Questions Related to Structure and Style® for Students
or
General Online Class Questions
- Which level is right for my student?
- Which class is right for my student?
- Can my student submit a previous assignment for the SSS-2A or SSS-2B online class placement test?
- What is being taught in the live classes that is not on the videos?
- What materials are needed?
- Is curriculum included in the tuition price?
- What is the schedule for the semester?
- What is the cost?
- Do my students have to know IEW, or must they have taken a class to be able to take IEW online courses?
- How much parental involvement is required?
- Do I have to attend class with my students?
- How are assignments submitted and returned?
- How much and how often will the instructor give feedback on my student's papers?
- If both of my students are taking the same class, do they both need separate computers?
- Is my student required to attend class? What if we can’t make it due to vacation or sickness?
- What if the IEW Online Course doesn’t work for our family? Can we get a refund?
- My child is on a waiting list. Is there any chance you will open additional course sections?
- How much time will I need to schedule each day for my student to be successful with their online class?
- How long are the classes?
1. Which level is right for my student?
If your student is performing at or above grade level, use these guidelines:
- For students in grades 4-6 (ages 9–12),
with no IEW experience or in need of review - enroll in SSS-1A
or with strong IEW experience from Level 1A - enroll in SSS-2A (placement test required).
- For students in grades 6-9 (ages 12–15),
with no IEW experience or in need of review - enroll in SSS-1B
or with strong IEW experience from Level 1B - enroll in SSS-2B (placement test required).
- For students in grade 10 or higher (ages 15+),
with no IEW experience or in need of review
or with strong IEW experience from Level 2B - enroll in SSS-1C.
Please note that our IEW Online Classes are not equipped to accommodate students with special needs. We do not recommend IEW Online Classes for students younger than nine years old.
2. Which class is right for my student?
See above based for age-level guidelines.
3. Can my student submit a previous assignment for the SSS-2A or SSS-2B online class placement test?
No, students must submit a new assignment following the specific guidelines given on the placement test. The ability to follow directions is an important part of the placement test.
4. What is being taught in the live classes that is not on the videos?
Students who take online classes from IEW benefit in four ways:
- With engaging instruction from qualified instructors, students receive live teaching that reinforces and provides added insight into the video instruction.
- Through the live classes, students benefit from lively interaction with other students while receiving direction and accountability for composition and grammar assignments.
- The online video classes add a year of Fix It! Grammar, including tips and accountability in class.
- Perhaps most importantly, students receive timely and helpful feedback on every written composition they submit.
All of the online classes for fall 2022 and following will be using Structure and Style for Students.
6. Is curriculum included in the tuition price?
No, required curriculum is a separate expense.
7. What is the schedule for the semester?
Classes meet one day a week for fifteen weeks per semester, with each course lasting two semesters, with occasional breaks for holidays. You can see the academic calendar here.
Tuition varies primarily due to the amount of time needed to evaluate longer assignments at the higher levels.
Level A Classes: $265 per 15-week semester, $530 per year
Level B Classes: $299 per 15-week semester, $598 per year
Level C Classes: $329 per 15-week semester, $658 per year
9. Do my students have to know IEW, or must they have taken a class to be able to take IEW online courses?
No, students in Year 1 classes are not expected to know our method prior to enrolling in our online classes.
10. How much parental involvement is required?
Parents are to remain the primary educators in their student’s coursework. This means keeping their student on task during class time, reading every assignment before it is turned in (especially with Levels A and B), and ensuring that coursework is properly submitted.
11. Do I have to attend class with my students?
Parents of Level A students should plan to attend class with their students for two or more class sessions. This is also recommended for older students, but may be unnecessary.
12. How are assignments submitted and returned?
We use a learning management system called IEW Toolbox. Students upload their papers through this online tool. Instructors download these papers, mark, and comment as needed, and then they re-upload the document to the student’s account. See more information here.
13. How much and how often will the instructor give feedback on my student's papers?
Our instructors give feedback on all written compositions and return papers to students within one week of submission.*
*Instructors may choose not to accept late papers.
14. If both of my students are taking the same class, do they both need separate computers?
Yes, each student must have access to his or her own computer*.
* Please keep in mind that classroom interaction is limited when using a mobile device to attend class.
15. Is my student required to attend class? What if we can’t make it due to vacation or sickness?
All classes are recorded, so students who miss classes can access the recorded sessions.
16. What if the IEW Online Course doesn’t work for our family? Can we get a refund?
Yes, when you call the office to cancel the class, IEW will refund a percentage of your tuition, prorated based on the number of weeks classes have occurred.
Please note: The prorating begins once the parent has called the office. If you do not call the office to cancel the class, you will be charged for the weeks that you had access to the recorded classes.
17. My child is on a waiting list. Is there any chance you will open additional course sections?
No, we are not able to open any more sections at this time.
18. How much time will I need to schedule each day for my student to be successful with their online class?
IEW Online classes integrate our video and printed materials with a live session with a teacher once per week. In general, an average day of work will last about 30–45 minutes. Of course, this will always vary, depending on the student's needs. There will be roughly 30 minutes of video or writing time plus 10–15 minutes for Fix It! Grammar. Middle and high school students will likely need some additional time for the more extensive compositions later in the year. On the day of the student's live class, they will spend about one hour online as the teacher guides them through that day's complete lesson.
Classes meet for one hour once a week.
Questions Related to Structure and Style® for Students
- Please explain the letters and the numbers: SSS-1A, SSS-1B, SSS-1C.
- What is the purpose of the Online class if the student will be watching Mr. Pudewa’s recorded class every week?
- What level should I enroll my student in next year?
- What Fix it! Grammar book will my student need?
- Will the online classes now be twelve weeks a semester to correspond to the twenty-four weeks of videos?
1. Please explain the letters and the numbers: SSS-1A, SSS-1B, SSS-1C.
SSS is an acronym for Structure and Style for Students. The number 1 indicates Year 1. The letters A, B, and C indicate the level. In general, the material in A is written for upper elementary students, ages 8-11. The material in B is for middle school students, ages 12-14. The material in C is for high school students, ages 15 and up. Online classes will be adjusting those ages and grades to match the more rigorous homework schedule that Online students will be working with. (See #3 below.)
2. What is the purpose of the Online class if the student will be watching Mr. Pudewa’s recorded class every week?
Your students will actively participate while watching the recorded classes taught by Mr. Pudewa. For example, Mr. Pudewa reads the source text and begins the KWO on the board. The video will say, "Pause the video and complete the next paragraph of..." Students will then follow his directions for completing homework. In many ways, the recording becomes the “parent helper” in the home for completing assignments.
What IEW customers appreciate most about current online instruction will not change. By enrolling in online classes, students will continue to have immediate access to their teacher via Toolbox and will continue to receive feedback on every paper they write. In class, teachers will review the material Mr. Pudewa presented and then build on it to help students learn how to incorporate various concepts in their own writing. Additionally, the new SSS Online classes will allow for more time to discuss Fix It! Grammar lessons, which will help students better understand grammar and punctuation as well as dress-ups and openers.
3. What level should I enroll my student in next year?
For students in grades 4-6 (ages 9–12),
- with no IEW experience or in need of review - enroll in SSS-1A
- or with strong IEW experience from Level 1A - enroll in SSS-2A (placement test required).
For students in grades 6-9 (ages 12–15),
- with no IEW experience or in need of review - enroll in SSS-1B
- or with strong IEW experience from Level 1B - enroll in SSS-2B (placement test required).
For students in grade 10 or higher (ages 15+),
- with no IEW experience or in need of review
- or with strong IEW experience from Level 2B - enroll in SSS-1C.
Of course, the grade levels listed are just a starting point. Current IEW Online parents should contact their child’s teacher if there is any question about placement.
4. What Fix it! Grammar book will my student need?
- Fix It! Grammar levels to be used with each course will be announced upon registration and on the curriculum page.
Since our philosophy at IEW is spiral learning, it is not a drawback if your child repeats a Fix It! story. Those who are reviewing a story will become more independent in their work. In fact, reviewing the same concepts with a familiar story will take the students to a mastery level more quickly. Of course, those who are using a story for the first time will most likely need more help from a parent.
5. Will the online classes now be twelve weeks a semester to correspond to the twenty-four weeks of videos?
No, online classes will continue to offer thirty weeks of instruction, fifteen each semester. These additional weeks give online teachers time to expand on specific concepts.
