Search for: Primary posters

  • Primary Posters Kindergarten

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • Tchr

    These 24" x 35" visually appealing posters provide illustrated poetry, structural models, and source texts and are an essential companion to the Kindergarten Classroom Supplement and Lesson Plans.

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  • Primary Posters Grade 1

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • Tchr

    This product is intended for use by five-day-a-week schools. These 24" x 35" visually appealing posters provide illustrated poetry, structural models, and source texts and are an essential companion to the Grade 1 Classroom Supplement and Lesson Plans.

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  • Primary Posters Grade 2

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • Tchr

    This product is intended for use by five-day-a-week schools. These 24" x 35" visually appealing posters provide illustrated poetry, structural models, and source texts and are an essential companion to the Grade 2 Classroom Supplement and Lesson Plans.

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  • Mini Posters

    Grades:
    • 3-5
    • 6-8
    • 9-12
    • Tchr

    These are our popular Classroom Posters, reduced to a convenient 8.5" x 11” table size.

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  • Classroom Posters

    Grades:
    • Tchr

    Internalize ideas through frequency, intensity, and duration.

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  • Primary Writing Lesson Plans Kindergarten

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    This product is intended for use by five-day-a-week schools. This teacher package contains our top recommendations to ensure the primary grade teacher has a successful first year. Includes one set of student materials.

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  • Primary Writing Lesson Plans Grade 1

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    This product is intended for use by five-day-a-week schools. This teacher package contains our top recommendations to ensure the primary grade teacher has a successful year. Includes one set of student materials.

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  • Primary Writing Lesson Plans Grade 2

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    This product is intended for use by five-day-a-week schools. This teacher package contains our top recommendations to ensure the primary grade teacher has a successful year. Includes one set of student materials.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Reading-Writing Complete Package

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

    The Primary Arts of Language Reading and Writing materials are designed to go hand in hand. Start with the reading program, where students learn phonics and sight words while playing games and completing other engaging activities. Gradually add in the writing program, and students reinforce their reading skills with writing while learning to print letters, words, sentences, and stories using the Structure and Style® approach. Your child will learn to read and write, and will enjoy the process! Guaranteed.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Reading-Writing Premier Package

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

    The Primary Arts of Language Reading and Writing materials are designed to go hand in hand. Start with the reading program, where students learn phonics and sight words while playing games and completing other engaging activities. Gradually add in the writing program, and students reinforce their reading skills with writing while learning to print letters, words, sentences, and stories using the Structure and Style® approach. Your child will learn to read and write, and will enjoy the process! Guaranteed.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Writing Teacher’s Manual

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    If you already own All About Spelling, you can purchase just this Teacher's Manual and the PAL: Writing DVD-ROM to complete your set.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Writing Student Book

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

    Would you like us to print and bind your PAL: Writing Student Books for you? Save ink and purchase this pre-printed set.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Reading Student Book

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

    Would you like us to print and bind your PAL: Reading Student Books and Readers for you? Save ink and purchase this pre-printed set.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Reading Student Book [CLEARANCE]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

    Would you like us to print and bind your PAL: Reading Student Books and Readers for you? Save ink and purchase this pre-printed set.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Reading Complete Package

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Discover the blended sound-sight approach to teaching your child to read! By combining phonics with some sight words, your child can begin to read quickly and with ease while building a solid foundation for the future. Games, activities, and stickers add interest for the child, and you'll love the clear directions and thorough explanations. Use concurrently with the PAL: Writing program.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Writing Complete Package

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Bring your child from learning to print to writing one- to three-paragraph compositions with structure and style! This complete package includes everything you need to teach your young child to write, from printing practice and sentence formation to early grammar, story sequence analysis, and writing paragraphs.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Reading Teacher’s Manual

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    The PAL: Reading Teacher's Manual gives daily lesson plans for the poetry, phonetic rules, and games.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Phonetic Games

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Includes all the phonetic games from the PAL: Reading program. Purchase if you need a replacement set.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Phonetic Farm [Folder with Stickers]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

    Each child will want a copy of this delightful farm scene with phonetic stickers. Purchase if you need an extra for a second student.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Phonetic Games [CLEARANCE]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Includes all the phonetic games from the PAL: Reading program. Purchase if you need a replacement set.

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  • Primary Writing with Structure and Style® Day 2 [Live On-Site Workshop]

    Grades:
    • PD

    This product is intended for use by five-day-a-week schools. An IEW Implementation Coach presents Day 2 of the interactive basic workshop specifically for K–2nd grade teachers. Please contact our Schools Department if you have questions about this product or if you want to purchase. 800.856.5815

    SKU:
    Out of Stock
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  • Primary Arts of Language: Writing Complete Package [CLEARANCE]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

    Bring your child from learning to print to writing one- to three-paragraph compositions with structure and style! This complete package includes everything you need to teach your young child to write, from printing practice and sentence formation to early grammar, story sequence analysis, and writing paragraphs.

    SKU:
    Format
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  • Primary Writing with Structure and Style® Day 1 [Live On-Site Workshop]

    Grades:
    • PD

    This product is intended for use by five-day-a-week schools. An IEW Implementation Coach presents Day 1 of the interactive basic workshop specifically for K–2nd grade teachers. Please contact our Schools Department if you have questions about this product or if you want to purchase. 800.856.5815

    SKU:
    Out of Stock
    Format
  • Unit 3 in the K–2 Environment [Shirley George]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Learn tips and strategies for presenting Unit 3 story writing in a primary classroom. Includes methods for managing primary level challenges to learning. Recorded at the 2004 Tacoma Teacher's Conference

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  • The K–2 Writing Environment [Richelle Palmer]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • Tchr

    This is a must-listen for any primary teacher! Richelle Palmer provides many creative examples and methodologies for teaching writing in the primary classroom. Recorded at the 2004 Tacoma Teacher's Conference

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  • Units 1/2 in the K–2 Classroom [Shirley George]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Enjoy Shirley George’s strategies and tips for teaching Units 1 and 2 in a primary classroom. Includes recommendations for managing primary spelling and handwriting challenges. Recorded at the 2004 Tacoma Teacher's Conference

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Reading DVD-ROM

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Includes an instructional video for the parent, printable student books, and four audio talks.

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  • Primary Arts of Language: Writing DVD-ROM

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Includes an instructional video for the parent, printable student books, and six audio talks.

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  • Student Writing Portfolio Primary [Binder]

    Grades:
    • K-2

    This product is intended for use by five-day-a-week schools. Purchase a binder for each student to use in building his own Student Writing Portfolio.

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  • Primary Reading and Spelling [Jill Pike]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Recorded at the 2010 Writing Educator's Symposium

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  • Primary Story Reading and Writing [Jill Pike]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • Tchr

    Recorded at the 2010 Writing Educator's Symposium

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  • Writing in the Primary Grades [Shirley George]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • Tchr

    Recorded at the 2008 Writing Educator's Symposium

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  • Tools for Young Writers [CLEARANCE]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • 3-5

    As students learn a writing tool, they add that information to their “portable wall” and create an instant writing station on their desk.

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    Out of Stock
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  • Primary Writing: from Printing to Composition [Jill Pike]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Recorded at the 2010 Writing Educator's Symposium

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  • Bible Heroes Writing Lessons [Teacher's Manual]

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL
    • Tchr

    Let us print out the Teacher Book for you!

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  • Printing with Letter Stories Card Game

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

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  • Bible Heroes Writing Lessons

    Grades:
    • K-2
    • ELL

    Get to know the heroes of the Bible while learning to write with structure and style.

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  • Outmatched™: Ancient History [Card Games] [DISCONTINUED, CLEARANCE]

    Grades:
    • 3-5
    • 6-8
    • 9-12

    Enter the world of the ancients from the stately halls of Rome to the mysterious pyramids of Egypt with Outmatched: Ancient History! Players choose which cards to play to test their opponents’ knowledge and gain points. Outwit, outlearn, and outmatch your adversaries to win and become a master of ancient history. Contains eight decks of cards including Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Greece: Classical and Archaic, Greco-Roman World, Israel and Judah, Mesopotamia, Rome, and Rome: Fall of the Republic. A perfect companion to Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons!

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  • Teaching Writing: Structure and Style®, Second Edition [Forever Streaming or DVD Video Seminar, Workbook, Premium Membership]

    Grades:
    • Col
    • Tchr

    This powerful and inspiring seminar will transform the way you teach writing to children (and perhaps your own writing as well)! You'll learn how to incrementally teach students to write with clear structure and compelling style. Begin with the basics—rewriting a paragraph—and continue all the way into advanced creative and essay writing. Learn how to nurture excellence in writing and thinking in students of any age.

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Fazed by the Primary Phases?

Primary teachers know all too well that children do not enter school at the same readiness level. Just as a child talks and walks when he is ready, the same is true for... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Getting Started with Primary Materials

On Day 6 of IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving, we offer several gifts to help with your youngest learners. Be sure you are registered for the event to receive the email with... read more

Dec 10, 2024

Customer Service Answers: Primary Arts of Language

  Beginning your homeschooling years can feel very intimidating. After all, those early years are when you craft the strong foundation for future educational success. Specifically the three Rs— reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic—can generate... read more

Sep 07, 2017

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

Primary Arts of Language: Summer Reinforcement Ideas that Don’t Steal Your Sanity

  It’s that time of year again! The days are lengthening. Moms are beginning to see the light at the end of the math book. Kids are squirrely to be done with school. But... read more

Apr 17, 2017

Structure and Style with Primary Students: A Conversation with Linda Mikottis: Podcast Episode 235

  In podcast Episode 235, Julie welcomed Linda Mikottis into the studio. Linda had come from her home in Illinois to Oklahoma to conduct a Primary Structure and Style workshop, a professional development workshop... read more

Sep 02, 2020

Training Method Options, Part 4A – Live On-Site Professional Development: Launching Young Writers with Primary Writing with Structure and Style Two-Day Seminar

Primary Writing with Structure and Style was designed specifically with primary teachers in mind. Providing a bridge between Anna Ingham's Blended Sound-Sight Program of Learning and the Structure and Style method, this seminar... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Growing Young Readers and Writers

Why are the Primary Posters necessary in a K–2 classroom? One of the questions we hear frequently from teachers and principals concerns our Primary Posters for Kindergarten, Grade One and Grade Two: “Is this... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Sound City, the Heart of Anna Ingham’s Language Arts Program

  When teachers use our materials for Kindergarten through Grade 2, they are directed to use the poetry discussion time to reinforce phonics for reading and spelling. Regularly we hear from teachers using their... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Off to a Strong Start: Preparing for Writing Instruction with Structure and Style

Arranging desks, unpacking new textbooks, and dusting off classroom libraries in a freshly cleaned classroom gives even the most seasoned veteran a happy feeling of anticipation for the year ahead. Making a new... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Launching the Foundations of Literacy through Structure and Style in Grades K-2. Part 4: Facilitating Composition through Handwriting Instruction and Copywork

Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series described the tremendous influence of Anna Ingham’s Blended Sound-Sight Program of Learning in the development of IEW’s Classroom Supplement and Lesson Plans for K–2. In... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Unboxing PAL: A Peek inside the Packages

  With school on the cusp of starting up again, we thought it would be helpful to describe in detail a few of our special packaged curriculums so that you are able to feel... read more

Aug 04, 2020

Launching the Foundations of Literacy through Structure and Style in Grades K–2 Foundation #2: Building Grammar Skills with Poetry

In Part 1 of this series on IEW’s primary materials, we discussed poetry as a powerful tool in language development, specifically in building language skills and boosting reading comprehension. Part 2 examines the... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Teacher Resources

If you missed the gifts given for Day 5, you can still access these resources: Podcast Episode 104: However Imperfectly, Part 1 Podcast Episode 105: However Imperfectly, Part 2 Podcast Episode 106: However Imperfectly, Part 3 However... read more

Dec 30, 2022

Product Spotlight – Portable Walls: Desktop Writing Stations for Information at Your Fingertips

  “You Are There” was a popular television show in the 1950s. Aired on CBS and hosted by Walker Cronkite, the program featured events in world and United States history such as the death... read more

Feb 17, 2024

A Special Needs Child Meets PAL

This past month of October, our focus has been on special needs. We’d like to share again a special post that came out in 2014. It’s an interview in which one mom, Stacia... read more

Nov 01, 2016

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

Premium Members’ Best Practices – Survey Results

In May 2024, IEW sent out a Best Practices Survey to all of our Premium Members, asking them for suggestions or ideas that they found to be most useful in their classrooms. The results... read more

Jul 17, 2024

Getting Started with Methods for Learning Differences

Welcome to Day 10 of IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving! So far IEW has shared gifts to support grammar, spelling, speaking, and writing. Today’s gifts support students with learning differences and the... read more

Jan 04, 2024

Read, Reflect, Remember, Recite

Over the past year I have been teaching a high school class. I titled the course “Essays, Latin, and Literature.” I informed the students on the first day my aims were two-fold. First,... read more

Mar 24, 2025

Read! Podcast Episode 205

  The continuing conversation about the language arts turns to a new direction in Episode 205. During this episode Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss reading and how it interlaces with the other language... read more

Feb 12, 2020

Meet Jessica Walker, IEW’s Customer Service Manager: Podcast Episode 173

  IEW’s customer service team is comprised of a stellar group of people who are dedicated to serving their customers with a smile and utmost professionalism. In Podcast 173, you have the opportunity to... read more

Jan 21, 2019

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

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

Dyslexia: Finding Help and Hope for Your Struggling Reader

The tear tracks were still visible when I tucked my eight-year-old daughter into bed that night. We had had another painful experience with reading that evening. I knew she was bright; her vocabulary... read more

Sep 26, 2016

Incorporating Poetry into Your Lessons

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” This first line of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43 is familiar to most people. As we continue with our theme of “Furnishing the... read more

Mar 14, 2024

Premium Membership: Where Do I Start?

For many of our new Premium Members, glancing over the additional files now included in their account is like entering a downtown library, new card in hand, and viewing row after row of... read more

Feb 27, 2025

Premium Membership: Meaningful Support for Busy Educators

Whether during summertime or school time, teachers and parents are busy. Inevitably, there’s always another errand to run, room to tidy, or event to attend. With all of the activities vying for our... read more

Jun 13, 2022

Hybrid schools: Homeschooling just got a lot easier.

  Hybrid schools are popping up across the country at an astounding rate. At these schools, homeschooled students attend classes 2–3 days per week. The school chooses the curriculum, and teachers assign grades and... read more

Nov 11, 2015

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

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

Navigating Tricky Word Pairs

Affect or effect? Biannual or biennial? Illusion or allusion? These are just a few of the word pairs we have examined in past blog posts. These pairings can from time to time trip... read more

May 19, 2023

Getting Started with a Surprise Gift!

It is Day 12, and we are excited to announce the surprise gifts that close out IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving celebration! This year, IEW is giving you not one but two... read more

Jan 06, 2024

IEW and the English Language Learner, Part 1: Podcast Episode 238

  This past summer IEW held an online writing conference. This event, From Imitation to Innovation, drew thousands of attendees, who hailed from all over the globe. Before we kicked off the event, we... read more

Sep 23, 2020

Laying a Firm Foundation

  My daughter and I have enjoyed venturing back into ancient history studies this past year. Of the four-year history cycle that we study, it has always been my favorite. And out of ancient... read more

Apr 10, 2017

Hot Off the Press! Printing with Letter Stories Card Game

Learning to read English requires a significant amount of rote memory. There are over seventy phonograms to memorize and dozens of rules governing their combinations. How can children best learn all these things?... read more

Feb 12, 2016

What’s the Story?

  Are you or your student finding yourselves sequestered by the Story Sequence Chart? Has the spotlight on Unit 3 lead to some classroom stagefright? While the transition from Unit 2 to Unit 3... read more

Oct 22, 2018

Getting Started with College Preparation

On Day 9 of the Twelve Days of Christmas Giving, IEW is giving you two weeks of the University-Ready Writing video course. Be sure you are registered for the event to receive the... read more

Jan 03, 2024

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

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

A New Option in College Prep Testing: The Classic Learning Test

  For many years there have been two primary diagnostic exams for students preparing to attend college, the SAT® and the ACT®. Now, though, there is a new exam available that is an even... read more

Sep 05, 2017

Barbara Freeman: Championing the University-Model® School

  I recently had the opportunity to speak with a remarkable woman—Barbara Freeman. With sincerity, passion, and more energy than most, Barbara diligently works to advance the message of the University-Model school. How did... read more

Apr 11, 2017

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

Nov 01, 2017

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

Premium Membership

If you missed the gifts given for Day 11, you can still access a Premium Membership in a couple of ways. One option is to invest in the full Teaching Writing: Structure and... read more

Jan 05, 2023

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

The Triangle of Writing Success

Regardless of the educational environment students are in, whether it be a hybrid school, a charter school, or a five-day-a-week school, students learn best when they have unified support. This support primarily comes... read more

Feb 17, 2024

Keeping the Writing Rolling

  Summer has arrived! The slower pace of the season brings with it opportunities to read for perhaps hours on end, go swimming at the beach or pool, and enjoy your favorite grilled foods.... read more

Jun 25, 2020

An Invaluable Resource: The 2018–2019 Updated Premium Membership

  Value. As professionals and parents, we yearn to find value not only in the way we teach our students, but also in the materials we purchase to assist us in those efforts. And... read more

Aug 24, 2018

Announcing Introduction to Public Speaking!

Listen. Speak. Read. Write. Think! At IEW, these are words to live by. While the Institute for Excellence in Writing is thought of primarily for its writing curricula, the primary focus is on... read more

Mar 17, 2023

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

Reminiscing: The Battle of the Books

When I was teaching in a homeschool co-op back when my children were younger, each spring our local library invited area middle schools to engage in a round-robin competition, answering questions from any... read more

Feb 26, 2018

The LEGOs® of Language

This week, for your enjoyment, we are revisiting a classic post from our archives. We hope you enjoy Andrew's thoughts on the LEGOs® of Language!  Most all children—especially boys—love to play with building toys,... read more

May 26, 2016

Launching the Foundations of Literacy through Structure and Style™ in Grades K–2 Foundation #3: Teaching Phonics through Poetry

In this blog series, we’ve focused on how the lesson plans in IEW's primary classroom materials use poetry study and memorization as the launching point for building oral language and vocabulary. Poetry is... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Recognizing National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month

For some students, learning appears to be almost as natural as breathing. They easily master the alphabet, math facts pose no problem, and writing appears to be mostly effortless. For approximately 20% of... read more

Oct 10, 2022

Where are they now? Rachel Bushong: Heeding Her Calling to Hawaii

Students around the globe learn to write with IEW in a variety of settings. Many learn at home, but others take part in co-ops or other small group settings with a parent leading... read more

Nov 16, 2016

Where Are They Now? IEW Intern Kaitlyn Butts

  This summer, our IEW team grew by a few more people—college interns who have been helping in a variety of ways around the office. One of these special people is Kaitlyn Butts. Enjoy... read more

Jul 30, 2018

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

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

Where are they now? Christian Taylor: Content Creator

For many people, YouTube serves as their primary digital space to learn and be entertained. Today’s featured IEW graduate, Christian Taylor, is a popular YouTuber who provides his viewers with helpful videos and... read more

Jun 22, 2023

Taking Notes with Unit 1

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. Every paper a student... read more

May 24, 2024

Writing a Paper with Unit 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. After one, two, or maybe... read more

May 24, 2024

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

Beyond Books

  Last week I visited my local library—one of my favorite places to be. On this particular occasion my daughter came with me. She was going there to meet with other homeschooled high schoolers... read more

Jan 30, 2020

Building a Sound City

  What do city streets, a senior retreat, digraph deliveries, and a silent letter library have in common? They can all be found in a Sound City! Building a Sound City bulletin board delightfully... read more

Feb 16, 2024

Celebrate the Checklist

Oh, checklist, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. True, loving the IEW checklist is probably going too far, but when used properly, it can be a lovely thing. From... read more

Jul 12, 2022

Scheduling Fun in a Full Day

  “Wait. You work nearly thirty hours a week and you’re in school?!” While attending school full time, I also work for IEW remotely. As a common small talk question, peers often ask me... read more

Jul 20, 2018

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

Four Roadblocks of the Reluctant Writer

As teachers, our hearts go out to the reluctant writer—the student who thinks putting pen to paper is painful and who Andrew Pudewa describes in the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar as... read more

Feb 16, 2024

The Brain Benefits of a Great Book

  Some of my earliest memories center around literature. As a young child, I recall many happy hours spent sitting next to my grandma in her formal parlor, listening to her read short stories,... read more

Apr 24, 2025

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

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

Customer Service Answers: Reading and Literature

  As you begin to plan for the upcoming school year, you may have questions about what types of products IEW offers that focus on literature. This post will help you identify and clarify... read more

Jul 14, 2017

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

From the Forums: Teachers Making a Difference

“We now must exhort each other; let us continue to train our students in the use of this great weaponry—the skills of written and spoken English, so that when the crises arise, we... read more

Oct 11, 2021

Stylistic Techniques: The Who/Which Clause

  After students learn how to insert a -ly adverb, the next stylistic technique they learn to construct is a who/which clause, a type of adjective clause. In grammar, a clause has two parts:... read more

Feb 13, 2021

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

A Simple Focus on What Works: Dr. Webster’s Two-Question Test

Teachers by nature are seekers of new and innovative tools to improve our teaching. We sign up for workshops, attend in-services, read books, and scour social media for strategies to add to our... read more

Feb 16, 2024

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 IEW in a Classical Homeschool Cooperative

  Frederick East Classical, a relatively new homeschool cooperative, is taking central Maryland by storm. In its inaugural year alone, many families flocked to it, filling it to capacity. Structured using a classical approach,... read more

Mar 11, 2019

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

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

Edit with a Smile

Teaching writing would be my favorite job if it weren’t for grading. When a student hands in a composition and a teacher sees all the mistakes, how does one avoid the inevitable frustration?... read more

Aug 19, 2022

Fazed by the Primary Phases?

Primary teachers know all too well that children do not enter school at the same readiness level. Just as a child... read more

Getting Started with Primary Materials

On Day 6 of IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving, we offer several gifts to help with your youngest learners. Be... read more

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Customer Service Answers: Primary Arts of Language

  Beginning your homeschooling years can feel very intimidating. After all, those early years are when you craft the strong foundation for... read more

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

Primary Arts of Language: Summer Reinforcement Ideas that Don’t Steal Your Sanity

  It’s that time of year again! The days are lengthening. Moms are beginning to see the light at the end of... read more

Structure and Style with Primary Students: A Conversation with Linda Mikottis: Podcast Episode 235

  In podcast Episode 235, Julie welcomed Linda Mikottis into the studio. Linda had come from her home in Illinois to Oklahoma... read more

Training Method Options, Part 4A – Live On-Site Professional Development: Launching Young Writers with Primary Writing with Structure and Style Two-Day Seminar

Primary Writing with Structure and Style was designed specifically with primary teachers in mind. Providing a bridge between Anna Ingham's Blended... read more

Growing Young Readers and Writers

Why are the Primary Posters necessary in a K–2 classroom? One of the questions we hear frequently from teachers and principals concerns... read more

Sound City, the Heart of Anna Ingham’s Language Arts Program

  When teachers use our materials for Kindergarten through Grade 2, they are directed to use the poetry discussion time to reinforce... read more

Off to a Strong Start: Preparing for Writing Instruction with Structure and Style

Arranging desks, unpacking new textbooks, and dusting off classroom libraries in a freshly cleaned classroom gives even the most seasoned veteran... read more

Launching the Foundations of Literacy through Structure and Style in Grades K-2. Part 4: Facilitating Composition through Handwriting Instruction and Copywork

Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series described the tremendous influence of Anna Ingham’s Blended Sound-Sight Program of Learning in... read more

Unboxing PAL: A Peek inside the Packages

  With school on the cusp of starting up again, we thought it would be helpful to describe in detail a few... read more

Launching the Foundations of Literacy through Structure and Style in Grades K–2 Foundation #2: Building Grammar Skills with Poetry

In Part 1 of this series on IEW’s primary materials, we discussed poetry as a powerful tool in language development, specifically... read more

Teacher Resources

If you missed the gifts given for Day 5, you can still access these resources: Podcast Episode 104: However Imperfectly, Part 1 Podcast... read more

Product Spotlight – Portable Walls: Desktop Writing Stations for Information at Your Fingertips

  “You Are There” was a popular television show in the 1950s. Aired on CBS and hosted by Walker Cronkite, the program... read more

A Special Needs Child Meets PAL

This past month of October, our focus has been on special needs. We’d like to share again a special post that... read more

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

Premium Members’ Best Practices – Survey Results

In May 2024, IEW sent out a Best Practices Survey to all of our Premium Members, asking them for suggestions or... read more

Getting Started with Methods for Learning Differences

Welcome to Day 10 of IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving! So far IEW has shared gifts to support grammar, spelling,... read more

Read, Reflect, Remember, Recite

Over the past year I have been teaching a high school class. I titled the course “Essays, Latin, and Literature.” I... read more

Read! Podcast Episode 205

  The continuing conversation about the language arts turns to a new direction in Episode 205. During this episode Andrew Pudewa and... read more

Meet Jessica Walker, IEW’s Customer Service Manager: Podcast Episode 173

  IEW’s customer service team is comprised of a stellar group of people who are dedicated to serving their customers with a... read more

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

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

Dyslexia: Finding Help and Hope for Your Struggling Reader

The tear tracks were still visible when I tucked my eight-year-old daughter into bed that night. We had had another painful... read more

Incorporating Poetry into Your Lessons

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” This first line of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43 is familiar... read more

Premium Membership: Where Do I Start?

For many of our new Premium Members, glancing over the additional files now included in their account is like entering a... read more

Premium Membership: Meaningful Support for Busy Educators

Whether during summertime or school time, teachers and parents are busy. Inevitably, there’s always another errand to run, room to tidy,... read more

Hybrid schools: Homeschooling just got a lot easier.

  Hybrid schools are popping up across the country at an astounding rate. At these schools, homeschooled students attend classes 2–3 days... read more

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

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

Navigating Tricky Word Pairs

Affect or effect? Biannual or biennial? Illusion or allusion? These are just a few of the word pairs we have examined... read more

Getting Started with a Surprise Gift!

It is Day 12, and we are excited to announce the surprise gifts that close out IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas... read more

IEW and the English Language Learner, Part 1: Podcast Episode 238

  This past summer IEW held an online writing conference. This event, From Imitation to Innovation, drew thousands of attendees, who hailed... read more

Laying a Firm Foundation

  My daughter and I have enjoyed venturing back into ancient history studies this past year. Of the four-year history cycle that... read more

Hot Off the Press! Printing with Letter Stories Card Game

Learning to read English requires a significant amount of rote memory. There are over seventy phonograms to memorize and dozens of... read more

What’s the Story?

  Are you or your student finding yourselves sequestered by the Story Sequence Chart? Has the spotlight on Unit 3 lead to... read more

Getting Started with College Preparation

On Day 9 of the Twelve Days of Christmas Giving, IEW is giving you two weeks of the University-Ready Writing video... read more

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

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

A New Option in College Prep Testing: The Classic Learning Test

  For many years there have been two primary diagnostic exams for students preparing to attend college, the SAT® and the ACT®.... read more

Barbara Freeman: Championing the University-Model® School

  I recently had the opportunity to speak with a remarkable woman—Barbara Freeman. With sincerity, passion, and more energy than most, Barbara... 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

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

Premium Membership

If you missed the gifts given for Day 11, you can still access a Premium Membership in a couple of ways.... read more

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

The Triangle of Writing Success

Regardless of the educational environment students are in, whether it be a hybrid school, a charter school, or a five-day-a-week school,... read more

Keeping the Writing Rolling

  Summer has arrived! The slower pace of the season brings with it opportunities to read for perhaps hours on end, go... read more

An Invaluable Resource: The 2018–2019 Updated Premium Membership

  Value. As professionals and parents, we yearn to find value not only in the way we teach our students, but also... read more

Announcing Introduction to Public Speaking!

Listen. Speak. Read. Write. Think! At IEW, these are words to live by. While the Institute for Excellence in Writing is... read more

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

Reminiscing: The Battle of the Books

When I was teaching in a homeschool co-op back when my children were younger, each spring our local library invited area... read more

The LEGOs® of Language

This week, for your enjoyment, we are revisiting a classic post from our archives. We hope you enjoy Andrew's thoughts on... read more

Launching the Foundations of Literacy through Structure and Style™ in Grades K–2 Foundation #3: Teaching Phonics through Poetry

In this blog series, we’ve focused on how the lesson plans in IEW's primary classroom materials use poetry study and memorization... read more

Recognizing National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month

For some students, learning appears to be almost as natural as breathing. They easily master the alphabet, math facts pose no... read more

Where are they now? Rachel Bushong: Heeding Her Calling to Hawaii

Students around the globe learn to write with IEW in a variety of settings. Many learn at home, but others take... read more

Where Are They Now? IEW Intern Kaitlyn Butts

  This summer, our IEW team grew by a few more people—college interns who have been helping in a variety of ways... read more

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

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

Where are they now? Christian Taylor: Content Creator

For many people, YouTube serves as their primary digital space to learn and be entertained. Today’s featured IEW graduate, Christian Taylor,... read more

Taking Notes with Unit 1

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

Writing a Paper with Unit 2

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

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

Beyond Books

  Last week I visited my local library—one of my favorite places to be. On this particular occasion my daughter came with... read more

Building a Sound City

  What do city streets, a senior retreat, digraph deliveries, and a silent letter library have in common? They can all be... read more

Celebrate the Checklist

Oh, checklist, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. True, loving the IEW checklist is probably going too... read more

Scheduling Fun in a Full Day

  “Wait. You work nearly thirty hours a week and you’re in school?!” While attending school full time, I also work for... read more

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

Four Roadblocks of the Reluctant Writer

As teachers, our hearts go out to the reluctant writer—the student who thinks putting pen to paper is painful and who... read more

The Brain Benefits of a Great Book

  Some of my earliest memories center around literature. As a young child, I recall many happy hours spent sitting next to... read more

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

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

Customer Service Answers: Reading and Literature

  As you begin to plan for the upcoming school year, you may have questions about what types of products IEW offers... read more

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

From the Forums: Teachers Making a Difference

“We now must exhort each other; let us continue to train our students in the use of this great weaponry—the skills... read more

Stylistic Techniques: The Who/Which Clause

  After students learn how to insert a -ly adverb, the next stylistic technique they learn to construct is a who/which clause,... read more

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

A Simple Focus on What Works: Dr. Webster’s Two-Question Test

Teachers by nature are seekers of new and innovative tools to improve our teaching. We sign up for workshops, attend in-services,... read more

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

Teaching IEW in a Classical Homeschool Cooperative

  Frederick East Classical, a relatively new homeschool cooperative, is taking central Maryland by storm. In its inaugural year alone, many families... read more

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

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

Edit with a Smile

Teaching writing would be my favorite job if it weren’t for grading. When a student hands in a composition and a... read more

"Poetry is the key to understanding language." While Andrew is out of the office, Julie welcomes IEW's lead implementation coach, Linda Mikottis, to the mic. In this insightful episode, Linda discusses Structure and Style® at the primary level and emphasizes the critical role poetry plays in understanding language. 

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

Whether you have a young student just beginning to learn letters or an older student struggling with reading, Jill Pike's Primary Arts of Language (PAL) program is here to guide you through helping your student learn to read and write. Join Andrew and Julie as they interview Jill Pike about the background and methods of IEW’s PAL 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).

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

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

In this Homeschooling 101 episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker engage in a conversation about how to homeschool. Where do you start? You can customize your child’s education to suit the needs of your family. This is true if you have preschoolers or are leaving the school system to homeschool. Be inspired as Andrew and Julie share their words of wisdom from many years of homeschooling.

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

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

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

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

Since Andrew can't make it to the mic, IEW's Customer Service Manager Jessica Walker steps up and answers a few of Julie's questions. Learn about Jessica's experience with IEW and listen to Jessica's message on the importance of enjoying this journey of education. Listen until the end to hear what product Jessica will be giving away!

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

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.

In this two-part webinar recording, Andrew and old-time friend and mentor Dr. Webster walk you through Unit 8: Formal Essay Models. Join us as Andrew explains the elements of an essay and discusses what differentiates Unit 8 from the previous units. Additionally, Dr. Webster answers questions and provides suggestions for tackling essay assignments.

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

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.

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

 

 

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

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

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 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

Although many schools are shifting away from cursive writing, Andrew and Julie hone in on its great value. While citing studies and speaking from experience, Andrew evaluates the pros of teaching cursive as it can have practical uses as well as neurological benefits.

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

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

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

This is the sixth episode of twenty-four in the podcast series Reviewing Our Greatest Hits. This show was initially launched on April 24, 2019, as Episode 188.

Although many schools are shifting away from cursive writing, Andrew and Julie hone in on its great value. While citing studies and speaking from experience, Andrew evaluates the pros of teaching cursive as it can have practical uses as well as neurological benefits.

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

As a mom, it can be easy to get bogged down and overwhelmed with the busyness of schooling. In this episode Andrew and Julie chat with Kristi Clover, a homeschool mom of five whose goal is to inspire women with "simple solutions for a more joy-filled life." Join us as Kristi shares her tips on getting organized and offers advice on bringing joy to a mom's crazy, chaotic, but wonderful homeschool life. 

Referenced Materials:

DISCOUNT CODE:

Enter coupon code IEW30 during checkout to get $30 off The Ultimate Homeschool Organization eCourse by Kristi CloverHurry! The offer ends December 31. 

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

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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.

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Referenced Materials:

Questions Asked

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

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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.

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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).

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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 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

 

 

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 2

Referenced Materials:

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

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).

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Are you hoping to enrich the time spent with your students at home? Tune in to this week's episode! Andrew and Julie continue the series on homeschooling help. This episode, the duo lays out some practical tips for parents when educating at home. Be encrouaged as Andrew and Julie share the importance of setting realistic expectations and focusing on the main priorites. 

REFERENCED MATERIALS:

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Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker as they discuss dysgraphia with Jennifer Mauser, one of IEW’s Educational Consultants and a Master Barton tutor. Learn what dysgraphia is and discover ways that you can help students with this learning difference grow their skills and gain confidence in 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

This is the fifteenth episode of twenty-four in the podcast series Reviewing Our Greatest Hits. This show was initially launched on October 18, 2016, as Episode 65. 

Join us this week as Andrew and Julie discuss dysgraphia: what it is and how the methods and techniques taught in Structure and Style help break the overwhelming task of writing into small, manageable steps. They will also delve into strategies and principles for helping students with dysgraphia succeed in this skill of written communication.

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.

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.

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.

This is the fourteenth episode of twenty-four in the podcast series Reviewing Our Greatest Hits. This show was initially launched on October 11, 2016, as Episode 64. 

Since October is National Learning Disabilities Month, the Arts of Language Podcast brings to you our Special Education series. Join us as Andrew and Julie begin the series by talking about dyslexia. Drawing from his experience and training, Andrew provides insights on helping your dyslexic students. Andrew also discusses his mission of educating teachers so that they can best aid their 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

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

Join us as Andrew and Julie continue the conversation on success in teaching writing to students in special education. This week, Andrew and Julie walk through the nine units of our Structure and Style® program, describe how it's applicable to all students regardless of their obstacles, and share encouragement to parents and teachers to take everything one step at a time.

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

This is the eighth episode of twenty-four in the podcast series Reviewing Our Greatest Hits. This show was initially launched on April 13, 2017, as Episode 89.

Although poetry has been around for many ages, fewer children actually seem to read and appreciate poetry today. Join Andrew and Julie as they unpack the importance of poetry, discuss its components, and address the powerful benefits of reading poetry.

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

This week Andrew and Julie are honored to welcome Marie Greenhalgh, the homeschooling mom of an autistic student. After pulling her child out of school, Marie discovered IEW and its methodical step-by-step process. In this episode Marie describes how IEW has helped her student learn, shares her own tips for success, and discusses the importance of not withholding help.

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

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

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

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

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

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).

"The teacher's primary job is to be an example." Beyond academics, a classroom is a place where students learn values, or as Anna Ingham called them, "the intangibles." In this insightful episode Andrew and Julie discuss the importance of modeling good character for your students and talk about some of the intangible lessons Andrew tries to instill when teaching 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

In the second part of this series, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker continue to discuss how to apply the concepts of the Structure and Style® method to read and write better in a language that is not your primary language. Can IEW’s materials be adapted to other languages? Andrew talks about the value of copywork specifically to help with learning the patterns and vocabulary of other languages.

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

In this podcast, Andrew and Julie uncover the powerful educational content in IEW's core product, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS). Additionally, they discuss each one of the stylistic techniques as well as the supplemental contents of the Premium Subscription.

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).

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. 

“Hard work is immensely satisfying.” In this week’s podcast Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss the mentally hard work of reading books like Moby-Dick. Andrew suggests that entertainment is not the primary purpose to read a challenging classic. If you aren’t already reading classics, listen for some of Andrew’s and Julie’s suggestions for how to start.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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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Click here to read the answer in a post by IEW Schools Division Administrator Jean Nichols.

You will generally begin the Primary Arts of Language program when your student is around age 5 or 6, but it may be used with reading-ready 3 and 4 year olds, as well as older students who need some remedial help.

If you have an advanced 3 or 4 year old who is eager to learn to read, you can begin with PAL: Reading, along with Part 1 of PAL: Writing. You won’t want your student to start printing on lines using a regular pencil until he has developed enough fine motor control, usually around age 5. (If you try to start this too early, the child often ends up developing a goofy pencil grip because his hand is not strong enough to use a mature pencil grip.) So a younger student can practice writing his letters on a whiteboard. Since he won't continue with Part 2 of PAL: Writing until his fine motor skills develop further, you can set it aside and keep working through PAL: Reading until he is older and ready to move in to copy work.

The program isn't too cutesy, so it is an excellent resource if you have an older student who needs some gentle remedial help. And if you are already using it with a younger child, older siblings can easily join in as your "helpers," playing the reading games with their younger sibling and sitting in on the lessons as needed.

No matter what your child's age when you begin, the Teacher’s Manuals will give recommendations for how to adjust the program to meet your unique child’s needs.

Grade levels are approximate, as each child's ability level will vary, regardless of grade level. In general, however, the following levels apply (for all products except the Phonetic Zoo):

Primary: K–2nd

Level A: 3rd–5th 

Level B: 6th–8th 

Level C: 9th–12th+

Note: If a student is significantly behind in reading ability, you may wish to choose a level that corresponds with reading level rather than grade level.

For the Phonetic Zoo, the spelling placement test should be given to determine each student's starting level.

The primary goal of the Institute for Excellence in Writing is teacher training. We offer lessons and video courses for the student to make the job of the teacher as easy as possible, but it is important for teachers to gain the training necessary to help their children write well.

Writing is an art and requires a give and take between student and teacher. The teacher’s course equips you to provide that for your student. If you only have the student videos, your student will learn a good deal, but will only get the answers to whatever questions were asked when the course was originally recorded. If your student has any difficulty, you may find it challenging to provide him the unique help he needs. The teacher’s course provides all the hows and whys behind the program so that you too can become an accomplished writing teacher over time.

One experienced homeschool mother explains, "I homeschool eight children, so I can appreciate how precious time is, but trying to teach writing without taking the time to watch my teacher’s videos was like pushing the car down the highway because I didn’t have time to stop for gas. :)

You don’t have to watch the entire teacher’s course in one sitting. Just watch a video a month or so and you will do just fine.

As Andrew Pudewa has said, our materials are like ice cream—the more the better! But be sure the first serving is for the teacher.

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