News and musings from the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com en All rights reserved https://iew.com/support/blog/best-investment-almost-wasted   “Wow, that’s a big investment.” Whenever I see this comment online, I am compelled to jump in and offer my story.  It began in the early 2000s. Although I had yet to hear of IEW, I first experienced their method while I was a music major in college. Recognizing my heart for teaching, my piano instructor encouraged me to learn the Suzuki Method. Part of that training entailed a crash course called “Every Child Homeschooling The Best Investment I Almost Wasted Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/tips-for-new-school-year It’s August, and a new school year is fast approaching. IEW’s Retail Customer Service Team and Schools Department have years of experience as homeschooling parents, IEW Online instructors, tutors, and classroom teachers. To assist parents, teachers, school administrators, and students to prepare, we have pooled our top recommendations for a successful year. These tips are helpful whether you are new to the Structure and Style methodology or you are returning. Even though it might seem IEW Method Starting Strong – Tips for a New School Year Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/taking-notes-unit1   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 writes begins with skills learned in Unit 1: Note Making and Outlines. For this reason, the first year of IEW instruction begins by learning Unit 1, and each subsequent year begins by reviewing Unit 1. In Unit 1: Note Making and IEW Method Taking Notes with Unit 1 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/continuous-pursuit   “Screech, screech, screech.” You wonder what is happening in your child’s room. Then you realize violin practice is underway and sigh in relief. When a child is learning to play an instrument, we expect it to sound awkward. We even applaud their efforts. Learning to write is similar to learning to play an instrument; therefore, we should not be surprised when a student’s initial efforts sound awkward. Let’s talk about why we allow awkwardness Writing The Continuous Pursuit Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/how-iew-supports-independent-study-school-families   In the United States families have many options for educating their children. An increasingly popular choice families select is to enroll their children in an independent study school or program. While each independent study school is unique, generally speaking, families who enroll their students at this type of school have several supports they receive as well as several expectations they must uphold.  What does this support look like? At the school level, parents consult Schools How IEW Supports Independent Study School Families Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/playing-is-learning   “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers  Although I’ve been teaching for many years, I am always looking for new ideas for games that will help my students look forward to learning. Over the years, IEW has published several blogs about games. If you, like me, struggle to invent fun Holidays Playing Is Learning Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/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 lessons in the Structure and Style for Students video courses or Writing Across the Curriculum courses. Although both options follow the concepts taught in Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, student and teacher materials offer varied resources within a similar format. The Products A Buffet of Options Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/quick-answers-during-IEWs-busy-seasons   While summer months typically embody lazy days around the pool, vacation plans, and backyard barbecues, many people are also busy preparing for the coming school year. Indeed, June to September is the busy season at IEW. Customers contact us, eager to finalize their plans, order materials, and find that specific resource they had set aside for later. We are happy to help but may not be able to respond as quickly in the midst Summer Quick Answers during IEW’s Busy Season Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/a-solid-foundation-for-teaching-writing   What is the most common complaint from students when they are asked to write something? “I don’t know what to write about.” How does the Structure and Style method remove this obstacle to learning to write? In every IEW course, students begin by taking notes from included source texts. Using source texts that have been intentionally written for writing instruction sets the Structure and Style method apart from nearly every other writing curriculum. It IEW Method A Solid Foundation for Teaching Writing Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/a-summer-tradition-reimagined-IEWs-free-shipping-event   There’s a particular rhythm to late June. The days stretch a little longer. Summer activities are in full swing. And somewhere in the middle of vacations, library trips, and slower mornings, many families quietly begin preparing for the coming school year. A stack of books on the counter. Fresh notebooks waiting to be filled. Conversations about what worked well last year and what this next season might hold. Over the years, IEW has come Summer A Summer Tradition Reimagined: IEW’s Free Shipping Event Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team