IEW - Structure and Style

Recommended Grades: Grades 6th - 8th

Curriculum: IEW

Days and Times: September 3rd - December 15th -Mondays and Wednesdays: 9:00 - 10:15

Each Semester Covers Different Material - You can sign up for one or both

• First Semester: September 5th - December 15th

• Second Semester: Begins January 5th - April 22nd (No Classes the Week of MSBSD’s Spring Break)

Any classes that need to be made up as a group due to the instructor’s illness or snow days will be added to the end of the semester.

Cost: $922.50 - Includes all materials

Located: at 124 West Swanson Ave, Wasilla - Near Wonderland Park

Writing Through the Ages: Ancient History-Based Writing for Grades 6–8

In this class, students will learn about the ancient world while building strong, confident writers! In this engaging, theme-based course, students will explore key civilizations, legendary leaders, and world-changing events while learning to write with IEW’s proven Structure and Style method. From the pyramids of Egypt to the philosophers of Greece, your child will develop essential writing skills through captivating content drawn from ancient history and literature.

This course is perfect for middle school students ready to go deeper with their writing. We’ll cover all nine IEW writing units over a full academic year, with each semester offering new, age-appropriate material and skill progression.

What Your Student Will Learn

IEW’s method breaks writing into manageable, clear structures. Throughout this course, students will be introduced to and practice each of the following:

The 9 IEW Units:

1. Note Making and Outlines – Learn to identify key ideas and create structured outlines.

2. Writing from Notes – Turn outlines into well-formed paragraphs.

3. Retelling Narrative Stories – Understand story structure and learn how to retell stories with creativity.

4. Summarizing a Reference – Summarize nonfiction texts while avoiding plagiarism.

5. Writing from Multiple Sources – Combine information from several texts into a unified report.

6. Library Research Reports – Conduct light research and organize findings into a multi-paragraph report.

7. Creative Writing – Craft original stories with structure, style, and flair.

8. Essay Writing – Build strong, three-paragraph essays with clear introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions.

9. Formal Critiques – Learn how to express opinions and analyze literature respectfully and effectively.
   
   
   

Semester Breakdown

This full-year course is divided into two semesters, each building on the last to strengthen students’ writing stamina, structure, and style:

Semester 1

• Focus on Units 1–5

• Topics include ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, early mythology, and foundational world events

• Emphasis on note-taking, retelling, and summarizing

Semester 2

• Focus on Units 6–9

• Topics include classical Greece and Rome, famous ancient battles, early inventions, and literary critiques

• Emphasis on essay writing, reports, critiques, and original stories

You can sign up for one or both semesters. 

By the end of the year, students will not only have a deeper understanding of ancient history but also a toolbox of writing strategies they can carry into high school and beyond. Whether your student is already a confident writer or still developing their skills, this course offers an enriching, supportive way to grow

FAQ

How often should my child work on writing?

Every family has different schedules, but consistency is key to writing progress. I recommend that students work on their writing assignments a few times throughout the week, not just the night before class. In a traditional classroom, students write daily and often bring larger assignments home for extra support, and I encourage a similar approach.

Please check in with your child multiple times a week to see how they’re progressing. I know that writing can sometimes be a source of frustration between parents and kids, so don’t worry if it feels a little bumpy. One of my goals is to give feedback that students might be more open to hearing from a teacher than from a parent, but your support still matters a great deal. If your child is struggling with motivation, focus, or resistance, please reach out to me. Every child is different, and I’m happy to work with you to figure out what works best.

What if my child doesn’t want to write?

It’s very common for students to feel overwhelmed or discouraged by writing. If your child is resistant, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Sometimes, a slight adjustment, like changing where they work, giving them sentence starters, or breaking up the assignment, can make a big difference. I also do my best to create a safe, encouraging classroom where students feel empowered to take risks and improve over time.

Can I give my child feedback?

Absolutely, and I encourage you to do so! Writing is a process, and students benefit from hearing feedback from multiple people. Try to:

• Focus on one or two areas at a time

• Praise effort and growth, not just the final product

• Ask questions like, “What are you trying to say here?” or “Can you explain this part a bit more?”

I’ll also provide targeted feedback in class and via our rubric to help guide revisions.

Can I help my child with spelling?

Yes! Writing and spelling are processed in different areas of the brain, so struggling with one doesn’t mean your child can’t be a strong writer. If spelling is holding them back, please feel free to:

• Help them with tricky words

• Encourage them to use tools like a dictionary, spell check, Siri, or Alexa

These supports can help your child stay in the flow of writing instead of getting stuck on how to spell a single word.

Who is responsible for grades?

I will provide detailed feedback on your child’s writing assignments and suggest what grade I would assign based on a clear rubric. However, because we work with homeschool families, parents are ultimately responsible for recording and reporting final grades to your homeschool program or charter school.

This writing unit will be broken into two semesters, while not necessary, I do recommend signing up for both semesters to get the full benefits.

Registration: If you are associated with a homeschool program and would like me to bill the school directly, please put your homeschool in the PROMO code section of registration (the homeschool will be all one word, no spaces, and no characters). If you need to, you are welcome to email Matsulearnandisnpire@gmail.com to register.

I am a direct bill vendor with the following homeschool programs: Mat-Su Central, IDEA, CyberLynx, Raven, PACE, Twindly Bridge, Denali Peak, and Totem.

Disclaimer:

Please note that once you commit to attending the workshop, the cost will be deducted from your student's allotment. Workshop costs are refundable until 7 days before the event. Please contact me via email at Matsulearnandinsipire@gmail.com as soon as possible if you are unable to attend the workshop, and I will make every effort to fill your spot with another student and refund your allotment account. Thank you!

Below are links to the customer portal (if you have already created a user name on the booking site) and the link to register. If you decide to create a username and password, you will be able to log into the customer portal and see the classes you’ve signed up for, as well as the class schedule.