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Announcing IEW’s Theme-Based Book of the Year: Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons

We are excited to share with you that we have declared Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons to be IEW’s theme-based book of the year. What does this mean for you? Every month Andrew Pudewa... read more

Sep 03, 2021

Experience Unit 3 with People and Places in Our Community and World History-Based Writing Lessons

  September is nearly over, but before you switch from retelling stories in Unit 3 to funneling facts in Unit 4, check out these story samples pulled from two of our latest theme-based books.... read more

Sep 27, 2017

A Suzuki History: Podcast Episode 155

  “Ten thousand times, and then begins understanding.” Japanese saying That proverb reflects a philosophy that sounds foreign to Western minds, but it is reflective of the Suzuki methodology of instruction. In Podcast 155 Andrew... read more

Sep 12, 2018

Theme-Based or Video-Based? Either Is a Win-Win!

Whether you use one of IEW’s theme-based courses or a Structure and Style for Students video-based course, it is a win-win for your students. While both use a spiral method to teach the... read more

Aug 10, 2023

Black History Month: Celebrating Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Although I graduated from a large midwestern university with a degree in English and a focus in poetry, I knew next to nothing about this important African-American poet—Paul Laurence Dunbar. It was much... read more

Feb 17, 2017

Product Spotlight: Theme-Based Writing Lessons

  IEW offers many excellent programs for language arts. Among them are products dedicated to written expression, speaking, literature, spelling, and handwriting. In this blog post we take a closer look at our theme-based... read more

Feb 08, 2019

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

May 15, 2025

Getting Started with Theme-Based Writing Lessons

On Day 3 of Twelve Days of Christmas Giving, IEW is giving you a three-week sample of three theme-based writing lessons. Be sure you are registered for the event to receive the email... read more

Dec 28, 2023

A Helping Hand for Home-Based Instruction: Free Language Arts Lessons from IEW

  With all that is happening in the world and across the United States, IEW wanted to do what we could to help in some small way. That’s why today’s post is a bit... read more

Mar 17, 2020

Learning about the Third Edition of Bible-Based Writing Lessons: Podcast Episode 196✝

  Once upon a time, there was only one IEW product—Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. It empowered, and continues to empower, teachers and parents to take the methodology back into their classrooms and homes... read more

Jun 27, 2019

Special Education Series Part One: Structure and Style™ and Language-Based Learning Disabilities

  by Linda Mikottis and Jean Nichols If you are a classroom teacher, chances are you have a number of students in your classroom with a language-based learning disability. Whether your students have been formally... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Special Education Series: Structure and Style™ and Language-Based Learning Difficulties, Part 3: The Checklist

by Linda Mikottis and Jean Nichols   In the previous post in this series, we compared traditional methods for teaching grammar with those used in IEW’s Structure and Style™ process that are more successful and... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Special Education Series: Structure and Style™ and Language-Based Learning Difficulties, Part 2: Teaching Grammar

by Linda Mikottis and Jean Nichols   In part one of this series, we described the importance of a multi-sensory approach to language development and how IEW’s Structure and Style™ key word outline method incorporates... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Empowered across the Curriculum

  Many years ago when I was a much younger, somewhat bewildered homeschool mom standing in front of the IEW® booth at a homeschool convention, I had one goal in mind—finding support to help... read more

Jan 08, 2019

Author Interview: Lori Verstegen—Helping Students Succeed

There are many options available to teach IEW writing to your students. One of the most enjoyable and successful ways to begin is to use Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS2) and the Structure... read more

Dec 01, 2016

Applying IEW across Your School

Like many people, I first became acquainted with IEW while I was homeschooling my children, and I taught IEW in homeschool co-ops for many years. However, when my kids were grown, I started... read more

Jan 23, 2025

Happy 20th Birthday, Classical Conversations! IEW and CC: Celebrating Fifteen Years of Collaboration and Camaraderie

  Today is October 18, 2017, and while Andrew Pudewa is heading to Charlotte, NC for Classical Conversations’ 20th anniversary event, I am heading to Dallas, TX to join the live video simulcast from... read more

Oct 18, 2017

Week 9 of The Great TWSS Adventure: Unit 9

This week marks the penultimate week for this year’s Great TWSS Adventure. If you have kept up with the schedule, you will be encountering the final unit, Unit 9. In this section of... read more

Aug 09, 2021

The Journey’s End: Written Communication

  Which IEW courses will help prepare your students for writing at the collegiate level? Most colleges expect students to be able to write proficiently. Across academia, professors often assign essays to gauge their... read more

Jun 15, 2020

Where are they now? Jemma Swift: Author of Forever Riders

  Authoring a book is an intimidating prospect. And if it’s illustrated, that introduces even more challenges. For Jemma Swift—homeschooled student, first-time-author, and sister to co-illustrator Eliza Swift—”intimidating” was not in her vocabulary. Oh,... read more

Nov 20, 2017

Where Are They Now? Kimberly Johnson—Writer and Graphic Designer

  Some students immerse themselves in music; still others pursue athletics. And there are those who enjoy art. Today we would like to feature a student who has a passion for writing fiction and... read more

Jan 18, 2019

Teaching Documentation with Confidence

  For those of you who have an older version of the Student Resource Packet (SRP) and have updated to the most recent edition, you may have noticed that we no longer include bibliography... read more

May 17, 2021

Where are they now? Brenna Fisher: Criminologist-in-Training

  Ever wonder if you made the right decision to homeschool? If your hopeful expectations for your children will be realized? I recently had the opportunity to interview Brenner Fisher, who is now studying... read more

Jun 13, 2016

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

Jun 03, 2025

Wonders of Science Writing Lessons

How are astronauts protected from space dust traveling at the speed of a bullet? How do ants know when another ant has died? Which woman scientist was called the Sun Queen and why?... read more

Apr 07, 2023

Where Are They Now? Ethan Sink: Journalist with a Passion for Communication

  Occasionally at IEW we receive questions from parents wondering if our curriculum will work for students who are interested in pursuing careers in journalism. We would unequivocally say yes! As proof, we would... read more

Jul 07, 2017

Powerful Courses for College Preparation

In many ways, the high school years are a staging ground for adulthood. For some students high school represents the culmination of their formal education. For others the high school years are preparatory,... read more

Jan 13, 2023

Week 7 of the Great TWSS Adventure: Unit 7

Teachers and teaching parents from across the globe who are participating in the Great Adventure will tackle Unit 7 this week. Many teachers are very excited to reach this unit because it is... read more

Jul 27, 2021

Week 8 of The Great TWSS Adventure: Unit 8

If you are participating in this year’s Great TWSS Adventure, this week you will be encountering formal essay models. The essay is the goal for formal writing. Units 4 and 6 have provided... read more

Aug 02, 2021

Securing Your Oxygen Mask

  In the somewhat musty memories tucked into the corners of my mind, I can vaguely recall my thoughts about homeschooling before I took the plunge. Perhaps I had a bit of hubris, but... read more

Jul 27, 2018

Customer Service Answers: How do I teach Structure and Style to multiple ages?

“How do I use one writing course for my kids who are all different ages?” We often receive this question in customer service. Whether your reasons are because of time limits, money constraints, or... read more

Jun 24, 2022

Getting Started with The Phonetic Zoo

Spelling can be a challenging subject for many students. Perhaps students struggle because many spelling programs rely heavily on visual input. The Day 5 gifts for IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving help... read more

Dec 30, 2023

Customer Service Answers: A Little Help along the Way

At IEW we want the courses we provide to be ones that will excite and engage both you and your student. In order to help support you as you teach your children, we... read more

Oct 18, 2021

IEW Tools for the Journey: Webinars

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

Jul 17, 2024

Prepositional Pursuits

  My little class and I have been cruising right along this year. Working through Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons, they’ve learned how to insert all of the dress-ups. The kids are doing great! I... read more

Nov 18, 2019

On Popcorn, Pudewa and Video Writing Instruction

  You may have already heard some of the buzz from IEW® about an upcoming important announcement. It’s exciting news that we are looking forward to sharing with you all. While the clock has... read more

Oct 31, 2019

Sage Advice for a Successful School Year

If you have recently strolled into your local big box store, you likely have seen shelves upon shelves of back to school supplies. The waxy scent of crayons, the colorful array of notebooks... read more

Aug 06, 2021

Furnishing the Mind with Great Sources – ReadWorks®

IEW is widely recognized for exceptional writing courses for the homeschool, classroom, co-op, and tutorial, providing students with excellent content to cover a wide range of subject matter and topics. Whether you use... read more

Feb 13, 2024

“The Buck Stops Here”

  In Harry Truman’s day, people who shirked responsibility and shifted blame were accused of “passing the buck.” According to the Truman Library website, in an address at the National War College in December... read more

Aug 16, 2017

Where Are They Now? Oliver Mauser: College, Construction, and Effective Communication

From time to time we enjoy highlighting former structure and style students to showcase their achievements both academically and professionally. Students who learn this writing method are able to confidently use the skills... read more

Sep 06, 2022

The Story Behind One of the Greatest Story Series of All Time

  There are certain works of literature that cross cultural divides and stand the test of time. Nearly everyone has heard of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Little House on the Prairie... read more

Apr 27, 2020

Preparing for College and Career

In the 1970s Dr. James B. Webster began each of his university history classes with lessons from his program Blended Structure and Style in Composition because his students could not write well enough... read more

Jan 18, 2024

Classic Learning Test – A Better Way

For decades, the standardized testing world has been dominated by two juggernauts: ACT and SAT. However, changes in the way that colleges consider standardized testing, along with the surge of classical education, has... read more

Feb 09, 2023

Sharing Gratitude: Podcast Episode 243

  We love to hear from you. Whether it be through email, social media, a phone call, or even snail mail, it truly delights us to hear how our materials are impacting the lives... read more

Nov 04, 2020

Switch to Pens!

  Several years ago Andrew Pudewa published an article entitled “Convert ... to Pens!” In doing so, he flipped on its end the conventional thinking of writing the first draft in pencil and the... read more

Aug 27, 2019

Editing Matters!

  For every benefit that our modern device-based technologies bring, there is a cost, and autocorrect is no exception. For those who use this tool, muddled messes can arise when they send messages without... read more

Mar 13, 2017

Researching the Relaxing Way

The library has always been my happy place. The smell of books. The neatly organized stacks. The access to anything I could ever possibly want to know. Our little branch library is only... read more

Nov 03, 2016

Taking a Peek into Windows to the World

IEW’s pathway features a great progression of coursework to help your students develop their writing skills, but those are not the only courses IEW has. Additionally IEW offers materials that support all components... read more

Jul 05, 2021

Additional Source Material to Teach Structure and Style

  We recently received a request from a parent who just completed Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level A and is waiting patiently for Year 2 Level A to launch in January.... read more

Nov 13, 2020

How a Hybrid School Found Success with IEW

Louis Lemmon: Hybrid School Administrator Founded in 2005, Lake Pointe Academy is a K–12 University-Model® school of approximately 195 students. Louis Lemmon served for two years as a teacher, and then began serving as head... read more

Nov 04, 2016

Three Powerful Courses for Preparing Students for College

  I’ve been journeying through this thing called homeschooling for some time now. This family adventure began when my oldest, who is now entering his senior year of college, stayed home to learn his... read more

Jul 15, 2019

Where are they now? Taylor Bennett: Porch Swing Girl

  We love to hear from students who have experienced success with IEW. Today’s blog post features one who not only learned to write with IEW, but used her skills to write a novel,... read more

Dec 03, 2018

Student Perspectives: Structure and Style® for Students: Level C, Andrew V.’s View

  I had the recent pleasure of meeting Andrew V., a high school student appearing in IEW®️’s newly released video-based Structure and Style for Students: Level C classes. I met him when I traveled... read more

Dec 13, 2019

Ready, Steady, Start!

  Believe it or not, it is almost time to start back to school. In one form or another, whether it be traditional brick and mortar, a hybrid approach, online, or at home, the... read more

Jul 30, 2020

Engaging Students in Learning

If you missed the gifts given for Day 7, you can still access these resources: Podcast Episode 164: The Four Forms of Relevancy: Intrinsic Relevancy, Part 1 Podcast Episode 165: The Four Forms of Relevancy:... read more

Jan 01, 2023

Reflections on Growing Up with IEW

  Working in IEW’s customer service department, I receive many calls from customers, especially new customers who are concerned that IEW seems too simple. They worry the expectations are not high enough. Often the... read more

Jan 30, 2018

Sharing Fairy Tales: Time Well Spent and Much Enjoyed

  If you ask a child what his favorite part of the school day is, he’s likely to blurt out, “Recess!” But if he stops and considers for a moment longer, he will likely... read more

Sep 09, 2019

“A Remarkable Leap Forward”: Tutor Testimonial from Sherry Grubbs

          It has been a tremendous blessing to have discovered IEW early on in my homeschooling journey. With over twenty-one years in the trenches so far, I am still homeschooling... read more

Oct 28, 2019

How to Obliterate Writer’s Block

The blank page. It can be a formidable force. An intimidating expanse of seemingly interminable white, the empty page has been known to bring even the most prolific writer to his knees. But... read more

Aug 05, 2022

Flying Solo with Teaching Writing: Structure and Style: Part 2

  In our last blog post, we described the initial steps you need to take in order to plan for a successful year utilizing our flagship course, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, as the... read more

Aug 25, 2017

Student Perspectives: Structure and Style® for Students: Level A, Joshua’s View

  Meet Joshua (Josh for short). One of Andrew Pudewa’s students in IEW’s newly released video-based Structure and Style for Students: Level A classes, he is ten years old. When he first started taking the... read more

Dec 02, 2019

2024 Additions to Public Domain

With the flip of the calendar to a new year, the United States is also enjoying the addition of several new titles to the public domain. Public domain materials are no longer covered... read more

Jan 25, 2024

Writing Essays with Unit 8

IEW teaches students to write with structure and with style. Style includes vocabulary. Structure is the elements found in compositions. Throughout the year students progress through nine structural units. At this point in the... read more

Apr 18, 2024

Aesop: Who Was He?

  Who was Aesop? His fables are world famous, but the man, if he even existed at all, is shrouded in mystery. What little is known about him is likely conflated to legend in... read more

May 15, 2020

Imagination: An Engine for World Change

  I am a game designer and a world builder, and so imagination is as much a part of my everyday existence as a scalpel is to a surgeon’s. I desire to infuse my... read more

Jul 06, 2017

Educational Merit and Frantic Fun

  Dr. Webster’s Outmatched™ is the perfect blend of educational merit and frantic fun for students as they try to outwit one another while they memorize powerful points from history. Desiring a greater understanding... read more

May 22, 2019

Nurture Communication—Build Vocabulary!

  Every year, new words are added to the dictionary. In 2018, for instance, words like “bougie,” “bingeable,” and “predictive” were added by Merriam-Webster. But did you know that behind the scenes there is... read more

Mar 15, 2019

Help for the Special Journey

  The month of October is filled with special observances from the silly to the serious. For example, the month claims to be, among other things, National Positive Attitude Month. Other observances include Bullying... read more

Sep 27, 2018

Culture, Curriculum, and Care

  Last week, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker hosted a webinar called “A Crash Course for Accidental Homeschooling.” If you weren’t able to participate in the live event, you are in luck. You can... read more

Apr 02, 2020

Building a Fortress of Encouragement

  "Sometimes we feel like if we can't do it perfectly, we won't have success. The truth is, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing imperfectly. So go ahead and just do your best."... read more

May 10, 2019

Structure and Style—The Canvas and the Paint

by Ryan Weins   Hello there! I’m new here—to IEW, and especially to blogging. So here’s to the first one! When I was hired, Julie told me, “You can play the ‘new guy card’ for... read more

Jan 08, 2018

Reading: Time Well Spent

  We have so little time to spend. The hustle and bustle of teaching a multiplicity of subjects to students takes long hours to accomplish. If educators were asked what their goals were for... read more

Feb 09, 2018

Announcing IEW’s 2021 Writing Contest!

  As winter begins to wane, and the days slowly stretch out longer and longer, we at IEW grow excited because we know the annual IEW Writing Contest is nearly here. We look forward... read more

Mar 05, 2021

Customizing Lessons to Meet Your Students’ Needs – Filtering

   “The optimal learning environment is one which allows each child to progress at his own rate allowing sufficient repetition for mastery.” Andrew Pudewa, IEW Founder, Author, and Director In the Teaching Writing: Structure and... read more

Jan 18, 2020

A Buffet of Options

"Which should I choose?" is a common question from parents and teachers exploring IEW's two main options for teaching the Structure and Style® methodology. While some create their own lessons, most prefer ready-made... read more

Nov 19, 2024

The Journey’s End: Reflections of a Homeschool Mom

  This year has been quite a remarkable one for our family. In the midst of the chaos of COVID-19, we have graduated two students: one from high school and the other from college.... read more

Jun 12, 2020

Imply or Infer?

  Imply or infer? Both of these words look similar and have related meanings, but unfortunately for many people the similarities lead to confusion about which word to select. The differences are subtle. In... read more

Jul 14, 2020

Point-less: On the Value of a Mastery Approach to Writing Instruction

Some instructors teaching with Structure and Style for Students have noticed something that appears to be missing from the checklists: the point values. While we do offer checklists with points as an optional... read more

Sep 08, 2021

The Grammar of Everyday Phrases: Part 2

Although speaking English comes naturally to most native speakers, writing it can sometimes feel fraught with potential pitfalls. If you have ever paused after writing a word or a phrase and wondered if... read more

Oct 07, 2022

Special Learning Needs and IEW

If you missed the gifts given for Day 8, you can still access these resources: Podcast R14: Learning Differences Struggles and Suggestions, Part 1 – Dyslexia Podcast R15: Learning Differences Struggles and Suggestions, Part 2 – Dysgraphia Podcast... read more

Jan 02, 2023

Cultivating Confident Communicators

If you missed the gifts given for Day 10, you can still access these resources: Podcast Episode 204: The Four Language Arts Part 2: Speaking Podcast Episode 251: Nurturing Competent Communicators, Part 1 Podcast Episode 252:... read more

Jan 04, 2023

Summer Fun in (and out) of the Sun: Considering Clubs

  While the official start of summer is still a few weeks away, Memorial Day unofficially ushers in the highly anticipated season. Over the next few weeks, we are going to share some ideas... read more

May 28, 2021

IEW’s Promise: Satisfaction Guaranteed

  At IEW we are very committed to our mission. In fact, we are so confident you will love our products, we stand behind everything we sell with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We even... read more

Oct 03, 2019

The Benefits of Mastery Education: Podcast Episode 264

  Mastery learning is all the rage right now. You may wonder whether the Structure and Style approach follows a mastery-based approach. If so, wonder no longer. Podcast Episode 264 will settle the question. Andrew... read more

Mar 31, 2021

How the Structure and Style Writing Approach Supports Reading

  While the act of reading appears, at least on the surface, to be simple, it is anything but. Reading is actually an extremely complicated activity that involves lots of simultaneous processes within the... read more

Mar 20, 2021

Party in the (IEW) House!

  On Tuesday night approximately one hundred people gathered together at IEW’s Bixby campus for an extra special evening. They were there to celebrate IEW’s twenty-fifth birthday. Flying in from all across the country,... read more

Nov 22, 2019

It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

American culture appreciates speed. So many people seem to be in a hurry. People fly down the interstate in their cars. Fast food lines move people through quickly so they can get on... read more

May 20, 2022

Savoring the Sweetness of Summer

  Doldrums. The word describes a feeling of lassitude or torpor and was derived from an area called the doldrums, located around the equator. Having very little air movement, sailing vessels can sometimes become... read more

Jun 27, 2019

EZ+1 Reiterated

  Accomplished instructor and IEW author Jill Pike has provided invaluable advice to many IEW teachers and parents. Much of it reiterates the EZ+1 philosophy. In this particular exchange she helps a co-op instructor... read more

Jul 26, 2019

A Worthwhile Investment

One of the most frequent questions IEW’s customer service receives is “How much parent involvement does this program require?” This is understandable. Homeschool parents juggle multiple students at multiple levels, run a household,... read more

Aug 03, 2023

How to Progress: Structure and Style for Students

Structure and Style® for Students (SSS) video-based courses build on each other. Although many begin at Level A, older students who have used other curricula may begin at Year 1 of Level B... read more

May 16, 2024

Tutoring with IEW—A Win-Win!

  IEW is taught across homes and schools all around the world. Often it is a teacher or parent who guides students through the IEW approach to writing, but tutors who meet with students... read more

Sep 21, 2018

Poems for Christmas †

  I love this time of year. It saturates my senses. There’s so much to see, smell, taste, touch, and hear. Right now, for example, I have some classical Christmas music playing softly in... read more

Dec 19, 2019

Where are they now? Tommy Kelley—Looking Back with Gratitude

Volunteer firefighter since the age of fifteen, EMT, competitor in the Olympic trials for rifle, political campaign manager, and more—Tommy Kelley has packed in a lot of life in his twenty-five years. Now... read more

Dec 20, 2016

Perfecting Pieces for Publication—An Interview with Maria Gerber

  Behind every great writer is a great editor. This holds true for nearly all great authors, and for us at IEW. IEW has a small but sharp team of editors who work on... read more

Mar 12, 2018

Dancing to the Imperfect Beat of Life

  I’ve sometimes wondered if I should begin a Perfectionists Anonymous group. It isn’t uncommon for me to put off projects because I don’t have the time to do them perfectly, whether the project... read more

Feb 19, 2021

Unit 7 and the 2019 IEW Writing Contest: Podcast Episode 182

  The month of March is traditionally when students encounter Unit 7: Inventive Writing. In Podcast 182, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss this writing unit and introduce the writing prompts for this year’s... read more

Mar 22, 2019

Salting the Oats

  Teachers understand that students enjoy a good contest. The possibility of winning a coveted prize or a tasty treat can inspire even the most reluctant student to strive for success. But how can... read more

Oct 08, 2019

Experience Unit 5: Frosty Paws

Now that we are in the month of December, many teachers are focusing on Unit 5: Writing from Pictures. Out of all of the units, this one is by far my favorite. A... read more

Dec 10, 2021

On Individualized Learning

  Today’s blog post is written by one of our customer service team members, and yet, remarkably, she’s just completing her junior year in high school! Kathleen shares her unique perspective as not only... read more

May 15, 2019

Where Are They Now? Nathanael Olander: Future Computer Scientist

#   Nathanael Olander grew up an “IEW kid.” His mom, Danielle Olander, is an IEW homeschool exhibitor. Together the two of them authored Rockets, Radar, & Robotics*, a technology-themed writing curriculum. The idea for... read more

Oct 30, 2017

Building Literacy One Activity at a Time

  The days of spring are here, which for many parents and teachers is a time to think and reflect on the past school year as well as prepare for the new year to... read more

Apr 15, 2018

IPS in the Classroom

A word of warning from Dr. Webster. “A bad idea well presented can be more effective than a good idea poorly presented. History proved this.” Presentation matters, and IEW can help! Introduction to... read more

Jul 27, 2023

Teaching Structure and Style Virtually with Fidelity

  As educators continue to adjust to life COVID-19, the difficult reality is that 5-day-a-week traditional schools that were teaching in person may once again be moving to virtual instruction. I taught for over... read more

Feb 17, 2024

The Edifying Flame of Candlelight: A Unit 4 Opportunity

  Have you ever tuned in to hear Andrew Pudewa speak at a Classical Consortium event? If so, you've probably also enjoyed hearing Professor Carol. Each year she offers a free online Advent calendar.... read more

Dec 11, 2020

Ask Andrew Anything: Podcast Episode 210

  It’s that time again! Every tenth podcast is set aside so that listeners can “ask Andrew anything.” In podcast Episode 210 listeners asked the following questions: Do I really need the teacher-training course, Teaching... read more

Mar 19, 2020

Structure and Style for Students: Hybrid School Lesson Planning

What is a hybrid school, and what makes lesson planning different for a hybrid school teacher? Hybrid schools meet one, two, three, or four days a week. This model of education has been... read more

Jul 13, 2023

IEW Tools for the Journey: Newsletters

It is August. Many schools and homeschools have already begun the new school year. Within a few weeks schools of all types will be in session. Here at IEW, our mission is to... read more

Jul 17, 2024

A Classic Resource

Which IEW product has been around nearly as long as the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) seminar? The Writing Source Packet is one of the original resources that IEW produced for parents... read more

Sep 21, 2023

The Benefits of Entering Writing Contests

  I started IEW when my twins were in fifth grade. I bought my Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) in the spring. Truth be told, I was a little intimidated to begin, so... read more

Aug 19, 2019

Addressing Misunderstandings about the Stylistic Techniques, Part 1: Podcast Episode 278

The Institute for Excellence in Writing is known by many to be the “Structure and Style®” writing company. But what does “Structure and Style” really mean? If we break the two terms apart,... read more

Jul 14, 2021

Why IEW Works for Students with Learning Differences: Podcast Episode 356

Why is IEW a good fit for students with special needs? This week Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker read through testimonials from teaching parents to help answer the question. Tune in to this... read more

Jan 18, 2023

Summer Fun in (and out) of the Sun: Building Book Clubs

  “It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” This quote, often miscredited to Oscar Wilde but actually stated by the... read more

Jun 04, 2021

The 2021 IEW Online Writing Conference: Recorded and Ready to Watch!

The 2021 IEW Online Writing Conference: Recorded and Ready to Watch! It’s a wrap! This past Saturday marked IEW’s second annual Online Writing Conference. Did you participate? It was a fabulous day featuring workshops... read more

Jun 30, 2021

Unit 4: Summarizing a Reference

  If you are moving through the IEW units at the pace of about one a month, you are either now in Unit 4, Summarizing a Reference, or are about to be there soon.... read more

Nov 07, 2018

Begin Reading and Writing with a Pal: IEW’s Primary Arts of Language

  Do you have a new or struggling reader in your home? If so, find direction and encouragement in our June 26 webinar with Jill Pike, author of Primary Arts of Language (PAL). Jill’s... read more

Jun 19, 2017

Teaching Writing Can Be Easier Than You Think! Podcast Episode 277

In June IEW presented its second annual Online Writing Conference. Attended by people from all around the world, the conference offered education and support for teachers, administrators, parents, and students. In this week’s... read more

Jul 09, 2021

A Brief Tour through the IEW Writing Units

  When you teach writing with IEW®, you are constructing a solid writing foundation for your students. IEW’s writing structure is based upon nine units or structural models. But what are those models? A... read more

Sep 20, 2017

IEW Accreditation: The Secret Key to Success

Throughout the years, Institute for Excellence in Writing has continued to make its programs easier to implement. When IEW was founded over twenty-five years ago, teachers could only learn the Structure and Style... read more

Feb 03, 2023

Tutoring Online with IEW—Yes, You Can!

  With the power of the Internet, physical distances are no longer a barrier. Information is instantly at our fingertips. While this has both positive and negative implications, undoubtedly one of the positives out... read more

Jun 22, 2019

Motivation and the Four Forms of Relevancy: Podcast Episode 358

Are there factors that make learning easier? As Andrew notes, “If something is relevant to you, if it is significant, meaningful, useful, interesting, and helpful to you, then it is easy to study... read more

Feb 01, 2023

Many Educational Choices: One Writing Method 5-Day Schools

During my thirty-four-year career as an elementary school teacher, I taught at seven schools in four school districts in three states. The districts ranged from rural to suburban to inner city, each with... read more

Dec 03, 2024

The IEW Premium Membership: Education, Resources, and Support for Busy Teachers

by Jean Nichols and Jennifer Mauser   Since its debut in July 2017, IEW’s Premium Membership has proven to be a tremendous resource for teachers. The Premium Membership wasn’t available when I was first trained in... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Training Method Options Part 7: Live On-Site Professional Development: Review and Refinement Day

  Making Master Teachers by Designing a Customized Professional Development Day for Your School People love to customize things. Whether it’s selecting the best options for a new car or building the perfect burrito at... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Week 4 of The Great TWSS Adventure: Unit 4

Last Week This past Monday, Andrew Pudewa and Nathan King sat down together once again, this time to discuss Unit 3: Retelling Narrative Stories. This unit marks a significant shift from the first two... read more

Jun 28, 2021

Hot Off the Press! Following Narnia Volume 2: Aslan’s Country

  Narnia lovers, rejoice! If you’ve used and loved Following Narnia® Volume 1: The Lion’s Song, you’ll be delighted to know that IEW has recently released the sequel: Following Narnia® Volume 2: Aslan’s Country.... read more

Sep 02, 2016

Why We Do What We Do

  We are not merely a curriculum company. At IEW we fervently desire to go beyond simply designing a course of study in a subject such as English. At our heart we want to... read more

Sep 07, 2018

Checking the Boxes for High School Credit

Many of our customers reach out to customer service as their student approaches high school. They want to be sure that our materials will count for a language arts credit. Perhaps, a new... read more

Jun 27, 2024

Planning an IEW Lesson for Multiple Grades

We live in a time where there are many options for educating our students. Since the pandemic more and more families have chosen to educate their children in nontraditional settings. Many of these... read more

Nov 30, 2023

Why the Same Nine IEW Units Year after Year?

When students complete their first year of an IEW Structure and Style course whether it is one of our theme-based courses or Structure and Style for Students video-based courses, parents often ask, “What... read more

Aug 17, 2023

Support for a Memorable Year Ahead

  The year 2020 has certainly been extraordinary. In early spring we were plunged into a worldwide pandemic that we are still trying to navigate. In response to the interruption of schools and the... read more

Aug 27, 2020

Making Spring Come Alive

  If you are anything like me, you look forward to bidding farewell to the doldrums of winter with immense anticipation for springtime and all of the beauty that suddenly pours forth! In celebration... read more

Mar 20, 2019

Student Perspectives: Structure and Style for Students: Noah’s View

One of Andrew Pudewa’s Structure and Style for Students (SSS) high school students was Noah. At fifteen years of age, Noah arrived at his first SSS with little writing experience, feeling less than... read more

Jan 22, 2020

Launching the Foundations of Literacy through Structure and Style in Grades K–2 Foundation #1: Language Development through Poetry

IEW’s instructional materials for the primary grades are based on the proven methods of the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Structure and Style approach and are inspired by the language development activities of... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Training Method Options, Part 6: Live On-Site Professional Development — Observation and Coaching Day

  Making Excellent Writing Teachers through Individual Coaching IEW’s Observation and Coaching Day supports classroom teachers and administrators during implementation of the Structure and Style methodology after initial training (either live or video) has taken... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Unit 3: Powerful Narrative Tools Inform and Improve Academic Writing

by Jean Nichols and Janet Spitler   When I began using IEW’s Structure and Style method in my classroom in 2001, I was anxious about teaching Unit 3: Summarizing a Narrative. Classroom Supplements hadn’t been... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Where are they now? Lauren Oliver: Master’s Candidate in Communication

We love to hear from former students of Structure and Style. These young adults are forging unique pathways in the world, many of them heavily focused in writing and communication. Lauren Oliver is... read more

Apr 18, 2022

Many Educational Choices: One Writing Method Private Tutoring at Home

People are unique. Just as some people feel most at home in an urban environment, others chafe at the sounds and sights of the city and long for the quiet comfort of a... read more

Jan 03, 2025

Announcing IEW’s Winter Retreat 2023: A Virtual Writing Workshop for Classroom Teachers

Are you a classroom teacher, hybrid school instructor, co-op facilitator, or tutor? Do you teach your students in person or online? We have a special event just for you! On Saturday, February 11,... read more

Jan 27, 2023

Author Interview: Laura Bettis—Inspired by the Tales of Narnia

Aslan, Reepicheep, Mr. Tumnus, High King Peter, King Edmund, Queens Lucy and Susan, and the White Witch. If you don’t yet know these characters, you’ll be in for a huge treat as you... read more

Dec 05, 2016

Building a Strong Foundation with Units 1 and 2

IEW teaches students to write with structure and with style. Style includes vocabulary. Structure is the elements found in compositions. Throughout the year, students progress through nine structural units. Each year they begin with Units... read more

Aug 24, 2023

Where are they now? Jacob Mauser: English Major Extraordinaire

Graduating from high school last year, Jacob Mauser has taken the IEW writing skills he learned while being homeschooled to college and discovered that English and writing are the things he most loves... read more

Oct 19, 2016

Strengthening Students’ Reading Comprehension

What elements need to be in place for a student to have solid reading comprehension? In 1986 psychologists William Tumner and Philip Gough distilled it down to a simple mathematical formula: reading comprehension... read more

Mar 05, 2024

IEW Curriculum Aligns with State Standards

School teachers and curriculum directors often call IEW’s Schools Division asking if our curriculum meets state educational standards. Some schools or charter schools are not allowed to recommend items if they are not... read more

May 02, 2024

Teaching Literature through Discussion: Podcast Episode 262

  A common rite of passage for students is to read a novel for an English class and then be expected to write an analytical paper on it. But is formal literary analysis the... read more

Mar 18, 2021

Moving on to Unit 3: Podcast Episode 158

  Now that the first weeks of school are complete, many students are beginning to move into Unit 3, Retelling Narrative Stories. After Units 1 and 2 where students created key word outlines from... read more

Oct 03, 2018

Learning Styles—Overcoming the Writing Barrier

Whether you are teaching two students or twenty, you have likely noticed that each of your students learns a bit differently. One child might happily read a book and remember what he’s read,... read more

Oct 13, 2016

IEW: Not Just for Homeschoolers! Podcast Episode 209

  The history of the Institute for Excellence in Writing stretches back in time quite a ways, all the way back to the single-room schoolhouse where Anna Ingham taught students of many ages. Designing... read more

Mar 11, 2020

Fascinating Facts about the Iditarod Trail

  One of Andrew Pudewa’s Structure and Style for Students high school students was Andrew Vasher. He also joined the IEW team as a junior, supporting IEW’s marketing team. One of his goals, in... read more

Feb 26, 2020

Experience Unit 5: The First Thanksgiving

  Unit 5 marks the midway point of IEW’s nine writing units. Rather than asking students to create key word outlines from written text, Unit 5 instead has students ask themselves questions based on... read more

Nov 22, 2017

Announcing IEW’s Theme-Based Book of the Year: Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons

We are excited to share with you that we have declared Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons to be IEW’s theme-based book of... read more

Sep 03, 2021

Experience Unit 3 with People and Places in Our Community and World History-Based Writing Lessons

  September is nearly over, but before you switch from retelling stories in Unit 3 to funneling facts in Unit 4, check... read more

Sep 27, 2017

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A Suzuki History: Podcast Episode 155

  “Ten thousand times, and then begins understanding.” Japanese saying That proverb reflects a philosophy that sounds foreign to Western minds, but it... read more

Sep 12, 2018

Theme-Based or Video-Based? Either Is a Win-Win!

Whether you use one of IEW’s theme-based courses or a Structure and Style for Students video-based course, it is a win-win... read more

Aug 10, 2023

Black History Month: Celebrating Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Although I graduated from a large midwestern university with a degree in English and a focus in poetry, I knew next... read more

Feb 17, 2017

Product Spotlight: Theme-Based Writing Lessons

  IEW offers many excellent programs for language arts. Among them are products dedicated to written expression, speaking, literature, spelling, and handwriting.... read more

Feb 08, 2019

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

May 15, 2025

Getting Started with Theme-Based Writing Lessons

On Day 3 of Twelve Days of Christmas Giving, IEW is giving you a three-week sample of three theme-based writing lessons.... read more

Dec 28, 2023

A Helping Hand for Home-Based Instruction: Free Language Arts Lessons from IEW

  With all that is happening in the world and across the United States, IEW wanted to do what we could to... read more

Mar 17, 2020

Learning about the Third Edition of Bible-Based Writing Lessons: Podcast Episode 196✝

  Once upon a time, there was only one IEW product—Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. It empowered, and continues to empower, teachers... read more

Jun 27, 2019

Special Education Series Part One: Structure and Style™ and Language-Based Learning Disabilities

  by Linda Mikottis and Jean Nichols If you are a classroom teacher, chances are you have a number of students in your... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Special Education Series: Structure and Style™ and Language-Based Learning Difficulties, Part 3: The Checklist

by Linda Mikottis and Jean Nichols   In the previous post in this series, we compared traditional methods for teaching grammar with those... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Special Education Series: Structure and Style™ and Language-Based Learning Difficulties, Part 2: Teaching Grammar

by Linda Mikottis and Jean Nichols   In part one of this series, we described the importance of a multi-sensory approach to language... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Empowered across the Curriculum

  Many years ago when I was a much younger, somewhat bewildered homeschool mom standing in front of the IEW® booth at... read more

Jan 08, 2019

Author Interview: Lori Verstegen—Helping Students Succeed

There are many options available to teach IEW writing to your students. One of the most enjoyable and successful ways to... read more

Dec 01, 2016

Applying IEW across Your School

Like many people, I first became acquainted with IEW while I was homeschooling my children, and I taught IEW in homeschool... read more

Jan 23, 2025

Happy 20th Birthday, Classical Conversations! IEW and CC: Celebrating Fifteen Years of Collaboration and Camaraderie

  Today is October 18, 2017, and while Andrew Pudewa is heading to Charlotte, NC for Classical Conversations’ 20th anniversary event, I... read more

Oct 18, 2017

Week 9 of The Great TWSS Adventure: Unit 9

This week marks the penultimate week for this year’s Great TWSS Adventure. If you have kept up with the schedule, you... read more

Aug 09, 2021

The Journey’s End: Written Communication

  Which IEW courses will help prepare your students for writing at the collegiate level? Most colleges expect students to be able... read more

Jun 15, 2020

Where are they now? Jemma Swift: Author of Forever Riders

  Authoring a book is an intimidating prospect. And if it’s illustrated, that introduces even more challenges. For Jemma Swift—homeschooled student, first-time-author,... read more

Nov 20, 2017

Where Are They Now? Kimberly Johnson—Writer and Graphic Designer

  Some students immerse themselves in music; still others pursue athletics. And there are those who enjoy art. Today we would like... read more

Jan 18, 2019

Teaching Documentation with Confidence

  For those of you who have an older version of the Student Resource Packet (SRP) and have updated to the most... read more

May 17, 2021

Where are they now? Brenna Fisher: Criminologist-in-Training

  Ever wonder if you made the right decision to homeschool? If your hopeful expectations for your children will be realized? I... read more

Jun 13, 2016

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

Jun 03, 2025

Wonders of Science Writing Lessons

How are astronauts protected from space dust traveling at the speed of a bullet? How do ants know when another ant... read more

Apr 07, 2023

Where Are They Now? Ethan Sink: Journalist with a Passion for Communication

  Occasionally at IEW we receive questions from parents wondering if our curriculum will work for students who are interested in pursuing... read more

Jul 07, 2017

Powerful Courses for College Preparation

In many ways, the high school years are a staging ground for adulthood. For some students high school represents the culmination... read more

Jan 13, 2023

Week 7 of the Great TWSS Adventure: Unit 7

Teachers and teaching parents from across the globe who are participating in the Great Adventure will tackle Unit 7 this week.... read more

Jul 27, 2021

Week 8 of The Great TWSS Adventure: Unit 8

If you are participating in this year’s Great TWSS Adventure, this week you will be encountering formal essay models. The essay... read more

Aug 02, 2021

Securing Your Oxygen Mask

  In the somewhat musty memories tucked into the corners of my mind, I can vaguely recall my thoughts about homeschooling before... read more

Jul 27, 2018

Customer Service Answers: How do I teach Structure and Style to multiple ages?

“How do I use one writing course for my kids who are all different ages?” We often receive this question in customer... read more

Jun 24, 2022

Getting Started with The Phonetic Zoo

Spelling can be a challenging subject for many students. Perhaps students struggle because many spelling programs rely heavily on visual input.... read more

Dec 30, 2023

Customer Service Answers: A Little Help along the Way

At IEW we want the courses we provide to be ones that will excite and engage both you and your student.... read more

Oct 18, 2021

IEW Tools for the Journey: Webinars

As part of IEW’s continued commitment to providing parents and teachers with help for the journey of training students to be... read more

Jul 17, 2024

Prepositional Pursuits

  My little class and I have been cruising right along this year. Working through Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons, they’ve learned how... read more

Nov 18, 2019

On Popcorn, Pudewa and Video Writing Instruction

  You may have already heard some of the buzz from IEW® about an upcoming important announcement. It’s exciting news that we... read more

Oct 31, 2019

Sage Advice for a Successful School Year

If you have recently strolled into your local big box store, you likely have seen shelves upon shelves of back to... read more

Aug 06, 2021

Furnishing the Mind with Great Sources – ReadWorks®

IEW is widely recognized for exceptional writing courses for the homeschool, classroom, co-op, and tutorial, providing students with excellent content to... read more

Feb 13, 2024

“The Buck Stops Here”

  In Harry Truman’s day, people who shirked responsibility and shifted blame were accused of “passing the buck.” According to the Truman... read more

Aug 16, 2017

Where Are They Now? Oliver Mauser: College, Construction, and Effective Communication

From time to time we enjoy highlighting former structure and style students to showcase their achievements both academically and professionally. Students... read more

Sep 06, 2022

The Story Behind One of the Greatest Story Series of All Time

  There are certain works of literature that cross cultural divides and stand the test of time. Nearly everyone has heard of... read more

Apr 27, 2020

Preparing for College and Career

In the 1970s Dr. James B. Webster began each of his university history classes with lessons from his program Blended Structure... read more

Jan 18, 2024

Classic Learning Test – A Better Way

For decades, the standardized testing world has been dominated by two juggernauts: ACT and SAT. However, changes in the way that... read more

Feb 09, 2023

Sharing Gratitude: Podcast Episode 243

  We love to hear from you. Whether it be through email, social media, a phone call, or even snail mail, it... read more

Nov 04, 2020

Switch to Pens!

  Several years ago Andrew Pudewa published an article entitled “Convert ... to Pens!” In doing so, he flipped on its end... read more

Aug 27, 2019

Editing Matters!

  For every benefit that our modern device-based technologies bring, there is a cost, and autocorrect is no exception. For those who... read more

Mar 13, 2017

Researching the Relaxing Way

The library has always been my happy place. The smell of books. The neatly organized stacks. The access to anything I... read more

Nov 03, 2016

Taking a Peek into Windows to the World

IEW’s pathway features a great progression of coursework to help your students develop their writing skills, but those are not the... read more

Jul 05, 2021

Additional Source Material to Teach Structure and Style

  We recently received a request from a parent who just completed Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level A and... read more

Nov 13, 2020

How a Hybrid School Found Success with IEW

Louis Lemmon: Hybrid School Administrator Founded in 2005, Lake Pointe Academy is a K–12 University-Model® school of approximately 195 students. Louis Lemmon served... read more

Nov 04, 2016

Three Powerful Courses for Preparing Students for College

  I’ve been journeying through this thing called homeschooling for some time now. This family adventure began when my oldest, who is... read more

Jul 15, 2019

Where are they now? Taylor Bennett: Porch Swing Girl

  We love to hear from students who have experienced success with IEW. Today’s blog post features one who not only learned... read more

Dec 03, 2018

Student Perspectives: Structure and Style® for Students: Level C, Andrew V.’s View

  I had the recent pleasure of meeting Andrew V., a high school student appearing in IEW®️’s newly released video-based Structure and... read more

Dec 13, 2019

Ready, Steady, Start!

  Believe it or not, it is almost time to start back to school. In one form or another, whether it be... read more

Jul 30, 2020

Engaging Students in Learning

If you missed the gifts given for Day 7, you can still access these resources: Podcast Episode 164: The Four Forms of... read more

Jan 01, 2023

Reflections on Growing Up with IEW

  Working in IEW’s customer service department, I receive many calls from customers, especially new customers who are concerned that IEW seems... read more

Jan 30, 2018

Sharing Fairy Tales: Time Well Spent and Much Enjoyed

  If you ask a child what his favorite part of the school day is, he’s likely to blurt out, “Recess!” But... read more

Sep 09, 2019

“A Remarkable Leap Forward”: Tutor Testimonial from Sherry Grubbs

          It has been a tremendous blessing to have discovered IEW early on in my homeschooling journey. With... read more

Oct 28, 2019

How to Obliterate Writer’s Block

The blank page. It can be a formidable force. An intimidating expanse of seemingly interminable white, the empty page has been... read more

Aug 05, 2022

Flying Solo with Teaching Writing: Structure and Style: Part 2

  In our last blog post, we described the initial steps you need to take in order to plan for a successful... read more

Aug 25, 2017

Student Perspectives: Structure and Style® for Students: Level A, Joshua’s View

  Meet Joshua (Josh for short). One of Andrew Pudewa’s students in IEW’s newly released video-based Structure and Style for Students: Level A... read more

Dec 02, 2019

2024 Additions to Public Domain

With the flip of the calendar to a new year, the United States is also enjoying the addition of several new... read more

Jan 25, 2024

Writing Essays with Unit 8

IEW teaches students to write with structure and with style. Style includes vocabulary. Structure is the elements found in compositions. Throughout... read more

Apr 18, 2024

Aesop: Who Was He?

  Who was Aesop? His fables are world famous, but the man, if he even existed at all, is shrouded in mystery.... read more

May 15, 2020

Imagination: An Engine for World Change

  I am a game designer and a world builder, and so imagination is as much a part of my everyday existence... read more

Jul 06, 2017

Educational Merit and Frantic Fun

  Dr. Webster’s Outmatched™ is the perfect blend of educational merit and frantic fun for students as they try to outwit one... read more

May 22, 2019

Nurture Communication—Build Vocabulary!

  Every year, new words are added to the dictionary. In 2018, for instance, words like “bougie,” “bingeable,” and “predictive” were added... read more

Mar 15, 2019

Help for the Special Journey

  The month of October is filled with special observances from the silly to the serious. For example, the month claims to... read more

Sep 27, 2018

Culture, Curriculum, and Care

  Last week, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker hosted a webinar called “A Crash Course for Accidental Homeschooling.” If you weren’t able... read more

Apr 02, 2020

Building a Fortress of Encouragement

  "Sometimes we feel like if we can't do it perfectly, we won't have success. The truth is, if it's worth doing,... read more

May 10, 2019

Structure and Style—The Canvas and the Paint

by Ryan Weins   Hello there! I’m new here—to IEW, and especially to blogging. So here’s to the first one! When I was... read more

Jan 08, 2018

Reading: Time Well Spent

  We have so little time to spend. The hustle and bustle of teaching a multiplicity of subjects to students takes long... read more

Feb 09, 2018

Announcing IEW’s 2021 Writing Contest!

  As winter begins to wane, and the days slowly stretch out longer and longer, we at IEW grow excited because we... read more

Mar 05, 2021

Customizing Lessons to Meet Your Students’ Needs – Filtering

   “The optimal learning environment is one which allows each child to progress at his own rate allowing sufficient repetition for mastery.”... read more

Jan 18, 2020

A Buffet of Options

"Which should I choose?" is a common question from parents and teachers exploring IEW's two main options for teaching the Structure... read more

Nov 19, 2024

The Journey’s End: Reflections of a Homeschool Mom

  This year has been quite a remarkable one for our family. In the midst of the chaos of COVID-19, we have... read more

Jun 12, 2020

Imply or Infer?

  Imply or infer? Both of these words look similar and have related meanings, but unfortunately for many people the similarities lead... read more

Jul 14, 2020

Point-less: On the Value of a Mastery Approach to Writing Instruction

Some instructors teaching with Structure and Style for Students have noticed something that appears to be missing from the checklists: the... read more

Sep 08, 2021

The Grammar of Everyday Phrases: Part 2

Although speaking English comes naturally to most native speakers, writing it can sometimes feel fraught with potential pitfalls. If you have... read more

Oct 07, 2022

Special Learning Needs and IEW

If you missed the gifts given for Day 8, you can still access these resources: Podcast R14: Learning Differences Struggles and Suggestions, Part... read more

Jan 02, 2023

Cultivating Confident Communicators

If you missed the gifts given for Day 10, you can still access these resources: Podcast Episode 204: The Four Language Arts... read more

Jan 04, 2023

Summer Fun in (and out) of the Sun: Considering Clubs

  While the official start of summer is still a few weeks away, Memorial Day unofficially ushers in the highly anticipated season.... read more

May 28, 2021

IEW’s Promise: Satisfaction Guaranteed

  At IEW we are very committed to our mission. In fact, we are so confident you will love our products, we... read more

Oct 03, 2019

The Benefits of Mastery Education: Podcast Episode 264

  Mastery learning is all the rage right now. You may wonder whether the Structure and Style approach follows a mastery-based approach.... read more

Mar 31, 2021

How the Structure and Style Writing Approach Supports Reading

  While the act of reading appears, at least on the surface, to be simple, it is anything but. Reading is actually... read more

Mar 20, 2021

Party in the (IEW) House!

  On Tuesday night approximately one hundred people gathered together at IEW’s Bixby campus for an extra special evening. They were there... read more

Nov 22, 2019

It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

American culture appreciates speed. So many people seem to be in a hurry. People fly down the interstate in their cars.... read more

May 20, 2022

Savoring the Sweetness of Summer

  Doldrums. The word describes a feeling of lassitude or torpor and was derived from an area called the doldrums, located around... read more

Jun 27, 2019

EZ+1 Reiterated

  Accomplished instructor and IEW author Jill Pike has provided invaluable advice to many IEW teachers and parents. Much of it reiterates... read more

Jul 26, 2019

A Worthwhile Investment

One of the most frequent questions IEW’s customer service receives is “How much parent involvement does this program require?” This is... read more

Aug 03, 2023

How to Progress: Structure and Style for Students

Structure and Style® for Students (SSS) video-based courses build on each other. Although many begin at Level A, older students who... read more

May 16, 2024

Tutoring with IEW—A Win-Win!

  IEW is taught across homes and schools all around the world. Often it is a teacher or parent who guides students... read more

Sep 21, 2018

Poems for Christmas †

  I love this time of year. It saturates my senses. There’s so much to see, smell, taste, touch, and hear. Right... read more

Dec 19, 2019

Where are they now? Tommy Kelley—Looking Back with Gratitude

Volunteer firefighter since the age of fifteen, EMT, competitor in the Olympic trials for rifle, political campaign manager, and more—Tommy Kelley... read more

Dec 20, 2016

Perfecting Pieces for Publication—An Interview with Maria Gerber

  Behind every great writer is a great editor. This holds true for nearly all great authors, and for us at IEW.... read more

Mar 12, 2018

Dancing to the Imperfect Beat of Life

  I’ve sometimes wondered if I should begin a Perfectionists Anonymous group. It isn’t uncommon for me to put off projects because... read more

Feb 19, 2021

Unit 7 and the 2019 IEW Writing Contest: Podcast Episode 182

  The month of March is traditionally when students encounter Unit 7: Inventive Writing. In Podcast 182, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker... read more

Mar 22, 2019

Salting the Oats

  Teachers understand that students enjoy a good contest. The possibility of winning a coveted prize or a tasty treat can inspire... read more

Oct 08, 2019

Experience Unit 5: Frosty Paws

Now that we are in the month of December, many teachers are focusing on Unit 5: Writing from Pictures. Out of... read more

Dec 10, 2021

On Individualized Learning

  Today’s blog post is written by one of our customer service team members, and yet, remarkably, she’s just completing her junior... read more

May 15, 2019

Where Are They Now? Nathanael Olander: Future Computer Scientist

#   Nathanael Olander grew up an “IEW kid.” His mom, Danielle Olander, is an IEW homeschool exhibitor. Together the two of them... read more

Oct 30, 2017

Building Literacy One Activity at a Time

  The days of spring are here, which for many parents and teachers is a time to think and reflect on the... read more

Apr 15, 2018

IPS in the Classroom

A word of warning from Dr. Webster. “A bad idea well presented can be more effective than a good idea poorly... read more

Jul 27, 2023

Teaching Structure and Style Virtually with Fidelity

  As educators continue to adjust to life COVID-19, the difficult reality is that 5-day-a-week traditional schools that were teaching in person... read more

Feb 17, 2024

The Edifying Flame of Candlelight: A Unit 4 Opportunity

  Have you ever tuned in to hear Andrew Pudewa speak at a Classical Consortium event? If so, you've probably also enjoyed... read more

Dec 11, 2020

Ask Andrew Anything: Podcast Episode 210

  It’s that time again! Every tenth podcast is set aside so that listeners can “ask Andrew anything.” In podcast Episode 210... read more

Mar 19, 2020

Structure and Style for Students: Hybrid School Lesson Planning

What is a hybrid school, and what makes lesson planning different for a hybrid school teacher? Hybrid schools meet one, two,... read more

Jul 13, 2023

IEW Tools for the Journey: Newsletters

It is August. Many schools and homeschools have already begun the new school year. Within a few weeks schools of all... read more

Jul 17, 2024

A Classic Resource

Which IEW product has been around nearly as long as the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) seminar? The Writing Source... read more

Sep 21, 2023

The Benefits of Entering Writing Contests

  I started IEW when my twins were in fifth grade. I bought my Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) in the... read more

Aug 19, 2019

Addressing Misunderstandings about the Stylistic Techniques, Part 1: Podcast Episode 278

The Institute for Excellence in Writing is known by many to be the “Structure and Style®” writing company. But what does... read more

Jul 14, 2021

Why IEW Works for Students with Learning Differences: Podcast Episode 356

Why is IEW a good fit for students with special needs? This week Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker read through testimonials... read more

Jan 18, 2023

Summer Fun in (and out) of the Sun: Building Book Clubs

  “It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.”... read more

Jun 04, 2021

The 2021 IEW Online Writing Conference: Recorded and Ready to Watch!

The 2021 IEW Online Writing Conference: Recorded and Ready to Watch! It’s a wrap! This past Saturday marked IEW’s second annual Online... read more

Jun 30, 2021

Unit 4: Summarizing a Reference

  If you are moving through the IEW units at the pace of about one a month, you are either now in... read more

Nov 07, 2018

Begin Reading and Writing with a Pal: IEW’s Primary Arts of Language

  Do you have a new or struggling reader in your home? If so, find direction and encouragement in our June 26... read more

Jun 19, 2017

Teaching Writing Can Be Easier Than You Think! Podcast Episode 277

In June IEW presented its second annual Online Writing Conference. Attended by people from all around the world, the conference offered... read more

Jul 09, 2021

A Brief Tour through the IEW Writing Units

  When you teach writing with IEW®, you are constructing a solid writing foundation for your students. IEW’s writing structure is based... read more

Sep 20, 2017

IEW Accreditation: The Secret Key to Success

Throughout the years, Institute for Excellence in Writing has continued to make its programs easier to implement. When IEW was founded... read more

Feb 03, 2023

Tutoring Online with IEW—Yes, You Can!

  With the power of the Internet, physical distances are no longer a barrier. Information is instantly at our fingertips. While this... read more

Jun 22, 2019

Motivation and the Four Forms of Relevancy: Podcast Episode 358

Are there factors that make learning easier? As Andrew notes, “If something is relevant to you, if it is significant, meaningful,... read more

Feb 01, 2023

Many Educational Choices: One Writing Method 5-Day Schools

During my thirty-four-year career as an elementary school teacher, I taught at seven schools in four school districts in three states.... read more

Dec 03, 2024

The IEW Premium Membership: Education, Resources, and Support for Busy Teachers

by Jean Nichols and Jennifer Mauser   Since its debut in July 2017, IEW’s Premium Membership has proven to be a tremendous resource for... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Training Method Options Part 7: Live On-Site Professional Development: Review and Refinement Day

  Making Master Teachers by Designing a Customized Professional Development Day for Your School People love to customize things. Whether it’s selecting the... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Week 4 of The Great TWSS Adventure: Unit 4

Last Week This past Monday, Andrew Pudewa and Nathan King sat down together once again, this time to discuss Unit 3: Retelling... read more

Jun 28, 2021

Hot Off the Press! Following Narnia Volume 2: Aslan’s Country

  Narnia lovers, rejoice! If you’ve used and loved Following Narnia® Volume 1: The Lion’s Song, you’ll be delighted to know that... read more

Sep 02, 2016

Why We Do What We Do

  We are not merely a curriculum company. At IEW we fervently desire to go beyond simply designing a course of study... read more

Sep 07, 2018

Checking the Boxes for High School Credit

Many of our customers reach out to customer service as their student approaches high school. They want to be sure that... read more

Jun 27, 2024

Planning an IEW Lesson for Multiple Grades

We live in a time where there are many options for educating our students. Since the pandemic more and more families... read more

Nov 30, 2023

Why the Same Nine IEW Units Year after Year?

When students complete their first year of an IEW Structure and Style course whether it is one of our theme-based courses... read more

Aug 17, 2023

Support for a Memorable Year Ahead

  The year 2020 has certainly been extraordinary. In early spring we were plunged into a worldwide pandemic that we are still... read more

Aug 27, 2020

Making Spring Come Alive

  If you are anything like me, you look forward to bidding farewell to the doldrums of winter with immense anticipation for... read more

Mar 20, 2019

Student Perspectives: Structure and Style for Students: Noah’s View

One of Andrew Pudewa’s Structure and Style for Students (SSS) high school students was Noah. At fifteen years of age, Noah... read more

Jan 22, 2020

Launching the Foundations of Literacy through Structure and Style in Grades K–2 Foundation #1: Language Development through Poetry

IEW’s instructional materials for the primary grades are based on the proven methods of the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Structure... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Training Method Options, Part 6: Live On-Site Professional Development — Observation and Coaching Day

  Making Excellent Writing Teachers through Individual Coaching IEW’s Observation and Coaching Day supports classroom teachers and administrators during implementation of the Structure... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Unit 3: Powerful Narrative Tools Inform and Improve Academic Writing

by Jean Nichols and Janet Spitler   When I began using IEW’s Structure and Style method in my classroom in 2001, I was... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Where are they now? Lauren Oliver: Master’s Candidate in Communication

We love to hear from former students of Structure and Style. These young adults are forging unique pathways in the world,... read more

Apr 18, 2022

Many Educational Choices: One Writing Method Private Tutoring at Home

People are unique. Just as some people feel most at home in an urban environment, others chafe at the sounds and... read more

Jan 03, 2025

Announcing IEW’s Winter Retreat 2023: A Virtual Writing Workshop for Classroom Teachers

Are you a classroom teacher, hybrid school instructor, co-op facilitator, or tutor? Do you teach your students in person or online?... read more

Jan 27, 2023

Author Interview: Laura Bettis—Inspired by the Tales of Narnia

Aslan, Reepicheep, Mr. Tumnus, High King Peter, King Edmund, Queens Lucy and Susan, and the White Witch. If you don’t yet... read more

Dec 05, 2016

Building a Strong Foundation with Units 1 and 2

IEW teaches students to write with structure and with style. Style includes vocabulary. Structure is the elements found in compositions. Throughout... read more

Aug 24, 2023

Where are they now? Jacob Mauser: English Major Extraordinaire

Graduating from high school last year, Jacob Mauser has taken the IEW writing skills he learned while being homeschooled to college... read more

Oct 19, 2016

Strengthening Students’ Reading Comprehension

What elements need to be in place for a student to have solid reading comprehension? In 1986 psychologists William Tumner and... read more

Mar 05, 2024

IEW Curriculum Aligns with State Standards

School teachers and curriculum directors often call IEW’s Schools Division asking if our curriculum meets state educational standards. Some schools or... read more

May 02, 2024

Teaching Literature through Discussion: Podcast Episode 262

  A common rite of passage for students is to read a novel for an English class and then be expected to... read more

Mar 18, 2021

Moving on to Unit 3: Podcast Episode 158

  Now that the first weeks of school are complete, many students are beginning to move into Unit 3, Retelling Narrative Stories.... read more

Oct 03, 2018

Learning Styles—Overcoming the Writing Barrier

Whether you are teaching two students or twenty, you have likely noticed that each of your students learns a bit differently.... read more

Oct 13, 2016

IEW: Not Just for Homeschoolers! Podcast Episode 209

  The history of the Institute for Excellence in Writing stretches back in time quite a ways, all the way back to... read more

Mar 11, 2020

Fascinating Facts about the Iditarod Trail

  One of Andrew Pudewa’s Structure and Style for Students high school students was Andrew Vasher. He also joined the IEW team... read more

Feb 26, 2020

Experience Unit 5: The First Thanksgiving

  Unit 5 marks the midway point of IEW’s nine writing units. Rather than asking students to create key word outlines from... read more

Nov 22, 2017

In this podcast Andrew and Julie announce the third edition of Bible-Based Writing Lessons. Tune in as the duo walks through the theme-based book, discussing what's different in the new edition and explaining how the Bible stories are so beautifully woven into the units. 

Referenced Materials:

† Contains distinctly Christian content

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker dive into inquiry-based learning, which leads to critical thinking skills and problem solving skills. They walk listeners through the nine units of Structure and Style® and how they encourage creativity, thinking skills, and problem solving.

 

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Wonders of Science Writing Lessons joined the theme-based writing series in March 2023. In this podcast Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker bring clarity to the IEW theme-based product line and give recommendations on where to start and where to continue. They also explore the reason why these are the most frequently asked questions from our customers. Listen in as they praise the benefits and wonders of the IEW theme-based writing lessons.

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Join us as Andrew and Julie interview Sharon Ashford, an IEW instructor and Educational Consultant, to provide insight on Black History Month. Sharing little-known stories about African-American historical figures, Sharon will provide listeners with fascinating information about African-American history and share how she came to teach IEW's methodology. 

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Listen as Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker reflect on the wonderful journey from IEW’s humble beginnings to where they are today. They look back at the first newsletter and share anecdotes about people and events that have advanced the company through the years.

 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Have you ever wondered where it all began? Tune into this twenty-fifth birthday celebration recording where Andrew takes you through the history of IEW and expresses his gratitude toward the people that helped him along his journey.

GO TO PART 2

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Experience excellence in writing as Laura House, IEW's marketing manager, explains IEW's methodology and walks you through both the structure and style of the nine units. With her insightful knowledge and cheery attitude, Laura provides encouragement and demonstrates how you can apply IEW's method to anything you're learning at home or in the classroom.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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What's the purpose of the checklist? This question is often asked by students as well parents. Join Andrew Pudewa as he shares salient points about IEW's stylistic techniques and discusses the powerful benefits that come about when you require the checklist for your students' writing.

Go to Part 1

Referenced Materials:

  • Questions Asked
    • 23:07- Jenny asks "I gave my 9th grader source text about beowulf for a commentary analysis and he used that for his research. He is excited about it and is eager to add in an intro and conclusion and some transitions between paragraphs. Is there a reason why I should hold him back from that at this point if I haven't taught him these skills yet? Or should I tell him to wait until unit 7 and 8 before adding those elements to make a complete essay?"

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Is your student overwhelmed by having too many sources to write from? Join Andrew as he discusses Unit 6 and provides tips and suggestions for collecting, organizing, and summarizing facts from multiple references.

Go To Part 1

Referenced Materials:

  • Questions Asked
    • 23:07- Jenny asks, "I gave my 9th grader source text about Beowulf for a commentary analysis and he used that for his research. He is excited about it and is eager to add in an intro and conclusion and some transitions between paragraphs. Is there a reason why I should hold him back from that at this point if I haven't taught him these skills yet? Or, should I tell him to wait until unit 7 and 8 before adding those elements to make a complete essay?"

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In honor of National Novel Writing Month, Andrew and Julie interview the young author of Forever Riders, Jemma Swift, and her mother and sister. Since using IEW's materials at a young age, Jemma has cultivated a love and special interest in writing. Learn about Jemma's journey in producing the book and gain some insight on her simple yet vital advice to young writers: never give up!

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this podcast Andrew and Julie welcome Leigh Bortins, founder of Classical Conversations, to discuss the Global Home Education Conference which took place in Russia this summer. Tune in to enjoy Andrew and Leigh's stories of their experience in Russian culture and learn about the role Leigh plays in promoting home education both nationwide and internationally.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Are you teaching through Unit 4 and interested to know the ins and outs of the unit? Join Andrew in this two-part webinar recording, as he discusses Unit 4, the lynchpin unit, explaining both the process and purpose of the unit as well as the topic/clincher rule and how it is to be used.

GO TO PART 1

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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As you welcome the May flowers, be encouraged to have a strong finish of your school year with Unit 9: Formal Critique. Go beyond the "boring book report" with Andrew as he explains the structural model of Unit 9 and shares the power of the critique thesaurus.

Referenced Materials:

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In Part 1 of this new three part series, Andrew shares two of the seven important lessons he has learned in almost thirty years of teaching to help teachers and students alike excel in their skills. With characteristic wisdom and insight, Andrew offers valuable tips for teaching any subject from music to writing with confidence. 

GO TO Part 2 | Part 3

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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For this final episode honoring National Novel Writing Month, Andrew and Julie interview teen authors Cecelia and Solomon Schmidt. Having taken IEW's online classes, Cecelia and Solomon acquired the ability to structure paragraphs and write creatively. Gain some insight on both of their journeys in writing their novels, and learn how being read to aloud was key to their success. 

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

 

 

 

 

 

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This is the ninth episode of twenty-four in the podcast series Reviewing Our Greatest Hits. This show was initially launched on May 18, 2017, as Episode 94.

In this podcast Andrew and Julie address some of the elements of individualized learning. Discover how customizing your students' materials can enhance their learning abilities and motivate them to complete their tasks.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Join us in this episode of "Ask Andrew Anything" as Andrew responds to questions submitted by our podcast listeners. Offering helpful tips and humorous insight, Andrew explains ways to motivate students and where to get started with IEW.

Referenced Materials:

QUESTIONS ASKED:

2:11 - Shannon asks, "I have a girl, but she would rather be digging in the dirt, doing science experiments, or playing in her tree house than doing sit-down work, especially writing. How can you make IEW work for a kinesthetic/tactile learner that prefers to play and experiment?"

9:24 - Karen asks, "I have high school students, and I use a literature-based English curriculum. The books are fantastic, but my students are reluctant to do the reading outside of class time. They also do not want to do other homework outside of class time. Do you have suggestions for motivating students to work independently?" 

14:11 - Julie asks, "My son has a short attention span when it comes to lesson time. How can I help with that but still let him build forts?"

16:45 - Angela asks, "I've been a homeschooling mom for over ten years. Normally I'm not nervous about how my kids are doing in the grand scheme of things. Dealing with high school, however, has been a totally different story. How do you know for sure that this is really enough? I think about how my son will succeed in life, what is he doing after high school and college. How can I really know that what we're doing is enough and all will be well?"

23:26 - Julie asks, "How do you deal with a moody and incompliant teen?"

27:22 - Brianne asks, "Where do I start? What do I need in order to teach my middle school student to be prepared for high school writing?"

 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this two-part podcast, Andrew reviews the methodology behind and procedure for successfully teaching Unit 3: Retelling Narrative Stories. After a brief overview of the unit, Andrew will walk step-by-step through an assignment, demonstrating Unit 3 methods and concepts for both the teacher/parent and student.

Referenced Materials:

QUESTIONS ASKED:

  • 24:04 - Liz asks, "What are your recommendations for supporting a parent whose first language is not English?"
  • 25:09 - Amy asks, "as the students use computers more and more, I'm finding that the rough draft is being typed on the computer, edited on the computer, and then printed as a final draft. Should I require my students to print the rough draft, mark it up, correct it, and then re-print it?"
  • 27:12 - Tracy asks, "I have a fourth grader doing IEW along with two middle school students, still now working on the who/which and adding -ly next week. The two older are doing -ly, who/which, strong verb, and because clause. How do I catch him up and not make him feel we are going too fast?"
  • 28:59 - Savina asks, "Regarding the source can you use a child's own story as a starting point?"
  • 30:41 - Michelle asks, "When asking questions and you have more than 3 words to answer, can you add the additional info into a new number?"
  • 31:26 - Christina asks, "I'm having a hard time getting my child to re-tell the story. He is eight."
  • 32:39 - Janet asks, "Do you need to write a line in the outline for each sentence?"

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

Structure and Style is a registered trademark of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, L.L.C.

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From inspiring to technical, IEW's blogs are here to support and guide teachers and parents and aid students in their educational journey. In this podcast Andrew and Julie welcome the IEW blog "curator," Jennifer Mauser. Enjoy a fun conversation with Jennifer as she explains her role with IEW's blog, and learn about the different content that she publishes on the website. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this episode of "Ask Andrew Anything," IEW's ingenious leader answers questions from our latest Facebook Party, such as "Do you recommend the use of a thesaurus?" and "Is there any creative writing course with IEW?". What would your question be if you could ask Andrew anything?

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

  • IEW Facebook Page
  • Theme-Based Writing Lessons
  • Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons by Lori Verstegen 
  • Teaching Writing: Structure and Style
  • A Word Write Now by Loranna Schwacofer
  • U.S History-Based Writing Lessons by Lori Verstegen 
  • Pen and Paper
  • The Four Deadly Errors
  • The Five Canons of Rhetoric
  • Free Aesop Fables Online
  • Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization by Andrew Pudewa
  • Fix it! Grammar by Pamela White
  • 24:01-"If you gathered methane gas from cows for two years, would all the gas be able to launch a rocket to space?"  
  • Please Rate and Review our Podcast on iTunes
  • Questions asked: 
    • 2:27 - Carrie Sue asks "I have four children. My eldest is 12 and writing has been a struggle so I have never taught it. Now he has improved and is about the same grade-level and is reading and writing as my 10 year old. Where would I begin to teach writing and could my 8 year old, who is an advance reader, join them too?"
    • 7:04 - Ashley asks "Do you recommend the use of a thesaurus and at what age?"
    • 9:57 - Leslie asks "I love all your products. My son is needing a vocabulary program. What do you suggest?"
    • 13:22 - Clare asks "I have a 12 year old son who insists that he type his writing assignments. I am big fan of handwriting, as it seems to be a lost art. What do you think?"

    • 16:36 - Courtney asks "How long is it okay to scribe for them? I've been following Jill's advice on scribing for them for as long as needed but sometimes it seems as though they will never learn to do it themselves. I am doing U.S History-Based Writing Lessons with my 13 year old dyslexic daughter, along with my 12 year old. Both of them need quite a bit of handholding."

    • 18:19 - Lisa asks "On average how long would you expect it to take a 5th grader to do a key word outline and write there own rough draft from their key word outline? This is out first year with TWSS and it's taking a very long time. Do you ever have students try and write their rough draft from scratch because they can't remember what the key word outline means? What's the best thing to do in this case?"

    • 22:04 - Brandy asks "Is there any creative writing course with IEW? "

    • 29:06- Kristen asked "Our freshman son has some vision issues which delayed his reading and impacted his spelling and writing. We have some of your products. Am I right in thinking slow and steady wins the race or is there something specific I should be doing to help his written communication become easier? "

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

 

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In this podcast Andrew and Julie interview longtime friend and homeschool mom Pam Barnhill. Pam explains how she came to create her own podcast and shares her goal of fostering an environment of truth, goodness, and beauty.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

 

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Having participated in countless conventions, Andrew and Julie reminisce about past events in IEW's history. Andrew also offers teachers and teaching parents ways to skillfully generate their own lesson plans. Join us this week to hear about the growth of IEW's products, and listen for the questions that Andrew asks himself before imagining lesson plans for his students.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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This is the third episode of twenty-four in the podcast series, Reviewing Our Greatest Hits. This show was initially launched on November 21, 2018, as Episode 166.

To finish up this conversation on relevancy, Andrew and Julie discuss the last of the four forms of relevancy: contrived relevancy and enforced relevancy. Learn how creating a game can motivate your student to learn, and discover how enforced relevancy is the least effective motivator as it can lead to a dislike for learning.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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To finish up this conversation on relevancy, Andrew and Julie discuss the last of the Four Forms of Relevancy: Contrived Relevancy and Enforced Relevancy. Learn how creating a game can motivate your student to learn, and discover how Enforced Relevancy is the least effective motivator as it can lead to a dislike for learning.

GO TO: Part 1 | Part 2

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Should writing be confined to a single subject? Andrew and Julie address the question by discussing writing across the curriculum. Whether it be learning about history or studying science, learn how the incorporation of writing across multiple subjects allows for students to be more engaged with the content they're learning and gives them the opportunity for the application of their skills in a variety of ways.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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As a student or even a teacher, it can be overwhelming to navigate the amount of sources available for a research paper. In this podcast Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss Unit 6: Summarizing Multiple References. Join us as Andrew provides tips and suggestions for collecting, organizing, and summarizing facts from multiple references.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Join Andrew Pudewa as he shares some salient points on this important topic and answers your questions on writing, thinking, and speaking.

Many children (and some adults) have difficulty learning to spell, but the difficulty may not be with the student so much as with the method of presentation. Find out in this workshop how spelling information is most efficiently stored in the brain, and why. Parents and teachers, be well-equipped to meet the needs of all your children, not just the naturally good spellers. Bonus content: Learn best practices for using IEW’s Phonetic Zoo, our award-winning independent study spelling program!

Go To Part 1

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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As you near the end of the school year, get the information and motivation you need to finish strong with Unit 9: Formal Critiques. In this two-part webinar, Andrew explains the purpose of Unit 9 and how to teach it to your students, walks you through a Unit 9 sample composition, describes the difference between a fiction and a non-fiction critique, and much more. 

GO TO PART 1

Referenced Materials:

QUESTIONS ASKED:

  • 6:03 - Jennifer asks "How do you know a high schooler is ready for literary analysis? What should I be looking for in his essays to know he's proficient? How many times do they need to go through the different units before they're ready to go onto something like Windows to the World"
  • 11:31 - Heather asks "Do IEW's material ever teach a three level outline?"
  • 12:57 - Sherry asks "Any tips for students to write in the present tense when writing about the story?"
  • 14:55 - Anne-Marie asks "In Genghis Khan and his Hawk, my son felt that the death of the hawk was needless. He felt that loyalty is usually rewarded but not in this story. Is his opinion valid because it seems the death of the hawk makes  the story so emotional?"

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Are you teaching through Unit 4 and interested to know the ins and outs of the unit? Join Andrew in this two-part webinar recording, as he discusses Unit 4, the lynchpin unit, explaining both the process and purpose of the unit as well as the topic/clincher rule and how it is to be used.

GO TO PART 2

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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The time has come again when Julie tries to stump Andrew with questions submitted from our listeners. From inquiries on literature to a question regarding Andrew's tie count in Structure and Style for Students (SSS), Andrew provides answers with insight, suggestions, and a little bit of humor.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Once again, Andrew answers questions from teachers and parents across the country. Whether it be a Latin question or a technical inquiry about sentence openers, Andrew provides helpful insight and clarity. Tune in till the end for an electrifying lightning round, where various students ask questions like "Who is your favorite composer?" and "How many ties do you actually own?"

Referenced Materials:

QUESTIONS ASKED:

1:44 - Sandra asks, "My son was an A student in high school and is doing well enough in college, except for Latin. He took Latin for three years in high school and did fine, but he's taking his second year of Latin in college and it's proving to be excruciating for him. Do you have any advice for this level of Latin?"

4:55 - Christine asks, "Are there a limited number of words that work as invisible openers? For example, "Being exhausted, the man sank down into a sofa." In this example, it works to drop the word "being." Do all words work this way? It doesn't sound right to me to say, "Tired, the man sank down into a sofa." Or, "Sleepy the man..."

8:42 - Holly says, "It would be great to get a little more help or advice on the taking notes from lectures and then writing paragraphs. I'm finding that my son and I are needing more guidance in this area."

11:18 - Leah asks, "I'm interested in one of your courses for my 10th grade daughter. I would like something that she could work on independently. Do you have recommendations? Are there assessments built into the program?"

13:06 - Melissa asks, "I recently listened to episode 66 of the podcast. My son has ADD and learning disabilities such as significant delays in spelling and mild delays in reading and math. He also has delays in working memory and processing speed. He's currently in the 5th grade in a public school. I am unfortunately unable to homeschool him, but we are working with him after school and in the summers as much as possible. I wanted to see what would be recommended for him? He's currently in 5th grade so I'm unsure whether level A or level B would be best for him."

16:13 - Mary asks, "My fourteen-year-old has some issues: lack of proper punctuation in sentences, run-ons, and tense agreements, to name a few. I have addressed these in editing, but I feel like he's missing something pretty important. Should I continue to coach him through editing? He is grasping all the dress-ups quite well. We are in Unit 4."

23:52 - Paula asks,"Hi there. I'm in a bit of a pickle. I am tutoring an IEW writing class at a tutoring center and the grades range from 3-8. The director insists that we use Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons. It's actually been going really well, but now we have started unit 6 and the younger students are confused. Do you have any suggestions?"

 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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As teachers and parents it can be challenging to acknowledge that not all children can be taught the same way. In Part 2 of "However Imperfectly," Andrew addresses the importance of adaptability by teaching at the point of need. 

GO TO Part 1 | Part 3

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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It seems that many people are natural-born spellers while others are not. Either way, Andrew and Julie discuss the importance of mastery through repetition when it comes to the subject. Referring to The Phonetic Zoo, Andrew and Julie talk about the history of the program and share the benefits of an auditory-based spelling program.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

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For many, August is a month of anticipation as the start of the school year approaches. In this week's episode, Andrew and Julie address teachers who will be using IEW's method in the classroom. From tips on decorating the classroom to suggestions on equipping yourself, you’ll learn some practical and effective preparations for a successful year of teaching with Structure and Style!

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

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In this podcast Andrew and Julie interview Charlene Notgrass of Notgrass History. To Charlene, history is more about in-depth understanding as opposed to the memorization of facts, so she firmly believes in incorporating writing to develop historical knowledge. Learn about Charlene's journey to Notgrass History and gain some insight on how her history curriculum promotes writing.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this Live Ask Andrew Anything episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker answer questions submitted by listeners. Listen as they discuss how to find the literature suggestions in IEW’s courses, how to decide what courses to use first with younger students, why the levels of some of the theme-based books have changed, what books Andrew is reading now, and more! 

 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

 

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In this podcast Andrew answers questions from our listeners as well as questions our Customer Service Team frequently receives. Join us for another round of inquiries where Andrew offers helpful insight on a variety of topics from how to implement Suzuki method when teaching piano, to how to choose appropriate pieces for copywork.

Referenced Materials:

QUESTIONS ASKED:

1:18 - Jennifer asks, "In Unit 3, I have always found it confusing to list all the characters in the story under Characters and Setting in the key word outline. When we go to write the first paragraph, sometimes including a character that only shows up later in the story is challenging. Is it okay to only mention that character in the Conflict and Problem or Climax and Resolution sections, or is it good to try to mention all the characters in the first paragraph?”

3:25 - Misty asks, “Thanks for the great info! I was listening to the dyslexia podcast. When you talk about a dyslexic child listening to audiobooks, should they be trying to follow along with the print, or just simply listening to the story?”

6:06 - Christine asks, “Should we have commas after an -ly adverb opener?”

8:27 - Amy asks, “My question for you is regarding teaching my kids how to play the piano. I have listened to your podcasts talking about the Suzuki method and it intrigues me. My oldest is taking piano lessons; however, his teacher is retiring soon. She teaches using the traditional method, which is how I was taught piano. The nearest Suzuki teacher is an hour drive away. I’m wondering what your opinion is on a parent attempting to teach the Suzuki method at home. Of course I would read Suzuki’s books to gain better insight, but I wouldn’t have any formal training in the method. Can you help?”

11:52 - Wendy asks, “I am teaching a group of 16 students through the Continuation Course Level B. They are writing papers about famous people from history. The sources that Mr. Pudewa has required them to write are from a book, an encyclopedia/periodical, and whatever other material they might choose such as Internet or video. One of the questions I received was "Can I choose a Kindle book?" This started me questioning what I should allow. Since the filming of the series, much technology has come into play.”

16:37 - Customers frequently ask our Customer Service team, “Prior to Unit 6, how does a student put a word-for-word quotation on the key word outline?”

17:57 - Customers frequently ask our Customer Service team, “When a student with no previous IEW experience begins with High School Essay Intensive and then wants more help with writing, what program would be best to move on to next?”

20:10 - Customers frequently ask our Customer Service team, “What is the purpose of copywork and how do our families and teachers choose the appropriate pieces for students to copy?”

 

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Since Andrew is away, Julie welcomes one of IEW's project managers, Nathan King, to the mic. In this episode Nathan talks about his background as a youth pastor and explains how he discovered a love for classical learning. Tune in to hear Nathan discuss his product, Bible Quest™, and learn how making memorization magical is a vital tool in education and learning God's word.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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This is the thirteenth episode of twenty-four in the podcast series Reviewing Our Greatest Hits. This show was initially launched on September 15, 2015, as Episode 8. 

Over the past century there has been a great decline in thinking skills. Be a part of this week's conversation as Andrew and Julie examine what critical thinking actually is, and discover how good thinking is teachable, learnable, and practicable.

Referenced Materials: 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Picking up from last week's podcast, Andrew continues to move through the history of IEW. Stay tuned for the ending where IEW celebrates the future with our new product: Structure and Style® for Students. 

GO TO PART 1

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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It’s time for another Live Ask Andrew Anything episode! Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker as they answer questions from listeners. They were joined by Nicki Truesdell, who asked “How much grammar and writing do you think is necessary throughout the years of K-12?” Andrew and Julie also answer questions about Structure and Style® for Students, The Phonetic Zoo, instructor accreditation, and many others. This episode covers all things IEW!

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

If an episode number ends in zero, then that means it's time for another Ask Andrew Anything! Join us this week as Julie asks Andrew questions submitted by our listeners. Pulling from his experience, Andrew provides insightful and informative answers to questions ranging from how to know if you're expecting too much from your student, to how to help when the source text seems overwhelming.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

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Last week, Andrew and Julie discussed the four forms of relevancy when it comes to motivation. Sharing with you their knowledge based on experience, Andrew and Julie discuss how motivation relates to classroom management. From establishing connections with your students to minimizing distractions for them, Andrew provides strategies to help you in managing the classroom.  

GO TO PART 1

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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As you head into the busyness of December, listen to Andrew and Julie walk through Unit 5: Writing from Pictures. Gain confidence moving forward as Andrew and Julie explain the vital role Unit 5 plays in unlocking students' imagination and in developing their thinking skills.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Andrew and Julie welcome our Lead Educational Consultant, Sharyn Staggers, to the mic this week. Learn how Sharyn came to know IEW, appreciate her role in aiding teachers and schools, and be inspired by her message about the power of the teacher training.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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With Julie being away this week, Andrew asked Evan Smith to join him for the podcast. Evan is one of our educational consultants and a member of the accreditation team. By tuning in you'll learn about Evan's experience with IEW, be introduced to the process of becoming an accredited instructor, and gain insight on the benefits of working through the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style teacher-training course. 

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

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In November of 2019 IEW released the best thing it has ever done: Structure and Style for Students. Join in on this week's conversation as Andrew and Julie go into the making of the product, and stay tuned to hear the duo's discussion on how it's easy to use, enjoyable, and affordable! 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker answer the question: What should I buy? They simplify the steps for implementing IEW’s Structure and Style materials in your homeschool or classroom.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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With summer just around the corner, it's a great time for young people to look for entrepreneurial opportunities. Join us this week as Andrew and Julie welcome entrepreneur and co-founder of Christian Homeschool Entrepreneurship, Mark Baker, to the mic. Join us in this insightful episode as Mark shares the value of entrepreneurship from character development to a creative outlet. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Is using "said" never allowed? Not at all! In this podcast Andrew and Julie address this and other misunderstandings about implementing IEW's stylistic techniques. Tune in to the first episode of this two-part series as Andrew provides insight about our methodology and explains the powerful purposes of the checklist and banned word lists. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Has Andrew ever written a formal complaint letter to a restaurant? Tune into this Ask Andrew Anything to find out! From a question about key word outlines to an inquiry about the most valuable thing a writing student should know, Andrew provides answers with clarity, advice, and, of course, some humor.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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With seventy-four countries participating, IEW held a virtual writing conference last month. This week, we are posting one of the recordings from that conference. In this recording Andrew and Julie discuss the different ways to teach writing using Structure and Style. Stay tuned until the end, where Andrew provides insightful answers to questions that were submitted live from the audience! 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Having gathered insights and experiences over three decades of teaching, Andrew presents seven lessons he’s learned. These seven lessons are listed in his article, “However Imperfectly,” and in the first chapter of his book of the same title. In part one of this two-part series, Andrew unpacks the first four lessons he’s learned. Andrew notes that while he did not adhere to these principles perfectly over the years, teaching has been well worth it—however imperfectly he may have done it.

REFERENCED MATERIALS

Remember to send your questions to podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com.

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In this podcast Andrew and Julie interview the managing editor of the Magnum Opus Magazine, Megan Horst. Learn about the great student work Megan puts into the magazine and receive some background on the history of Magnum Opus Magazine.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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As the school year winds down and summer approaches, parents may be pondering strategies to enrich their students’ writing. Summer is a great time to take a break from regularly scheduled academics and embrace new activities to retain or expand writing skills. In this week’s podcast Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker suggest some creative ways to do just that.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to Podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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What do Michael Phelps, Terry Bradshaw, and Michael Jordan have in common? In this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Although students with ADHD face some challenges, there are also advantages! As a mother to two sons diagnosed with ADHD, Julie shares helpful research, advice, and personal experiences.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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When writers gather information from outside sources, it is important to give credit where credit is due and to cite the sources. Although this is important, learning to cite sources in various formats can be overwhelming, especially for younger students. This week, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker welcome IEW's Senior Product Manager, Denise Kelley, to speak about documentation. In this episode Denise discusses how IEW's products utilize the EZ+1 method to teach documentation by gradually teaching students how to cite sources in a step-by-step process.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Join us in this enjoyable episode as Andrew and Julie welcome homeschool mom, blogger, and our top affiliate, Erica Arndt. In today's episode Erica describes her life as a homeschooling mom, tells the story of how her blog grew, and provides insight on how to juggle the many responsibilities of teaching your students at home. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Andrew Pudewa, “the funny man with the wonderful words,” is known for telling jokes to his audiences whether it is to students in a classroom or parents and educators at a conference. Incorporating humor and selecting jokes appropriately is a skill that can be developed. In today’s podcast he and Julie Walker explore the art of telling jokes. Listen in to enjoy a few laughs with Andrew as he defines gelotology, explains how to tell a joke, and of course shares a few jokes too.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office has partnered with IEW to provide the recommended writing curriculum for their member and curriculum schools. IEW will produce a brand new curriculum aligned with Hillsdale’s K-12 Program Guides for third to eighth grades. Join Andrew Pudewa, Julie Walker, and their special guest Dr. Kathleen O’Toole, Assistant Provost for K-12 Education, as they discuss the partnership and the new writing curriculum!

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to Podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

It is time for another Ask Andrew Anything episode! Join us this week as Julie Walker asks Andrew Pudewa questions submitted by our listeners. Along with helpful tips and insightful suggestions on helping students with spelling and poetry writing, Andrew addresses artificial intelligence (AI) writing technology and what parents and teachers need to be aware of.

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Summer is a great time for relaxing, spending time outdoors, and taking a break from the long school year. It can also be a time when students forgot the skills they've learned. This week, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker suggest ways to keep your students writing throughout the summer season. From writing postcards to crafting commentary on recipes, the duo encourages some fun application of writing skills.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

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As you near the end of the school year, get the information and motivation you need to finish strong with Unit 9: Formal Critiques. In this two-part webinar, Andrew explains the purpose of Unit 9 and how to teach it to your students, walks you through a Unit 9 sample composition, describes the difference between a fiction and a non-fiction critique, and much more. 

GO TO PART 2

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this week’s episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker are joined by Heidi Thomas and Joseph Tabenkin. Heidi is part of IEW's Product Development team. This past year she and her team have worked alongside Joseph, a product and software developer, to create IEW Gradebook, an online tool designed to help teachers grade more efficiently and effectively. Listen in for exciting details!

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

 

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Happy 30th birthday, IEW! In this special Ask Andrew Anything episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker are joined in the studio by IEW staff members from Oklahoma and around the United States. Listen as Andrew answers questions from listeners presented by the live audience, including how to apply Structure and Style to other languages, how to teach multiple ages, how to translate IEW skills to other assignments, and many others. 

Referenced Materials


If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Motivated by a desire to set teachers up for success, Denise Kelley, IEW Manager of Product Development, works tirelessly to ensure all IEW products and services are aligned with the company’s cornerstone product, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker as they discuss with Denise how her over two decades of experience at IEW have shaped her philosophy of product development.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Keeping up with tradition, Andrew responds to inquiries submitted by our podcast listeners in another "Ask Andrew Anything." This week, Andrew addresses questions about the checklist, grading, teaching in a classroom, and much more! Whether you're a parent, a co-op tutor, or a full-time school teacher, you'll glean much from Andrew's insightful answers. Also, Andrew reads a sweet letter he received in the mail from an IEW student! 

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

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Last week, Andrew and Julie discussed creating the right listening and speaking environment for English language learners. Continuing the discussion, the duo turn their attention to reading and writing. Discover how reading the studied language helps the learner with organization, learn how key word outlines help to better understand the text, and understand how the checklist enables the learner to recognize parts of speech and style techniques. 

GO TO PART 1

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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After walking the pathway of all nine units, your student can begin to delve deeper into writing about literature. Join us as Andrew and Julie discuss IEW's Response to Literature and Literary Analysis models. Learn the difference between the two models and gain insight on how to help your student make a personal connection with literature in their writing.

Referenced Materials:

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Join us in this podcast as Andrew and Julie sit down and have a conversation about the upcoming school year. Whether you're a full-time schoolteacher or a homeschooling parent, be invigorated in your quest for this new school year as Andrew provides advice on preparing your classroom and encourages you to keep moving forward.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this engaging episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss the idea of writing across the curriculum with Dr. Kathleen O’Toole, Associate Vice President for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College. They discuss the exciting partnership IEW has formed with the Hillsdale K-12 program that provides guidance and partnership for classical schools as well as teacher training events. They also share the benefits for students and teachers when writing can be integrated with the overall curriculum. 

 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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The leading area of growth in IEW is the Schools Division. New Educational Consultants have been added to keep up with the growing number of schools that are excited to implement Structure and Style in their classrooms. Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker in this week’s podcast as they converse with Sharyn Staggers, IEW Schools Division Director. Sharyn shares how she became involved with IEW and explains how schools can connect with an Educational Consultant.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to Podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Have you committed one of these four errors in your teaching? Overcorrecting, holding back help, unclear assignments, and over-expectation can frustrate your students and hamper your best efforts. Andrew Pudewa refers to these as the “Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing.” Join the Arts of Language podcast as Andrew and Julie Walker discuss these errors along with practical ways to overcome them.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Is IEW for homeschoolers? Or is it for full-time classroom teachers? Does it work well in a hybrid-school model? The short answer is yes! This week, Andrew and Julie unpack how IEW's Structure and Style methodology came to be and discuss how the method of teaching writing is successful in any educational setting.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

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Join Andrew Pudewa as he shares some salient points on this important topic and answers your questions on writing, thinking, and speaking.

Many children (and some adults) have difficulty learning to spell, but the difficulty may not be with the student so much as with the method of presentation. Find out in this workshop how spelling information is most efficiently stored in the brain, and why. Parents and teachers, be well-equipped to meet the needs of all your children, not just the naturally good spellers. Bonus content: Learn best practices for using IEW’s Phonetic Zoo, our award-winning independent study spelling program!

GO TO PART 2

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Join Andrew Pudewa as he walks you through Unit 8, the daunting essay. Andrew will take you through the step-by-step process of crafting an essay so that you can understand the basic structure, discussing the various essay types and their differences. To ensure maximum understanding, he will also guide you through a practicum assignment.

Go To Part 2

Referenced Materials: 

Questions Asked

  • 18:40-Anne asks "My 11-year-old boy is writing his essay on 'medieval sports.' What would be a (good) question?"
  • 21:21-Deborah asks "I'm not clear about the difference between the essay in unit 6 and 8. In both, we state our opinion in the conclusion. Can you explain?"

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Why is IEW a good fit for students with special needs? This week, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker read through testimonials from teaching parents to help answer the question. Tune in to this inspiring episode and learn how IEW's Structure and Style methodology breaks the complex task of writing into small, manageable steps that teach students the process and give them the confidence to succeed. 

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Many homeschool families find community by joining a homeschool co-op. Co-ops are an opportunity for teaching parents and students to seek encouragement and educational support. In this week's episode, Andrew and Julie discuss the different types of co-ops, share some of their benefits, and offer resources for those currently enrolled in or interested in joining a co-op. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@iew.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@iew.com

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Over the years, IEW has grown tremendously as its writing method is taught in various educational settings. The company offers an abundance of resources, from encouraging blog posts to effective curriculum. How did IEW get to where it is now? This week, Andrew and Julie go back to where it all began and unpack the story of how Andrew discovered the Structure and Style method of teaching writing. Give this episode a listen to learn about the success of the writing method and to understand our mission of equipping teachers and teaching parents. 

Referenced Materials:

 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

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This is the seventeenth episode of twenty-four in the podcast series Reviewing Our Greatest Hits. This show was initially launched on November 8, 2016, as Episode 68. 

Branching off from last week's special education series, Andrew and Julie open up this conversation by discussing Gifted and Talented Education (GATE). Tune in to learn what it is, the challenges involved, and how IEW can be optimized so that students will have opportunities to use their abilities to the fullest. 

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Often students as well as parents struggle with moving forward on the checklist. In this two-part episode, Andrew provides salient points on the stylistic techniques and offers advice, from being strict with the checklist to not drowning your students with more than they can handle.

Go To Part 2

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk about the purpose and history of IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving. They also give a hint about the gifts IEW is sharing. Join us!

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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A wide array of learning differences exists. While we often focus on those differences, such as dyslexia or ADHD, which cause our students to work below their grade levels, students who fall into the GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) category may also struggle in the classroom. In this week’s podcast Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker look at definitions, myths, challenges, and strategies for teachers with gifted students.

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to Podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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How can teachers and parents teach literature to students without losing the joy and value of the subject? Join us in Part 1 of this series as Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker address the topic. Learn the impact good vocabulary has on critical thinking, understand the value of discussion before writing, and gain insight on the right time to have your students write about literature.

GO TO Part 2

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Many of IEW’s podcast episodes in 2023 follow this year’s theme of exploring how IEW can help students with learning differences. Every tenth episode features questions submitted by our podcast listeners. Join us as Julie Walker presents Andrew Pudewa with questions from parents regarding their struggling students. Offering practical tips, he helps equip parents to assist their students in improving their writing and spelling skills.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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While Andrew is away, Julie interviews Nathan King, IEW’s Customer Marketing Manager. Learn about Nathan’s journey to IEW and his goal to help communicate IEW’s method with clarity and simplicity. 

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Part 2: Homeschooling through high school can be daunting to some parents. In this two-part podcast, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss a few tricks and tips on hacking high school. Andrew offers a smorgasbord of ideas but cautions listeners that “you can’t do it all.” Join Andrew and Julie as they explore these ideas as well as college credits and dual enrollment.

GO TO PART 1

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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After the fun we had with our 400th episode live question and answer, we invited some of our affiliates to join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker for this live Q & A episode. This week Mandi Malz asked for Andrew’s advice for preparing a student for college. Alicia Brown asked which of Andrew’s articles in However Imperfectly is the most vital lesson in the book and what aspects make it particularly significant. Listen for these and other questions sent in by listeners.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Are you teaching through Unit 5, Writing from Pictures, and interested to know the ins and outs of the unit? Join Andrew Pudewa in part two of this webinar recording as he discusses the how-to of Unit 5, explaining both the process and purpose of the unit.

GO TO PART 1

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this Live Ask Andrew Anything episode, Julie Walker asks Andrew Pudewa questions submitted by listeners, including how to follow the topic-clincher rule, what to do when a student uses a dress-up incorrectly, how to help visual learners with communication skills, and how to encourage perseverance and excellence. The episode ends with Andrew reading an assignment from one of his current students who claims to hate writing. Be sure to listen all the way to the end!

 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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So many young people are intimidated when asked questions about their next steps in life following graduation. In this episode Andrew shares stories about his experience in high school and as an adult and encourages students to take ownership of their education.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk about the purpose and history of IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving. Listen and learn how to win a gift certificate by sharing with your friends. They also give a hint about the gifts IEW is sharing. Join us!

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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With reading being one of the language arts, it is an important topic of discussion to Andrew and Julie. Have you ever wondered what books Andrew has read over the past two decades? Tune in to part one of this three-part series as Andrew and Julie talk about the value of reading, and then go through Andrew's top book of the year from the years 2000 to 2006. You'll also get to hear the context and time in which these books were read and how they impacted Andrew's life. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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With the school year rolling around, Andrew and Julie turn their attention to teaching and evaluating writing. Join us in this two-part series where the duo hones in on teaching writing. Andrew goes through a series of decisions that need to be made when teaching writing and emphasizes the importance of providing length to your student's assignments as it dictates structure.

Go to Part 2

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Since Andrew is out traveling, Julie welcomes Beth O’Connor to chat with her. Learn about Beth’s role as an Educational Consultant and receive encouragement from Beth as she shares a special message to those beginning IEW.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this podcast episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss another of IEW’s core values. When Andrew first started the Institute for Excellence at Writing, he decided not to offer discounts on products. Why has this remained important to him over the years? Discover the answer and learn a little bit of IEW history in this episode.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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As usual, Andrew replies to any question that gets thrown at him. However, in this special edition of "Ask Andrew Anything," Andrew answers questions from our exceptionally experienced online instructors. Learn Andrew's response to questions ranging from where he acquired his sense of humor to advice on explaining dress-up techniques.

Referenced Materials:

QUESTIONS ASKED:

2:16 - Erin Fisher asks, "My students constantly tell me you are so funny. Some of them want to know where do you get your material and who was the funny person that influenced you in your life?"

4:04 - Pamela White asks, "How have your feelings changed over time about the online classes that we offer?"

6:32 - Kim Murphy asks, "One of the common mistakes that I find students making is confusing the strong verb and the quality adjective. Do you have any hints that might help them?"

9:25 - Cathy Flowers asks, "Some of the parents are considering online education and online classes. How are the online classes different than the DVD lessons?"

11:26 - Ginny Lennon asks, "What would you do if all the dress-ups were placed in one sentence?"

13:46 - Robin Osborne asks, "My students love unit 3: Retelling Narrative Stories, but sometimes they have trouble identifying the conflict. What's the best way to figure out the main conflict?"

19:24 - Lizabeth Brasells asks, "What is your favorite style tool and why?"

22:30 - Cinda Tribble asks, "I have some students who love IEW so much and they love the dress-ups that they put in a million -ly words and quality adjectives in one paragraph. Should I limit them or should I allow them to explore?"

26:36 - Denise Kelly asks, "I have some students who would like to know what you like to do in your free time when you're not teaching writing?"

 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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As you begin this new school year, be encouraged to make a great start in public speaking and writing. Andrew reviews Units 1 and 2 of the IEW syllabus, Note Making and Outlines and Writing from Notes, giving you tips and tricks for easy implementation. Learn how to lay a solid foundation for your students' coming year.

Go to Part 1

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

Structure and Style is a trademark of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, L.L.C.

View Episode

Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker as they bring to light the creative and imaginative aspects of Unit 3: Retelling Narrative Stories. They provide some history of how Unit 3 came about and how it became what it is today. Explore how students of all ages can retell, elaborate, and write variations of fables and short stories while expressing extraordinary creativity.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to Podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

Continuing the tradition set in 2010, IEW will once again celebrate Twelve Days of Christmas Giving. Starting on December 26, 2022, and ending on January 6, 2023, IEW will give away gifts on each of the twelve days that follow Christmas. In this week's episode, Andrew and Julie share a little bit about the history of the twelve days of Christmas, talk about the types of gifts you can expect, and discuss the rules to participate in the promotion.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker are excited to welcome Jonathan Brush with Unbound, an organization that offers unique options for high school and college students. Unbound is a project-based higher education program that equips young adults to take ownership of their education and prepares them for life.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

† Contains distinctly Christian content

View Episode

Over recent years, more and more parents are enrolling their students in a hybrid school. Because of this, Andrew and Julie welcome hybrid schools manager Laura House. Tune in to hear how the dynamic of hybrid programs might flow, and learn how Laura and her team assess the needs of different schools. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk with Christy Shipe about why teens should participate in speech and debate. Christy is the board chair of NCFCA Christian Speech and Debate and has been involved in many roles since NCFCA was founded. Learn the history of the organization and the many benefits of speech and debate for your students in all communication skills, not just speaking.

 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Last week, Andrew and Julie began to cover seven lessons that Andrew has learned over thirty years of teaching. These seven lessons are listed in his article, “However Imperfectly,” and in the first chapter of his book of the same title. Wrapping up the conversation in this week’s episode, Andrew and Julie address the last three lessons learned.

REFERENCED MATERIALS

Remember to send your questions to podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com.

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Email, snail mail, mail bag! Once again Andrew and Julie open and read mail sent from students, teachers, and parents. In this delightful episode students share how confident they are since learning IEW's writing method, and teachers and parents express gratitude for the transformation they've witnessed in their students' writing ability. By the way, many of the students wrote their letters using the five-paragraph model! 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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April is National Poetry Month. In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss the history of Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization, one of Andrew’s favorite projects. Listen as they talk about how this course works and share some stories we have received from students and adults who have found joy in memorizing poetry. As Andrew says at the end, “Memorizing poetry enriches not just the intellect but also the soul.” 

 

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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IEW’s instructor accreditation program is back and better than ever! In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker sit down with Denise Kelley, Director of Product Development at IEW. They talk about the history and purpose of the accreditation program before explaining the new tiers of accreditation and the improved process for becoming accredited. If you want to know more about the new accreditation program, listen to this podcast and visit the IEW Accreditation Program web page.

 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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In this podcast, Andrew and Julie uncover the powerful educational content in IEW's core product, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS). They also discuss how Andrew first discovered this methodology of writing and explain the purpose of each of the nine units.

GO TO PART 2

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

View Episode

Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker welcome Kathleen Ray and Drew Stafford to this special podcast edition of Where Are They Now? Kathleen and Drew were classmates in the filming of Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level C (SSS-1C), one of IEW’s high school video courses. They join Andrew and Julie in the studio to discuss their experiences with the production and what they have been doing since.

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Why learn Latin? So that you can understand all of Andrew's Latin jokes! This week, Andrew and Julie talk about the dead language and discuss the benefits of learning it. Learn how Latin lays the foundation for learning other languages, and gain insight on how it helps in the understanding of English grammar. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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This week, Andrew and Julie stroll down memory lane and discuss Andrew's time working with The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential. In this episode, Andrew unpacks his history and personal experience with child brain development and special needs children. Pulling together all of his research, Andrew examines the developmental pathway to help you understand your child's intellectual and physical growth.

Go to Part 2

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this podcast Andrew and Julie welcome long-time friend Linda Mikottis. Join us as Linda discusses her journey to IEW and explains her role as Senior Implementation Coach, aiding students through coaching teachers in what IEW has to offer.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Join us as Julie chats with Kristin Boutross, IEW's ebullient Customer Service Manager. With her many years of experience working for IEW, Kristin describes the goal of the customer service team and shares a special message with those starting on their educational journey.

 REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

View Episode

Why is writing so easy for some kids, but not for others? Why do some students not enjoy writing? Join Andrew in our Unit 7 Webinar as he discusses the “Blank-Brain, Blank-Page Syndrome” and addresses a few of the roadblocks to winsome writing.

GO TO PART 2

Referenced Materials: 

Questions Asked

  • 14:15-Jill asks "Is the Topic-Clincher rule connected with the dress-ups?"
  • 15:26-Anne Marie asks "Is the who-which clause the hardest or does it just depend on the student?"

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

View Episode

Since October is dyslexia awareness month, Susan Barton of the Barton Reading and Spelling System joins the Arts of Language Podcast to offer insight on dyslexia. With years of experience, Susan explains dyslexia's intricacies and discusses the temporary accommodations teachers can provide to allow dyslexic students to still thrive and prove their knowledge.

 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss the benefits of eating meals as a family, from healthier eating habits to more confident communicators. Julie also shares a resource on cooking once a month. Listen and be encouraged to put down your phone and start a conversation over a meal.

 

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

 

View Episode

For this Homeschool 101 episode, Andrew and Julie welcome Brandy Ferrell to the mic. Brandy is a homeschool mom of four, an IEW affiliate, and the founder of Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood. In the episode Brandy shares her story of homeschooling, talks about her experience with IEW materials, and speaks on the curriculum and resources she offers to other homeschoolers. 

Referenced Materials:

 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

† Contains distinctly Christian content

View Episode

With memory losing its value in the modern age, Andrew and Julie turn their attention to the goodness of the art. Beginning with the origin, Andrew shares the history of memory and how important it was in the ancient world. Join us this week as the duo discusses how memorization furnishes the mind, and be inspired as Andrew explains how memory is the mother of artistic invention. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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This week’s episode is about preventing summer evaporation! Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker as they discuss ideas for summer learning that won’t lead to long faces and complaints. From state history field trips to scavenger hunts, IEW’s customer service team gave Julie a host of ideas for a summer of fun and learning.

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

What is media literacy? In this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker interview Nate Noorlander, who teaches English, history, and philosophy online. They discuss media literacy and its importance in avoiding cynicism and uncertainty in confidently navigating information in the increasingly complex world we live in.

Click the link below for a free session of Media Literacy, including a reflection assignment and an invitation to submit your work.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

In this episode, Andrew Pudewa is interviewed by Gena Mayo, the founder of Music in Our Homeschool. Several years ago, Andrew asked Gena to take over the music course that his mother had written, Singing Made Easy. Listen as Andrew shares the history of that course as well as his own background in and love for music education. 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

How can teachers lead meaningful and compelling literature conversations? To answer the question, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker welcome Amanda Butler to the podcast. Amanda is a homeschool mom, tutor, and Vice President of Training and Support for Classical Conversations. In this episode Amanda shares her number one tool for leading literature discussions: the five common topics of dialectic. Amanda explains how she guides her students through each of the topics, asking questions along the way to help them think about and engage with the books they are reading.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

† Contains distinctly Christian content

 

MEET OUR GUEST

After a nearly decade-long career in semiconductor process engineering (a.k.a. playing with electrons), Amanda Butler stumbled into her true vocation while helping elementary school students memorize Bible verses during Vacation Bible School.  Since making the transition from electrons to children, she has taught in various capacities including private tutoring, public school, private school, and now homeschooling.  Amanda and her family made Classical Conversations the core of their homeschool after discovering Classical Conversations during a dinner party in 2008. She began her tenure in CC as a Foundations Tutor and has served as a Challenge A and IV Director, Challenge A Academic Advisor, Academic Development Manager, and now VP of Training and Support. One of Amanda’s favorite things about Classical Conversations is that homeschooling families are rightly recognized as image-bearers of God and accordingly encouraged and equipped to better know God, themselves, and the world around them via ongoing conversations with one another. 

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Since Andrew is unable to make it to the mic, Julie sits down with Laura House, IEW's Marketing Manager, and asks Laura questions about her experience with the company. Laura shares how she came to know IEW and encourages parents and teachers to take that first step and give IEW a try.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

View Episode

Is your student overwhelmed by having too many sources to write from? Join Andrew as he discusses Unit 6 and provides tips and suggestions for collecting, organizing, and summarizing facts from multiple references.

Go To Part 2

Referenced Materials:

Questions Asked

  • 7:30 - Debbie asks "Why is unit 6 not attempted with 3rd graders?" 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss seven tools IEW provides to help teachers and teaching parents prepare for an excellent school year. Learn about the new support webinars and the history behind the Magnum Opus Magazine. Be equipped and encouraged to start the new school year!

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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Sit back and receive inspiration from Andrew and veteran homeschool mom and Primary Arts of Language author Jill Pike as they discuss their experience and provide suggestions for parents of struggling learners. Whether your child is dyslexic or has comprehension difficulties, Jill encourages parents to work with their student in all that they do, emphasizing her life-long motto: you can never help your child too much!

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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In this week’s podcast episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk with four guests who gave exemplar speeches in IEW’s Introduction to Public Speaking video course, released earlier this year. These exemplars are model speeches for students to aspire to as they write and deliver their own speeches. Andrew and Julie go behind the scenes, discussing concepts behind the course’s development and unearthing nuggets of wisdom for teachers of public speaking.

Referenced Materials

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to Podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

 † Contains distinctly Christian content

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In honor of Independence Day, IEW is offering free shipping on all standard domestic shipping from July 1–10. Join us as Andrew and Julie talk about the history of "freedomship" and the importance of educated leaders.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

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Is your student overwhelmed by having too many sources to write from? Join Andrew as he discusses Unit 6 and provides tips and suggestions for collecting, organizing, and summarizing facts from multiple references.

Go To Part 2

Referenced Materials:

Questions Asked

  • 7:30 - Debbie asks, "Why is unit 6 not attempted with 3rd graders?" 

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

View Episode

Are you teaching through Unit 5, Writing from Pictures, and interested to know the ins and outs of the unit? Join Andrew Pudewa in part one of this webinar recording as he discusses the how-to of Unit 5, explaining both the process and purpose of the unit.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

 

 

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In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker sit down with Kerry Beck, a veteran homeschool mom who has a passion to share with other parents the lessons she learned in her years of homeschooling. They discuss how to intentionally train your children to be leaders, using everyday school subjects and strategies to build critical thinking skills. 

 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

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In honor of Father's Day, Andrew reflects on what he did as a homeschool dad that helped cultivate a good family and home culture. Based on his new convention talk, "The Three, Maybe Four, Best Things I Did as a Homeschool Dad," Andrew shares the first two on his list: reading aloud to the family and family meetings. Tune in to hear Andrew's insight and stories on how these changed the family dynamic for the better!

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

View Episode

In this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker continue to discuss and provide tips for teaching through the final five units from Teaching Writing: Structure and Style® if you are not using one of the theme-based lessons or the Structure and Style for Students video courses. 

GO TO PART 1

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

Answering technical IEW questions ranging from topic/clincher sentences to crash writing courses before college, Andrew provides helpful insight and information about where to start and where to go during this Ask Andrew Anything episode.

Referenced Materials:

Questions Asked:

  • 1:50 - Bethany asks, "If a paragraph starts with a #6 Very Short Sentence, does the clincher reflect the Very Short Sentence? Or does the clincher reflect the next sentence?"

  • 3:50 - Kathy asks, "My question is related to a sentence my boy wrote which we couldn't decide if it fits one of the openers. The sentence was along the lines of: 'Found around the North Pole, Beluga whales...'"

  • 8:30 - Cindy asks, "We feel our 6th grade, almost 12-year-old son has had weak writing instruction to this point. He's a voracious reader with great vocabulary and great grades to date, but he has Aspergers and ADHD. We are familiar with your work and are very interested in your online classes as a good way to meet his needs and receive great instruction. I was wondering if you had a good way of determining if we should select Level A or Level B for an online class?"

  • 12:32 - Heidi asks, "I don't think my daughter can handle both Fix It! and the Student Writing Intensive Level A. What should I do first? She is nine and will be in the 4th grade."

  • 14:42 - John asks, "I'm trying to determine the right course for my son, who will be in 9th grade this year. I see that Following Narnia Volume 1 is intended for grades 6–8. However, I believe someone mentioned on the IEW forum that Volume 1 can be adapted to make it appropriate for the High School level. Could you please provide some feedback?"

  • 18:17 - Rebecca asks, "I'm trying to find a writing program for my daughter to use before she goes to college this fall. She has had some writing, but needs to have basic improvement and practice. What do you suggest?"

  • 23:10 - Jacqueline asks, "My daughter is home-schooled and is entering the 9th grade. She writes very well and has not struggled in any area of the programs she has completed. She completed the Student Writing Intensive Level B and will be finishing the Continuation Course Level B in a couple of weeks. She would really like to complete a course geared more toward writing her own books this year. We are wondering if The Elegant Essay or Speech Boot Camp could be swapped out for A Guide to Writing Your Novel?"

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

View Episode

With November being National Novel Writing Month, Andrew and Julie discuss Unit 3: Retelling Narrative Stories. Because of his love for storytelling, Nathan King also joins the conversation and discusses the power of writing a story that creates imagery in the audience's mind through the use of vocabulary. Join us this week as the trio walks through Unit 3 and discusses how it has been used for novel writing.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

View Episode

So many young people are intimidated when asked questions about their next steps in life following graduation. In this episode Andrew shares stories about his experience in high school and as an adult and encourages students to take ownership of their education.

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

View Episode

More than a podcast episode, this interview is a chance to listen to two friends share the story of how they met and the impact each has had on the other. Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk with Adam Andrews about the history of the Teaching the Classics course and CenterForLit as well as the importance of using Socratic questioning to listen to and learn from authors as they speak through their writing. 

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com

Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

 

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

In this episode, Julie Walker asks Andrew Pudewa to give tips on teaching the first four units if someone is not using one of the theme-based writing lessons or the Structure and Style® for Students video courses. She asks him, “What do you need to know if you want to teach your students on your own, using topics that your children find interesting or that you are studying in your other classes?”

Go To Part 2

Referenced Materials

 

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com
Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

View Episode

The start of the school year is an exciting time—a time when energy and motivation are high in the classroom. With many returning to school this month, Andrew and Julie address teachers and teaching parents by discussing ways they can carry the energy from the beginning of the semester throughout the year. From challenging your students to incorporate all of the dress-ups in one sentence, to tracking your students' progress, you'll hear tried and true tips for supercharging creativity and motivation in your classroom!  

Referenced Materials:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com.

View Episode

In this two-part podcast, Andrew reviews the methodology behind and procedure for successfully teaching Unit 3: Retelling Narrative Stories. After a brief overview of the unit, Andrew will walk step-by-step through an assignment, demonstrating Unit 3 methods and concepts for both the teacher/parent and student.

GO TO PART 1

Referenced Materials:

QUESTIONS ASKED: 

  • 1:35 - Diane asks, "How long should each lesson take and how often should the lesson be taught?"
  • 2:26 - Lynn asks, "How long till a ten-year-old boy can write on his own without parent help?"
  • 4:19 - Judy asks, "First-year students are struggling with first drafts, dress -ups, and complete sentences all at the same time."
  • 20:14 - Danielle asks, "How many sentences do you have in the key-word outline? 
  • 22:06 - Angela asks, "I have a very hesitant writer. Can we do a lot of this orally or should he write it out?"
  • 24:11 - Jennifer asks, "For high school students, is a chapter of the hobbit too long of a source text?"
  • 25:54 - Judy asks, "Students are also overwhelmed with the story sequence, sentence order, sequence, and making sense with their sentences."
  • 27:06 - Lynette asks, "My daughter likes to have dialogue in her stories. As each character speaks she starts a new paragraph. What are your recommendations?"
  • 28:16 -Deborah asks, "My kids are feeling overwhelmed with the dress ups but are doing well with the sentence openers. Can I back off on the other dress ups and focus on the sentence openers until they are easy?"
  • 30:30 -Amery asks, "IEW seems to be teacher driven, which is fine, yet the school world seem to emphasize on independence for middle schoolers. So helping the students with IEW lessons was different but I'm glad I understand that I am to assist. I just assumed the child was to be more independent because of their age and grade level."

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

Structure and Style is a trademark of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, L.L.C.

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In honor of Mother's Day, Andrew switches things up and interviews Julie Walker, IEW's Director of Marketing and a longtime friend. After meeting Andrew in 1997, Julie took IEW's methodology and used it to teach her three boys and has since applied it to her own life. Join us for this special episode as Julie discusses her journey to IEW, and be encouraged by Julie's wisdom and advice for all moms out there.

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

Remember to send your questions to Podcast@IEW.com, and perhaps yours will be answered the next time we Ask Andrew Anything (AAA).

If you have any questions about IEW or our products, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team at 800.856.5815 or Info@IEW.com

View Episode

A webinar for Classical Conversations communities who would like support using Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons in a class setting.

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A webinar for Classical Conversations communities who would like support using Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons in a class setting.

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A webinar for Classical Conversations communities who would like support using Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons in a class setting.

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A webinar for Classical Conversations communities who would like support using Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons in a class setting.

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A webinar for Classical Conversations communities who would like support using Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons in a class setting.

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A webinar for Classical Conversations communities who would like support using Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons in a class setting.

 

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using USH in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using USH in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using USH in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using USH in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using USH in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using USH in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using USH in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using MHW in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using MHW in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using MHW in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using MHW in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using MHW in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using MHW in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using MHW in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using AHW in a co-op setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using AHW in a co-op setting.

 

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using AHW in a co-op setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using AHW in a co-op setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using AHW in a co-op setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using AHW in a co-op setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using AHW in a co-op setting.

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Is your young student ready to begin learning to read and write? Or do you have an older student who struggles with basic skills? The Institute for Excellence in Writing is pleased to bring you​ Primary Arts of Language (PAL), a beginning reading and writing program created by Jill Pike and based on Anna Ingham’s award-winning, 70-year legacy, The Blended Sound-Sight Program of Learning.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using USH in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using MHW in a class setting.

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A webinar for anyone who wants support using AHW in a co-op setting.

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Finding What Works
The Chesleys are a busy homeschool family. Austin Chesley is the mom of and the primary educator for all five Chesley kids, ranging in age from 10 to ...
Jan 01, 2025
IEW’s Mission: Teaching Teachers How to Teach Writing
by Julie Walker My IEW® story is simple: I was organizing classes for a group of homeschooling parents and teens in Southern California, and I ha...
Jan 01, 2017
Lesson Planning
by Andrew Pudewa The goal of Excellence in Writing is to make writing part of what your students are learning, not a course unto itself. With nine st...
Jan 01, 2010
Thoughts on Common Core
by Janet Spitler and Genevieve Priest The Common Core State Standards Initiative® has caused quite a stir in the educational world. Most states m...
Jan 01, 2013
Mixed-Age Classrooms
by Andrew Pudewa As a teacher, professional development presenter, and educational consultant, I have had, over the past twenty years, a chance to vi...
Jan 01, 2008
You Don't Have to Like It ...
by Andrew Pudewa (This article first appeared in the February 2012 issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine®.) I don’t really like to wr...
Feb 01, 2012
The Madness of Multiple Choice
by Andrew Pudewa At some point, one of the hardest decisions that a home-schooling family must make is whether to do home education or to do sch...
Jan 01, 2002
In Retrospect: Heroes of Providence
by Andrew Pudewa From the time I could talk, I was begging for a violin. Or so said my mother. I don’t remember, but the harangue must have bee...
Jan 01, 2018
Concerns About Common Core
Over the past few weeks, many homeschooling families and bloggers have been expressing concerns about homeschool curricula changing to align with the ...
Jan 01, 2013
Structured Success
With each edition of the schools magalog Arts of Language, we enjoy spotlighting a teacher or administrator who has implemented with fidelity the Stru...
Jan 01, 2023
Testimony to Oklahoma House Education Committee Regarding Common Core
Occasionally we are asked by concerned teachers and parents what position IEW and Andrew Pudewa take on Common Core. We invite you to read for yoursel...
Nov 15, 2013
But it’s so ... so ... awkward!
by Andrew Pudewa Awkward. Even the spelling of the word is disturbing. If we look back, we likely have memories of high school or college teachers ha...
Jan 01, 2008
A Swing towards Sanity
by Andrew Pudewa Every once in a while, something happens which restores hope that the world is not completely insane. When this occurs in the field ...
Jan 01, 2012
Bad Writing vs. Bad Circumstances
by Andrew Pudewa Recently, a co-op teacher commented, “Help! My students are completing the checklist but producing bad writing! They may use a...
Jan 01, 2010
Now Is the Time
by Andrew Pudewa A decade has passed since the Institute for Excellence in Writing became a full time enterprise, and over these ten years we have se...
Jan 01, 2009
Writing Maketh an Exact Man
Recently, we at IEW began the process of acquiring a very high output (and rather expensive!) printer. During our initial conversations pertaining to ...
Dec 20, 2024
Good Writing vs. Great Teaching
by Andrew Pudewa Good writing. What is it? Everyone has an opinion, but opinions differ widely. While one language arts curriculum judges that simply...
Jan 01, 2008
However Imperfectly: Lessons learned from thirty years of teaching
by Andrew Pudewa It’s hard to say exactly when I began thinking myself a teacher, but I do remember when I set out on my own as an independent ...
Jan 01, 2018
Marking and Grading
A few thoughts about a sticky, tricky subject by Andrew Pudewa As soon as people get serious about the business of teaching writing, certain beasts ...
Jan 01, 2007
Low-Tech Teaching with High-End Results
by Andrew Pudewa If you attend a large education conference these days, a quick circuit around the exhibit hall makes one fact immediately evident: E...
Jan 01, 2017
What? or That!
Reflections on Reports by Andrew Pudewa In sixth grade or thereabouts, you had to write A REPORT. Searching for a subject that seemed moderately int...
Jan 01, 2008
Why and How Music Will Save the World
Challenging the Crises in Educational Thought by Andrew Pudewa “Maybe music will save the world,” said Pablo Casals, the great cellist a...
Jan 01, 2013
Why is Structure and Style® so effective?
by James B. Webster, Ph.D. I completed a four-year B.A. with honors in history and English, in which three to four yearlong courses required three su...
Jan 01, 2009
That Puppy Won't Fly
The Core Problem with Educational Standards Today by Andrew Pudewa Over the past decade, I have had the privilege to interact with a wide range of t...
Jun 01, 2013
Hate of Learning: One Cause and a Possible Remedy
by Andrew Pudewa (This article first appeared in the February 2012 issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine®.) When one of my daughters was ar...
Feb 01, 2012
Thoughts and Words: the Chicken or the Egg?
by Andrew Pudewa One of the few criticisms of IEW’s checklist-based approach to teaching style runs something like this: “Students’...
Oct 01, 2013
Common Sense on Standards: Freeing Teachers to Be Teachers
by Andrew Pudewa The idea of standards in education is not new. Since the first Nation’s Report Card in 1969, schools, districts, states, and p...
Jan 01, 2015
Interview with Nancy Helm, Education Specialist
This summer at the IEM Innovate Conference in Sacramento, I met Nancy Helm, an Education Specialist for twelve years at the South Sutter Charter Schoo...
Nov 25, 2024
Getting Started with Structure and Style
Every year, IEW has chosen an outstanding teacher who has implemented IEW in his or her classroom with enthusiasm and fidelity. Join us this year as w...
Jan 01, 2022
IEW: The Key to Success
Forty years ago the better colleges did not have the writing labs that are a ubiquitous feature of college campuses today. Contrary to the pedagogy of...
Jan 01, 2014
Many Paths, One Writing Method: An interview with IEW mom Lisa Averitt
Lisa Averitt lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where she is a pastor’s wife and mother of five. She has a BA in English and several years of teac...
Jan 01, 2018
Success in Schools
Teachers who are teaching writing well by Janet Spitler When it comes to teaching writing, the teacher must often choose between art and science. Ho...
Jan 01, 2009

Yes! You do! The Theme-Based Writing Lessons are meant to be supplemental—an aid to the teacher. They presume that the instructor has been through the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style course. A book can't teach writing to a child without teacher support. After you learn our system these books will be able to serve as a support to you in teaching your child to write.

• The individual lessons have the added components of daily lesson plans and clearer weekly lesson goals.

• Source texts are either new or have been modified to include more regions of the world.

• The pacing of stylistic techniques has been adjusted so that students have success and enjoy the writing experience more.

• Advanced elements of Structure and Style have been placed in the Advanced Additions optional e-book, which is a free download with the purchase of the Student Book. This means that that the basic Student Book along with the Advanced Additions e-book is a perfect fit for all Level B students.

• Vocabulary words have been reevaluated to coincide with the dress-ups being taught in the lessons, making it easier for the students to use them in their lesson assignments.

• The lessons align with the updated version of Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, both in the order and manner in which elements of Structure and Style are taught.

• The new edition is not compatible with the former.

At the Institute for Excellence in Writing, we take pride in offering excellent products and content to equip teachers and teaching parents with methods and materials which will aid them in training their students to become confident and competent communicators and thinkers. Our customer service team is here to assist you with any questions or concerns related to our products or methodology. We are dedicated to making your interaction with our products as smooth as possible.

It is important to note that we are not a dedicated technical support service. We are delighted to help you with inquiries about implementing our products. However, due to the plethora of network providers, security applications, network settings, and device connectivity options, we are not able to assist you in troubleshooting technical issues, such as casting to a device, using a video player, or streaming your videos. Often, the detailed technical support needed falls outside customer service’s scope of expertise.

Here are some troubleshooting suggestions to help you resolve common technical issues and make the most of your experience with our products.

Check for Software Updates: Ensure that your smart devices, including computers, tablets, or smartphones, have the latest operating system and application updates installed. Outdated software can often lead to compatibility issues.

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Check Browser Compatibility: If you are using a web browser to access our content, make sure you are using a compatible and updated browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

Reboot Device: Sometimes simply restarting your device can resolve minor issues. Try turning it off and then back on again.

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Disable Security Programs: Temporarily disable security or antivirus software that might interfere with your access to our content. Remember to enable them after use.

Contact Your Internet Service Provider: If you experience persistent connectivity issues, contact your internet service provider to ensure there are no problems with your network connection.

For any inquiries related to our products or services, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our knowledgeable customer service team is always ready to assist you with any product-related questions and provide the support you need.

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