My son has recently been published in the literary magazine, Magnum Opus!   A couple of years ago we were studying Ancient Greece.  My son became fascinated with the hoplite soldier, so he not only did a research article on hoplites, but also made a costume and dressed up as one for our TOG Year 1 Unit 3 Unit Celebration. 

Other articles I have read, submitted by kids, in Magnum Opus, have been excellent.  I've wondered if my kids' writing would ever be good enough for publication in this professional looking magazine.  Before IEW, my children struggled with writing.  My son gave too many details, whereas my daughter couldn't organize her thoughts.  Despite lots of success in teaching other students how to write, I was at a roadblock with my own children.  Then I discovered IEW.  IEW teaches students how to organize their thoughts with basic structural models for every form of writing imaginable.  In addition, they are given concrete tools for flexibility and originality in style.

Two years ago was not only our first year of TOG, but also our first year with IEW.  My children learned how to do about one model of writing a month, applying the concepts to a topic being learned in history.  How better to learn history than to Read, Think and Write? By the spring, my kids were learning how to write research papers while they were learning about Ancient Greece.

One of the principles of IEW is not to perfect every paper.  Instead, why not make writing accessible and fun? Actually, during the writing process, I do give feedback and have them complete a basically good paper, based on their current writing skills. As one skill becomes easy, I give them a new challenge.  Then to make it meaningful, we usually write on our history topics, to help them make connections between major events in history.  Finally. we make it fun, by coordinating our writing projects with our fun unit celebrations four times a year! 

At the end of the school year, IEW encourages students to choose one paper previously written to perfect and turn into a magnum opus (Latin for "great work").  A few months after our Ancient Greek studies, IEW announced the beginning of their new literary magazine just for kids who use IEW.  Appropriately named Magnum Opus,  the cream of the crop from the submissions get published in the magazine.   

My kids selected their favorite papers and submitted them.  In the second issue of Magnum Opus, their names were printed.  However, my son's hoplite article was returned in the mail, with encouraging and helpful comments from the editor, who hoped he would tighten the paper for a future submission.  Wow!  What mom/teacher could ask for anything more?  I didn't even have to pay for this!  My son willingly redid his paper and we resubmitted it.  Now that he has had feedback from an editor, he is more willing to listen to my guidance on his papers.  This has turned into a win/win situation!

Yesterday, in the snail mail, we got our copy of Magnum Opus.   Hurriedly, I flipped through it and found my son's hoplite article!  I excitedly called my son to see it!  We loved it! The entire family was elated! The editors did a terrific job of making it look professional!  Also, they used a wonderful picture of an authentic hoplite shield for the background!  I am  proud of my son!  Additionally, I am thankful for this terrific project from IEW to encourage young writers...or should I say, young historians?  ;)