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2025-2026
Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Curriculum
Build a strong foundation in writing.
Writing effectively requires laying sturdy groundwork. Students who lack experience or struggle with writing may find it helpful to review and re-build foundational skills and concepts. The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) curriculum helps students practice core skills in order to build toward confidence and competency in writing.
All IEW classes are appropriate for homeschool, public, and private school students. IEW is a sequential curriculum, meaning that each level builds upon the previous level, gradually adding skills while practicing skills previously learned. Students progress through levels from their current point as follows: A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, C1. We have also added a High School to College Writing course. Please read on to find more information about our IEW classes.
Is IEW right for my child?
IEW is for students who are interested in becoming better essay writers. Students must be willing to participate in the lessons, and they must be motivated to practice skills by completing writing assignments and using feedback to make revisions. IEW is for students who learn well through structure, modeling, and repetition for mastery.
For students who need very focused instruction applied at a student's own pace, or who need help with specific school assignments, we recommend private tutoring instead. Please see our tutor referrals on the "Tutoring" link at the top of the screen. For students who are looking to grow a creative writing practice and try new kinds of writing, we recommend our enrichment workshops, camps, and Writers' Circle.
IEW classes meet in person only. No virtual option is available.
IEW classes meet on either Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays. Meeting dates for IEW classes are:
September 8/9/10, 15/16/17, 22/23/24, Sept 29/30, Oct 1
October 6/7/8, 13/14/15, 20/21/22, 27/28/29
November 3/4/5, 10/11/12, 17/18/19
December 1/2/3, 8/9/10, 15/16/17
January 5/6/7, 12/13/14, 19/20/21, 26/27/28
February 2/3/4, 9/10/11, 16/17/18, 23/24/25
March 2/3/4, 9/10/11, 16/17/18, 23/24/25
April 6/7/8, 13/14/15, 20/21/22, 27/28/29
May 4/5/6, 11/12/13
Holidays:
Thanksgiving - November 24/25/26
Winter Break - December 22/23/24, 29/30/31
Spring Break - March 30/31/April 1
IEW Structure and Style for Students Level A1
This class is for fifth and sixth graders who are just beginning their writing careers or who need reinforcement of core writing skills and concepts. Using the Level A course from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, the instructor will guide students through the basic structure of the core types of writing and get students on a path of confidence and proficiency. The course starts with the foundations of writing and builds gradually towards more independence, creativity, and sophistication. Through extensive modeling and guided practice, students learn to organize and express their ideas clearly and effectively, setting them on a course for lifelong competency.
In this course, students learn the following structural models:
- note taking
- paragraph writing
- story writing
- simple report writing
- writing from pictures
- research reports
- inventive writing
In this course, students will also learn grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary through the Fix-It
Grammar program. Weekly, students will have a short grammar homework assignment.
**Students in Level A1 will be assigned homework regularly. Please note that each IEW level is a complete year-long writing curriculum. Each level requires weekly attendance in class and weekly homework. It can be easy to fall behind or become overwhelmed if a student misses class often or is not motivated to do the required work.
Class sizes are limited to six students, so register early.
Tuition is $850.
We meet for 32 classes, 75 minutes each
Participation requires the IEW Level SSS 1A binder ($35) and Fix-It Grammar ($19). We will order these for students. All other materials are provided.
IEW-SSS A1 will meet Wednesdays 9:45-11:00am for homeschoolers OR Wednesday evenings 4:15-5:30pm.
IEW Structure and Style for Students Level A2
This class is for sixth and seventh graders who are just beginning their writing careers or who need reinforcement of core skills and concepts. Using the Level A course from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, the instructor will guide students through the basic structure of the core types of writing and get students on a path of confidence and proficiency. The course starts with the foundations of writing and builds gradually towards more independence, creativity, and sophistication. Through extensive modeling and guided practice, students learn to organize and express their ideas clearly and effectively, setting them on a course for lifelong competency.
In this course, students learn the following structural models:
- note taking
- paragraph writing
- story writing
- simple report writing
- writing from pictures
- research reports
- inventive writing
In this course, students will also learn grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary through the Fix-It
Grammar program. Weekly, students will have a short grammar homework assignment.
**Students in Level A2 will be assigned homework regularly. Please note that each IEW level is a complete year-long writing curriculum. Each level requires weekly attendance in class and weekly homework. It can be easy to fall behind or become overwhelmed if a student misses class often or is not motivated to do the required work.
Class sizes are limited to six students, so register early.
Tuition is $850.
We meet for 32 classes, 75 minutes each
Participation requires the IEW Level SSS 2A binder ($35) and Fix-It Grammar ($19). We will order these for students. All other materials are provided.
IEW-SSS A2 will meet Tuesday evenings 5:30-6:45pm OR Wednesdays 11:00am-12:15pm for homeschoolers.
IEW Structure and Style for Students Level B1
SSS B1 is a course for seventh and eighth graders just starting their writing careers or who need reinforcement of core writing skills and concepts. Younger students who have completed SSS 2A may also transition into SSS B1.
In this course, students will learn to do the following:
-note taking, outlining, writing summaries
-use a variety of stylistic techniques including sophisticated vocabulary, complex sentence structure, and grammar
- retell narrative stories and write from pictures
- write research reports from multiple sources
- write formal essays
- write story and poetry critiques
- edit their work for grammar, syntax, and usage
In this course, students will also learn grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary through the Fix-It
Grammar program. Weekly, students will have a short grammar homework assignment.
**Students in Level B1 will be assigned homework regularly. Please note that each IEW level is a complete year-long writing curriculum. Each level requires weekly attendance in class and weekly homework. It can be easy to fall behind or become overwhelmed if a student misses class often or is not motivated to do the required work.
Class sizes are limited to six students, so register early.
Tuition is $850.
We meet for 32 classes, 75 minutes each
Participation requires the IEW Level SSS B1 binder ($35) and Fix-It Grammar ($19). We will order these for students. All other materials are provided.
IEW-SSS B1 will meet Monday evenings 4:15-5:30pm OR Wednesdays 12:15-1:30pm for homeschoolers.
IEW Structure and Style for Students Level B2
This class is for eighth and ninth graders who are starting their writing careers or who need reinforcement of core writing skills and concepts. Younger students who have successfully completed Level B1 may also transition to 2B. This class will build on the skills learned in B1 as outlined below. Students will also learn grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary through the Fix-It Grammar program. Weekly, students will have a short grammar homework assignment.
In this course, students will learn to do the following:
-note taking, outlining, writing summaries
-use a variety of stylistic techniques including sophisticated vocabulary, complex sentence structure, and grammar
- retell narrative stories and write from pictures
- write research reports from multiple sources
- write formal essays
- write story and poetry critiques
- edit their work for grammar, syntax, and usage
**Students in Level B2 will be assigned homework regularly. Please note that each IEW level is a complete year-long writing curriculum. Each level requires weekly attendance in class and weekly homework. It can be easy to fall behind or become overwhelmed if a student misses class often or is not motivated to do the required work.
Class sizes are limited to six students, so register early.
Tuition is $850.
We meet for 32 classes, 75 minutes each
Participation requires the IEW Level SSS B2 binder ($35) and Fix-It Grammar ($19). We will order these for students. All other materials are provided.
IEW-SSS B2 will meet Tuesdays 4:15-5:30pm.
IEW Structure and Style for Students Level B3
SSS Level 3B is a course for students in middle school to high school (eighth to tenth graders)
who have taken SSS- B2. Students in high school (ninth to tenth graders) who have never taken IEW classes and who would benefit from a very structured and modeled writing curriculum and
who are also not quite ready for the rigor of SSS-C1 should consider SSS- B3.
In this course, students will learn to do the following:
-note taking, outlining, writing summaries
-use a variety of stylistic techniques including sophisticated vocabulary, complex sentence structure, and grammar
- retell narrative stories and write from pictures
- write research reports from multiple sources
- write formal essays
- write story and poetry critiques
- edit their work for grammar, syntax, and usage
**Students in Level B3 will be assigned homework regularly. Please note that each IEW level is a complete year-long writing curriculum. Each level requires weekly attendance in class and weekly homework. It can be easy to fall behind or become overwhelmed if a student misses class often or is not motivated to do the required work.
Class sizes are limited to six students, so register early.
Tuition is $850.
We meet for 32 classes, 75 minutes each
Participation requires the IEW Level SSS B3 binder ($35) and Fix-It Grammar ($19). We will order these for students. All other materials are provided.
IEW-SSS B2 will meet Tuesdays 6:45-8:00pm.
IEW Structure and Style for Students Level C1
SSS C1 is a course for tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students who would benefit from a very structured and modeled writing curriculum. Ninth and tenth graders who have completed SSS B2 or B3 may also transition into SSS C1 with teacher approval.
In this course, students will learn to do the following:
-note taking, outlining, writing summaries
-use a variety of advanced stylistic techniques including sophisticated vocabulary, complex
sentence structure, and grammar
- retell narrative stories, write from pictures, and write creatively
- write research reports from multiple sources
- learn MLA format
- write formal essays
- write story, poetry, book, and movie critiques
- write response to literature essays
- edit their work for grammar, syntax, and usage
In this course, students will also learn grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary through the Fix-It
Grammar program. Weekly, students will have a short grammar homework assignment.
****Level C1 is a rigorous course requiring much writing and homework. Students must be prepared to commit to the course load. Please note that each IEW level is a complete year-long writing curriculum. Each level requires weekly attendance in class and weekly homework. It can be easy to fall behind or become overwhelmed if a student misses class often or is not motivated to do the required work.
Class sizes are limited to six students, so register early.
Tuition is $850.
We meet for 32 classes, 75 minutes each
Participation requires the IEW Level SSS C1 binder ($35) and Fix-It Grammar ($19). We will order these for students. All other materials are provided.
IEW-SSS C1 will meet Mondays 5:30-6:45pm.
High School to College Writing
High School to College Writing is a course for students in high school (eleventh-twelfth graders) who have taken SSS- C1 and for those wanting to further prepare for university level writing.
In this course, students will learn:
- note taking methods and outlining formats
- study methods, strategies, and schedules
- writing summaries, abstracts, thesis statements, and annotated bibliographies
- formal essay writing
- research report writing from multiple sources
- review MLA format; learn APA format
- personal essays and college application essays
- use a variety of advanced stylistic techniques including sophisticated vocabulary, complex
sentence structure, and grammar
- edit their work for grammar, syntax, and usage
In this course, students will also learn grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary through the Fix-It Grammar program. Weekly, students will have a short grammar homework assignment.
This course will use materials from IEW University-Ready Writing, Structure and Style for Students Level C2, and more.
****HS-Coll Writing is a rigorous course requiring much writing and homework. Students must be prepared to commit to the course load. Please note that each IEW level is a complete year-long writing curriculum. Each level requires weekly attendance in class and weekly homework. It can be easy to fall behind or become overwhelmed if a student misses class often or is not motivated to do the required work.
Class sizes are limited to six students, so register early.
Tuition is $850.
We meet for 32 classes, 75 minutes each
Participation requires a materials fee ($35) and Fix-It Grammar ($19). We will order these for students. All other materials are provided.
IEW-High School to College Writing will meet Mondays 6:45-8:00pm.