Curricula / IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
by Institute for Excellence in Writing
Project Homeschool Verdict
A structured, incremental writing program (the Pudewa method) that works for reluctant writers. It may not be the right fit if formulaic by design; can feel rigid; pricey.
At a glance
We publish a scored report card once a curriculum has 5+ verified reviews from homeschooling parents. Until then, here’s what we know — the facts above, and what parents report below.
Used it? Be the first to review →✓ Best fit if
families wanting a structured writing method that works for reluctant or struggling writers.
! The trade-off
Formulaic by design; can feel rigid; pricey.
✕ Not ideal for
families wanting creative/open-ended writing or low cost.
What parents say
- negativeOutput can feel template-y until students internalize it.
- negativeMaterials can be expensive.
- positiveThe parent/teacher training (TWSS) is praised.
- positiveAdaptable across ages and helpful for struggling writers.
- mixedThe structure/templates help, but some find them formulaic.
- positiveFrequently credited with finally getting reluctant writers to write.
Summarized from public discussions, attributed to their sources — not ProjectHomeschool reviews, and we never copy review text. How we use sentiment →
Compare alternatives
Most curriculum mistakes happen because a program sounds good in isolation. Similar options worth weighing:
Better if families wanting beautiful, faith-based, open-and-go, low-cost curriculum.
Watch for Math is gentle — not for families wanting advanced or rigorous math.
Better if Families wanting a gentle, creativity-forward writing approach.
Better if Early elementary writers needing gentle, structured foundations.
How confident are we?
5 publisher sources · 6 sentiment themes · 0 verified reviews · 4 source types
How sure we are
Some5 official + 1 independent/expert + 4 parent-discussion sources reviewed · 6 approved themes from what parents say.
ProjectHomeschool reviews: 0 — not enough yet
Last reviewed June 14, 2026.
How sure we are reflects the depth of curriculum data and what parents say that we’ve reviewed — not verified parent reviews, which take over as they accumulate.
Verified parent-review scores appear once we have enough first-party reviews. How we rank curriculum →
Help another family
Have you used IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)? Your honest review makes these rankings more trustworthy — and it’s moderated before publishing.
Get new parent reviews for IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
We'll email you when verified reviews or ranking updates land for the curricula you care about. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We use your email only to send what you asked for. No selling, no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
How we stay honest
No curriculum can pay to rank higher. Rankings come from curriculum data, parent feedback, and verified parent reviews — scored by how we rank curriculum. Some outbound links may be affiliate links; they neveraffect a curriculum’s score or position.
Researched by the founders of Project Homeschool — homeschool parents. About us →