Whether you use one of IEW’s Writing Across the Curriculum courses or a Structure and Style® for Students video-based course, it is a win-win for your students. While both use a spiral method to teach the skills needed to become competent and confident communicators and are based around the nine structural units, there are some differences that make each program unique.
Our Writing Across the Curriculum courses provide a year of ready-made writing lessons through IEW’s Structure and Style method, using fun and fascinating sources on a variety of topics from literature, world history, science, and more. Since they do not include a video component, these courses are designed to be used by an instructor who has been through or is currently viewing the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style course. Each lesson in these courses includes source texts, style practice, and checklists.
Most of the Writing Across the Curriculum books work through all nine IEW units, so they can be used for both new and returning IEW students. Many of the theme-based books include free downloadable simplified source texts and advanced additions so that the same course can be used by students who are in different grades.
The Structure and Style for Students video courses have the same objective as the Writing Across the Curriculum courses: providing a year of writing instruction using IEW’s unique method. However, the difference is that master teacher Andrew Pudewa directly teaches the students on video in twenty-four weeks of lessons. This provides support and modeling for the teacher and the students. This modeling is especially helpful for teachers new to IEW as they can watch Andrew Pudewa teach the IEW method throughout the year with their students. Students love Mr. Pudewa’s engaging style and humor and are captivated by the interaction between him and his class. The students feel like they are part of his class. Sample free lessons of the Structure and Style for Students courses here.
Additionally, the video instruction also promotes independence as students can watch the lessons on their own and work through it with Mr. Pudewa and his class. Instead of teaching, parents serve as editors by editing the rough draft of the writing assignments for their students, giving even more of a sense of independence.
To easily adapt the weekly schedules, multiple suggestions are included to address both homeschool and a variety of different classroom situations. The weekly schedule also suggests an appropriate level of Fix It!® Grammar.
Regardless if you choose Writing Across the Curriculum or video-based, IEW recommends completing the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) teacher training seminar. This seminar provides a complete explanation and demonstration of IEW’s methods and techniques so that parents effectively aid their students in their materials from grades K-12. The Teacher's Manuals of Structure and Style for Students and the Writing Across the Curriculum courses tell exactly what videos to watch for each student lesson so parents understand and support what their students are learning.
Although there is no required path when using IEW’s materials, this pathway shows where to begin and will simplify choices for the years to come, making either choice a win-win for students!
