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Two homeschool language arts programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: what each one teaches, how your child feels about writing, and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| WriteShop | IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | K–12th | 3rd–12th |
| Covers | writing | writing |
| Approach | Structured incremental writing, learn-practice-do | Video-based, structured writing method |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches | The program does the teaching |
| Parent prep | Moderate to high (teacher's guide required) | Moderate (watch video lessons together, grade written work) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | A mix of screen and paper |
| Video lessons | Not yet checked | Included: video lessons are the core teaching method |
| Faith | No religious content | No religious content |
| Cost | Primary A Set (Grade 1) $45.72; Junior sets run $137-138 | Basic package (with videos) $169; Premier (+parent training) $289; Student Packet ~$50 |
| Parents love |
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| Common complaints |
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Parents of reluctant writers like how the brainstorming and pre-writing activities break the blank-page fear before a child ever has to compose a full piece, building skill incrementally through each level. It asks for significant parent involvement and a teacher's guide is essential (not optional), and cost climbs noticeably at the Junior and upper levels.
Parents value how the video instructor takes over the teaching: Andrew Pudewa walks through nine structural writing models that get applied to any subject, so the same method works for a history report or a science summary. The most common frustration is that the nine models repeat across levels, which some kids find formulaic, and the cost adds up once you add Fix It! Grammar and student packets.
Neither is better for every child. WriteShop is the stronger fit for reluctant or avoids it; mostly offline; confident. IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) is the stronger fit for video lessons a big plus; video lessons nice to have; rusty.
WriteShop: writing. IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing): writing.
WriteShop: Primary A Set (Grade 1) $45.72; Junior sets run $137-138. IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing): Basic package (with videos) $169; Premier (+parent training) $289; Student Packet ~$50.
Summaries are in our own words.