Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker are joined by Robert Bortins, CEO of Classical Conversations, to discuss how parental involvement is the best indicator of student success. They talk about the history of American education and the variety of educational options that have become available to parents.

Referenced Materials

• Robert Bortins
• Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education, and How We Can Win It Back by Robert Bortins and Alex Newman
• Classical Conversations
• “Homeschooling and the Social Life of Families and Communities”
• VELA Funding
• Reece Report
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 543

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker for an exciting announcement about a new digital tool—IEW Writing Companion. They are joined by Heidi Thomas, who worked with Joseph Tabenkin to create IEW® Writing Companion. She describes how IEW Writing Companion solves common problems and provides the assistance that students need to successfully “do what they check and check what they do” as Andrew always encourages. Don’t miss this episode!

Referenced Materials

• IEW Gradebook
• Episode 421: Announcing IEW Gradebook
• Episode 512: IEW Gradebook – Why Teachers Love It
• “Simplify Grading with IEW Gradebook”
• IEW Writing Tools App
• “The Writing App Every Student Needs”
• IEW Writing Companion
• Try IEW Writing Companion
• Structure and Style® for Students
• Writing Across the Curriculum
• Frontiers in Writing
• Frontiers Writing Companion
• Wonders of Science Writing Lessons
• Wonders of Science Writing Companion
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 542

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker review Andrew’s article “Process versus Product” from However Imperfectly and discuss why the process of learning is just as or even more important than the student’s finished product. 

Referenced Materials

• “Process versus Product” by Andrew Pudewa
• “Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing” by Andrew Pudewa
• However Imperfectly: Lessons Learned from Thirty Years of Teaching by Andrew Pudewa
              Book
              Article
• Principles of Motivation audio talk by Andrew Pudewa

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

Do you allow kids to look back at the source for spelling while they write? What are the pros and cons of Structure and Style® for Students versus a Writing Across the Curriculum course? Join Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker as they discuss these and other questions and share a couple new jokes in another Ask Andrew Anything episode. You never know what you might learn!

Referenced Materials

• IEW Practical Printables
• Misplaced Modifiers Booklet
• Teaching Writing: Structure and Style
• Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level C
• Structure and Style for Students, Year 3 Level B
• Structure and Style for Students, Year 2 Level B
• Structure and Style for Students, Year 2 Level A
• Writing Across the Curriculum
• IEW in Writing Series 
• EZ+1: IEW's Step-by-Step Teaching Method
• Episode 417: Using IEW through the Years
• Magnum Opus Magazine
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 540

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker open the mailbag (or the email inbox) and read letters Andrew has received from students. Listen to this episode to find out from students themselves why they enjoy IEW’s award winning Structure and Style® for Students and Fix It!® Grammar. This episode also features a book authored by a reluctant young writer who changed her mind about writing after learning from Andrew.

Referenced Materials

• Structure and Style for Students
• Fix It! Grammar
• Furhaven: Slavery or Freedom, Quest 1by Abbie Cole
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 539

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors! In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker are joined by Amy Wormald, whose family met the challenge of spending 1000 hours outside in a single year. Listen to find out how they gradually worked up to this, how they figure out how much time they need to spend each day or month, and what activities they have found to be the most beneficial and memorable.

Referenced Materials

• Nature Deficit Disorder: Causes, Consequences, & Cures audio talk by Andrew Pudewa
• Episode 367: 1000 Hours Outside – A Conversation with Ginny Yurich
• Episode 428: Enjoy the Great Outdoors
• 1000 Hours Outside by Ginny Yurich
• 1000 Hours Outside App
• Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
• Bud and Me by Alta Abernathy
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 538

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

In this Laying the Foundation episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk about how the Structure and Style® methodology removes the most frequent complaint from students: I don’t know what to write! Listen to this conversation to hear the history of the philosophy behind the key word outline and source texts.

Referenced Materials

• Blended Structure and Style in Composition by Dr. James B. Webster
• Teaching Writing: Structure and Style®
• Adventures in Writing
• IEW in Writing Information Page
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 537

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss the rich heritage of thought and compelling writing of the Founding Fathers. This episode also includes a look back at a source text about Thomas Jefferson and music from the old Student Writing Intensive course. 

Referenced Materials

• A Great Awakening 
• Thomas Jefferson: In His Own Words
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 536

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

✟Contains distinctly Christian content 

In this Homeschool 101 episode, Andrew Pudewa sits down with Jonathan Brush to learn more about the Unbound program, a Christian hybrid education company that prepares high school students and graduates to launch through hands-on projects, practical skills training, and professional development. Listen to this episode to hear Andrew’s excitement for Unbound and to be inspired by Jonathan’s passion for helping the next generation.

Referenced Materials

• Unbound
• Jonathan Brush
• Unbound’s YouTube channel

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

Jeff Nease joins Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker in the studio to share his excitement about the Virtual Teaching Writing: Structure and Style® workshop which will be held August 4–6, 2026. They discuss the benefits of completing this training, the incentive to attend live, and the support the IEW Schools Department will provide throughout the workshop and after to assist you in training your students to become confident and competent communicators and thinkers.

Referenced Materials

• Teaching Writing: Structure and Style
• Jeff Nease
• Virtual Teaching Writing: Structure and Style registration and web page
• Virtual Teaching Writing: Structure and Style blog post
• Four Deadly Errors of Teaching Writing
• IEW Schools Department
• Connect with Our Schools Department
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 534

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]

While this episode may be short and sweet, it is full of information about the IEW Annual Educators’ Conference taking place July 25 online and on site in our studio. Listen to Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker discuss the talks Andrew will present, the benefits of attending live, and more.

Referenced Materials

• IEW Annual Educators’ Conference registration and web page
• IEW Annual Educators’ Conference blog post
• 2025 IEW Annual Educators’ Conference
• 2024 IEW Annual Educators’ Conference
• However Imperfectly: Lessons Learned from Thirty Years of Teaching by Andrew Pudewa
• Hacking High School
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 533

If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected]
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 [email protected]