Because Katherine has continued to struggle with learning to read, I was excited when we got the chance to review The Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Special Needs Curriculum: Primary Arts of Language. We received the Reading Complete Package and the Writing Complete Package for this review.
At first glance, the program can seem overwhelming because of all of the pieces included. However, Jill Pike’s introduction videos walk you straight through the why, how, and what of the entire program. After watching and learning from her laid back and very calming explanations, I was no longer worried. She makes the process simple… and fun!
The Primary Arts of Language: Reading Complete Package uses poetry, letter stories, and daily games to give a well-rounded approach to learning concepts.
The package includes the following:
- Primary Arts of Language: Reading Teacher’s Manual
- Primary Arts of Language: Reading DVD-ROM, which includes the following:
- Instructional Video by Jill Pike
- Four MP3 audio talks:
- Nurturing Competent Communicators by Andrew Pudewa
- The Four Language Arts by Andrew Pudewa
- Poetry as an Integrator by Anna Ingham
- Intro to the Blended Sound-Sight Program by Anna Ingham
- Primary Arts of Language: Reading Student Book (e-book) – You can print it all out at one time as a workbook OR print the worksheets as you go along. Very flexible!
- Student Readers – Set up so you can print them out and staple together to make little booklets.
- Primary Arts of Language: Phonetic Games
- Primary Arts of Language: Phonetic Farm folder with stickers
There is such a flexibility with how this program is put together. The Teacher’s Manual, Phonetic Games book, and Phonetic Farm folder are all printed materials. However, the student workbooks and readers are included on the DVD-ROM, so you can just print them off as you need them. THIS allows you the option to use them with multiple students. It’s the best of both worlds!
The Primary Arts of Language: Writing Complete Package uses printing, copywork, and composition and fits right together with the Reading lessons.
This package includes:
- Primary Arts of Language: Writing Teacher’s Manual
- Primary Arts of Language: Writing DVD-ROM, which includes the following:
- Instructional Video by Jill Pike
- Five MP3 audio talks:
- Reading Comprehension by Adam Andrews
- Dictation, Narration, and Public Speaking by Andrew Pudewa
- The Four Language Arts by Andrew Pudewa
- Units I/II in the K–2 Classroom by Shirley George
- Unit III in the K–2 Environment by Shirley George
- The K–2 Writing Environment by Richelle Palmer
- Primary Arts of Language: Writing Student Books (e-book)
- All About Spelling Basic Interactive Kit
- All About Spelling Level 1 (Teacher’s Manual and One Student Material Packet) by Marie Rippel
Again, just like in the reading package, consumables are in PDF form on the DVD-ROM, so you can print out materials as you go along.
The Overall Program:
When you put the reading and writing packages together, it becomes a very holistic approach to learning the art of language. One poem is presented each week, with a different activity being implemented every day. This helps kids to really grasp the concepts in the poem, and helps them learn how to retain what they read. The games reinforce everything and make it tons of fun. The letter stories help to make sounds visual, as opposed to just learning the letters themselves. There are so many beautiful pieces to this curriculum and they all fit together like no other program I’ve seen.
What do we think of IEW’s Primary Arts of Language: Reading & Writing?
After trying MULTIPLE Language Arts/Phonics programs with Katherine, she has continued to struggle with learning to read. All of the programs we’ve tried have been good, and have had a lot of good components within them, but nothing has seemed to click with her. We tried a program similar to this one with many different pieces to it (readers, worksheets, writing, games, etc.), but it all seemed too disjunct and complicated… so I pretty much gave up on that one. PAL, however, flows together flawlessly. We also tried a program that was more simplified, but it was too boring for my artsy, visual girl. After searching (and I feel wasting time) this entire school year, I believe that IEW’s Primary Arts of Language will be the tool that finally develops her confidence. I am personally confident that she will be reading by the end of the summer. I HIGHLY recommend this program!
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excellenceinwriting
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/iewriting
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/iewtv
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iew
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/iewtv
Blog: http://iew.com/help-support/blog
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+Iewriting/
Leave a reply