One of the students who participated in Andrew Pudewa’s Level B Structure and Style for Students is Hunter. His mother is Juhls. We recently reached out to the pair to get their thoughts on their experiences with the SSS. Juhls shared with us her observations about what her son learned in Andrew’s class and how she supported him in his assignments, while Hunter shared his perspectives about being in Mr. Pudewa’s class. Read their reflections below.
IEW: What was your son’s experience with writing before the SSS?
Juhls: Hunter had not done much writing before Structure and Style for Students.
IEW: What did your student enjoy the most from the class?
Juhls: Learning new writing techniques and Mr. Pudewa’s teaching style.
IEW: What support did you provide to your student while he was taking the SSS?
Juhls: My husband and I encouraged our son Hunter about his writing ability and progress. We enjoyed hearing him read his final copies to us. After his lessons I provided ample time for him to do his writing. When he finished a draft, he read it out loud to me, allowing him to recognize his errors and fix them.
IEW: What surprised you about the course?
Juhls: Mr. Pudewa is amazing. His ability to connect with his students is captivating. My son could sit through the lessons with interest because Mr. Pudewa makes learning enjoyable and entertaining.
IEW: Now that your student has gone through the SSS, how do you feel about how well your student is prepared for future writing assignments?
Juhls: The class has been a tremendous advantage for Hunter. He now has a great foundation, and we plan to continue IEW throughout high school. It will also benefit him when taking the ACT/SAT.
IEW: What is the greatest change you saw in your student’s ability?
Juhls: Hunter's greatest improvement was learning to structure sentences and paragraphs. It has boosted his skill and confidence in his writing ability. Since taking the SSS course, Hunter writes many essays for his high school courses with more ease and ability than he could have without it. It’s made a great impact on all of his classes.
IEW: If you could describe your student’s experience in one word, what word would that be?
Juhls: Significant.
IEW: What is the greatest change in your writing since taking the class?
Hunter: I now have no trouble finding topics when writing essays.
IEW: Were you nervous about being filmed while in class?
Hunter: At first it was a little nerve-racking, but after time went on, it didn’t bother me.
IEW: What was your favorite part of the class?
Hunter: My favorite moments were Mr. Pudewa’s jokes!
IEW: What is your favorite writing unit and why?
Hunter: I don’t really have a specific unit I like. They all helped me.
IEW: Has the class helped your confidence? Has it helped you in any other ways?
Hunter: Yes, I feel more confident, and it is easier for me to read my work out loud. The class inspired me to write better and to expand my vocabulary. For some of my other classes, I write essays that have drastically improved since taking the class.
IEW: Did you have a favorite lesson?
Hunter: My favorite source text had to be the one about Ernest Shackleton. Ernest Shackleton went on an expedition to Antarctica. During the journey his ship got stuck in ice, but he persisted. He and five of his crew went in a lifeboat to get help, and eventually the men stranded in lifeboats on Elephant Island were rescued by another ship. I found it inspiring that despite facing what were considered impossible odds, he persevered and managed to get his entire crew back home.
Thank you both, Juhls and Hunter, for sharing your takeaways about the SSS. It is good to hear that Hunter’s high school writing experiences have been enhanced through the learning he gained from participating in the classes. We are happy to be able to offer the classes that Hunter attended live—as a video course (either via “Forever Streaming” or on DVD). We anticipate releasing Structure and Style for Students Year 1 Level B later this spring.
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Jennifer Mauser has always loved reading and writing and received a B.A. in English from the University of Kansas in 1991. Once she and her husband had children, they decided to homeschool, and she put all her training to use in the home. In addition to homeschooling her children, Jennifer teaches IEW classes out of her home, coaches budding writers via email, and tutors students who struggle with dyslexia. |
