News and musings from the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com en All rights reserved 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 https://iew.com/support/blog/how-families-support-students   “Our mission is to equip teachers and teaching parents with methods and materials which will aid them in training their students to become confident and competent communicators and thinkers.” Partnering with parents and other educators is integral to who we are. IEW provides numerous methods of support to teaching parents as well as parents of students in co-ops or schools. However, some may still ask, “But how can I support my student at home?” Writing How Families Support Students Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/EZ+1-at-home-at-school   One of the hallmarks of IEW’s Structure and Style methodology is to assign students composition checklists that follow EZ+1. What does this mean? Simply this: adjust the checklist so that the student is only working on one challenging stylistic technique at a time. In other words, the student is able to fairly easily and appropriately insert all of the stylistic techniques except for the one he or she is currently working on. All of the IEW Method EZ+1: At Home and at School Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/updated-refined-for-new-generation   Teaching Writing: Structure and Style is the award-winning seminar that started it all over thirty years ago. First released in the mid-1990s, this video seminar has influenced thousands of educators in schools, homeschools, and even colleges and universities. It remains the foundation of everything at the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). If the seminar has won awards and captured the hearts and minds of so many, why update it? Simply put, IEW recognized IEW Method Updated and Refined for a New Generation Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team https://iew.com/support/blog/virtual-teaching-writing-structure-and-style® Learning to teach writing effectively is one of the most powerful investments a school can make in its teachers. If writing instruction is inconsistent or unclear, students become frustrated and lack confidence. IEW’s Virtual Teaching Writing: Structure and Style workshop equips teachers with tools to help their students become confident and competent communicators and thinkers. What: Three-session workshop for classroom teachers and administrators grades K–12 (Homeschool educators are welcome to attend.) Where: Online When: August Schools Virtual Teaching Writing: Structure and Style® Thu, 28 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Blog RSS the IEW Blog Team