In this Live Ask Andrew Anything episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker answer questions submitted by listeners. They discuss how to encourage a child to continue practicing a musical instrument, how to help students who are struggling with the questioning skills for Unit 5 and Unit 7, what to do after completing the six books in the Fix It!® Grammar series, what to use for writing a novel, and more. Andrew ends with some letters that he has received from students. Referenced Materials Principl...
Aug 13, 2025
In this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker interview Lizabeth Brasells, the managing editor of Magnum Opus Magazine —IEW’s premier showcase of work from students around the world. Listen as they share the history behind the Magnum Opus , the process of selecting pieces for publication, and the ways the magazine can be used by teachers and teaching parents to model the Structure and Style® method and motivate students. Referenced Materials Magnum Opus Magazine Lizabeth Brasells IEW Writing Co...
Aug 06, 2025
Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker continue their live session at the NCFCA National Championships. This part of the conversation focused on how using the IEW methodology helps students avoid plagiarism. Andrew also discussed whether there is a place for AI in academics. Listen to hear what students asked Andrew at the end of the session. Go to Part 1 Referenced Materials NCFCA Christian Speech and Debate Episode 354: Paper and Pen – What the Research Says University-Ready Writing University-Ready W...
Jul 30, 2025
Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker recorded this two-part podcast at the NCFCA National Championship in St. Paul, Minnesota, in June 2025. They discuss what plagiarism is, why it is easier for students to plagiarize today, and why it is important to avoid plagiarism. Be sure to listen to Part 2 (posts on 9/3) as they discuss some solutions to this problem. Go to Part 2 Referenced Materials NCFCA Christian Speech and Debate Episode 459: Speech and Debate with Christy Shipe Hacking High School: Rethin...
Jul 23, 2025
In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss how children thrive when parents read aloud to them. Reading aloud builds family bonds and shared memories as well as increases vocabulary and comprehension. Listen to this episode to learn more. Referenced Materials Summer Help from IEW “Is having a loving family an unfair advantage?” Episode 354: Paper and Pen — What the Research Says Read Aloud Revival Structure and Style® for Students free lessons Theme-Based Writing Lessons Grammar for...
Jul 16, 2025
In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker share their top tips for new homeschool families. They focus on overall lifestyle choices and priorities instead of specific curriculum recommendations. If you are considering homeschooling or know someone who is, this is the perfect episode. Grab a glass of iced tea or lemonade and glean some wisdom from Andrew and Julie. Referenced Materials However Imperfectly audio talk by Andrew Pudewa Episode 326: Fatherhood and Family – A Dad Talk, Part 1 Ha...
Jul 09, 2025
Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker continue diving into this year's theme: How to Think. In this episode, they talk about famous questions and quotations that have to do with thinking and learning, as well as some that spark thinking. Listen to glean some questions and quotations that will spark thoughtful conversations in your home or classroom. Referenced Materials The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Episode 398: Think like Shakespeare, Part 1 How to Think like Shakespeare: Lessons from a Ren...
Jul 02, 2025
In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk about how the use of AI for writing impacts the process of training students to be critical thinkers. While it may be tempting for students and parents alike to use AI for writing because it is faster and easier, Andrew encourages parents to realize the dangers, including inaccurate facts, imprecise thinking, and unfounded opinions. Referenced Materials “Writing Maketh an Exact Man” article by Andrew Pudewa Arts of Language homeschool magalog ...
Jun 25, 2025
In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker are joined by IEW’s Customer Support Manager, Catherine Hafer, to discuss the many roles that the customer service team members fill as they serve you and IEW. Referenced Materials Catherine Hafer Our Team Principles of Motivation audio talk by Andrew Pudewa Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing audio talk by Andrew Pudewa Transcript of Podcast Episode 482 If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com Perhaps your question will be...
Jun 18, 2025
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. Ref...
Jun 11, 2025
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 Structure and Style® for Students: Year 1 Level C Structure and Style for Students: Year 2 Level B The Story of Doct...
Jun 04, 2025
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 ...
May 28, 2025
May is often the month when IEW instructors are reaching Unit 9 in which students write formal critiques and Response to Literature compositions. Many of IEW’s courses include literature suggestions because we recognize the importance of connecting literature and writing. In this podcast, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss the impact literature has on thinking and the connections between memory, imagination, and words. Finally, they share some of their favorite books that are in their Audibl...
May 21, 2025
In this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk with Sarah Mackenzie about furnishing the mind with words and beauty by reading aloud. Listen as they discuss the importance of not just the words but also the artwork in children’s picture books. Sarah shares her passion for rightly ordered beauty in the words and art in the books they are publishing at Waxwing Books, and she gives a short summary of each of the picture books available. Referenced Materials Nurturing Competent Communicators au...
May 14, 2025
May 5–9 is Teacher Appreciation Week. What gifts do teachers appreciate most? Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker share some ideas for showing appreciation to all the teachers in your life. Referenced Materials “Gifts for Teachers: What They REALLY Want” Teaching Writing: Structure and Style® Transcript of Podcast Episode 476 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 prod...
May 07, 2025
Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker sit down with Stacia Lowe, a homeschool teacher who is passionate about providing hope and stressless homeschooling through budgeting. She shares inspiring stories and tips for making budgeting less painful. If you are concerned about the cost of homeschooling, this is an encouraging episode. Referenced Materials Books by Stacia Rae Lowe & Adam Alva Lowe Knot Your Average Knitting classes and other homeschool resources Lowe Budget Digital Products Stacia’s News...
Apr 30, 2025
In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker interview Jeff Nease, who provides support to schools using IEW materials in his role as IEW’s Implementation Coach. Jeff shares his passion for training teachers to use IEW in their classrooms. Andrew, Julie, and Jeff also discuss the 4-Step Implementation Plan and the various options for training that IEW provides. Referenced Materials IEW Schools Department Jeff Nease Structure and Style® for Students Teaching Writing: Structure and Style “An Ex...
Apr 23, 2025
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 Nurturing Competent Communicators au...
Apr 16, 2025
In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker open the mailbag (or the email inbox) and read letters IEW has received from students, parents, and teachers. Listen to this episode to find out how IEW has assisted refugee students, how teachers are incorporating IEW into their classrooms, and how IEW assists students long after they have completed high school. Often students send Andrew samples of their work, and he shares some excerpts in this podcast. Referenced Materials Bible Heroes Structur...
Apr 09, 2025
How does furnishing the mind by reading and appreciating poetry help students learn to think? Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker as they discuss the importance of poetry in providing vocabulary, linguistic patterns, and distillation of thoughts. Poetry lends itself to the contemplation of imagination and the beauty of the words. Students learn to think more deeply as they read, enjoy, and think about the words, ideas, and images in poems. Referenced Materials Linguistic Development through Poet...
Apr 02, 2025
In this Live Ask Andrew Anything episode, Andrew Pudewa answers questions submitted by listeners. Andrew, along with Julie Walker, discusses how to implement IEW if the parent has learning differences, whether a formal spelling curriculum is needed, how to differentiate the roles of editor and grader, and other questions. Andrew shares anecdotes from the class he is teaching with his grandchildren and their friends and provides encouragement for new-to-IEW moms! Referenced Materials Structure an...
Mar 26, 2025
In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker announce the prompts for the 2025 IEW Writing Contest. Andrew talks about why students should participate in writing contests, and Julie shares a story from her past about the importance of following instructions. Be sure to listen for the special prizes for the tenth annual IEW Writing Contest! Referenced Materials Writing Contests 2025 IEW Writing Contest “The Benefits of Entering Writing Contests” Magnum Opus Magazine Transcript of Episode 469 I...
Mar 19, 2025
Continuing the conversation, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker ask Pamela White additional questions about the amount of grammar students should study and the benefits to learning grammar in developing thinking skills and reading comprehension. They finish with a discussion of AI tools and why most do not benefit students. Go to Part 1 Referenced Materials “Writing Maketh an Exact Man” Fix It!® Grammar Structure and Style® for Students: Year 1 Level C Fix It! Grammar free lessons Transcript of Podc...
Mar 12, 2025
In celebration of National Grammar Day (March 4), Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk with Pamela White about why grammar is important, how it relates to thinking and reading comprehension, and how she came to write the Fix It! ® Grammar series. They also address sentence diagramming and why it does not necessarily translate into better grammar skills. Go to Part 2 Referenced Materials Fix It! Grammar Fix It! Grammar free lessons Pamela White But . . . but . . . but . . . What about Grammar? aud...
Mar 05, 2025
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 The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential Teaching Writing: Structure and Style® Structure and Style for Students “Writing Maketh an Exact Man” Our Story Transcript of Podcast Episode 466 If you have questi...
Feb 26, 2025
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 Kerry Beck Raising Leaders, Not Followers by Kerry Beck John Taylor Gatto The Underground History of American Education A Thomas ...
Feb 19, 2025
In this podcast, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss how IEW teaches thinking using some aspects of the classical model and the Canons of Rhetoric. They specifically address the first canon, invention, and how students learn division of subjects, one of the key skills in inventive writing. Listen to this episode to learn how to help your students come up with content and present it in a winsome and well-ordered way. Referenced Materials University-Ready Writing “Is IEW ‘Classical’?” “Filling ...
Feb 12, 2025
In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss classical education and preparing your students to become rhetoricians. Tim Knotts, who studies and writes about classical education, shares resources and suggestions to help you and your students become stronger thinkers and communicators. Referenced Materials New England Consortium of Classical Educators (NECCE) The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer Episode 376: A Necessary Conversation about AI The Liberal Arts Tradition by Kevin Cla...
Feb 05, 2025
In this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker share the value of IEW’s Premium Membership. Since 2014, Premium Members have been able to view the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar videos and access articles and talks by Andrew. Through the years the IEW Checklist Generator, Teaching Tips with Andrew Pudewa , and many other resources have been added. Don’t wait to join! Referenced Materials Premium Membership Teaching Writing: Structure and Style® “An Exciting Addition to Premium Mem...
Jan 29, 2025
Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker as they dive deeper into the theme for this year: How to Think. Before we can talk about how to think, we need to know what thinking is. Andrew talks about the importance of language in building brain pathways along with how the structure of language aids in thinking. Finally, he discusses critical thinking skills and how language is the foundation for those skills. Referenced Materials Cultivating Language Arts – Preschool through High School audio talk by An...
Jan 22, 2025
