Fix It! Grammar Review: Is This IEW Program Worth It?

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Traditional language worksheets never clicked with my kids. They memorized definitions, filled in blanks, and promptly forgot everything by the following week. Then we discovered Fix It! from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and something shifted. After three years of daily use, my children now spontaneously correct errors in books they read for fun. That’s when I knew this approach was different.

This detailed review shares what I’ve learned after using Fix It! with two students across multiple levels—my daughter (now in 7th grade) and my son (now in 5th grade). I’ll cover exactly how the program works, what makes it effective for teaching language mechanics, and which learners might struggle with this editing-based method. (Last updated: January 2026)

What Is Fix It! From IEW?

What if your kids could learn grammar without hating it? Fix It! is a daily editing program from IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) designed for students in grades 3-12. Rather than teaching language mechanics through isolated exercises, students identify and correct errors in passages from classic literature. Each day takes about 15 minutes, making it manageable for busy homeschool families.

The program spans six levels, each using a different adapted story as its textbook. Here’s the complete scope and sequence:

• Level 1: The Nose Tree – Introduction for grades 3-5; covers basic capitalization, end punctuation, and simple sentence structure
• Level 2: Town Mouse and Country Mouse – Building foundations with compound sentences, dialogue punctuation, and stronger vocabulary
• Level 3: Frog Prince – Intermediate skills including complex sentences, clauses, and more advanced punctuation
• Level 4: Little Mermaid – Advanced concepts like appositives, participial phrases, and sophisticated sentence variety
• Level 5: Chanticleer – Complex sentence structures, advanced clauses, and nuanced punctuation rules
• Level 6: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – Mastery level with college-prep sophistication

Andrew Pudewa founded IEW with a mission to make writing and language instruction effective without being tedious. Fix It! reflects that philosophy by embedding learning within engaging stories rather than repetitive drills.

How Fix It! Works Day-to-Day

Each week follows a predictable rhythm that students quickly internalize. Here’s what a typical week looks like in our homeschool—and what you can expect if you choose this program.

Daily Lesson Structure

Students receive one or two sentences from the ongoing story each day. These sentences contain intentional errors covering capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and language mechanics. The student’s job is to mark corrections directly on the sentence using specific editing marks—the same marks professional editors use.

After marking corrections, students copy the corrected passage into a notebook, creating their own error-free version of the story. This copying reinforces correct patterns through hand-eye coordination and muscle memory. My son initially resisted the copying, but after a few weeks, he actually started enjoying creating his own “clean” copy of the story.

The Teacher’s Manual provides complete answer keys and explains the language concept behind each correction. This means parents don’t need expertise to teach effectively—I certainly didn’t feel qualified when we started, but the manual made me look like an expert.

Activities Beyond Basic Editing

While editing forms the core activity, the program includes additional learning opportunities:

• Vocabulary work: Each lesson introduces challenging words from the passage, with definitions and usage examples
• Glossary card collection: Students build a reference collection of rules and concepts throughout the year
• Oral discussion: The manual suggests questions for parent-child discussion about the story and language choices
• Occasional review exercises: Periodic cumulative reviews reinforce learned concepts

Time Investment

Most students complete daily work in 10-15 minutes. Research consistently shows that short, consistent practice sessions work better than longer, sporadic ones for skill retention. This brief time commitment makes Fix It! sustainable long-term. We’ve maintained consistency because the program doesn’t overwhelm or create burnout—something I can’t say about every curriculum we’ve tried.

The weekly schedule typically includes four editing days plus one optional review day. Some families compress lessons or spread them differently based on their schedule needs. We do Monday through Thursday with Fridays off.

Key Components and Materials

Understanding what you’ll receive helps determine whether the program fits your budget and teaching style. Here’s a breakdown of every component.

Student Book (The Workbook)

The consumable student book contains all the sentences needing correction. Students work directly in this book, marking errors with specific symbols. One book covers an entire school year for one student. Additional students need their own copies—this is one area where the costs add up for larger families.

Teacher’s Manual (Your Teaching Textbook)

The teacher’s manual is the heart of the program. It provides detailed answers, language explanations, and teaching tips for every single sentence. Even language-confident parents find the manual valuable for explaining concepts clearly to children.

The manual includes “Glossary” cards that students collect throughout the year. These cards summarize key concepts and serve as reference tools during editing sessions. My daughter keeps hers in a little recipe box and genuinely enjoys adding new cards each week.

Optional Resources

IEW offers streaming video lessons where Andrew Pudewa teaches concepts directly to students. While not essential, these videos help visual and auditory learners grasp difficult concepts. The videos also reduce parent prep time significantly. We used them during Level 3 when concepts got more challenging, and they were worth every penny.

Key Features at a Glance

Here’s what makes Fix It! stand out from other grammar programs:

• Daily editing practice: 15-minute lessons keep skills fresh without overwhelming
• Story-based learning: Classic literature adaptations keep students engaged
• Spiral approach: Concepts repeat across multiple lessons for lasting retention
• Complete answer keys: Parents don’t need grammar expertise to teach effectively
• Glossary card system: Students build their own reference collection
• Six progressive levels: Covers grades 3-12 with increasing complexity

Advantages of the Fix It! Approach

After three years of extensive use with both my children, several strengths stand out clearly. Here’s what makes this program special.

Context-Based Learning Actually Sticks

Language skills taught in isolation rarely transfer to real writing. According to Reading Rockets, a trusted literacy resource, grammar instruction embedded in meaningful context produces better outcomes than isolated drills. Fix It! addresses this by embedding instruction within actual sentences and stories. Students see how punctuation and sentence structure rules function in genuine written communication.

My daughter used to make the same errors repeatedly despite knowing the rules. She could ace a worksheet about comma usage, then completely forget commas existed in her own writing. Once she started correcting those same errors in Fix It! passages, the knowledge finally stuck. The context created lasting understanding that worksheets never achieved.

Incremental Approach Prevents Overwhelm

New concepts appear gradually across many lessons. Students encounter a rule multiple times before fully mastering it. This spiral approach respects how brains actually learn complex skills—cognitive science research suggests students retain 90% more when they encounter concepts repeatedly over time rather than in concentrated blocks.

Level 1 introduces basic concepts like capitalization and end punctuation. By Level 4, students handle complex elements like appositives and participial phrases. The progression feels natural rather than overwhelming. Neither of my kids ever said “this is too hard” because each new concept built sensibly on previous learning.

Engaging Story Format Motivates Students

Using adapted classic literature keeps students interested in what happens next. My kids actually wanted to continue lessons to find out how the story progressed. That intrinsic motivation made consistency much easier than programs where we had to drag students to the table.

During Level 4 (The Little Mermaid), my daughter would sometimes ask for extra sentences because she was engrossed in the story. I’ve never had a child ask for extra language mechanics work before.

Low Daily Time Commitment

Fifteen minutes daily is manageable for nearly any family. This realistic time frame means language instruction actually happens consistently rather than getting pushed aside for “more important” subjects. We fit Fix It! right after breakfast, and it’s become a non-negotiable part of our routine.

Minimal Teacher Preparation

The Teacher’s Manual tells parents exactly what to say and look for. Opening the book and beginning takes under a minute. This accessibility makes the program practical for parents who feel uncertain about teaching language mechanics—and honestly, that was me when we started.

Disadvantages to Consider

No curriculum works perfectly for every student. Here’s where Fix It! might cause friction—I’ve experienced some of these challenges firsthand, and I won’t sugarcoat them.

Daily Copying Requirements Can Frustrate

Students must copy corrected sentences by hand each day. Children with dysgraphia or fine motor difficulties may find this tedious or frustrating—if that’s your situation, you might also explore our guide to dyslexia-friendly instruction. Some families modify by allowing typing, though this removes some kinesthetic benefits.

My son initially complained bitterly about the copying. We compromised by letting him use a nice pen (his choice), which made it slightly more bearable. After about six weeks, he stopped complaining—the resistance decreased as copying became habitual.

Limited Practice Variety

The program focuses exclusively on editing existing sentences. Students don’t practice writing original sentences using new language concepts. Families wanting diverse exercises may need supplementary materials. We pair Fix It! with Brave Writer for original writing practice.

Requires Consistent Daily Practice

Fix It! works best with daily practice over an extended period. Sporadic use diminishes effectiveness significantly. Families who struggle with daily routines might not see optimal results. We learned this the hard way during a chaotic month when we only did lessons twice a week—the kids forgot concepts and we essentially had to re-teach material.

Progressive Levels Create Placement Challenges

Each level assumes mastery of previous levels’ content. Jumping into Level 4 without earlier foundations can frustrate students. Assessment tests help determine proper placement, but some families still misjudge initial levels. Take the placement test seriously—it’s worth the 20 minutes.

Not a Complete Language Arts Program

Fix It! covers editing and sentence structure only. Families need separate curriculum for writing instruction, spelling, vocabulary, and literature study. Don’t expect this single program to handle all your language arts needs.

Who Thrives With This Program

Certain student profiles align particularly well with this program’s approach. Here’s who I’d recommend it for.

Students Who Dislike Traditional Workbooks

If your child groans at traditional worksheets, Fix It! offers a refreshing change. The story-based format feels less like school and more like puzzle-solving. My reluctant learner actually started enjoying language lessons after switching to this program—something I never expected. If you’re dealing with a reluctant learner, you might also appreciate our phonics curriculum guide.

Auditory and Visual Learners

Hearing the story aloud while marking corrections helps auditory learners. Visual learners benefit from seeing patterns repeatedly across many similar corrections. The multi-sensory approach supports diverse learning preferences. For more on visual learning approaches, see our guide to spelling curriculum for visual learners.

Families Using IEW Writing Programs

Fix It! complements IEW’s writing programs beautifully. The terminology aligns perfectly, and concepts taught in one program reinforce the other. Using both together creates a cohesive language arts curriculum.

Students Needing Gentle Pacing

The incremental approach suits students who need extra time with new concepts. Rather than moving quickly through topics, Fix It! allows natural mastery development. This patience benefits struggling learners especially. If you’re looking for more options for struggling students, check our guide to writing curriculum for reluctant writers.

Who Might Struggle

Some students and families may find Fix It! challenging for specific reasons. Consider these carefully.

Advanced Language Students

Students already possessing strong language skills may find earlier levels too easy. While placement tests help, some advanced learners still feel unchallenged. These students might start at higher levels or choose different programs entirely.

Students Resistant to Handwriting

The daily copying component is non-negotiable within the program’s design. Students who strongly resist handwriting may create daily battles. Consider whether your child can handle this expectation before purchasing.

Families Wanting Quick Results

Language mastery develops gradually over months and years with this program. Families needing rapid improvement for testing or deadlines might find the pace frustrating. Fix It! is a marathon, not a sprint.

Fix It! vs. Alternative Programs

Understanding how Fix It! compares to other options helps clarify whether it fits your needs. Here’s my honest evaluation based on research and conversations with other homeschool families. Cathy Duffy Reviews also rates Fix It! highly for its engaging approach.

Program	Approach	Daily Time	Best For	Price Range
Fix It!	Story-based editing	15 min	Engagement seekers	$30-40/level
Easy Grammar	Prepositional approach	15-20 min	Visual learners	$25-35/level
Rod & Staff	Traditional workbook	20-30 min	Thorough coverage	$15-25/level
First Language Lessons	Classical oral narration	15-20 min	Young students	$20-30/level
Grammar Galaxy	Adventure story	20 min	Reluctant learners	$40-50/level

Key Differences Explained

Fix It! vs. Easy Grammar: Easy Grammar uses a prepositional approach that some students find clearer, but it lacks the engagement of stories. Fix It! keeps kids more interested but requires the copying component that Easy Grammar doesn’t. Choose Fix It! for engagement; choose Easy Grammar for straightforward presentation.

Fix It! vs. Rod & Staff: Rod & Staff provides more comprehensive coverage with traditional exercises. It’s more thorough but also more tedious. If your student can handle traditional workbooks without complaint, Rod & Staff teaches more content. If engagement matters, Fix It! wins.

Fix It! vs. First Language Lessons: First Language Lessons works better for younger students (grades 1-4) with its oral, gentle approach. Fix It! suits older students who can handle daily writing. We used FLL first, then transitioned to Fix It! in 4th grade—that sequence worked well.

Practical Tips for Success

After three years using Fix It!, I’ve learned what works best. Here are my recommendations to help you succeed.

Start at the Right Level

Take the placement test seriously. Starting too high frustrates students, while starting too low bores them. IEW provides free placement assessments on their website—spend the 20 minutes completing them accurately.

Make Copying More Enjoyable

We use nice notebooks and quality pens for the copying portion. This small investment transforms a chore into something slightly more enjoyable. Let students choose their own special notebook—it creates ownership.

Maintain Consistency Above All

The program’s power comes from cumulative daily practice. Missing occasional days happens, but missing weeks undermines progress significantly. Build Fix It! into your non-negotiable daily routine before other flexible subjects.

Actually Use the Glossary Cards

The glossary cards students collect aren’t decoration. Regular review of these cards helps cement concepts. We keep them in a recipe box and flip through periodically during car rides or waiting rooms. Quiz sessions with the cards make great review.

Connect to Their Own Writing

Point out when your child uses language concepts from Fix It! in their own writing. This connection reinforces why the skills matter beyond the program itself. “Look, you just used a participial phrase correctly!” goes a long way.

Cost and Value Assessment

Budget matters for homeschool families, so let’s examine costs honestly. For more budget-friendly options, check our guide to free curriculum resources.

Each level requires purchasing a Teacher’s Manual (reusable) and Student Book (consumable per child). Expect to spend approximately $30-40 per level per student. Families with multiple children save by reusing the Teacher’s Manual across all students at that level.

Compared to comprehensive language programs costing $80-100 annually, Fix It! offers reasonable value—especially considering the engagement factor that means kids actually complete the work. The low daily time investment also adds value by freeing time for other subjects.

Used copies appear frequently on homeschool resale sites. Teacher’s Manuals especially hold value since they don’t get written in. Student Books must be purchased new since students work directly in them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Fix It! with multiple children at once?

Technically yes, though each child needs their own Student Book. Siblings at similar levels can share a Teacher’s Manual and work through lessons together. However, children at different levels need individual attention during lesson time.

How long does it take to complete one level?

Each level contains enough material for one full school year following the standard four-day weekly schedule. Working faster is possible but may reduce retention—the spaced repetition matters for long-term learning.

Does Fix It! align with Common Core standards?

Fix It! covers traditional language concepts that overlap significantly with Common Core standards. However, IEW didn’t design the program specifically around those standards. If you’re concerned about alignment, compare the level scope and sequence to your state requirements.

What if my child already knows basic concepts?

Use the placement test to determine the appropriate starting level. Advanced students often begin at Level 3 or 4. Starting too low wastes time and bores capable students, so err on the side of placement testing higher.

Can Fix It! serve as a complete language arts program?

No. Fix It! covers editing and sentence structure only. Families need separate curriculum for writing instruction, spelling, vocabulary, and literature study. IEW’s writing programs pair well with this curriculum.

Is parent involvement required?

Yes, especially in earlier levels. Parents check corrections daily and provide explanations when needed. Older students working at higher levels may become more independent, but parent oversight remains important for catching misunderstandings.

Final Verdict

Fix It! earns its reputation as an effective, engaging approach to language mechanics instruction. The story-based format motivates students while the daily editing practice builds genuine skills that transfer to real writing. Three years of use in our homeschool confirmed what I hoped when we started: teaching language skills doesn’t have to be boring.

The program works best for families committed to daily consistency and students who respond well to pattern-based learning. If your children groan at traditional workbooks or struggle to apply rules in actual writing, Fix It! deserves serious consideration.

For families using or considering IEW writing programs, Fix It! creates a natural complement. The aligned terminology and philosophy strengthen both programs when used together.

Visit IEW’s website to explore placement tests and sample lessons before purchasing. The What Works Clearinghouse provides research on effective literacy instruction if you want to understand the evidence behind editing-based approaches.

Rating: 4.5/5

Fix It! excels at making language mechanics instruction palatable and effective. Minor drawbacks around copying requirements and limited exercise variety don’t outweigh the significant benefits for most families. If your current approach isn’t working, give Fix It! a serious look—it transformed language learning in our home.