In this episode, Julie Walker interviews Heidi Thomas, the “wizard behind the curtain” who has helped develop IEW® Gradebook as well as many of the Writing Across the Curriculum courses. Heidi shares how IEW Gradebook helps teachers efficiently and effectively grade papers and get their weekends back.

• IEW Gradebook
• “It Keeps Getting Better!”
• “Simplify Grading with IEW Gradebook”
• “Teacher Spotlight: Laura McMahon, Ivywood Classical Academy”
• “Teacher Spotlight: Heidi Plocher, Michigan Lutheran High School”
• Heidi Thomas
  
• Transcript for Podcast Episode 512
  

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 episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker introduce IEW’s theme for 2026: Laying the Foundation. They answer the questions: What are the basics? How does IEW help students get back to the basics of learning? They talk about the simple, timeless, and elegant ways that IEW helps students cultivate attentiveness, memory, and ideas. Listen to the end to hear Julie make a special announcement.

• Teaching Writing: Structure and Style®
• IEW Homeschool Magalog
• IEW Schools Magalog

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 episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker address questions from our listeners as well as questions that have been sent to our customer service team. The questions include whether IEW helps with specific mnemonics for writing, whether IEW methods provide scaffolding, and what to do when you take the month of December off. Andrew also reads some of the mail that he has received from students. Julie ends with a question about what kinds of books to read, and Andrew’s answer may surprise you.

• Structure and Style® for Students
• Fix It!® Grammar
• Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization
• University-Ready Writing
• Introduction to Public Speaking
  

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 episode, Julie Walker is joined by Terra Tyler, customer accounts manager, to talk about Christmas traditions old and new. They talk about family recipes, Christmas activities, and, of course, IEW’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giving.

• Twelve Days of Christmas Giving 100 days countdown reel
• Twelve Days of Christmas Giving 50 days countdown reel
• History of Musubi
• Recipe for Musubi
• Twelve Days of Christmas Giving
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 509

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 Pudewa and Julie Walker introduce the listeners to Kimberly Klokus, the founder of River’s Run, which exists to “equip [and s]upply foster families and foster children going into care with resources and supplies they need to ease the trauma.” Kimberly’s joy and enthusiasm overflow as she shares her story and how others can help those who are in the foster system as either children or caregivers. Listen and be encouraged.

• River’s Run Cottage
• River’s Run Amazon Wish List
• NCFCA Christian Speech & Debate
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 508

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

We are wrapping up our year of focusing on how to think. In this episode, Julie Walker asks Andrew Pudewa to share his experience with teaching Unit 5 and how this provides training for the later units. They talk about the history of Unit 5 and how it can help with higher level thinking needed for writing conclusions and critiques. They also discuss how this unit provides a place for students to be a little more creative than the other units and why it fits well as a bit of freedom in the middle of the year.

• “Asking Questions with Unit 5”
• Teaching Writing: Structure and Style®
• Episode 398: Think like Shakespeare, Part 1
• Transcript to Podcast Episode 507
  
  

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

As our listeners know, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker are tireless advocates for reading aloud, but it can be hard for busy parents to fit in all that reading. In this podcast, Andrew and Julie interview the Winsteads, who are trying to solve this problem and provide quality recordings for 1000 good books. Learn more in this episode about the 1000 Good Books Project and how your family can enjoy classic books for all ages.

• Nurturing Competent Communicators audio talk by Andrew Pudewa
• Read-Aloud Revival
• “Letter to a Bookshelf” by Andrew Pudewa
• 1000 Good Books Project
• John Senior
• John Senior’s The Thousand Good Books list
• Mark Van Doren
• The Restoration of Christian Culture by John Senior
• The Death of Christian Culture by John Senior
• How to Listen (1000 Good Books Project)
• Gift membership (1000 Good Books Project)
• Twelve Days of Christmas Giving
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 506

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 episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker spend some time speaking with Amber O’Neal Johnston, known to many as the Heritage Mom. She is a homeschool mom and writer who is passionate about sharing about homeschooling, parenting, literature, history, travel, and family culture. In this encouraging episode, she shares how books can be mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.

• Amber O’Neal Johnston
• Heritage Mom blog
• Rudine Sims Bishop
• Sweet Tea and Cookies by Amber O’Neal Johnston
• Homegrown: Guidance and Inspiration for Navigating Your Homeschooling Journey edited by Amber O’Neal Johnston
• A Place to Belong: Raising Kids to Celebrate Their Heritage, Community, and the World by Amber O’Neal Johnston
• Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture by Amber O’Neal Johnston
• IEW Events: Conventions
• Transcript of Podcast Episode 505

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