Episode 494: Enhancing Thinking through Vocabulary

“You can’t think a thought if you don’t have the words to think it.” In this episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk about how building vocabulary enhances thinking skills. Throughout IEW’s history, thinking about words and their meanings has been incorporated into nearly all of our courses. Listen as Andrew and Julie discuss how we teach vocabulary and why it is important to teach it in the context of other courses.   Referenced Materials Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization A Word Write Now Structure and Style® for Students Fix It!® Grammar Theme-Based Writing Lessons The Phonetic Zoo spelling program   If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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 add more books to your TBR (to be read) pile. Listen as they describe more favorite fiction and nonfiction selections, perfect for listening during cool autumn days, doing puzzles, or driving to and from activities as the school year starts again.  Go to Part 1. Referenced Materials The Testament by John Grisham The End of the World Is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan Dominion by Tom Holland Sooley by John Grisham Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley The Mysterious Howling: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis Billy Budd, Sailor by Herman Melville Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin Read-Aloud Revival® (Sarah Mackenzie) The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni   If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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 fascinating episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk with Dr. Steven Hales about the challenges of teaching and learning in the age of AI. Dr. Hales is a professor of philosophy at the Commonwealth University of PA at Bloomsburg and has spent a lot of time thinking and writing about the challenges that students and professors are facing.    Referenced Materials Hilarius Bookbinder Substack Scriptorium Philosophia The Myth of Luck by Steven D. Hales “Why AI Is Destroying Academic Integrity” by Steven D. Hales “Process versus Product” by Andrew Pudewa “The Average College Student Today”  Transcript of Podcast Episode 492 If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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]

If you have ever considered becoming an accredited IEW instructor, this podcast is for you. Listen as Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker talk with Sydney Hoff, founder and director of Rose Writing Center. Sydney shares how IEW has impacted her teaching and contributed to the growth of her business. After becoming an accredited IEW instructor herself and realizing the value of that process, Sydney recommends it to everyone she works with.   Referenced Materials Rose Writing Center Sydney Hoff Teaching Writing: Structure and Style® IEW® Gradebook Episode 414: Furnishing the Mind with Reading – Read With Me Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization IEW Accreditation Program   If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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 Live Ask Andrew Anything episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker answer questions submitted by listeners. They discuss how to encourage a child to continue practicing a musical instrument, how to help students who are struggling with the questioning skills for Unit 5 and Unit 7, what to do after completing the six books in the Fix It!® Grammar series, what to use for writing a novel, and more. Andrew ends with some letters that he has received from students. Referenced Materials Principles of Motivation audio talk by Andrew Pudewa Structure and Style® for Students: Year 2 Level A Fix It!® Grammar: Level 6 Little Mermaid One Year Adventure Novel “Where are they now? Taylor Bennett: Porch Swing Girl”  Episode 115: National Novel Writing Month – Special Interview with Taylor Bennett Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level C Structure and Style for Students: Year 3 Level B   If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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 interview Lizabeth Brasells, the managing editor of Magnum Opus Magazine—IEW’s premier showcase of work from students around the world. Listen as they share the history behind the Magnum Opus, the process of selecting pieces for publication, and the ways the magazine can be used by teachers and teaching parents to model the Structure and Style® method and motivate students.   Referenced Materials Magnum Opus Magazine Lizabeth Brasells IEW Writing Contest “Magnum Opus Magazine: A Resource and Opportunity for Teachers and Students”  Andrew Pudewa introduces Magnum Opus Magazine   If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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]

Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker continue their live session at the NCFCA National Championships. This part of the conversation focused on how using the IEW methodology helps students avoid plagiarism. Andrew also discussed whether there is a place for AI in academics. Listen to hear what students asked Andrew at the end of the session. Go to Part 1 Referenced Materials NCFCA Christian Speech and Debate Episode 354: Paper and Pen – What the Research Says University-Ready Writing University-Ready Writing free lessons Episode 492: Academic Integrity with Dr. Stephen Hale IEW Gradebook Transcript of Podcast Episode 488 If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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]

Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker recorded this two-part podcast at the NCFCA National Championship in St. Paul, Minnesota, in June 2025. They discuss what plagiarism is, why it is easier for students to plagiarize today, and why it is important to avoid plagiarism. Be sure to listen to Part 2 (posts on 9/3) as they discuss some solutions to this problem.  Go to Part 2 Referenced Materials NCFCA Christian Speech and Debate Episode 459: Speech and Debate with Christy Shipe Hacking High School: Rethinking the Teen Years audio talk by Andrew Pudewa “Writing Maketh an Exact Man” article by Andrew Pudewa Episode 492: Academic Integrity with Dr. Stephen Hale Transcript of Podcast Episode 487 If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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 discuss how children thrive when parents read aloud to them. Reading aloud builds family bonds and shared memories as well as increases vocabulary and comprehension. Listen to this episode to learn more.   Referenced Materials Summer Help from IEW “Is having a loving family an unfair advantage?” Episode 354: Paper and Pen — What the Research Says Read Aloud Revival Structure and Style® for Students free lessons Theme-Based Writing Lessons Grammar for a Full Life by Lawrence Weinstein Transcript of Podcast Episode 486   If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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 share their top tips for new homeschool families. They focus on overall lifestyle choices and priorities instead of specific curriculum recommendations. If you are considering homeschooling or know someone who is, this is the perfect episode. Grab a glass of iced tea or lemonade and glean some wisdom from Andrew and Julie.   Referenced Materials However Imperfectly audio talk by Andrew Pudewa Episode 326: Fatherhood and Family – A Dad Talk, Part 1 Hacking High School audio talk by Andrew Pudewa The Etiquette Factory IEW Annual Educators’ Conference Transcript of Podcast Episode 485   If you have questions for Andrew, send them to [email protected] 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]