Why and How Should We Teach Critical Thinking?
On June 23, 2025, Time Magazine published an article titled “ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New MIT Study.” It is not unique. Recently there have been a spate... read more
Tales and Treasures: Writing about Your State
The Structure and Style® methodology provides a framework for incorporating writing into other subject areas. It is also flexible and easily adapted to specific situations. A state history project is one of these.... read more
Enjoying Literature with Theme-Based Writing
Reading and listening to high-quality literature is a vital component of a student’s education. When students engage with literature, some wonderful things happen: vocabulary expands, syntax develops, and comprehension matures. Not only that,... read more
Pausing Conversational Writing
I blanched and then squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the action would hint to my mouth to also stay closed. He had done it again! My son’s sentence, “Man, that was a close... read more
Words That Shape Minds
“People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven't you?” Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery) Throughout this... read more
Where are they now? Rebekah Goodrich: From Student to Professor
One of my greatest delights as a teacher is witnessing my students excel and move into the world with a powerful voice and readiness to meet the real world head-on. Meet Rebekah Goodrich,... read more
Toward Effective Teaching
At IEW we strive to provide not only high-quality products but also top-notch customer service. A recent blog series featured ten of the tools that we provide to our customers to aid them... read more
Does Marking Style Really Matter?
With IEW, writing assignments are not a mystery. Students are never left guessing what is expected of them. That is because every writing assignment includes a checklist. At the beginning of the year,... read more
Cultivating Curiosity
“Why, Mum, why?” According to my mother, that was my constant refrain when I was young. I guess it matched my grandfather’s nickname for me: “Busy One.” Being busy meant I encountered many... read more
Finding Kindred Spirits in a Book Club
“We’re on our own for supper tonight. Mom has her book club.” This is a monthly refrain in our house. Throughout most of my adult life, I’ve been talking about books with others,... read more
Does the Order Really Matter?
From time to time our office receives calls from teachers and parents who have a question that runs something like this: “Last year I taught [insert IEW writing book name here], and my... read more
It Keeps Getting Better
When teachers logged into their IEW® Gradebook accounts this July, one comment summed it up best: “It just keeps getting better!” That’s because IEW Gradebook's latest 2.0 update is more than a polished... read more
Choosing a Package: Structure and Style for Students
A common question that IEW’s customer service team receives is “What is the difference between the Structure and Style® for Students packages?” Trying to discern the differences from the pictures on the website... read more
Famous Questions by Famous People
Questions! They can unnerve us, cause us to doubt, and force us to recognize our lack of knowledge. We can sometimes avoid them because they make us THINK! In our recent Arts of... read more
Teacher Spotlight: Heidi Plocher, Michigan Lutheran High School
Heidi Plocher is a high school English teacher and International Advisor at Michigan Lutheran High School in St. Joseph, Michigan. Michigan Lutheran High School is nationally accredited and has served families in Southwest... read more
Ten Tools for the Journey: Accreditation and CEUs
As part of IEW’s continued commitment to providing parents and teachers with help for the journey of training students to be confident and competent communicators and thinkers, we are presenting a series of... read more
Writing across the Curriculum and Why It Matters
In her 1977 article “Writing as a Mode of Learning,” Janet Emig states, “Writing serves learning uniquely because writing as process-and-product possesses a cluster of attributes that correspond uniquely to certain powerful learning... read more
AI – Not a Virtual Thinking Cap
“The [source texts] that I love [writing] best are the ones that I've researched the most and had to leave out so much of it, but I'm so much richer for having researched... read more
Teacher Spotlight: Amy Bell, Crescenza Studio
Amy Bell is the founder of Crescenza Studio, where she and a team of teachers offer private tutoring, writing classes, and other courses covering various subjects. Amy’s background as a writer and music... read more
Teaching through a Theme-Based Book
“I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I write and I understand.” This axiom is often quoted in the world of education. Writing within content areas helps students build understanding.... read more
The Account Dashboard – Your Command Center
When you log in to your IEW account, you will find yourself on our homepage. At the top right of the page, you will find your name beside the outline of a head... read more
Why and How Should We Teach Critical Thinking?
On June 23, 2025, Time Magazine published an article titled “ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New... read more
Tales and Treasures: Writing about Your State
The Structure and Style® methodology provides a framework for incorporating writing into other subject areas. It is also flexible and easily... read more
Enjoying Literature with Theme-Based Writing
Reading and listening to high-quality literature is a vital component of a student’s education. When students engage with literature, some wonderful... read more
Pausing Conversational Writing
I blanched and then squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the action would hint to my mouth to also stay closed. He... read more
Words That Shape Minds
“People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words... read more
Where are they now? Rebekah Goodrich: From Student to Professor
One of my greatest delights as a teacher is witnessing my students excel and move into the world with a powerful... read more
Toward Effective Teaching
At IEW we strive to provide not only high-quality products but also top-notch customer service. A recent blog series featured ten... read more
Does Marking Style Really Matter?
With IEW, writing assignments are not a mystery. Students are never left guessing what is expected of them. That is because... read more
Cultivating Curiosity
“Why, Mum, why?” According to my mother, that was my constant refrain when I was young. I guess it matched my... read more
Finding Kindred Spirits in a Book Club
“We’re on our own for supper tonight. Mom has her book club.” This is a monthly refrain in our house. Throughout... read more
Does the Order Really Matter?
From time to time our office receives calls from teachers and parents who have a question that runs something like this:... read more
It Keeps Getting Better
When teachers logged into their IEW® Gradebook accounts this July, one comment summed it up best: “It just keeps getting better!”... read more
Choosing a Package: Structure and Style for Students
A common question that IEW’s customer service team receives is “What is the difference between the Structure and Style® for Students... read more
Famous Questions by Famous People
Questions! They can unnerve us, cause us to doubt, and force us to recognize our lack of knowledge. We can sometimes... read more
Teacher Spotlight: Heidi Plocher, Michigan Lutheran High School
Heidi Plocher is a high school English teacher and International Advisor at Michigan Lutheran High School in St. Joseph, Michigan. Michigan... read more
Ten Tools for the Journey: Accreditation and CEUs
As part of IEW’s continued commitment to providing parents and teachers with help for the journey of training students to be... read more
Writing across the Curriculum and Why It Matters
In her 1977 article “Writing as a Mode of Learning,” Janet Emig states, “Writing serves learning uniquely because writing as process-and-product... read more
AI – Not a Virtual Thinking Cap
“The [source texts] that I love [writing] best are the ones that I've researched the most and had to leave out... read more
Teacher Spotlight: Amy Bell, Crescenza Studio
Amy Bell is the founder of Crescenza Studio, where she and a team of teachers offer private tutoring, writing classes, and... read more
Teaching through a Theme-Based Book
“I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I write and I understand.” This axiom is often quoted in... read more
The Account Dashboard – Your Command Center
When you log in to your IEW account, you will find yourself on our homepage. At the top right of the... read more
