Loop/Chat: Online Groups for You!

IEW users are constantly sharing ideas and innovations, challenges and victories, and even buying and selling on various YahooGroup email loops. These virtual communities have been a great blessing to many, and we now have five groups to choose from—join the appropriate loop and get all your questions answered (or share your wisdom and experience with others). Just go to http://groups.yahoo.com and enter the group name in their search window for details and to join. (You will need to sign up with Yahoo! first, but after that, the group emails come to any email address you wish, and you can choose to receive individual messages or composite digests.)

IEWFamilies http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEWfamilies/ is the most active of all the groups, now with over 6100 members and averaging over 500 postings a month. It is for teachers and homeschooling families who are interested in learning more about the Institute for Excellence in Writing and who are looking for support using IEW materials. It is open to anyone who wants to learn more about how to teach children to write. Of particular benefit to members is an extensive Files archive with a vast array of resources from years past, with everything from lesson plans to grammar resources, all available in .PDF format. One recent post contained this testimony from a new IEW user: "...this group has been the key to me feeling empowered to make it all happen—many thanks to the moderators and experienced users for all your wise advice and helpful tips and files!" This is also the loop that is referenced in the 2010 Magalog article, Jill's Gems.

IEW_Co_op, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEW_Co_op/ Currently numbering 550 members and growing, is for active homeschool co-op and small group teachers using IEW materials in their classes. Members discuss everything related to writing, grammar, poetry, and literature in a co-op class or small group. It is a great place to share ideas, seek advice, and share your heart with fellow small group teachers!

IEWTeachers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEWTeachers/ This group is specific for public and private school teachers using our materials in traditional classrooms (5 day a week schools for full-time students).

IEW-TJE http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEW-TJE/ is a friendly (but occasionally fiery) group of around 505 members who want to discuss the intricacies of implementing the Thomas Jefferson Education leadership model, especially as it relates to the teaching of writing.

IEW Families-Items for Sale http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEWFamilies-Items_for_Sale is open to IEWFamilies members and exists as an exchange board for buying and selling used IEW products. If you're on a tight budget, this group may be for you! (Note: All membership requests for IEWFamilies-Items_for_Sale need to be approved by the moderator.)

Although there is no "IEWTeens" group, recently a rumor surfaced that there is now a Facebook fan club started by some "Students of The Pudewa," clumsily titled: "Everything I know about writing I learned from Pudewa." So, you Facebook members out there who'd like to see some really silly (and embarrassing) pictures of "the guy on the video," go and search for this group. Pudewa half hopes you won't find it.