Several years ago, I had the challenge of teaching writing to a group of middle-school boys as part of a homeschool co-op. While a couple of the students were natural writers, the vast majority could best be described as reluctant. There were boys on the autism spectrum, boys with dysgraphia, boys with ADHD, and boys who simply had no interest in writing.
The goals weren’t lofty. We simply wanted them to be able to write coherent paragraphs and a simple essay, to be able to survive in a traditional high school (which most of them would be going to).
One of the moms suggested using the program from the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Her oldest son (also a reluctant writer) had learned to write using that program and she had nothing but good things to say about it. Upon her recommendation, we purchased the program and set to work. While it was a struggle, those middle-school boys did learn to write. It was wonderful to watch their growth and development. Several of those students are now in college.
The IEW program is very rule-based. It works well for children and teens who like structure in their lives. Those on the spectrum seem to really appreciate knowing exactly what they can and cannot do.
IEW has recently updated their program. It now can be streamed online. They are also offering free samples of their writing program. If you have a child that struggles with writing but like rules and order, this is a program worth checking out.
You can learn more about all the products IEW offers at IEW.com.