Friday, May 13, 2011

IEW’s Student Writing Intensive/ TOS Review

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Let me start this review off by saying…I absolutely love IEW. I am now absolutely 100% sure that I will be continuing to use their products. I have even bought a few more already! lol

This review is going to be hard, because I don’t know if I can keep myself from gushing all over this company, and their products. lol

This has been my absolute favorite product that I have reviewed this entire year. I really want you to know how much I have loved this product up front so that you will continue to read about this program. I don’t want what has happened to me in the past to happen to you.

See, I have heard about the Institute for Excellence in Writing before. I have even looked at their catalogs, but every time I have, I didn’t see anything all that thrilling, and thought the prices were too steep.

I had to actually use their products to see what they are all about. Now that I have actually used some of their products, I wish I had known how amazing their products really were before now. I wouldn’t have wasted all these years using other, sub par programs.

OK, now that I have you intrigued, and wondering what could be so awesome about a writing product, let me give you the details.

There are 3 main components to this program.

The students have their own notebook to keep all of their writing in.

This is a really nice quality binder that comes with pre-labeled dividers.


The parent has a packet of handouts that you can put in your own binder, or envelope, to keep track of them. These lay out for you exactly what to do each day. They are simple to understand, and you don’t have to worry if you are doing something wrong.

You can’t mess up with this program.

In the parents package are also the handouts that you will need to give your child each day.

The Student Writing Intensive Level B, which is the one I received, comes with 4 DVD’s.

The DVD’s are the heart of the program.

You simply place the DVD into your DVD player, and watch away.

Andrew Pudewa is so funny, and really keeps the kids interest. That is hard to do in a writing program.
He is a fabulous teacher. He teaches writing in such a way that you will actually remember what you have learned.

Andrew will take your child through 9 units. 

1-2. Notes and Outlines
3. Story Sequence Model
4. Summarizing References
5. Writing From Pictures
6. Library Research
7. Creative Writing
8. Essay Model
9. Critique Writing


I also received a DVD called the Structure and Style Overview DVD.

This walks you, the parent, through all nine units, and how to teach them. I highly recommend this.

There is a complete teachers program that goes into more detail of how to teach the 9 units, if you are interested in that. It is called Teaching Writing: Structure and Style.

I also received what is called the Portable Wall.

 
I love this. It is like a folder that opens into 3 sections, forming a "wall". 
It is super handy as it contains lot's of good information to have at a glance. 

It lists, and describes, the 9 units, has a huge list of "-ly" Adverbs, a very large list of Synonyms for "said",
"-ly" Imposters, and much more.

I can’t recommend this program enough. It is awesome!

Be sure to check out their website for even more details about their programs. 

 Here is an introduction to the Student Writing Intensive.
Here is an excerpt from the Student Writing Intensive Level B

We have tried so many different writing programs, and none of them have stuck. I am throwing them all out the window, and am only keeping this writing program.

My 13 year old daughter really likes the fact that Andrew is funny, and the he makes writing interesting.

Even my 6 year old son sits in and watches the videos sometimes.

It is really funny to see him trying to figure out “ly” words, or verbs. lol

I will use IEW’s writing programs with all of my children through all of their grades.

I hope you will try this program for yourself. I honestly don’t think you will be at all disappointed.

Remember that I too had looked at this program, and didn’t’ see the value in it. Don’t let that happen to you.

The Institute for Excellence in Writing guarantees your satisfaction. If you are not satisfied with any of their products, they will give you a full refund within 30 days.

So, go ahead and try them out, and then let me know what you think.


If you are interested in purchasing any of the Student Writing Intensive’s, they are all $99 apiece.

There are also Student Intensive Continuation Courses. These are what you would move into after completing a Student Writing Intensive.

For example, after we finish the Student Writing Intensive Level B, we would not go onto the Student Writing Intensive level C. We would go into the Student Intensive Continuation Course Level B.

 It would be the same for levels A and C as well.

Here is an introduction to the Student Intensive Continuation Courses.

Here is an excerpt from the Student Intensive Continuation Course Level B. (What we will be doing next.)

I would also like to mention a couple of other products that IEW carries.

I just purchased the Primary Arts of Language Reading program.


I just received this last week, so we are not that far into it, but so far we love it!

It is a combined phonics, and sight word program. It uses a lot of file folder games for the reinforcement that our children need. I just love it.

I won’t spend a lot of time on this product since this is not my review item, but I wanted to let you know about it. 
 


There is also an accompanying Writing Program that goes along with the Reading Program, but you can do them independently as well. I did not purchase this part, but I wanted to let you know it is here.


Another program that I am getting, but has not arrived yet, is their Phonetic Zoo.

I am extremely excited about this program as well. It is for older students, so I think it will be a great help to my daughter.

Well, I really hope you have enjoyed my review of IEW’s Student Writing Intensive, and a brief peek of a couple of their other products that I have purchased since trying out their SWI.

I hope you enjoy these products as much as I do, and that you will also share your enthusiasm with others as well.

P.S. Be sure to let me know if you decide to try any of these products!!!

Be sure to check out what my fellow Crew Mates thought of their IEW product also. Some of us had different ones!
 
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*I have received a copy of the Student writing Intensive Level B, free, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, in return for my honest opinion.
No other compensation has been given to me.*

7 comments:

Cristi said...

This is the second post I've read gushing about the new programs for beginning readers. I'm nearly convinced that I'll be ordering it to use with my youngest next year. As for the big kids, they're definitely going to be using IEW next year, and I fear my only regret will be not buying it sooner.

Rodna Allman said...

Kristi, I just got the program, but I have done a lot of research on these type of programs, and this is the only one I wanted to buy.
We have just started it, but LOVE it!

The only reason I don't regret not getting the Intensive sooner is that my daughter is at the perfect age to start it, but I will be continuing to use it, for sure.

I can let you know how we are liking the reading program the further we get into it, if you like.

I wrote a little about getting it here:
http://trainingchildrenupforchrist.blogspot.com/2011/05/primary-arts-of-language-iew.html

I am sure I will write more about it as we get further into it.

Jodi said...

Excellent review Rodna! I love how you included the videos and especially your statement about how you "can't mess it up". That's probably my favorite part about this program. :)

Catherine said...

We loved SWI-B. My review was pretty long, too.. but like you, I wanted to convey exactly how wonderful the program is.

My sons actually watched some DVDs "for fun" over the summer.

I IEW. - Catherine

Jennifer said...

We got level C, and yes, I was impressed. This fall, though, it is working even better combined with their US History Based Writing Lessons.

Our Homeschool Reviews said...

I think I've told you that we have SWI A but aren't using it until next semester. Can't wait!! Glad you like it! :)

Anonymous said...

So to use the SWI you don't need the Teaching Writing: Style and Structure DVD set? It's pricey, but the Style and Structure Overview DVD is only $10. Is the SSO DVD enough to know how to use the SWI? Thanks.

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