IEW vs Writing Strands (2026): two homeschool writing curricula compared

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)Nine structural models and stylistic techniques such as strong verbs, quality adjectives, and sentence openers, per the methods page

Writing StrandsA writing composition series that teaches grammar as you go, per the Writing Strands page

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)Primary (grades K-2), Level A (3-5), Level B (6-8), and Level C (9-12), per the writing products page

Writing StrandsBeginning 1 and 2 for 5th-8th grade, Intermediate 1 and 2 for 6th-9th grade, and Advanced 1 and 2 for 7th-10th grade, per the Writing Strands page

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)Video instruction for teachers and for students, per the methods page

Writing StrandsPaperback books with a companion book for teachers, per the Writing Strands page; Beginning 1 is also listed as an eBook

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)Students watch a video lesson and complete the assignment, repeated for twenty-four weeks, per the methods page

Writing Strands30 to 45 minutes per lesson, five days a week, per the Writing Strands page

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)Every Homeschool directory classification: faith-neutral

Writing StrandsThe publisher describes Bible-based literature study, and Advanced 2 studies The Pilgrim's Progress in depth, per the Writing Strands page

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level A Premier $289 as a forever-streaming course; the Year 2 Level A Basic course $169; the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar for teachers $189, per the writing products page

Writing Strands$31.19 for the paperback of each of the six levels, for example Beginning 1