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February 2025
469.817.9809 ReadingRanch.com
Pre-k - 8th Grade
Literacy & Tutorial Centers
Building Early Literacy and Language Skills at Home Parent Training Tips for Pre-K & Kindergarten
• “Where is the first word on this page?” • “Can you show me a little word and a big word?” • “How many words are in this sentence?” STEP THREE: ENCOURAGE STORY COMPREHENSION 1. Ask open-ended questions: Asking the right questions can help deepen your child’s understanding of the content they have read. • “What do you think will happen next?” • “Why did the character do that?” • “How do you think the character feels?” 2. Praise their efforts: Celebrate when your child participates, even if their answer is unexpected. Positive reinforcement encourages them to keep learning. PRACTICING TOGETHER At our workshop, parents paired up to practice these techniques with guidance from our literacy coach. You can do the same at home. Use your observation checklist to track your child’s progress. Remember, this isn’t about perfection — it’s about celebrating each little victory, whether identifying a letter or making a fun prediction about the story. BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER Early literacy is about more than just learning letters and sounds. It’s about building a love of reading, creating meaningful connections, and setting a foundation for future success. With these tools and techniques, you can make reading an adventure your child will look forward to every day. Happy reading, and remember: You’re making a world of difference, one story at a time!
Welcome, parents!
guiding you through simple yet effective techniques. We help you foster your child’s literacy skills while strengthening your bond during every reading session. STEP ONE: SETTING THE SCENE 1. Choose the Right Books: Pick books your child loves and can easily understand. Reread favorites often, as repetition helps kids recognize words and understand the story better. 2. Get Cozy: Sit close together. Have your child on your lap or right next to you. When they feel secure and connected, they’ll be more engaged in the story. Make sure the book is easy for both of you to see, and encourage your child to hold it or turn the pages when they’re ready. STEP TWO: MAKE READING INTERACTIVE 1. Point and Track: Use your finger to follow the words as you read. This simple action helps your child connect spoken words with printed text. Here’s how to use print referencing: • Ask questions about print: “Do you see this letter? What sound does it make?” • Make comments about print: “This is the letter B. B says ‘buh’!” • Make requests about print: “Show me a capital letter,” or “Can you find a period?” 2. Promote Word Awareness: Help your child recognize that words are made of letters and separated by spaces. Ask them:
At Reading Ranch, we know developing your child’s early literacy and language skills is crucial, and you are the best partner in this exciting journey. Don’t worry — helping your child learn to read and love language doesn’t have to be intimidating. With a few simple strategies, you can turn everyday book time into an interactive adventure that nurtures your little one’s love of words. WHY INTERACTIVE READING MATTERS Interactive reading is more than just reading aloud. It’s a way of making stories come to life, engaging your child’s attention, and encouraging them to explore the book with you. It involves asking questions, making predictions, and pointing out interesting parts of the text. Doing this boosts comprehension, enhances vocabulary, and makes reading a memorable, fun experience. OUR APPROACH TO PARENT TRAINING At Reading Ranch, we empower parents with practical strategies for making reading fun, engaging, and educational. By
—Dr. Kim Southwell
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Is Your Little Learner Falling Behind? Get Your Child’s Reading Skills on Track for Success
OUR PROGRAMS Our programs focus on a scope-and-sequence format, where students master a series of fundamentals before moving to the next level of complexity. We use a multi-sensory approach that appeals to all your child’s senses and helps cement what they are learning. Our small classrooms of 2–3 students ensure your child receives one-on-one attention and immediate feedback. IT’S NOT TOO LATE It’s never too late for your child to improve their reading skills, even as the end of the year approaches. If your little reader is struggling, it’s best to start reading interventions as soon as you notice they are falling behind. At Reading Ranch, we use several assessments to gauge their current level and ensure we meet their school requirements while helping them progress. We can help bring them up to speed and give them tools for the classroom and beyond. If you’re ready to help your child go from frustration to fluency, contact Reading Ranch today to learn how we make reading and writing irresistibly fun!
It’s hard to believe the school year is already halfway over, with the end of classes and final assignments approaching. As a parent, you may notice signs that your child is struggling to keep up with their classmates regarding reading and writing. This can be a frustrating situation, especially if you have been advocating for extra resources at your child’s school with little or no results. The good news is that you don’t have to wait for the school system to catch up to help fill in your little learner’s literacy gaps. At the Reading Ranch, we proudly offer innovative literacy programs that make learning reading and writing fun and provide the personalized instruction your child needs to succeed. BENEFITS OF READING RANCH Students who participate in after-school tutoring at Reading Ranch gain a newfound passion, skill, and spark for reading and writing. Literacy tutoring can give young readers higher confidence in their academics, a firmer grasp of foundational literacy skills, better test scores, and plenty of “aha!” moments that will motivate them to keep moving forward. Not only will your child work with a trained tutor, but we will also provide you with resources and exercises so you can support their reading journey at home.
From Words to Wins Celebrate Your Young Reader’s Journey
PRAISE EACH PAGE TURN. Keep them motivated to improve by praising their successes and, more importantly, their efforts. Struggle is normal, and everyone learns at their own pace, so remind them that every small step they take leads to better reading skills, even if it’s difficult to get to the next level. You can act as a role model to them by making reading a daily habit of your own and sharing the plot or synopsis of your book with them. Snap a fun story selfie together once you’ve finished your reading time for the day. By encouraging your child as they turn the page, you can help build their confidence and love of reading, one word at a time.
As your child goes on their literacy journey, every reading milestone is worth celebrating, no matter how small. From sounding out their first word to reading an entire page, all those light bulb moments can add up when it comes to your young reader’s confidence. Whether you empower them to choose the next book to read together or simply offer praise for a job well done, your encouragement will go a long way in boosting their literacy and self-esteem. CHOOSE THEIR OWN ADVENTURE. Let your child step take charge by letting them choose the next book to read together. Visit the local library or bookstore and help them explore topics of interest to them. You can also expand the offerings beyond books by making magazines or comic books available.
When making decisions about family reading time, involve your children by asking where they want to read. Giving them the freedom to make choices will help them connect with the content of the book and provide them with a boost of confidence. MAKE IT FUN. Laughter can go a long way toward fostering confidence and a love of reading. So, find different ways to make at-home reading activities fun. Read aloud together, encouraging them to use different voices for different characters or to read with feeling. Ask them questions about the books that prompt them to think critically. You can even incorporate visual props like toys, pictures, or drawings to help make the material more engaging and interactive.
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469.817.9809
Roast Pork With Sweet Potatoes
Visitors to Eternal Flame Falls, a unique, naturally occurring gas flame emanating from the ground near Orchard Park, New York, often describe it with feelings of awe. A natural gas leak from deep in the ground fuels the Eternal Flame, and a waterfall tumbles down from a rock face between hikers and the flame, creating a grotto-like effect that draws scores of visitors year-round. Natural gas emissions from the Earth aren’t uncommon; however, the flame that gives Eternal Flame Falls its name is unique in several ways. According to a team of Italian and American geologists who investigated the leak in 2013, the gas is released at a relatively shallow depth of about 1,300 feet underground. The lukewarm shale surrounding its origins is much cooler than the 100-degree Celsius temperatures at the origin point of most naturally occurring flames. Natural gas leaks are usually composed of methane, but the gas fueling New York’s Eternal Flame is a unique blend of 35% ethane and propane in addition to methane. The research team also noted a series of other small gas seeps within the shale layer where the Eternal Flame flare originates. One geologist on the team theorized that the gas might have been produced within the shale by a different process that scientists have not yet identified. In addition to gas combustion, natural eternal flames can be created by peat fires or coal seam fires, ignited by lightning, human activity, or electricity caused by tectonic stress. Humans often create and maintain eternal flames, too, to commemorate people or events. In the U.S., manmade eternal flames burn at Ground Zero, the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. The hike to view New York’s Eternal Flame Falls is a 40-minute round trip. However, the flame is difficult to access in wet seasons when the river swells to a torrent, so check the weather beforehand. Earth’s Eternal Flame A Glimpse Into a Mystery of Nature
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
INGREDIENTS •
3 tbsp brown sugar
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1 red onion, sliced 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided Pinch of cayenne pepper 1 cup chicken broth 2 tsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
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1 tsp dried sage
2 cloves garlic, minced Salt and black pepper
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1 1/2 lbs pork tenderloin
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1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
Take A Break Transfer to baking sheet with vegetables and bake for 11–13 minutes, or until pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 F. 5. Add broth to skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in Dijon, chives, and black pepper. Slice pork, drizzle with the pan sauce, and serve with sweet potatoes. DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, sage, garlic, salt, and black pepper, then rub mixture on pork. 3. On a baking sheet, toss sweet potatoes and red onion with 1 tbsp olive oil, cayenne, and salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes then set aside. 4. In a skillet over medium-high heat, add remaining olive oil. When hot, add pork and sear for 5 minutes.
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6991 Pecan St, Suite 200, Frisco, TX 75034
469.817.9809
Pre-k - 8th Grade
Literacy & Tutorial Centers
ReadingRanch.com
Inside 1 2
Make Every Book an Adventure
Literacy Support Starts Here Boosting Literacy, One Milestone at a Time Appreciate the Wonders of Eternal Flame Falls Roast Pork With Sweet Potatoes
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A Cat’s Pilgrimage From Yellowstone to California
Cats are known for many things: their independence, impeccable balancing skills, and endless fascination with shoelaces. However, who would have guessed that our beloved feline friends have an innate GPS built into their brains? This furry tale of two kitties all started when a California couple, Benny and Susanne Anguiano, decided to take their two cats, Rayne Beau and Starr Jasmyn, on their first trip to Yellowstone National Park. The couple says this wasn’t the cats’ first rodeo. In fact, they loved looking out the big windows of the RV at the different wildlife. However, their epic park adventure turned into a nightmare on this particular trip. Shortly after arriving at Yellowstone, something startled Rayne Beau, and he ran into the forest. The couple searched for him for four days, leaving out some of his favorite treats and toys to lure him back to them. Unfortunately, Benny and Susanne’s efforts were short-lived, and they had to return home to Salinas, California. Susanne never lost hope and recalls a moment during their trek home when she saw a double rainbow in the sky. “That’s a sign for our Rayne Beau that he’s going to be okay,” she said. A Determined Feline Finds His Way Home No Matter the Distance Lost but Not Forgotten
The Anguianos finally got the call they had been waiting for about two months after their Yellowstone trip. Their microchip enrollment company called and said Rayne Beau had been found and turned in to the Placer SPCA in Roseville, California (over 800 miles from Yellowstone and 200 miles from their home)! The next day, Benny and Susanne drove to Roseville to pick up Rayne Beau. Upon arrival, they discovered he had lost 6 pounds, had minor paw injuries, and was malnourished. While seeing their beloved fur baby in such a condition wasn’t easy, the Anguianos made it a point to fit their cats with AirTags and Rayne Beau with a GPS tracker. Rayne Beau’s ability to find his way back home remains a mystery. However, it proves that love (and feline internal GPS) can overcome any obstacle, no matter the distance.
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