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   Last Monday was an exciting evening in the IEW world as we hosted our second IEW Facebook party. Newbies and experienced IEW users, IEW exhibitors  and staff, along with notable IEW authors such as Lori Verstegen, Jill Pike, and our very own Andrew Pudewa enjoyed interacting with hundreds of other attendees from all over the world. Throughout the evening, participants waited hopefully as names were drawn for four $25 gift certificates (won by Margo Young, Linsey Knerl, Angela Young, and Caryn Salamy) and one $100 gift certificate (congratulations to Kelley Bopp!) Hundreds of questions were answered, including how to become an accredited IEW instructor what to do with a child who only wants to write about her cats and dog how much help to provide how to help a child with dyslexia how to motivate advanced students and much more! Parents new to IEW asked for information about how to start, and many current users asked for advice on which course would be appropriate for next year. Everyone learned a great deal as each question led to meaty discussions with plenty of comments and answers. Here is a small sampling of the questions and answers at the party:    What if my student says, â€Å"I don’t know what to write about!†? Jamie: â€Å"I have a fourth-grade boy who can write creatively but hates the process of putting a pencil on paper to record his thoughts. In spite of his ability we still struggle with ‘I don't know what to write about.’ Any suggestions would be appreciated.† Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW): â€Å"Jamie, your son is the perfect age to begin with Student Writing Intensive Level A and our teacher course: IEW.com/TWSID-A. You will be amazed what happens to a fourth grade boy who hates to put words on paper when Andrew teaches him. The "I don't know what to write" is where we shine. This issue is so common with many writing programs. We take away the problem of WHAT to write, so you can focus on teaching students HOW to write. You will likely want to listen to one of our webinar recordings, or check out some of our free talks on our gifts page. Once you fill out this form, you will be directed to our gifts page. Rebecca: "My 10 year old used to cry and stare blankly at his paper, not knowing what to write. That was last year at traditional school. This year, we are doing SWI-A, and he loves it!!! He actually said that he has never had this much fun writing."    How long can I transcribe for my child? Lisa: â€Å"How long is it typically ok for a parent to transcribe for a student as he dictates his sentences? My 5th grader is doing a fantastic job composing his writing assignments verbally, but requiring him to do the writing still shuts him down.† Andrew Pudewa: â€Å"The transition is for you to take turns writing sentences. You write one he dictates to you, and then he writes one you dictate to him. Gradually, he'll do more himself. Also, 10–15 minutes of daily copywork (any easy-to-read source) and that will build his stamina of putting words onto paper."    What a fun, fast-paced evening of discussions and interactions! Check out the rest of the conversations here. Looking forward to next time!    Sabrina  Cardinale  began teaching IEW to her three children in 2002 and has been grateful to see their writing abilities develop from elementary paragraphs all the way to complex college papers. Teaching IEW classes in homeschool co-ops, Sabrina has been delighted to see the joy in her students as their writing and thinking abilities develop. In addition to teaching IEW classes locally, Sabrina is also an  online instructor  and exhibitor for IEW. Log in or register to post commentsSabrina Cardinales blog Log in or register to post comments