Canadian History-Based Writing Lessons Teacher/Student Combo (2nd Edition)

Based on specific topics or on events in history, IEW’s theme-based writing lessons (same grade-range levels as the SSS) offer comprehensive, almost scripted instruction. All necessary source texts have been developed for busy parents and teachers like you. An IEW veteran and aficionado myself, I couldn't conceive of anything more complete than what is provided here. All necessary source texts are provided and are reproducible for one parent/one homeschool. Some courses (particularly the Hillsdale College K12-connected courses) provide suggested reading lists. Clear assignments (sometimes differentiated between levels) along with a checklist aid both the student in preparation and the parent in grading. These are also designed to be used by the student to work on throughout the week. Based on specific topics or events in various segments of history, the lessons include grammar exercises, vocabulary development, quizzes, and games for review and reinforcement – along with the writing instruction, of course.

In all lessons, students are encouraged to polish their final draft, perhaps even adding illustrations. At the end of each course the student will have a personal portfolio collection of poems, stories, reports, essays and research papers. Lessons are taught at the beginning of each week allowing the rest of the week for students to complete the assignment which they should be able to do on their own. Teacher preparation is minimal. (Do I hear an emphatic "Yes!"?)

The courses are targeting a progressively more competent student with the assumption that students are working through the courses according to suggested grade levels. Therefore, there is an increasing complexity to the instructions, expectations, and assignments. Accordingly, teachers are encouraged to be flexible with plans. The beginning writer may need to spend more than the suggested week on difficult lessons or omit some of the grammar. Mature students may move more quickly to allow time for additional research writing and/or more creative essay writing.

Many of these courses can be used equally well within a homeschool with several different aged students and all can be used in a co-op/support school setting with more grade-specific groupings of students. It's assumed that parents/teachers have completed or have access to Teaching Writing Structure & Style (TWSS), IEW's seminar for parents and teachers.

Except for Bible Heroes, courses include both a Teacher and a Student Book. Both books are necessary as the course is designed to be interactive between the teacher and student. Teachers should plan to read over the lessons with the students and help as necessary, especially with specific tasks such as outlining and brainstorming. ~ Janice/Ruth

Based on specific topics or on events in history, these sets of writing lessons (same grade-range levels as the SSS) offer comprehensive, almost scripted instruction. All necessary source texts have been developed for busy parents and teachers like you. An IEW veteran and aficionado myself, I couldn't conceive of anything more complete than what is provided here. Each lesson offers comprehensive (just short of totally scripted) instruction. All necessary source texts are provided and are reproducible for one parent/one homeschool. Clear assignments (sometimes differentiated between levels) along with a checklist to aid both the student in preparation and the parent in grading. These are also designed to be used by the student to work on throughout the week. Based on specific topics or events in various segments of history, the lessons include grammar exercises, vocabulary development, quizzes, and games for review and reinforcement - along with the writing instruction, of course.

In all lessons students are encouraged to polish their final draft perhaps even adding illustrations. At the end of each course the student will have a personal portfolio collection of poems, stories, reports, essays and research papers. Lessons are taught at the beginning of each week allowing the rest of the week for students to complete the assignment which they should be able to do on their own. Teacher preparation is minimal. (Do I hear an emphatic "Yes!"?)

The courses are targeting a progressively more competent student with the assumption that students are working through the courses according to suggested grade levels. Therefore, there is an increasing complexity to the instructions, expectations, and assignments. Accordingly, teachers are encouraged to be flexible with plans. The beginning writer may need to spend more than the suggested week on difficult lessons or omit some of the grammar. Mature students may move more quickly to allow time for additional research writing and/or more creative essay writing.

Many of these courses can be used equally well within a homeschool with several different aged students and all can be used in a co-op/support school setting with more grade-specific groupings of students. It's assumed that parents/teachers have completed Teaching Writing Structure & Style (TWSS), IEW's DVD seminar for parents and teachers.

Some courses have both a Teacher and a Student Book. In these courses, instruction for the teacher is more extensive and both books are necessary as the course is designed to be interactive between the teacher and student. Teachers should plan to read over the lessons with the students and help as necessary, especially with outlining and brainstorming. A roll of tickets (available at office supply stores) is optional but very useful for encouragement and motivation. ~ Janice

While this course’s title implies a live-in-Canada-only demographic, any English-writing student will find these topics thoroughly engaging. Lessons revolve around fascinating subjects such as famous explorers (such as Cabot and Cartier) and the invention of the bombardier, and other high-interest topics such as hockey, the fur trade, gold rush, and D-Day. While history-focused, the 4-days-per week lessons won’t replace a history curriculum but instead will add an avenue for students to apply the IEW approach, strengthening their writing skills (writing from notes; summarizing single and multiple references; writing about personal significant events; creating formal essays; as well as critiquing and responding to literature). Included in the student text are blue cards to cut out with specific vocabulary. Test students’ acquisition of these words via 6 vocabulary quizzes. Additionally, IEW recommends additional fiction selections to correspond with this course: The Klondike Cat; My Canada Goose Summer; The Broken Blade; When the Cherry Blossoms Fell; Banished from Our Home; Hatchet; Brothers in Arms; Defend or Die; Canada’s Wars: An Illustrated History; and The Spirit of Canada: Canada’s Story in Legends, Fiction, Poems, and Songs. Appendixes in the student and teacher books include help in mechanics MLA formatting, a literary critique thesaurus, and the full text of short stories The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen and The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant. The publisher notes that this course can be used to teach younger and older grades using tips provided in the Simplified Source Texts and Advanced Additions PDF downloads. This course requires the consumable Student Text and the Instructor Guide, or purchase these two as a package. ~ Ruth