Andrew Pudewa, founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, joins us to unpack how skill-first teaching unlocks motivation, builds real confidence, and quite literally reshapes the brain for better thinking. We trace the invisible steps the mind takes to write a single sentence, then show how to lower the cognitive load with structure, small wins, and a steady climb: easy plus one.
• the true goal of writing as expressing ideas, not feelings
• why motivation follows mastery and “kids like what they can do”
• the cognitive steps of writing and why it feels hard
• breaking tasks into “easy plus one” to lower load
• building a language database through read‑alouds and poetry
• using structure and style: outlines, units, and checklists
• feedback that builds: edit to legal, A/I grading
• separating spelling from composition early on
• mixed‑age groups benefiting from repetition and modeling
• tech and AI as tools, not replacements for thinking
• resources: IEW, Arts of Language Podcast, Memory practices

About our guest
Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in
Writing. Presenting around the world, he addresses issues relating to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills.

Connect with Andrew
Institute for Excellence in Writing
andrewpudewa.com
The Arts of Language Podcast

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About the podcast
The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.
Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.

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