Institute for Excellence in Writing Review

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) has a heart for special needs children. The incremental pacing and the models of writing provided in their writing curriculum gives the clear and concrete direction special needs children need in order to be successful in finding the words to write. My son has Asperger's Syndrome, OCD, and ADD and has always struggled with writing in our homeschool. I was so excited when the opportunity to review Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, Student Writing Intensive Level A came up with the TOS Review Crew.

Included in my special learners package were the following items:

1. Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, Second Edition (TWSS)

• A newly updated and revised 12-DVD set containing over 14 hours of viewing time that systematically teaches the nine elements of structure and style of the IEW programs.
• TWSS Seminar and Practicum Workbook - a syllabus and outline of the TWSS course including charts, word lists, samples, and more.
• Premium Content Subscription - This is a 12-month online subscription allowing you to stream all the TWSS content, access to monthly training seminars, audio MP3 talks from Andrew Pudewa, and helpful PDF downloads.

2. Student Writing Intensive (SWI) Level A (3rd - 5th grade)

• 5 Instructional DVDs
• Student Notebook
• Student Handouts 
• Lesson suggestions for the teacher

I was so excited when my IEW package was delivered! I have drooled over this writing curriculum for at least a couple of years. Every year at our homeschool conference, I always make a point to go by the IEW vendor booth. I've been waiting for the right time to introduce this writing curriculum that I have heard so many good things about to my son. His special learning needs are what first led to me IEW, as well as other moms who have raved about this homeschool curriculum for writing.

Now let me be honest and say that my son did not share in my excitement when our package arrived. His first question was, "Mom, what is that?" Trust me, it wasn't out of excitement...lol! I've tried other writing programs out there that claimed to be the best, but turned out to be a big flop for both of us.

I'm happy to say this has not been the case with the writing program from IEW. The SWI-Level A has been a great fit into our homeschool. I picked SWI-Level A because my son is on the 3rd-5th grade level in most subjects, so I thought it would be best for him to start IEW's writing program at the beginning level. The incremental pacing and models of writing have been so helpful and beneficial to my son. He watches the lesson on the DVD with me and does the required work on his student handout for that lesson. I'm there to guide him if he needs help.

As a homeschool mom, before IEW, I honestly had no clue how to teach my son about writing. Up until now, I have flip-flopped from this writing curriculum to that writing curriculum. Eventually both me and my son became overwhelmed. I just had to lay writing aside for a time in our homeschool.

That's another reason why I was so excited when this review came up for the TOS Review Crew. I needed just as much help to teach writing as my son needed help learning to write. I absolutely LOVE my Teaching Writing: Structure and Style Seminar and Practicum Workbook! I can sit down with my workbook and watch the applicable DVD ahead of time which helps me know how to teach the lesson to my son.

If you are a homeschool mom who is at the end of her rope when it comes to teaching writing in your homeschool, let me encourage you to look into Institute for Excellence in Writing. I think you'll be just as happy with your experience as we have been with ours. 

You can connect with IEW on the following social media outlets:

• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Vimeo
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Google+
• IEW Blog

You can read more TOS Reviews simply by clicking on the image below.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

How Do I Teach This Kid To Write?

Are you a homeschooling mom like me who struggles teaching the subject of writing in your homeschool? I hope I'm not alone. I don't know what it is about writing - physically writing - that frustrates my son so bad. Whenever I try to get him to write, it is such a battle! Honestly, I don't know how much I should be pushing him in this area.

Of course, I understand he needs to know how to write, and we have daily spelling and writing lessons. I even found a writing curriculum that is a good fit for him. I wrote a review about Essentials in Writing where I shared my excitement over finding this curriculum. I am still excited about it, and my son doesn't shed the tears that he used to, but there is still something that I cannot place my finger on in figuring out how to teach him to write.

I know I'm not the first homeschooling mom who has struggled with this subject. I'm calling out to all of you who have experienced this dilemma, and asking you for your suggestions. Special needs of Asperger's Syndrome and ADD are present in my son's situation. I'm still learning how these effect him in our homeschool. I need to find a way to work around these issues though so that I can effectively teach him in the area of writing. He has a very active imagination. When he was younger, I wrote and even typed some of his stories as he verbally told them to me. Since he is thirteen now, I feel that he should be doing his own writing.

So my question is: how do I teach this kid to write? What is it that I am missing and where do I find it? Just today I asked my son, "Why don't you like to write?" His reply was, "It takes too long. It's not fun, and it's boring." Now that I have his answer to my question of what is missing, I can begin my search to find out how to make writing less boring and more fun - which should solve the problem of it taking too long for him to do. I know that even as an adult I take longer completing a task that I don't particularly enjoy doing. So it is with our kids. It's my job as his teacher to find a way to make writing more fun for him so that this subject becomes more enjoyable for him in our homeschool.

So my task begins! I love to search on Google when I need an answer to a question, so that is where I began looking for ideas to help make writing less boring and more fun in our homeschool. I was not disappointed, and found some great ideas I can use in our homeschool to make writing less boring and more fun for my son. I want to share these fun ideas with you today.

Fun Ideas for Teaching Writing

1. Hamburger Writing 
2. Sandwich Chart 
3. Writing Prompts (There are lots of ideas on Pinterest for these!)
4. Use a tape recorder! My son will LOVE this! I can let him verbally record his writing assignment, and then play back the recording as he writes down what he spoke. Remember how I said my son has a very active imagination? Well, using a tape recorder will be perfect for him since he will be able to pause the recording to write at a pace that is comfortable for him while still getting all those fast-paced thoughts down on paper.    

I would love to know how you teach writing in your homeschool.  Please share in the comments below! I need more ideas and would love to hear yours!

Starting on Wednesday, you can read more from other homeschooling moms on the Schoolhouse Review Crew who are sharing about the subject they struggle teaching the most. Simply click on the image below. 

Facing Reality Head-on

When I began this blog in January 2013 it was a very emotional time for me. Facing reality head-on was not at all what I was ready to do. I was 7 months into what I described as "a less than desirable circumstance". Here are my exact words...

"Even now as I enter 2013 facing the unknown in a less than desirable circumstance, God is teaching me to trust in Him as He gives me the grace to walk through this."

Last June our son Caleb began experiencing severe anxieties which led us to seek Christian counseling for him. I won't go into the specifics of the anxieties, but I will say they were severe enough that they interfered with his daily life. The Christian counselor was wonderful and helped Caleb through his anxieties through a couple of different exercises we worked on together during the weeks at home. He also suggested testing for Asperger's Syndrome which the psychologist in the group administered. The results confirmed Asperger's Syndrome, OCD, and ADD. These diagnosis' were quite a shock and at the same time somewhat of a relief because my husband and I finally knew what we were dealing with.

We tried medication for the ADD, but Caleb had a negative reaction to it in December. We were at the beach for Christmas and toward the end of our trip Caleb began having trouble remembering things he had recently done. This was very frightening! I called our pediatrician as we headed home and told her what was happening. She told us to come by the office to get the medication in dosages to wean Caleb off of it which we did. We were seen in the office the next day and the pediatrician ordered an EEG and MRI with a child neurologist. The EEG wasn't so bad for Caleb and the results were good - no signs of seizures. Caleb had to be put to sleep for the MRI. This was hard for me as a mother. I was so scared for Caleb, but he was so very brave as they put the IV in him not only once, but TWICE because the first time on one arm didn't do like it was supposed to (forgive me, I don't know the terminology.) so they had to go in on the other arm. I cannot tell you how proud I was of him - he didn't cry at all! The results came back showing only a fluid-filled cyst that the child neurologist said had been there since birth.

We have continued taking Caleb to see the Christian counselor. There have been flare-ups with the OCD throughout this past year. These are hard times for us, but together with God's help we make it through each one. We pray through these flare-ups as I have come to call them and reassure Caleb as much as possible to ease whatever anxiety it is that he is struggling with. My husband and I have chosen not to use medication for the OCD. I am teaching Caleb scripture verses to help him during these times of flare-up such as "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7) and "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) Thankfully Caleb has been several months free of a flare-up. I believe in the power of prayer!

As for the Asperger's Syndrome, I don't really know enough at this time to talk a lot about it. I am trying to learn all I can about it so I can help Caleb. What I do know so far is Asperger's Syndrome is on the autism spectrum and that kids and adults with AS have difficulties with socialization such as reading and reacting to nonverbal social cues and how to participate in conversations. I am currently reading "School Success for Kids with Asperger's Syndrome" by Stephan M. Silverman, Ph.D. and Rich Weinfeld. I've joined a couple of Facebook groups as well for parents of children with special needs and a Yahoo Group for parents of children with Asperger's Syndrome.

I've always suspected ADD in Caleb. My husband and I have chosen not to use medication for this diagnosis since Caleb had the bad experience with it. We are trying to go organic, gluten-free, etc. with our food instead and learn other methods for dealing with the ADD.

June 2012 was the month it all began. I can't believe we are already a year into this journey! I have experienced many grace-filled-moments during this time and now it is time to face this reality head-on and speak to others about it. Hopefully in sharing my story, I will not only give hope to others who may be facing their own difficult realities of life, but someone with more knowledge about this than me will come alongside me to offer hope and encouragement. It has been hard for me honestly. I'm one who likes to feel like she is in control, but I'm not with this; I'm utterly dependent on God for His help and guidance in how to parent Caleb through these diagnosis'. I'm so thankful to have my husband who holds me up in my moments of weakness. I'm thankful to God for His grace that has been my strength through this entire time, and it's only because of His grace that I'm now facing reality head-on.

I've shed many tears over Caleb in this last year. I'm ready now to dig in deep to research and learn all I can for the sake of Caleb. He is my joy, so innocent and loving, and I thank God that He chose me to be Caleb's mother.

Walking in His Grace,

Laurie

I Wrestled with God and He Won

Recently, as I struggled with a situation going on in my life, as hard as I tried not to, I began to question God and even got to the point of being angry. I asked God, "Why do I have to go through this trial when I'm doing everything I can to serve You?"

You know the idea...I'm doing everything "right" so why is this happening? Have you ever struggled with that? Well, I have and recently I let it all out to God (as if He didn't know what I was thinking already! Psalm 139:1-4 says:

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

I figured I might as well be real with God since He already knew the thoughts I was having anyway. So that's what I did - I wrestled with God over this trial - and thank God, He won! My questions and anger turned into tears of thanksgiving as I reminded God of his promises to me which are found in His Word that over the years I have hidden in my heart. It was the Holy Spirit of God who brought these verses to my mind as I began to speak back those promises to God in prayer. He reminded me of his grace, mercy, and love for me and my family. When it was all over, I felt a weight lifted off of my shoulders and that peace which surpasses all understanding began to guard my heart and my mind again through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

Then God brought to my mind the story of Jacob (found in Genesis 32) and how he had wrestled with God at a time of fear and uncertainty in his life. Jacob was returning back to his homeland and in doing so, he would also be returning to his brother Esau whom he had cheated out of his birthright and his blessing. He was afraid of what Esau would do to him. Before Jacob wrestled all night with God he had prayed to him and it was a prayer that was rooted in fear, much like mine had been. As I began to study about this, I discovered many new things about this story we have recorded for us in the Bible. But what I want to focus on here and now is this point: Jacob knew about God but didn't know God...Jacob was wrestling for his divine identity, his blessing - not Abraham's, not Isaac's, not Esau's - but HIS and he had to give up himself in the struggle in order to get his blessing.

We all have struggles in this life. Jesus even told us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The word for the Messer family in 2013 is Peace. Funny how that is the word that is printed on the Christmas ornament we bought while spending Christmas at the beach. (A new Messer family tradition...getting an ornament that describes how our family has experienced God during the year.) I believe in buying that particular ornament (that I searched high and low for <smile>), God was reminding us that for the coming year it would be His peace that would carry us through any struggles we may face. The verse of our last family devotional for 2012 contained the following scripture from John 14:27:

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

So I'm giving up myself in this struggle and finding God's gift of peace as I surrender the unknown to Him. I'm trusting that all things will work together for good because my family and I love God and we are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
  

How about you? Is there something you are struggling with in your life. If so, then I pray that you will surrender to God and experience His peace which surpasses all understanding. It will truly guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. I know because I have experienced it and you can too! 

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

 

2013...A New Year with God

As I sit here thinking back on 2012,  I am thankful to God for His grace that got me through many moments of my life that were trying to say the least. I also am reminded that those trying times were also opportunities for growth in my life and in my personal relationship with Jesus. It is one thing to know how to talk ABOUT God, but it is totally another thing to KNOW God. Even now as I enter 2013 facing the unknown in a less than desirable circumstance, God is teaching me to trust in Him as He gives me the grace to walk through this.

God is also teaching me that to truly KNOW Him, I've got to have these kinds of "not so desirable" circumstances to experience His goodness and His power. These can be moments of experiencing God if I keep my eyes focused on Him. I am thankful for my husband whose faith and encouragement have been a witness to me as we have walked together with God these past 15 years (16 years on April 5th, praise God!).

At the beginning of 2012 my prayer was to grow closer to God. I am thankful that God has answered my prayers. It may not have always been in ways that were cozy and pain-free, but I can say that as I start 2013 I know that God has used all things to work together for my good. (Romans 8:28)

So here is to another year of Grace-Filled-Moments with God. Welcome, 2013!

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie