IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
A structured writing method taught on video by Andrew Pudewa. Students outline model texts with key words, rewrite them in their own words, and add style techniques from checklists across nine structural units.
What is IEW?
IEW, the Institute for Excellence in Writing, is a writing method and publisher led by teacher Andrew Pudewa. Its core idea is that kids write better when they first learn structure and style by imitating good models. Students read a short source text, pull out three key words per sentence into an outline, then rewrite the passage in their own words from that outline. Style comes from checklists of techniques: "dress-ups" such as strong verbs and -ly adverbs, numbered sentence openers and, later, decorations.
How it works
Most homeschool families start with Structure and Style for Students (SSS). Mr. Pudewa teaches each weekly lesson on video, so the parent is not the main instructor. The typical week:
- Day 1: watch the video lesson and make a key-word outline.
- Days 2–3: write a draft from the outline and add checklist items.
- Day 4: revise and finish.
- Day 5: review or catch up.
Parents still matter. You check the checklist, grade the paper and give feedback. IEW recommends parents also watch Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS), an 11-hour seminar that teaches you the method. It comes in the Premier package.
IEW's nine structural units move from note-making and retelling stories to summarizing references, writing from pictures, research reports, creative writing, essays and critiques.
What it covers
| Course | Grades | What's new |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Level A | 3–5 | Units 1–7, dress-ups, sentence openers |
| Year 1 Level B | 6–8 | All nine units |
| Year 1 Level C | 9–12 | All nine units plus literary analysis |
| Year 2 Levels A–C | 3–12 | A second year at the same level |
| Year 3 Level B | 6–8 | A third year, including poetry |
Each course has 24 video lessons, a student packet, a binder and a teacher's manual.
Who it's best for
IEW shines with reluctant writers, kids who say "I don't know what to write," and parents who are unsure how to teach composition. It also works well in co-ops because the method scales across ages. Confident creative writers may chafe at the checklists. If you want a gentler, more relaxed approach, look at Brave Writer.
Pricing at a glance
Each SSS course costs $169 for Basic, $189 for Basic Plus with Fix It! Grammar, or $289 for Premier with the parent seminar. Extra student packets are $29. IEW backs everything with a no-time-limit satisfaction guarantee.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Writing curriculum is a common allowable expense in education savings account programs, but each program sets its own list. Start with scholarships and ESAs by state, or see Arizona's ESA and Florida scholarships. Save IEW to your Edulist wishlist, and you can apply once to every program that fits.
How it compares
- WriteShop is more hands-on and crafty in the early years, and the parent teaches it.
- Essentials in Writing is video-taught by grade at a lower price per year.
- Shurley English puts grammar first, with jingles and scripted lessons.
- Fix It! Grammar, also from IEW, is the usual grammar partner.
Browse more writing curriculum, middle school writing programs and classical homeschool curriculum.
Who IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Reluctant writers who need a clear starting point
- Parents who do not feel confident teaching or grading writing
- Co-ops and multi-age groups
- Classical homeschoolers who want models and imitation
Look elsewhere if
- Strong creative writers who resist checklists
- Families on a tight budget
- Parents who want an all-in-one language arts book with spelling and phonics
IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) pros and cons
Pros
- Concrete, repeatable process: key-word outline, rewrite, then add style
- Andrew Pudewa teaches the student courses on video
- Works across ages, so siblings and co-ops can share the method
- Forever Streaming access and a 100% satisfaction guarantee with no time limit
- Pairs with Fix It! Grammar for systematic grammar
Cons
- Packages cost $169–$289, more than most writing curricula
- Style checklists can feel formulaic and repetitive
- Parents still collect, grade and give feedback on each assignment
- Several product lines (SSS, TWSS, theme-based books) can be confusing at first
- Packages are sold as sets; no partial returns
What’s included
- Structure and Style for Students: 24 weekly video lessons per course
- Key-word outlines from model texts across nine structural units
- Style checklists: dress-ups, sentence openers and decorations
- Teaching Writing: Structure and Style parent seminar
- Forever Streaming access for the original purchaser
- 100% satisfaction guarantee with no time limit
IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Structure and Style for Students, Year 1 Level A | 3–5 | Units 1–7, dress-ups and sentence openers. IEW's FAQ lists grades 4–5; product pages say 3–5. |
| Structure and Style for Students, Year 1 Level B | 6–8 | All nine units with dress-ups and sentence openers for middle schoolers. |
| Structure and Style for Students, Year 1 Level C | 9–12 | All nine units plus literary analysis and response to literature, with decorations. |
| Year 2 courses (Levels A, B, C) | 3–12 | 24 more lessons for students who finished Year 1 at the same level. |
| Year 3 Level B | 6–8 | A third year for middle schoolers, including six poetry lessons. |
IEW has no test. Its FAQ says to place by reading level and writing experience, start at or below the student's level, and use the lower level for siblings working together. A chart helps returning IEW students pick the next course.
Official IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) placement test ↗How much does IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) cost?
Every Structure and Style for Students course comes in three packages. Basic ($169) has the teacher's manual, student packet, binder and 24 videos on Forever Streaming or DVD. Basic Plus ($189) adds Portable Walls and one level of Fix It! Grammar. Premier ($289, streaming only) also adds A Word Write Now and the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style parent seminar. The seminar alone is $189.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure and Style for Students, Basic | $169 | One-time | — |
| Structure and Style for Students, Basic Plus | $189 | One-time | — |
| Structure and Style for Students, Premier (streaming) | $289 | One-time | — |
| Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (parent seminar) | $189 | One-time | — |
| Extra Student Packet | $29 | One-time | — |
Free trial: No free trial. IEW posts sample lessons and offers a satisfaction guarantee instead.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Reviewers widely credit IEW with turning resistant writers into capable ones and with giving parents a system. The most common criticism is that the checklists feel formulaic, and some families find the price high.
Common praise
- Gives blank-page kids a clear process
- Video courses take teaching off the parent
- Builds parent confidence in grading writing
Common complaints
- Can feel formulaic and repetitive
- Expensive compared with workbook programs
- Needs steady parent follow-through
Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com · teaching writing structure and style writing seminar · homespunchildhood.com · iew a guide · homeschoolpicks.com · iew review
IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) family reviews
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IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) FAQs
Is IEW Christian or secular?
The core method and Structure and Style for Students courses are secular but Christian friendly. IEW also sells clearly marked Christian titles, such as Bible-based writing lessons, so check the label on theme-based books.
What is the difference between SSS and TWSS?
Structure and Style for Students (SSS) is video teaching for kids. Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) is a seminar that trains the parent. IEW suggests parents watch TWSS segments alongside SSS so they can grade and help.
Which IEW level should my child start with?
Place by reading level and writing experience, not just grade. Level A is for grades 3–5, Level B for 6–8 and Level C for 9 and up. When unsure, IEW says start at or below the current level.
How long does an IEW course take?
Each Structure and Style for Students course has 24 weekly video lessons. IEW's schedule spreads work over four days with a fifth day for review, and schools can stretch it to 30 weeks.
Does IEW have a refund policy?
Yes. IEW offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee with no time limit on everything it sells. Packages are sold as sets, so you cannot return just part of one.
Do I need Fix It! Grammar with IEW?
It is optional but common. The Basic Plus and Premier packages include one level of Fix It! Grammar, which covers grammar more systematically than the writing lessons do.
Can ESA or scholarship money pay for IEW?
Often, as writing curriculum, but each program decides. Save IEW to your Edulist wishlist and check your state's scholarship page for current rules.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- iew.com
- iew.com · faq
- iew.com · structure and style for students year 1 level a basic foreve
- iew.com · structure and style for students year 1 level a premier fore
- iew.com · teaching writing structure and style third edition forever s
- iew.com · structure and style for students year 3 level b basic foreve
- iew.com · sss b
- cathyduffyreviews.com · teaching writing structure and style writing seminar
- cathyduffyreviews.com · structure and style for students
- homespunchildhood.com · iew a guide
- homeschoolpicks.com · iew review