Modern History-Based Writing, 6th-8th, 2025-2026

Modern History-Based Writing (grades 6th-8th or grade 9 remedial--no previous IEW experience required)

Times and dates subject to change if you purchase this class before April 1st, 2025.

Mondays @ 10:25-11:20am CST

1st semester September 8th-December 1st; no class on 10/13.

2nd semester January 5th-March 23rd.

After purchasing this class, you will receive downloadable instructions via email.

Required Materials

• Modern History-Based Writing student text
• Portable Walls for Structure and Style Students (one copy per student-usable by all students in all levels, so you will not need to repurchase next year)
• Strengthening Structure Models for IEW Structural Units (You'll only ever need one copy unless siblings take different classes simultaneously-usable by all students in all levels.)
  

The purchase of this product will entitle one student to attend and participate in live instructional classes.

Grading Options:

• Grade at home on your own (especially good for experienced IEW parents)
• Sign up for recurring, private 15-minute lessons (via Zoom) for the duration of the class (available here)
• Sign up for the Modern Workshop for live grading in a group setting
• Purchase a grading package (covers 24 assignments). Students will not meet with a teacher to grade; they will just receive written feedback on their papers.

This themed writing unit is a wonderful option for new or remedial learners. Because of its methodical approach and the use of checklists, it works equally well for enthusiastic and reluctant writers.

IEW produces a highly acclaimed writing method that benefits both reluctant and eager writers, and everyone in between! Susan Barton recommends it for dyslexic students as well. While all students benefit from parental involvement, children with learning challenges will need extra parental support at home; I suggest these parents attend classes alongside their children.

The organization of materials is highly logical and uses the mastery approach: EZ+1. Students refer to checklists throughout so that everyone has the tools to achieve 100% on every assignment. (See Grading Options, above).

For this special course, the instructor will advance at the pace of the students, taking longer with some assignments if necessary. The result is that some groups of students will not entirely finish the book, but they will still be prepped to begin a new class next year. The ultimate goal is mastery of presented skills, not 100% completion of the course.

Amy Bell is a registered IEW instructor. You can see Amy's instructor page on IEW's website by clicking here.

To make sure our teaching philosophy aligns with yours, please review the following articles before signing up for classes: Letter to Parents, Our Teaching Philosophy, The 4 Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing.

Online classes meet via Zoom.

No refunds unless the class is canceled. If a student is unable to complete the class for some reason, they will still have access to the videos. :)