Level B Year 3 (Grades 7-9)

This year 3 curriculum is designed to provide an added year of work in Level B for students who desire to practice applying the IEW methodology, want some unique writing topics, or need some composition practice before moving into Level C. With this course, most students should plan to spend 30-60 minutes a day, four days per week. This course is a great option for late middle school or freshmen students who need additional writing practice or who wish to include a focus on poetry in their studies.

Beginning at unit 3, each unit takes 2 weeks to complete, with assignments including retelling narratives, summarizing single and multiple references, writing from pictures, and inventive writing. Then, students spend 4 weeks working on a formal essay, and then create a formal critique. The course’s last 6 weeks turn students’ focus to analyzing and writing poetry, and then the year ends with a timed essay. The course construction follows the Structure and Style assignments and writing patterns that students should be familiar with, including lectures from Andrew Pudewa, applying the method’s writing rules and unique style modifications, notetaking, creating outlines, composing checklists, MLA format, and more. Each lesson in the Teacher’s Manual will ask the teacher to watch a correlating Teaching Writing with Structure and Style 2 video in preparation. Videos are available via Forever Streaming or DVD.

Assignments will build upon skills taught in previous years of Level B, while intensifying the challenge. For example, the summarizing references assignment will have students write about unsolved mysteries, summarizing multiple references that highlight inmates and failed (and potentially successful) escapes from Alcatraz prison. Subject matter spans a variety of content: from bigfoot to dinosaurs, Alcatraz to chimeras, Edward Lear to Homer.

Literature suggestions include Princess Mary’s Gift Book: A Spell for a Fairy; The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book 1: The Mysterious Howling; The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes; The Indian in the Cupboard; Children’s Homer; Journey to the Center of the Earth; The Merchant of Venice (or movie); and A Book of Nonsense. Purchase the Basic Package with Forever Streaming or DVD. Each student will need their own Binder and Student Packet. Additional Student Binders, Student Packets, and Teacher’s Manuals are sold separately. ~ Ruth