Clear Thinking. Clear Writing.
The Baran Method turns struggling writers into confident communicators.
“My kids tried IEW, EIW, Brave Writer, Writeshop, Step Up to Writing, and Write from the Beginning. My kids hated all of them, but they LOVE The Baran Method! Thanks for the method!”
— Jessica Paul
Learning to write is learning to think. The Baran Method puts writing—and thinking—at the center of Language Arts since writing and thinking with clarity are at the core of literacy, not just the outcome of it (literacy = to read, write, and communicate effectively). While most programs teach grammar, reading, and writing as separate skills, The Baran Method combines them into one clear cognitive process built on our unique method and writing framework. Students don’t just write sentences; they learn to construct ideas, prove them, and explain why they matter. Our color-coded mapping and guided practice lead to confidence and independence, resulting in invisible thinking becoming very visible. The Baran Method empowers learners to read like writers, write like deep thinkers, and speak with clarity and confidence. Rooted in logic and creativity, our method transforms Language Arts from memorizing rules into discovering how ideas work.
How are we different?
We focus on the ways kids learn. Most writing programs—even very popular ones—tend to fall into one of the following categories:
Template and checklist based: requiring students to follow too strict structures or to use forced stylistic elements
Copy-and-recite models: requiring imitation, rewriting, and memorization
Creativity-first: emphasizing expression without giving students tools for clear communication
Mechanics-first: loading students with very little understood grammar rules before they understand their own ideas
The Baran Method takes a completely different approach—starting with clear thinking and students building their own ideas into clear communication. When kids learn to use their own wonderful ideas, they don’t need to memorize anything. So while other programs begin with rules, templates, or creativity alone, The Baran Method begins with clarity of thought. Students learn how to understand their ideas, organize them, and get them onto the page in a clear way that makes sense. Once their thinking is clear, everything else—mechanics, structure, word choice, and revision—becomes far easier to teach and far easier to learn. Instead of memorizing steps or filling in templates and checklists, students develop real writing skills they can use anywhere, in any subject, for the rest of their lives.
The Process Is Clear, Practical, and Straightforward
Designed by an English Composition Professor
The Baran Method was created for grades 2 through 12 and beyond as a simple, easy-to-understand process that helps students quickly build confidence and become successful writers. Used by thousands of educators and students worldwide, our curriculum is easy-to-learn and flexible, allowing teachers and students to apply The Baran Method to a wide range of writing tasks.
Start Here
Step 1
Students learn The Baran Method in the student textbook. It happens quickly!
Step 2
Students practice in the workbook and refer to the textbook while writing. The teacher edition is the essential foundation for student success.
Step 3
Repeat step #2 with each subsequent grade level. Easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy!
Curriculum at a Glance
Textbook
Workbook
Teacher Edition
Grammar
College and Career
Kaylinn Morrell
I just wanted to write and let you know I LOVE teaching writing using The Baran Method. I met Greg at a conference last year and his workshops wildly increased my understanding and confidence in how to teach writing more gooder! ;)
The Colors Matter
To help students learn and apply The Baran Method, we use three colors—blue, green, and red.
The colors become place-holders in the brain so that students quickly learn how to organize their ideas on the page.
Writing or typing every assignment in blue, green, and red leads to deepened understanding.
Which version does your brain prefer?
The following are two versions of the same pieces of unedited student writing. The first version is all in black font. The second version uses blue, green, and red, following The Baran Method writing maps. Each color highlights a different part of the student’s thinking and writing. When kids see their ideas in color, writing suddenly makes sense—they can spot what’s missing, what connects, and how to make their sentences stronger. Color turns confusion into clarity and helps students see how successful writing is built.
Sharing success…
JUST RELEASED!
Grammar doesn’t have to be painful.
Join The Baran Method Smart Writers!
Get exclusive member benefits:
Monthly LIVE interactive writing workshops with Greg (recordings available to members)
10% discount on every purchase
Exclusive How-To videos
Access to Online Resources
And much more!
From Stephanie Cay to The Baran Method (10/1/25)
Quote of the year from my daughter, Kendall:
“This makes me feel like I could actually be a writer!”
eBooks Available for Schools. eBooks Make TBM Accessible and Affordable for Every School in Every Country
The Baran Method is the cost-effective, easy-to-teach alternative to expensive and complicated writing programs that often fail to deliver results for your students.
Use it as a complete writing solution or as a powerful supplement to your school’s existing ELA curriculum—either way, it’s designed to build confidence, increase clarity, and get results.
“Due to The Baran Method, we’ve seen a six-point increase in our standardized test scores in just one year. That makes us very happy.”
Kirby Smith, Superintendent, Campbellsville School District
The Baran Method works because it teaches the same way kids learn.
“We have all new third grade teachers this year. I want you to know that these teachers are just amazed at how wonderful their kids are writing! They said this morning that they give the kids a prompt and the kids know exactly what to do. Such happy teacher faces today!”
— Shirley Cox, Writing Lab Instructor, Campbellsville School District
The Ultimate Combo—
The Baran Method is a complete writing program. The Way More Gooder! KIT includes a textbook, workbook, grammar book, and teacher edition:
The textbook teaches students the method step-by-step.
The workbooks help students practice so they become skilled writers.
The grammar book takes the pain out of learning grammar.
The teacher edition is the foundation teachers use to guide students to writing success.
Buy a KIT, save a bundle!
Micah Raczek, High School Senior
“I wanted to thank you for all your help in teaching me how to write. I am currently taking a dual-enrollment English college class online. Using The Baran Method, I am having no problem writing essays and currently have an ‘A’ in the class. I know I will use this skill in so many ways throughout the rest of my life.”
Learning to write should be fun!
Teaching writing should be fun!
Sets up all students for writing success!
Strong writing skills open the door to academic success and the professional world — and The Baran Method makes mastering those skills easier than ever.
This proven, step-by-step method helps students from grades 2 through 12 (and beyond) become confident, capable writers in far less time than traditional approaches. With clear, easy-to-follow instruction, students quickly learn how to organize their thoughts, structure their writing, and express their ideas with clarity and confidence.
Once they’ve learned The Method — and it happens faster than you might think — they can apply it to any writing assignment, in any subject. Best of all, they’ll always have this textbook to refer back to whenever they need guidance.
eBooks Available for Schools
Designed for the way students learn, our method truly makes writing easier for every student.
The Baran Method is applicable to every discipline and makes teaching writing easier across the board. Because the method is truly cross-curricular, it supports the development of independent writers who can communicate effectively in every class—not just ELA. It works beautifully in social studies and the sciences, helping students express their thinking clearly no matter the subject. This gives teachers a unified approach to writing instruction and gives students a consistent, reliable way to share their ideas with clarity and confidence.
Language Arts vs. Just Writing
Language Arts teaches the mechanics. Writing (composition) validates the ideas.
“In just one year, we’ve seen a six-point increase in our standardized test scores. That makes us very happy.”
Kirby Smith, Superintendent, Campbellsville School District
“A mom recently came into my office crying because she was so grateful that her daughter was finally learning how to write by using your method. Thank you!”
Ellen Hansen, Director, Hickman Charter School
“The more our teachers and students use it, the more they love it.”
Richard Baumgartner, Principal, Rise Academy
“My sons Oliver and William will be graduating from high school in May and for their graduation through their online school there is an exit exam which is simply a bunch of writing—short answer questions plus essays.
They finished the exams 8 weeks before the due date because writing has become so do-able. Thanks Baran Method!”
Kathelene Quinton
“I have been teaching for over 25 years and have used countless resources over the years, but your approach to writing has truly stood out. It has now become my go-to recommendation for anyone teaching writing or looking to provide extra writing practice. Over time, my own teaching of writing has naturally evolved into a version of what you offer, but I deeply appreciate the clarity, organization, and effectiveness of your materials.”
Sandra Raeolina
