Being able to annotate a text is a skill kids absolutely need to master. By the way, annotating just means taking notes on a text. 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 student become an awesome annotator! 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 learn 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 parent 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 kids 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.
How Can We Make Writing Easier For Kids?
So how can we make writing easier for kids? Here's a short video that answers this common question.
Reading with Colors
Using colors to help our kids 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 kids.
Grammar Made More Gooder!
How do we teach grammar to kids so that grammar errors become a thing of the past? In this short video, you’ll learn how to correct your child’s grammar errors so that the errors disappear forever.
Color Is Cool
Colors can really help our kids become successful writers in a short time. Watch this brief video to find out why and how to implement this practice in your kids’ writing routine.
Isn't Teaching Writing with Examples Cheating?
Using examples to teach writing is a really helpful way for our kids to get their footing. When our kids are learning the basics of math, we work through examples and model how to put the "pieces" together. It's the same with writing. Use examples when you can to show your kids the end product, and just like when they learned how to do addition and subtraction, they'll soon be writing on their own.
How to Start a Persuasive Written Response?
Our kids 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 our kids, 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 our kids. And teaching our kids how to write about non-fiction can be even more difficult! However, this is an extremely important skill to master, so want our kids 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 kids--and a couple of the other short videos at our BLOG--so that your kids understand how to respond to someone else's writing.
Why Should Every Child Read Their Writing Out Loud?
For our kids, 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
Analyzing engages and builds critical thinking skills. Analysis is the foundation upon which clear thinking and communication are constructed. By practicing analysis, our kids 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 vital to a child’s education, and education is vital to a child’s success.
How to Teach Analysis: Elementary Grades
Teaching our kids how to analyze is one of the most important writing skills we can teach. This brief video quickly shows you how to teach this all-important skill!
New to Homeschooling?
If you’re new to homeschooling, use these three tips get started!
Is My Writing Good?
Your child puts their heart and soul into a writing assignment, looks up innocent-eyed for your approval, and asks, “Is it good?” What do you say? Watch this video and learn what to do.
Red Pen Syndrome
Do you feel like you're overcorrecting your child's writing? This short video will show you how to correct your child's work without all the stress and pressure.