Fix It! Grammar Series

Name: Fix It! Grammar Series
Brand: Institute for Excellence in Writinghttps://iew.com/

by Institute for Excellence in Writinghttps://iew.com/

ElaGrades 4–12

Fix It! Grammar Series: Story-Based Grammar Through Daily Editing Practice

Fix It! Grammar Series is a classical approach to grammar instruction that uses abridged fictional stories as the basis for daily 15-minute editing lessons across six progressive levels for grades 4-12. Students learn grammar, punctuation, and style through a structured process of identifying errors, making corrections, and rewriting passages while building vocabulary from context.

Best for

Homeschool families and classical educators seeking a structured, incremental approach to grammar instruction as a supplement to comprehensive ELA curriculum, particularly those already using IEW's writing programs.

Evaluation Criteria

2 strengths · 3 concerns · 3 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Direct InstructionStrength

The curriculum uses explicit instruction with clear teacher guidance, structured daily procedures, and detailed teacher manuals with marked-up examples.

The process follows 'Learn It!, Read It!, Mark It!, Fix It!, and Rewrite It!' with 'completely marked-up sentences for easy reference' and 'detailed notes and explanations' in teacher manuals

Vocabulary BuildingStrength

The curriculum includes daily vocabulary instruction through context-based word study, with students looking up bolded words and writing definitions.

Students 'use a dictionary to look up the bolded vocabulary word, choose the definition that fits the context' and 'the fourth editions were rewritten to make the vocabulary words more appropriate for each level'

Knowledge RichConcern

The curriculum has limited knowledge-building focus, concentrating primarily on grammar and vocabulary skills rather than systematically building domain knowledge across subjects.

The focus is on 'grammar instruction while also developing students' vocabulary and writing skills' with vocabulary taught through isolated word definitions rather than coherent content knowledge

Text ComplexityConcern

Text complexity is deliberately reduced through simplification of original stories, which may limit students' exposure to grade-appropriate complex texts.

Stories use 'simpler sentence structures than in the originals' and language has been 'adapted to suit the purposes of these courses'

Whole Books Vs ExcerptsConcern

The curriculum uses significantly abridged and rewritten versions of classic stories, presented as sentence-by-sentence excerpts over 30 weeks rather than whole books.

Each course is 'based upon a fictional story that has been significantly abridged and rewritten' with 'only one or a few sentences per day' and 'simpler sentence structures than in the originals'

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum includes detailed teacher manuals with explanations and guidance, though formal professional development is not mentioned.

Teacher's manuals have 'completely marked-up sentences for easy reference' and 'detailed notes and explanations for all Mark It! and Fix It! items'

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum incorporates some review through weekly Review It! pages and spiral introduction of concepts, though systematic spaced review is limited.

Most courses 'add an extra Review It! page at the end of the week's lesson beginning with Week 24' and 'students will be exposed to concepts over and over again'

Writing InstructionNeutral

The curriculum provides structured writing instruction through daily editing practice and teaches stylistic elements, though it functions as a complement to rather than replacement for comprehensive writing instruction.

Students learn 'dress-ups, sentence openers, and other style elements' and practice through daily rewriting, with the program designed as 'a perfect companion for IEW's Structure and Style for Students'

Systematic PhonicsInsufficient Evidence

Insufficient evidence to assess phonics instruction as the curriculum begins at grade 4 and focuses on grammar and editing rather than foundational reading skills.

The series is designed for 'grades four through twelve' with no mention of phonics or decoding instruction

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com