Making Sense of IEW: Teacher Resources
The Institute of Excellence in Writing (IEW) provides so many resources for teachers that it can seem overwhelming. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Look at it as IEW is willing to train you to be the best composition teacher you can be for your child.
First of all, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) workbook and videos are so important if you are clueless on how to begin teaching writing. These resources are expensive though. One of the best ways to curb costs is to go in with other homeschool moms to split the bill. The benefit of this is saving money as well as learning how to teach this material together. Accountability goes a long way with IEW. Another way to save money is to buy these materials used. Homeschool parents are always selling these expensive products for much cheaper than the original costs. Look on eBay or Amazon or Facebook Marketplace to find them at a discounted price.
The TWSS material is organized into nine units, so just stay focused on one unit at a time. You don’t have to know it all when you begin. You just need to know that unit. Each unit builds skills that will carry on to the next unit, so the snowball effect TWSS employs will help your and your student’s writing skills.
Another resource that I will mention are the podcasts IEW will email you once you have purchased material from them. By the way, I suggest ordering your teacher and student workbooks for the year directly from them so that you’ll have access to the downloads. Those are cheaper on the website than the TWSS videos are. I discussed these resources on my IEW post last week as well as their emails. They are always sending webinars and podcast links for you to learn more. Don’t let this overwhelm you. You can pick and choose which ones you attend. You don’t have to do it all.
Finally, you can always reach out to me for help. I love helping others learn how to write. It’s one of my passions, so the questions do not bother me.
~Christie
