IEW Structure and Style for Students vs Writing Strands
The sharpest difference is faith content: IEW Structure and Style for Students is None, Writing Strands is Integrated. Three more attributes come apart too.
At a glance
IEW Structure and Style for Students
Grades 3-12
Owners report it suits
Struggling learnersWriting Strands
Grades 5-10
Both are reported to suit Reluctant learners and Multi-age families.
Skip to who fitsWhere they differ
| Attribute | IEW Structure and Style for Students | Writing Strands |
|---|---|---|
Prep load
?How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
Screen time
?How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
| Faith content | None | Integrated |
| Approach | Spiral | Blended |
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Reluctant learnersStruggling learnersMulti-age families | Reluctant learnersMulti-age families |
| Method | ClassicalStructured writing | — |
| Grades | 3-12 | 5-10 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Rigorboth on grade
- Parent involvementboth shared
- Independenceboth semi-independent
- Time commitmentboth 25 to 40 min
- Formatboth Workbook
- Used asboth Spine
How each one plays by grade
IEW Structure and Style for Students
Grades 3-12
Level A is roughly grades 3-5, B is 6-8, C is 9-12, and the same student can move up a level each year. Older beginners can start at A and accelerate.
Writing Strands
Grades 5-10
Placement is by writing ability more than grade, so the same book can fit a strong younger student or an older one depending on the reading list. Beginning covers grades 5-8, Intermediate 6-9, Advanced 7-10.
Cost
| Cost item | IEW Structure and Style for Students | Writing Strands |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169-289/course | ~$30-38/level |
| Consumable | Partial | Partial |
| Per child / year | ~$169-289 first child, less for siblings sharing the streaming license | ~$30-38/child, plus a one-time Teaching Companion |
What parents report
IEW Structure and Style for Students
Consistently praised
- Pudewa's videos are funny and hold kids' attention
- Checklists show exactly what earns the grade
- Structure gives nervous writers a way in
- Kids finish assignments without a parent hovering
- Streaming license carries over to siblings
Reported as challenges
- Dress-ups can feel mechanical and formulaic
- The nine units repeat from level to level
- Grammar coverage is thin, so many add Fix It
- The upfront price stings
Writing Strands
Consistently praised
- Friendly, humorous tone
- Motivates reluctant writers
- Gentle, steady progression
- Teaches story craft by doing
- Flexible reading list you choose
Reported as challenges
- Little formal grammar instruction
- Light on essay and research writing
- Parent picks and reads the books
- Current edition carries Bible content some families do not want
Who IEW Structure and Style for Students fits
A proven, structured method that walks a reluctant or anxious writer through every step, with video doing the teaching. Families wanting open-ended creative writing or a low-cost option will find it constraining.
Read the full IEW Structure and Style for Students entry Check price Institute for Excellence in WritingWho Writing Strands fits
A gentle composition-and-literature spine with a friendly voice, suited to reluctant writers and multi-age households working from one flexible series. Families needing heavy grammar, structured academic essays, an open-and-go scripted course, or a fully secular text will want something else.
Read the full Writing Strands entry Check price Master BooksSome links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes how a curriculum is described or scored.
Still deciding?
IEW Structure and Style for Students compared with
See all 7 IEW Structure and Style for Students comparisonsWriting Strands compared with
Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources together with each publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time. Both entries last reviewed August 2026.