How Does Our Curriculum Work?
Here’s a brief description of our books and how they fit together.
Annotate the Easy Way
Being able to annotate a text is a skill students absolutely need to master. However, getting kids to annotate can be difficult. In the video below, I show you an app I use and love for annotating. This app will take the fear away and help your students become awesome annotators! And one of the best things about this app is that it's FREE!
Where’s the Theme?
Being able to find the theme of a story is an important skill for students to have. In this brief video, you’ll see how to help your kids find the theme of a story.
Nate Learns to Write: Part 2
In Part 1 of this series, Nate was introduced to The Baran Method by doing Exercises 1 - 3. Now, he’s on to Exercise 4. By the time he’s finished with Exercise 6, he’ll be able to apply the method to any writing assignment.
Where's the Evidence?
A teacher recently asked, "Do you have a video that teaches students how to find evidence to support their claim?" That's an excellent question. Here’s a video that shows your students and you exactly how to find text evidence.
Nate Learns to Write: Part 1
This is Nate's first time using The Baran Method. He's heard about it, but he's never used it before.
The Magic of Reading with Colors
Using colors to help our students learn how to write works incredibly well. It's an integral part of The Baran Method philosophy. But did you know that you can use colors to help your kids build their reading skills? Watch this video to learn how to do this easy and fun activity with your students.
Grammar Made More Gooder!
How do we teach grammar to students so that grammar errors become a thing of the past? In this short video, you’ll learn a helpful strategy for correcting every student’s grammar errors so that the errors disappear forever.
How to Start a Persuasive Written Response?
Our students will regularly have to write persuasive and argumentative paragraphs and essays in school. This activity is great training for the thinking, writing, and conversations they will have as adults. But how do they get started on that persuasive piece? Watch this short video and find out.
Help! My Child Is Struggling With Reading
What's the simple and most effective way to help struggling readers become confident readers? Watch this short video and find out.
How to Write a Topic Sentence
For students, writing a topic sentence can feel very scary. As a matter of fact, the blank page is daunting for many of us! Watch this short video to learn an easy way to get that first sentence written.
Teach Your Kids How to Write About Non-Fiction
Learning how to write about non-fiction can be really difficult for students. And teaching kids how to write about non-fiction can be even more difficult! However, this is an extremely important skill to master, so we want students to start learning this vital skill in elementary school.
This video is directed at the upper grades, but the concepts apply to second grade as well as twelfth. Watch this video with your students so that your kids understand how to respond to someone else's writing.
Why Should Every Child Read Their Writing Out Loud?
For our students, reading their writing out loud is a critical exercise. Watch this brief video to learn why it’s so important.
Teach Analysis the Easy Way
Analysis is the foundation upon which clear thinking and communication is built. Analyzing engages and builds critical thinking skills. By practicing analysis, students utilize cognitive processes (work and build mental muscles) that help them think clearly so that their ability to communicate verbally or in written responses becomes richer and fuller. This skill is a vital part of every child’s education, and we all know education is vital to every student’s success.
Is My Writing Good?
What do you say when your student puts their heart and soul into a writing assignment, looks up innocent-eyed at you for your approval and asks, “Is my writing good?” Watch this video and learn what to say and do to take the pressure off both of you.
Red Pen Syndrome
Do you feel like you're over-correcting your student's writing? This short video will show you how to correct every student's work without all the stress and pressure.