We invite young and new writers to begin their journey
with us by taking an IEW class.
The Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Structure and Style method meets the range of needs that early writers face in developing their skills. The program lays a solid foundation for students to build upon so they are ready to meet the demands of writing in the later years of their education.
In our IEW classes, students learn nine structural models to help them organize any type of composition. The early units focus on word acquisition and creating usable outlines, while the remaining units explore narrative, expository, and essay writing. The system is hierarchical, with each unit building on skills learned in the previous one. In addition, students learn stylistic techniques (strong verbs, quality adjectives, sentence openers, literary devices, and more) which are taught incrementally to move students from the basics into more sophisticated writing.
The program’s emphasis on text reconstruction accommodates for the difficulty that younger writers typically face in deciding what to write about or say. Because each lesson guides students through the distinct stages of the writing process, students develop an awareness of the habits and practices required to produce strong writing.
Students typically benefit from 2-4 years of IEW lessons before progressing to the Lost Tools of Writing programming.
We teach using IEW’s theme-based books, which contain interdisciplinary lessons for Grades 2+.
To learn more about the IEW method, see:
2023-24 Group IEW Classes
Adventures in Writing (Grade 3) — From famous rivers to to fascinating animals to timeless fables, explore what makes our planet such a fascinating place to inhabit. Mondays 4:45-5:45p ET, taught by Mrs. Rebekah
Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales (Grades 4-5) — Get to know the cunning creatures, mythical beasts, and fabled heroes behind classic tales of children’s literature. Thursdays 6:15-7:15p ET, taught by Mrs. Rebekah
Wonders of Science (Grade 6-7) — Explore science-themed content ranging from fascinating insects to revolutionary inventions to famous scientists. Taught only in private classes for the 2023-24 academic year
Ancient History (Grade 6-7) — Do we owe plumbing to the Romans? Who invented chocolate? What is the curse of the pharaohs? Find out as you uncover the wonders of the ancient world. Mondays 5:30-6:30p ET, taught by Ms. Sydney Hoff + RWC Team
U.S. History (Grade 8) — Go beyond mere names, facts, and dates to discover the stories behind the people and events that have shaped American history. Tuesdays 4:15-5:15p ET taught by Ms. Sydney Hoff
Modern World History (Grade 8) — Experience world history through cultural literature and the study of famous people and events. Taught only in private classes for the 2023-24 academic year
Group Class Information
Class Size: 6
Duration: September 11, 2023 to June 21, 2024
Breaks: No class will be held November 20-24, December 25-January 5, February 19-23, April 8-12
Tuition: $25 registration fee for new students; tuition is $2340, payable in four installments of $585 each. You may pay in full for a 5% discount.
Materials: Students will need the IEW workbook and a copy of IEW’s Portable Student Walls (approximately $50 total).
The minimum enrollment required for our group courses is four (4) students. Rose Writing Center reserves the right to cancel this course in the event that fewer than four students enroll. Students enrolled in a canceled course will be duly notified and may choose to either receive a full refund or transfer to another course by Rose Writing Center.
In 2013, Ms. Lauren Bridgeford graduated with a BA in Languages, Literature, and Criticism from Hunter College. She has also obtained her DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification from Cambridge University. Currently, Ms. Bridgeford is a Registered Instructor accredited by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and she is pursuing her master’s degree in Secondary Education.
In 2013, Ms. Lauren Bridgeford graduated with a BA in Languages, Literature, and Criticism from Hunter College. She has also obtained her DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification from Cambridge University. Currently, Ms. Bridgeford is a Registered Instructor accredited by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and she is pursuing her master’s degree in Secondary Education.
Deanna Heikkinen has been privately teaching writing as well as history, literature, and art history to students grades 2-12 for over six years. Prior to that, she was a tenured professor of humanities at Los Angeles Valley College with a focus on teaching the Great Books of Western Civilization. Additionally, she taught world history, western civilization, Native American history, and anthropology at the college level. Whether teaching elementary, middle, or high schoolers for Rose Writing Center, Deanna's diverse background allows her to serve as our test prep, academic support, and custom lesson specialist.
