Unit 5: Writing from a Christmas Picture
# # The month of December is a hectic one. You may barely be through the Thanksgiving turkey leftovers, and then suddenly you find yourself in the midst of Christmas decorating, baking, and socializing. Rather... read more
How to Give Yourself the Gift of Time this Christmas
Enjoy this guest blog post written by Pamela Barnhill of Your Morning Basket. I can be somewhat of a Christmas Grinch. A few years ago when my children were 7, 5, and 3, my husband... read more
How to Simplify the Season
Enjoy this special blog post by guest blogger Kristi Clover, creator of the Simply Joyful podcast. Christmas time is one of my favorite times of the year. There is just something about all the... read more
Settling into the Season
Our CSM team at IEW was recently challenged to start contributing to the blog by each of us writing a post. It sounded simple enough at the time, but when it came around... read more
November Poetry: “Gathering Leaves”
The cooling temperatures and crisp fall breezes have done their work in most of the United States. The leaves have fallen. Branches are bare or nearly there, and now is the time to... read more
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
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
Jill’s Gems: Adjusting the Bar for Success, One Child at a Time
Our forums are wonderful spots to ask questions, share successes, and receive encouragement. Recently a member wondered about how to help her child prepare his speeches for his co-op class. Her son, a... read more
Reading Aloud: Time Together Well Spent
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! by Dr. Seuss As the leaves... read more
Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
Gratitude matters. “I do believe the happiest people that I meet are the ones who have that habit, that attitude of gratitude." – Andrew Pudewa With the possible exception of Thanksgiving Day, our culture is... read more
From the First: Famous (and not-so-famous) First Lines
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” This quote, reportedly attributed to Will Rogers, not only applies to people, but also to literature, and perhaps more so. After all,... read more
One Chapter Away
# Reading Tolkien out loud while two primary-grade siblings engaged in an action-figure battle to the death was not an easy task. Competing to be heard while constant noise and motion were going on... read more
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
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
Feeling Fallish—A Poem About October
Whether you live in Fort Lauderdale or Fairbanks, fall is upon us. For some of us the leaves are turning colors. For others, the leaves never even drop. Regardless of where you reside,... read more
Short, Frequent Assignments
I am presently in an unusual position. My children have reached the age where one is in high school, one is dual-enrolled in college and high school, and one is enrolled full-time in... read more
The Right Tool Matters
Imagine a hammer on Jell-O®, a screwdriver for surgery, or a round peg in a square hole. The wrong tool at the wrong time can impair what we’re doing. That’s bad enough when we’re... read more
Starting Strong in September, Structure and Style Units 1 & 2: Part 2: Podcast Episode 108b
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... read more
My Battle with the Blank Page
Writer’s block. Is this phrase as ominous for everyone else as it is for me? Like someone stuck in a cell block, I envision myself sitting in a prison cell, cold, alone, and... read more
Grammar Check: Affect or Effect?
Words are funny little things. Each letter matters. Words that sound alike, called homophones (homo = same, phone = sound), have different spellings and different meanings. As such, they are easily confusable and... read more
Jill’s Gems: There is Value in the (Brain)storm
As we seek to teach stylistic techniques to our students, it is easy to search for ways to streamline the process. One of these temptations is the worksheet. Filled with practice sentences and... read more
Unit 5: Writing from a Christmas Picture
# # The month of December is a hectic one. You may barely be through the Thanksgiving turkey leftovers, and then suddenly you... read more
How to Give Yourself the Gift of Time this Christmas
Enjoy this guest blog post written by Pamela Barnhill of Your Morning Basket. I can be somewhat of a Christmas Grinch. A few... read more
How to Simplify the Season
Enjoy this special blog post by guest blogger Kristi Clover, creator of the Simply Joyful podcast. Christmas time is one of my... read more
Settling into the Season
Our CSM team at IEW was recently challenged to start contributing to the blog by each of us writing a post.... read more
November Poetry: “Gathering Leaves”
The cooling temperatures and crisp fall breezes have done their work in most of the United States. The leaves have fallen.... read more
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
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
Jill’s Gems: Adjusting the Bar for Success, One Child at a Time
Our forums are wonderful spots to ask questions, share successes, and receive encouragement. Recently a member wondered about how to help... read more
Reading Aloud: Time Together Well Spent
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”... read more
Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
Gratitude matters. “I do believe the happiest people that I meet are the ones who have that habit, that attitude of gratitude."... read more
From the First: Famous (and not-so-famous) First Lines
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” This quote, reportedly attributed to Will Rogers, not only applies... read more
One Chapter Away
# Reading Tolkien out loud while two primary-grade siblings engaged in an action-figure battle to the death was not an easy task.... read more
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
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
Feeling Fallish—A Poem About October
Whether you live in Fort Lauderdale or Fairbanks, fall is upon us. For some of us the leaves are turning colors.... read more
Short, Frequent Assignments
I am presently in an unusual position. My children have reached the age where one is in high school, one is... read more
The Right Tool Matters
Imagine a hammer on Jell-O®, a screwdriver for surgery, or a round peg in a square hole. The wrong tool at the... read more
Starting Strong in September, Structure and Style Units 1 & 2: Part 2: Podcast Episode 108b
As you begin this new school year, be encouraged to make a great start in public speaking and writing. Andrew reviews... read more
My Battle with the Blank Page
Writer’s block. Is this phrase as ominous for everyone else as it is for me? Like someone stuck in a cell... read more
Grammar Check: Affect or Effect?
Words are funny little things. Each letter matters. Words that sound alike, called homophones (homo = same, phone = sound), have... read more
Jill’s Gems: There is Value in the (Brain)storm
As we seek to teach stylistic techniques to our students, it is easy to search for ways to streamline the process.... read more
