In this episode of Name What Works, Ashley Radzat talks with longtime teacher Matt Langley about teaching, public speaking, writing, and why helping children find their voice can change the way they see themselves.

Matt shares that after 30 years in the classroom, innovation is what has kept him coming back. He explains how his early work with creative writing showed him that children naturally want to tell stories, share ideas, and be seen through their own words.

A major focus of the conversation is Matt’s “speech of the week” program. Each week, students prepare and deliver a short speech, learning how to organize their thoughts, speak clearly, stay on topic, and build confidence. Ashley connects this to how children introduce themselves to the world through language, posture, and the way they communicate.

Matt explains that public speaking does more than improve performance. It strengthens writing, listening, self-worth, and classroom community. Students learn how to speak, but they also learn how to listen with respect when their classmates are speaking. Ashley and Matt also talk about grace in the classroom. Whether students are drawing, writing, or speaking, Matt believes children need space to try, revise, forgive themselves, and show who they really are without feeling judged.

In this episode:

• Why kids need chances to speak before they fear public speaking
• How writing and speaking build confidence together
• Why listening is part of communication
• How teachers can create reverence in the classroom
• Why children’s behavior is not the definition of who they will become
• How grace helps students take creative risks
• Why one small weekly practice can shape a child for life

This episode is a reminder that children need more than curriculum. They need adults who listen, encourage, guide lightly, and create spaces where they can discover their own voice.