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Living Words PressAuthor: Zachary Larson
Welcome to Living Words Press! I'm Zach, your host this cycle. Here, you will find episodes about my writing, my musings, and my faith. Yes, I am an author of fantasy, science fiction, and Christian lit, but I am also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My faith cannot be divested from any other part of myself. So, if you are here, you will get a heavy dose of both my writing and my faith. With that said, let's find new paths together. Words are a living entity. They grow. They change. They change us. I can't wait to see where words will take us all next! Language: en Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Your Teen Can’t Write a Paragraph? The Skill Gap Most Homeschool Curricula Ignore
Episode 2
Friday, 17 April, 2026
Does your teen stare blankly at a writing assignment or turn in one-sentence “paragraphs” that go nowhere? You’re not alone — and it’s not your fault.Many bright homeschool teens (and public school students) reach high school without the ability to write a strong, well-organized paragraph. The frustration, resistance, and daily battles are exhausting for everyone.In this video, seasoned writing teacher and author Zach Larson reveals the exact skill gap that most writing curricula — including popular homeschool programs — completely skip.We jump too quickly from basic sentences straight to five-paragraph essays, missing the critical “middle step” of paragraph building. Without it, teens freeze, ramble, or produce vague, disjointed writing.Zach breaks down:The hidden components of a strong paragraph (topic sentence, focused details, logical flow, and conclusion) Common signs your teen has this gap Why this step gets skipped so often A simple, low-pressure “Paragraph Building Blocks” method that actually works — including modeling on high-interest topics, color-coding, scaffolds, and separating mechanics from contentWatch as he walks through a real before-and-after example based on the movie Project Hail Mary, plus a quick diagnostic you can try with your teen this week.Once paragraph writing clicks, essays become dramatically easier, confidence grows, and writing battles decrease.Timestamps:00:00 – Why So Many Teens Struggle with Paragraphs01:30 – The Hidden Skill Gap Most Curricula Ignore03:30 – Common Signs Your Teen Has This Gap05:00 – The Fix: Paragraph Building Blocks Method07:30 – Before & After Example (Project Hail Mary Prompt)09:30 – Quick Diagnostic + Checklist You Can Use Today If you’re tired of the writing struggles and want practical, step-by-step help teaching your teen to write well, this video is for you.Ready for more support?Join my free newsletter for homeschool and concerned parents. You’ll receive: A recap of my first year teaching and what I learnedMonthly tips, resources, and high-interest prompts Guidance to supplement writing instruction at homehttps://living-words-press-newsletter.kit.comDrop a comment below: What’s the biggest struggle when your teen tries to write a paragraph? If this video gave you hope and practical next steps, hit LIKE, subscribe for more writing help for reluctant teens, and share it with another homeschool parent who needs it.Thanks for watching — I’ll see you in the next video!#HomeschoolWriting #TeenWriting #ReluctantWriters #ParagraphWriting #HomeschoolHighSchool #TeachingWriting
