50. Interview with Andrew Pudewa: Cultivating Language Arts from Pre-K through High School
50. Interview with Andrew Pudewa: Cultivating Language Arts from Pre-K through High School  
Podcast: School to Homeschool
Published On: Mon Jun 03 2024
Description: Join me in this enlightening episode as I sit down with Andrew Pudewa, the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, to explore the cultivation of language arts from preschool through high school. We begin by breaking down the broad and often overwhelming concept of "language arts" into its core components: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Andrew shares an insightful conversation with a school superintendent, highlighting the overlooked importance of teaching listening and speaking skills--emphasizing how a child's vocabulary and language skills are shaped by the quality of language they are exposed to. Listen in as we discuss the critical role of listening skills in early childhood development, using tools like classical music and reading aloud. We explore the benefits of exposing children to short, instrumental pieces and picture books to enhance their language skills and musical literacy. Moving on to the topic of reading readiness, we address the pitfalls of early reading education in the United States and advocate for a phonics-based approach, drawing inspiration from successful educational practices in Scandinavian countries. Finally, we shift our focus to the developmental stage of elementary-aged children and teenagers, highlighting the importance of reading aloud, poetry memorization, and teaching English composition and writing skills. We discuss the value of engaging children in activities like drama, speech, and debate to develop their grammar and logic skills. The episode concludes with a conversation on providing teenagers with meaningful responsibilities and encouraging mixed-age interactions to enhance their learning. For homeschooling parents, Andrew offers wisdom and encouragement, reassuring them of their positive impact on their children's education. Institute for Excellence in Writing Free Lesson Sample from Institute for Excellence in Writing Free Poetry Unit Sample from Institute for Excellence in Writing National History Day STOA Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate NCFCA Christian Speech & Debate League Online Latin: Pictadicta Memoria Press: Classical Christian Curriculum Classical Academic Press: Latin for Children Poetry Alive Abridged Classics for Kids The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning Paperback by Nathaniel Bluedorn, Hans Bluedorn *Please note that some of the links included in this article are Amazon affiliate links. CONNECT with US Join the Private Facebook Group  Connect and follow along with Janae's Journey on Instagram @janae.daniels Learn more about School to Homeschool