Fix It! Grammar

Institute for Excellence in Writing Grades 3-12 4th Edition Updated August 2026

Who it fits

Short, applied grammar tied to a story, and the natural companion for families already using IEW writing. Kids who need diagramming, a multisensory approach, or a fast pace with little review should keep looking.

How it scores

Rigor
?

How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1gentle, below grade
  2. 2relaxed
  3. 3on grade
  4. 4demanding
  5. 5advanced
Read the rigor guide
Parent involvement
?

How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1hands-off
  2. 2light
  3. 3shared
  4. 4leading
  5. 5parent-taught
Read the parent involvement guide
Prep load
?

How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1open-and-go
  2. 2minimal
  3. 3moderate
  4. 4involved
  5. 5heavy
Read the prep load guide
Screen time
?

How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1fully offline
  2. 2mostly offline
  3. 3blended
  4. 4mostly digital
  5. 5fully digital
Read the screen time guide
Independence
?

How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1adult-led
  2. 2guided
  3. 3semi-independent
  4. 4mostly independent
  5. 5fully independent
Read the independence guide
Time commitment
?

How long a daily lesson takes the child. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1under 15 min
  2. 215 to 25 min
  3. 325 to 40 min
  4. 440 to 60 min
  5. 560+ min
Read the time commitment guide

At a glance

Faith content None
Approach Spiral
Format Workbook Daily in-context editing of a running story, about 15 minutes a day, four days a week over 30 weeks. Students read the passage, mark parts of speech and structures, fix errors, then rewrite the corrected sentence using IEW mark-up terms.
Used as Spine or supplement
Philosophy Classical Integrated grammar
Best for Reluctant learnersIndependent workers

What parents consistently praise

  • Short, gentle daily lessons
  • Applied editing feels realistic, not busywork
  • Story passages keep kids interested
  • Grammar sticks better than worksheets
  • Affordable and close to open-and-go

What parents report as challenges

  • The teacher's manual isn't fully scripted
  • Repetitive for quick students
  • Daily copywork load, plain and text-heavy
  • The IEW labeling system has a learning curve

How it shifts by grade

The books build in order, and IEW suggests most students start at Level 3 or below. Level 1 (Nose Tree) assumes no prior grammar.

Additional notes

Six books in the current 4th edition (2022): Nose Tree, Town Mouse and Country Mouse, Robin Hood, Mowgli and Shere Khan, Frog Prince, Little Mermaid. It pairs with IEW's Structure and Style for Students and shares its terminology.

Cost

Price$19-29/level
ConsumablePartial
Per child / year~$29/level combo, less for siblings under the home license
Check price Institute for Excellence in Writing

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Compare head to head

Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources (forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, and long-form reviews) together with the publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time.

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