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Let’s be real, teaching writing in middle school isn’t always easy. That’s why I was so curious about IEW’s Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons. These middle school writing lessons don’t just cover the basics. These lessons pull kids into the world of pharaohs, warriors, and ancient events while teaching solid writing skills.
My family has used (and loved) IEW’s Structure and Style writing curriculum, grammar programs, and public speaking course over the years. I had seen the other writing lessons over the years and decided to finally request a copy of the Ancient History-Based Writing lessons to review (I am an IEW Ambassador, which is an affiliate).
Table of Contents
- A Little Background on IEW’s Writing Programs
- How This Middle School Writing Curriculum Works
- Final Thoughts on This Middle School Writing Curriculum
A Little Background on IEW’s Writing Programs
Before I delve too far into our experience, let me give you a quick overview of IEW’s writing curriculum in case you’re new to it.
The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) offers its main program called Structure and Style for Students. It comes in three levels:
- Level A – elementary
- Level B – middle grades
- Level C – high school
Each level gives you two full years of curriculum, which is great. But… you might be wondering, what do we use in the years in between?
That’s where the Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons come in. This one-year themed book (Ancient History is just one option) is designed to fill those gaps and keep your child writing consistently using the IEW method.
Since this particular one ties into history, it’s also a perfect add-on if your family is already studying Ancient History. Two subjects blend together without extra prep, which is a win!
If you’ve used Structure and Style before, you’ll notice a difference: these middle school writing lessons don’t include videos. Instead, they build on the same method and let you guide your child through the process.
Don’t panic!
To help you with the teaching, IEW has the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style video course and the Seminar Workbook.
So, even if you don’t know how to teach this writing method, you can learn. All along the way, the Ancient History writing lesson assignments tell you what you should watch in the teacher course to teach the week’s lessons.
Now let’s take a look inside this program.
{I received a complimentary product of this curriculum to write an honest review.}
How This Middle School Writing Curriculum Works
As I previously mentioned, unlike IEW’s Structure and Style for Students, these middle school writing lessons do not come with video classes. You’re the teacher. So, you need to know how to teach the IEW method.
Don’t worry, though, everything is laid out for you.
The course includes nine units with 30 weeks of lessons. That’s a full year of writing, with some wiggle room for breaks or time off.
Each week is clearly outlined with:
- Weekly goals
- Assignments for four days
- Mechanics rules to focus on
- Things to review
- Suggestions for literature
- Background history notes
The Teacher’s Manual gives you extra support, like:
- Tips for teaching each lesson
- Vocabulary help
- Sample Key Word Outlines
- Fun games
- Suggested answers
- And more
So, you’re never left guessing what to do.
The History in the History-Based Writing Lessons
Each lesson comes with a Source Text from Ancient History. Students use these short passages to practice new writing techniques.
Some of the engaging topics include:
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- The Trojan Horse
- Mayans and Chocolate
- Roman Chariots
- Pompeii
The stories are short enough to be manageable but interesting enough to keep kids engaged.
Over time, students build up their skills. First, students start by rewriting short passages from keyword outlines and eventually work their way up to research papers using MLA style.
Adapting the Program
One of my favorite things about this program is how flexible it is. Every student is different, and IEW makes it easy to adjust to individual needs.
And since this curriculum is designed for grades 6-8, it encompasses a wide range of abilities that you may be working with.
The main Source Text for the students includes a general passage that is not too complicated.
But, along with the Student Book, you’ll get access to online extras like:
- Advanced Work eBook (for kids who need an extra challenge with text and/or stylistic techniques)
- Simplified Source Text eBook (for kids who need shorter, easier passages)
This means you can teach all ability levels, whether your child is advanced, middle-of-the-road, or needs a bit more support. That makes this perfect for homeschool families, co-ops, or classrooms with mixed skill levels.
Vocabulary Study Included in the Middle School Writing Curriculum
Another perk is the vocabulary study that ties right into the history readings. Students don’t just read the words. They:
- Listen- Hear them read aloud
- Speak- Say them out loud
- Read definitions and example sentences
- Write
- Cut out and practice with vocab cards
Kids take quizzes that mix in both new and old words, so the vocabulary really sticks.
Grading Made Simple
IEW takes the stress out of grading. Each assignment comes with a checklist. Students use the checklists while writing to ensure they include all the requirements. As they write, they mark where they’ve included the required elements in their papers.
So, when they hand in their assignment, you just check the list and assign points based on whether they have the requirement or not.
It’s really that easy.
Checklists are in both the Student Book and the online files.
Extra Online Helps
The IEW dashboard gives you access to:
- Printable vocabulary cards
- Advanced and Simplified Source Texts
- Grading Checklists
- Student Exemplars (real student samples so your child can see what good writing looks like)
It’s nice to have so many extras right at your fingertips.
Final Thoughts on This Middle School Writing Curriculum
While this isn’t a history course, it’s a fantastic way to blend writing practice with Ancient History. The lessons are structured, engaging, and easy to follow. It’s perfect for parents who love IEW’s writing method, as kids follow the program while incorporating history.
What I loved most:
- Fun historical topics that kids will enjoy
- Clear structure that builds writing skills step by step
- Simple grading with checklists
- Adaptable for various ability levels in grades 6-8
- Vocabulary that actually connects to what kids are reading
- A teacher’s manual packed with support
- Great fit for classical homeschoolers
- Works beautifully as a follow-up to Structure and Style for Students
If you’re looking for middle school writing lessons that are meaningful, adaptable, and even fun, IEW’s Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons are worth a serious look. Be sure to check this out!
Happy Homeschooling!
That’s really cool for ancient history, and a great review! (Lori is a terrific lady too!)