

[@kita3256]

Thanks!

[@MYfriendsknow]

Called today - I was so excited to use it for this fall 2021. School starts up mid-August here in this state; so that is less than 3 months away. Unfortunately.... NOT PURCHASING! CUST SERV HARD SELL WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO HAVE AND NOT WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO PURCHASE. The guy I spoke with was so difficult; he kept repeating himself. And when I said that I wanted to buy the curriculum and some extra resources, he explained that one of the curriculums I was going to buy would not be out until MAYBE July. He stated that I should call back then. I said then I will get the other stuff I wanted to buy including the portable wall resources....he just kept trying to sell me something else - a completely different curriculum. He was so infuriating and kept repeating the same stuff over and over. I even asked him where in the website is the additional resources listed as I didn't see it in the "SHOP" section, but I had been looking at it just last night. I kept saying that I am not finding it - do you know where it is. I do not remember where on the IEW website that I found some extra resources. About 3 times I asked. Then finally I said to the guy - do you know IEW's website or should I speak with someone else. Then he finally said go to info and type pwss and you will find some of them. So, then I proceeded to look for the ones I was going to purchase. BUT he kept saying that he didn't want me to purchase anything until I purchased the curriculum. I told him we already went over that several times - YOU told me it would not be available until MAYBE mid-July. I asked if there was another cust serv rep I could speak to and he was so arrogant that he said I could talk to his manager/supervisor. * I just wanted to purchase some materials and that guy was so difficult - he should be fired or written up. NOT going to use IEW this Fall 2021 because of the lousy customer service.

[@erica_arndt]

Gosh, I'm sorry you had a bad experience, you may want to call back and see if you can get someone else. I have always had really good customer service from them, and they are always very helpful to get me what I need.

[@heathercampos2326]

@@erica_arndt I was assuming we would order online. Do you have to call to place an order?

[@danielachioibasu2126]

Hi what age kiddo did you do for the all things fun and fascinating? I have a reluctant writer in 4th grade.

[@erica_arndt]

Double check their website but I think it’s for grades 3-5

[@kelleholloway5488]

We did Intensive B. So would we move on to the theme writing after this?

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, you definitely could!

[@mr.sunshine2613]

If chosing DVD format to teach, do I need to buy teacher's manual?

[@erica_arndt]

The DVD is a video lesson taught by Andrew Pudewa, it will usually come with the TM so you'll want to check with the exact product you're looking at to see what it includes. If you're not sure, I would email IEW and ask :)

[@KS-cl8br]

Is this secular?

[@erica_arndt]

IEW is a Christian company I believe, so I would say that it is not secular, however you may want to ask them :)