
Latin: Finding Joy in the Challenge
“Who learns Latin? Why on earth are they learning Latin? Latin is a dead language!” I boldly stated in ignorance a few years ago. As I was contemplating the next steps on our homeschooling... read more

Year One of Structure and Style in the Classroom: Look Back and Reflect. Look Ahead and Plan.
A note before you begin: This post contains many helpful links to materials, related blogs, and additional information on our Schools website. We recommend that you read the blog all the way... read more

However Imperfectly: Podcast Episode 144
Podcast 144 is an extra special one because in it Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss Andrew’s experiences and insights, reflecting on his approximately thirty years of working in education. The title of... read more

Beauty, Adventure, and Skunks—Oh My!
Lying in my soft denim sleeping bag in the bed of my parents’ long bed Chevy truck, my sister asleep on one side of me, my cousin on the other, I squirmed. Despite... read more

A Father’s Influence
My teacher training began around age eight. After my grandfather died, we moved to be closer to my grandmother, and my father changed careers from accounting to teaching. This is truly his gift.... read more

The Special Education Journey: Podcast Episode 143
ADHD, ASD, APD, PDD-NOS, SLD. If you know any of these acronyms, you may be the parent of a child who struggles with learning disabilities. Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are other common learning... read more

Becoming an Imperfectionist
On June 17 in the United States, we celebrate Father’s Day, a day to recognize the special role that fathers hold in their families. Evan Smith, one of our fabulous IEW dads, wrote... read more

No Better Legacy
The month of June marks Father’s Day in the United States. Fathers are vitally important to the raising of healthy, happy children. One of the ways fathers contribute to their children’s development is... read more

Making Boring Content Fascinating
Even after debating in high school for five years and attending college for over two years, the thought of sitting through a lecture still bores me. Although I know how to effectively take... read more

Where Are They Now? Ryan Cardinale, Author and Administrator
Our IEW alumni enter the professional world well equipped with solid communication skills, whether their jobs are in journalism, science, law, or somewhere else. Today we feature a former student who has taken... read more

It’s a Hit! One Mom’s Quest to Make Reading Literature Fun
When Danielle’s oldest son went off to college, she reflected on some of her regrets and decided to do something about them. Read her post and see how she created some fun social... read more

A Poem in Honor of Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 13, is Mother’s Day in the United States. To celebrate the date, we found a lovely poem written by Christina Rossetti in 1881. A sonnet, this untitled poem’s structure varies from... read more

Writing Critiques: Podcast Episodes 139a and 139b
The month of May doesn’t just bring flowers; if you have been keeping up with the suggested IEW unit pacing, it also brings Unit 9, the formal critique. But what is a formal... read more

Thank You, Mrs. Texley!
When I was a junior in high school, I enrolled in my first English class with Mrs. Texley. She taught honors English to eleventh and twelfth graders in my small-town Kansas high school.... read more

Writing Blind
Imagine a lightless world, full of sound, touch, and smell, but absent of color, visible texture, and sight. In their reading and writing studies, most students rely heavily on their sense of sight,... read more

Are You a Follower?
At IEW we have a lot happening all of the time. And it’s all good stuff, too! From the writing contests to the product giveaways to the podcasts, there is always something new... read more

Do Blank Stares Mean I Have Failed? A Teachable Moment
Moments prior to having eight peering and baffled faces staring at me with astonished eyes, I had proudly declared today’s Latin class was going to start out with good old-fashioned review. First and... read more

Celebrating Poets
April is National Poetry Month. Begun in 1986, it is a time dedicated to celebrating poetry and the poets who create pictures with their words. Every poet writes with his or her unique... read more

The Core of Literacy: Podcast Episode 136
Andrew Pudewa was back in Oklahoma last week, and he and Julie Walker met to discuss one of this month’s themes: poetry. By including poetry in a child’s developing years, you are providing... read more

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

The Linguistic Pathway through Poetry
A fortuitous turn of events happened, once upon a time many years ago, at an otherwise ordinary homeschool convention that I attended. It happened so long ago that the details are somewhat fuzzy... read more

Latin: Finding Joy in the Challenge
“Who learns Latin? Why on earth are they learning Latin? Latin is a dead language!” I boldly stated in ignorance a... read more

Year One of Structure and Style in the Classroom: Look Back and Reflect. Look Ahead and Plan.
A note before you begin: This post contains many helpful links to materials, related blogs, and additional information on our... read more

However Imperfectly: Podcast Episode 144
Podcast 144 is an extra special one because in it Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss Andrew’s experiences and insights, reflecting... read more

Beauty, Adventure, and Skunks—Oh My!
Lying in my soft denim sleeping bag in the bed of my parents’ long bed Chevy truck, my sister asleep on... read more

A Father’s Influence
My teacher training began around age eight. After my grandfather died, we moved to be closer to my grandmother, and my... read more

The Special Education Journey: Podcast Episode 143
ADHD, ASD, APD, PDD-NOS, SLD. If you know any of these acronyms, you may be the parent of a child who... read more

Becoming an Imperfectionist
On June 17 in the United States, we celebrate Father’s Day, a day to recognize the special role that fathers hold... read more

No Better Legacy
The month of June marks Father’s Day in the United States. Fathers are vitally important to the raising of healthy, happy... read more

Making Boring Content Fascinating
Even after debating in high school for five years and attending college for over two years, the thought of sitting through... read more

Where Are They Now? Ryan Cardinale, Author and Administrator
Our IEW alumni enter the professional world well equipped with solid communication skills, whether their jobs are in journalism, science, law,... read more

It’s a Hit! One Mom’s Quest to Make Reading Literature Fun
When Danielle’s oldest son went off to college, she reflected on some of her regrets and decided to do something about... read more

A Poem in Honor of Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 13, is Mother’s Day in the United States. To celebrate the date, we found a lovely poem written by... read more

Writing Critiques: Podcast Episodes 139a and 139b
The month of May doesn’t just bring flowers; if you have been keeping up with the suggested IEW unit pacing, it... read more

Thank You, Mrs. Texley!
When I was a junior in high school, I enrolled in my first English class with Mrs. Texley. She taught honors... read more

Writing Blind
Imagine a lightless world, full of sound, touch, and smell, but absent of color, visible texture, and sight. In their reading... read more

Are You a Follower?
At IEW we have a lot happening all of the time. And it’s all good stuff, too! From the writing contests... read more

Do Blank Stares Mean I Have Failed? A Teachable Moment
Moments prior to having eight peering and baffled faces staring at me with astonished eyes, I had proudly declared today’s Latin... read more

Celebrating Poets
April is National Poetry Month. Begun in 1986, it is a time dedicated to celebrating poetry and the poets who create... read more

The Core of Literacy: Podcast Episode 136
Andrew Pudewa was back in Oklahoma last week, and he and Julie Walker met to discuss one of this month’s themes:... read more

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

The Linguistic Pathway through Poetry
A fortuitous turn of events happened, once upon a time many years ago, at an otherwise ordinary homeschool convention that I... read more