Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Curriculum

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, and C2.  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 14-16, 21-23, 28-30

October 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28

November 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, Nov 30-Dec 2

December 7-9, 14-16

January 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27

February 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24

March 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24

April 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28

May 3-5

Make-up dates:  May 10-12, 17-19

Holidays:

Thanksgiving - November 23-25

Winter Break - December 21-23, 28-30

Spring Break - March 29-31

IEW grading policy

IEW courses record grades in order to measure student progress through the curriculum, as well as their readiness to move forward year-to-year.

Students are required to attend class weekly, participate in class, and complete all class assignments. Students will receive a grade report each trimester and an end-of-year evaluation.  

To advance to the next level of IEW, students must:

• complete assignments from all nine units (A1 from all 7 units) and
• receive an end-of-year average of 90% or greater 

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.  

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. 

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 30 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:

Tuesdays 5:30-6:45pm

or

Wednesdays 12:45-2:00pm for homeschoolers 

This class is for sixth and seventh graders who are just beginning their writing careers or who need reinforcement of core skills and concepts.    

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. 

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 30 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:

Tuesdays 6:45-8:00pm 

or

Wednesdays 11:30am-12:45pm for homeschoolers

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. 

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. 

**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 30 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:

Tuesdays 5:30-6:45pm

or

Wednesdays 10:15-11:30am for homeschoolers

SSS Level B2 is a course for eighth and ninth grade students who have taken B1.  This class will build on the skills learned in 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. 

**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 30 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:

Mondays 4:15-5:30pm

or

Wednesdays 9:00-10:15am for homeschoolers

This class is for students in grades 9-11 who have never taken IEW before. 

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. 

**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 30 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 for High School will meet:

Tuesdays 6:45-8:00pm

SSS Level B3 is a course for students in middle school to high school (eighth to tenth graders)

who have taken SSS- B2.  This class will build on the skills learned in 2B. 

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 

- Use MLA format

- write story and poetry critiques 

- edit their work for grammar, syntax, and usage 

 In this course, students will learn grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary through the Fix-It Grammar program.  

**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 B3 will meet:

Tuesdays 4:15-5:30pm

 SSS Level C1 is a course for students in high school (tenth-twelfth graders) who have taken SSS-B3. Students who have successfully completed B2 may also enroll with teacher approval. High school students who are new to IEW should enroll in Level B2 for High School.

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. 

****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 30 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 6:45-8:00pm

 This class is for high school students (tenth-twelfth graders) who have successfully completed SSS Level 1C. This class will build on the skills learned in C1 and help prepare students for college level writing.

In this course, students will learn to do the following:

- note taking methods and outlining formats

- study methods, strategies, and schedules

- writing thesis statements, summaries, and annotated bibliographies

- formal essay writing

- research report writing from multiple sources

- compare MLA, APA, and Chicago formats

- 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 learn grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary through the Fix-It Grammar program. 

**Please note- Level C2 is a rigorous course requiring research, writing, and homework. Students must be prepared to commit to the course load. 

Class sizes are limited to six students, so register early.

Tuition is $850.

We meet for 30 classes, 75 minutes each

Participation requires the IEW Level SSS C2 binder ($35) and Fix-It Grammar ($19). We will order these for students. All other materials are provided. 

IEW-SSS C2 will meet: 

Mondays 5:30-6:45pm