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

Fix It! Grammar from Institute for Excellence in Writing

Do you have a child who is struggling in language arts with grammar and writing? I do, and that's why I was so excited to be chosen to participate in a TOS review of Fix It! Grammar from the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)!

I chose to review The Nose Tree (Book 1) and received the following items to use in my homeschool for this review:

Cost: $19

Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree (Book 1) Teacher Manual

and

Cost: $15

Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree (Book 1) Student Book 

Both the teacher's manual and the student book are soft covered and are spiral-bound. There is a list included in the teacher's manual of items that you will need for your student such as a dictionary so that your student can look up the vocabulary word each day.

Geared for students in the third grade and up, Fix It! Grammar teaches grammar in "bite-size" pieces. Then students are given the opportunity to take that newly attained knowledge and apply it to their daily passage as they look for and correct errors in sentences that build up into paragraphs to form well-written passages that tell a story. This, to me, is a genius way to teach grammar and writing!

You can connect with the Institute for Excellence in Writing on the following social media outlets:

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

 

Here's How We Use Fix It! Grammar

We use Fix It! Grammar four days a week in our homeschool. Each day, I read the lesson introduction and demonstrate on our whiteboard the grammar concept that was introduced in our lesson. My son will then look up the vocabulary word in the dictionary and give me the definition which I write as well on the whiteboard. We then move into "fixing" our sentence for the day. This includes finding the nouns, articles, applying the correct punctuation at then end of the sentence, etc. - whatever grammar concept we've studied - and my son "fixing" the sentence with these markings.

Once we have "fixed" the sentence, my son then copies the sentence into his writing notebook. He is getting very good at looking up his vocabulary words in the dictionary and marking his "fixes" in his student book.

My Opinion of Fix It! Grammar

My son still doesn't necessarily "love" grammar and writing, BUT he will do Fix It! Grammar without fussing and complaining. I think it's because Fix It! Grammar takes an easy approach to both of these subjects. The "bite-size" pieces - as I like to refer to it - does not overwhelm my son and the repetition helps to cement grammar concepts for him.

The daily structure that is provided and repeated each day gives my son a feeling of confidence because he knows exactly what he will be doing each day for grammar and writing. It's been a wonderful addition to our homeschool! I've been looking for something to use for grammar and writing for my son that would not bore him or overwhelm him - I've found it with Fix It! Grammar from the Institute for Excellence in Writing! If you're looking for a complete grammar program, you'll definitely want to give this one a try! Take a look at their webinar to learn more about Fix It! Grammar. They also have a placement test you can use to determine which of the 5 Fix It! Grammar books to begin using with your child.

To read more TOS Reviews of the other books included in Fix It! Grammar, please click on the image below.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

 

Writing in Cursive with Logic of English

There are differing opinions about whether or not to teach cursive writing anymore since computers are so popular now. I personally think it is a beautiful way to write. I've delayed the teaching of cursive writing to my son so that he could have a strong foundation in manuscript. I was excited when the opportunity was presented to review the curriculum offered by Logic of English. I chose to review the Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive - Complete Set since recently I've felt it was time to begin to teach my son how to write in cursive.


 

Items Included in the Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive - Complete Set

• 1 Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive Workbook: This is a softcover workbook with perforated pages so you can easily tear them out for your student if you need to. My son is left-handed and doesn't like the bend of the spine of a workbook, so I always appreciate perforated pages in a workbook. It makes his life (and mine) easier! There is a practice page for every lowercase letter and uppercase letter. Four different line sizes are included on each workbook page so that your child can experiment with the different line sizes and choose the size that works best and feels most comfortable to him/her as they practice writing in cursive. Also included are pages of words using the letters learned.
• 1 Cursive Quick Reference Chart: This laminated chart will last forever! It has all the cursive letters and the special wording used in teaching your child how to correctly form the cursive letters. This chart also contains the 11 Steps to Teaching Handwriting. This chart is a great go-to reference!
• 1 set of Cursive Tactile Cards: I love these cards! There is a card for every lowercase letter, every uppercase letter, special movements used in cursive writing (swing, curve, etc.), and numbers 0-9. Your child uses his/her pointer finger to trace along the cursive letter formation as you instruct proper formation with the wording that is provided for you. There is a grainy texture in the form of the letter on the card that your child will "feel" as he/she traces along the form of the cursive letter with their pointer finger. My son loves this!
• 1 Student Whiteboard: You can use this as you demonstrate how to write the cursive letters you are teaching. Your child can use it to practice writing the cursive letters before moving to actual paper and pencil writing. You will need to provide the dry erase markers and a whiteboard eraser. 

The price for the Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive - Complete Set is $65.00. The age range for this product is ages 4 to adult.

How We Use Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive - Complete Set

This cursive writing program is so easy to jump into and start teaching your child how to write in cursive! We used Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive four days a week. Included in the workbook are suggested schedules for teaching Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive. I tweaked one of the choices I liked to fit the needs of my son. I focus on teaching 2 letters per week just because my son needs extra time to cement concepts in his mind and become comfortable with what he is doing. I've learned to let him lead in this area. It's less stressful for the both of us.

Since he already knows the sounds of the individual letters, I skipped that part in the "Steps to Teaching Handwriting" that are given in the workbook. This step would be very helpful for parents with younger children who are learning the sounds of letters. These steps and more helpful information for the parent is included  in pages 5-13 of the workbook. Other helpful information includes "Handwriting Tips," "Suggested Schedules," and "Ideas for Handwriting Practice."

When I teach a lesson, I use my pointer finger and the wording provided on the handwriting chart as I demonstrate on the student whiteboard how to write the letters we are working on. Then I let my son trace the tactile card with his pointer finger as I say the wording provided to help him remember how to form the letter (this wording is on the back of the tactile card and on the handwriting chart). We do this several times before moving to the worksheet paper where he practices with his pencil. We've had to place our cursive writing lessons on hold since my son broke both of his wrists in a scooter accident in our neighborhood.

My Opinion of Rhythm of Handwriting Cursive - Complete Set

I am really enjoying using this curriculum to teach my son how to write in cursive! It is very user-friendly. I love how I am given exactly what to say as I teach the various strokes and letters in my lessons. My son is enjoying his writing lessons as well. He loves the feel of the grainy texture of the letters on the tactile cards as he traces the letter on it with his finger. He likes to use the different sized lines on the worksheet practice pages until he finds the one that he's most comfortable with on the letter he is working on. I can't wait for him to get out of his casts so we can continue on with our lessons.

I highly recommend this curriculum if you and your child are ready for cursive writing! Want to look into it for yourself? You can use the links in my opening paragraph, and you can also connect with Logic of English on the following social media outlets to find out more about all of their awesome products!

• Facebook 
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Twitter

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

*Find out what others on the Schoolhouse Review Crew think about the products offered by Logic of English. Simply click on the link below.

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. 

Success with Homeschool Writing

While planning our curriculum schedule earlier this year, I searched the internet for a writing curriculum that my son and I could use in our homeschool. It was a desperate search I have to admit because writing is a subject my son struggles with. I have tried other curriculum that have ended in tears and frustration for both me and my son. My search brought me to Essentials in Writing, and I was so happy with what I saw on their website! I was given a copy of the Essentials in Writing Grade 5 curriculum in exchange for my honest review.

Remember the tears and frustrations I told you my son and I have experienced with other writing curriculum? Well, I'm relieved to report that is not the case with Essentials in Writing! Excuse me for a moment while I do my happy dance! ;-)

 

Essentials in Writing does not overwhelm my son, yet I feel confident it will be successful in teaching him proper grammar and the mechanics of writing so that another person can understand what he writes. Now that is success with homeschool writing!

What I Like About Essentials in Writing:

• Step by step instructions for daily lessons are given for me on the Essentials in Writing website. I've printed these instructions off and place them in my teaching binder for writing.
• DVD lessons presented by Matthew Stephen, the creator of EIW, are short and engaging as he teaches to actual students.
• The lessons are a reasonable amount of work so that my son does not become overwhelmed.
• Worksheets are in PDF format so I can print them off as I need them. My son is sensitive to things such as the binding of a workbook – he likes his worksheets to lay flat – which I can do by printing them off individually with the PDF file.
• Answer key is provided for the worksheets.
• The whole program is laid out so that it is homeschooler friendly and not as complicated as some of the other writing programs out there that I've looked at.
• The price of the program is very reasonable and affordable for homeschooling families with limited budgets.
• I was given help in choosing the best grade level for my son whose struggle with writing has put him behind. We were told Grade 5 would be best for his situation. It has been a perfect fit for him!

 

How We are Using Essentials in Writing:

• We first take a look at the lesson’s worksheet for the day’s assignment. I briefly describe to my son what we will be learning.
• We watch the DVD segment for the day’s lesson together. If I feel it is necessary, I will do further examples that were discussed during the DVD lesson on our whiteboard.
• After watching the lesson, we complete the assignment. Some lessons have multiple worksheets that are done on consecutive days. If my son needs the review, we will watch the lesson again before completing the next day’s worksheet.
• We end our writing time by talking about what he has learned and looking at the next day’s lesson.

Sections of Essentials in Writing:

• Section I         Grammar and Other Topics
• Section II        Composition

I like how my son is being eased into the writing process. Matthew has carefully structured his curriculum by first creating a strong grammar foundation in the student before tackling composition assignments. This shows a thoughtful concern for the success of the student in my opinion. I appreciate that so much!

If you have a child who is struggling with writing, I would highly recommend Essentials in Writing. Visit their website here to learn more!