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December 2024
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Pre-k - 8th Grade
Literacy & Tutorial Centers
Unwrap the Magic of Stories This Season Holiday Gift Ideas for Budding Bookworms
Emperor and Other Poems of the Night” by Joyce Sidman; “Babe” by Dick King- Smith; “The Adventures of Paddington” by Michael Bond; “The Penderwicks” by Jeanne Birdsall; “The World According to Humphrey” by Betty Birney; “Bad to the Bone” by Lucy Nolan; “The Marvellers” by Dhonielle Clayton; “The Magic Thief” by Sarah Prineas; and “Crenshaw” by Katherine Applegate. a meaningful and lifelong gift, nurturing their grandchildren’s confidence and love for learning. Reading Ranch: Because the gift of reading is a gift for life! FOURTH GRADE Fourth graders are becoming more fluent and stepping further out of their comfort zones. They can take on thought- provoking themes that encourage them to think about how they relate to the characters and ideas in their books. This is a great age to start reading book series. Try These: “Nic Blake and Remarkables” by Angie Thomas; “Funny Girl” by Betsy Bird; “The Last Mapmaker” by Christina Sootornvat; “Playing the Cards You’re Dealt” by Varian Indian; “No More” by Charlene Willing McManis; “Wings of Fire Series” by Tui T Sutherland; “Fables” by Arnold Lobel; “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster; “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by JK Rowling; and “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll. —Dr. Kim Southwell 1 This holiday season, why not give your grandchildren something that lasts forever — the gift of reading? One grandmother recently called us to share how her grandson already has every toy, but what he truly needs is the joy and skill of reading. With Reading Ranch sessions, grandparents can provide
There’s something magical about unwrapping a book during the holidays. Books are a gift filled with adventures, lessons, and a lifetime of memories, making them a perfect present to put under the tree this year. Get ready to go on a reading adventure this season with these tips on picking the right book for the special kids in your life!
Stars” by Sarvinder Nabehaus; “The Book Hog” by Greg Pizzoli; “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by Jon Scieszka; “There’s an Alligator Under My Bed” by Mercer Mayer; “Freckle Juice” by Judy Blume; “The Boy Who Loves Words” by Roni Schotter; “There Is a Bird on Your Head!” by Mo Willems; “Ramona the Pest” by Beverly
Cleary; and “Little Cliff’s First Day of School” by Clifton L. Taulbers. SECOND GRADE In second grade, students are starting to put ideas
KINDERGARTEN Kindergarteners will love books that invite them to participate fully in a story, with eye-catching illustrations and themes
that speak to them, like animals and nature. Look for books that focus on basic concepts like the ABCs, emotions, repetition, and phonics. Try these: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle; “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak; “How Do Dinosaurs Go to School?” by Jane Yolen; “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin; “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise; “Kindergarten, Here I Come!” by D.J. Steinberg; “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss; “The King of Kindergarten” by Derrick Barnes; “Wemberly Worried” by Kevin Henkes; and “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” by Mo Willems. FIRST GRADE Some children may begin reading a little on their own by first grade. Look for books that will nurture their growing interests with more complex plots and rich language. Books with fun words and silly sounds will keep them entertained and make reading aloud fun.
together in new ways. Stories featuring characters dealing with the emotions they will experience and nonfiction that introduces them to history and science are great options. Chapter books with pictures will challenge them appropriately and prepare them for more advanced reading standards. Try these: “You Are Home” by Evan Turk; “Wishtree” by Katherine Applegate; “Ocean Meets Sky” by The Fan Brothers; “Double Bass Blues” by Andrea J. Loney; “Rosie Revere, Engineer” by Andrea Beaty; “Charlotte’s Web” by E B White; “If I Built a Car” by Chris Van Dusen; “Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude” by Kevin O’Malley; “Could you? Would You?” by Trudy White; and “Once Upon a Time” by Niki Daly. THIRD GRADE Third graders benefit from books that tackle tougher topics and teach them to handle challenges. Find stories that prompt conversation, test their vocabulary, and build on their knowledge.
Try these: “The World Belonged to Us” by Jacqueline Woodson; “Blue Sky White
Try These: “The Book of Boy” by Catherine Gilbert Murdock; “Dark
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Festive Kitchen Adventures — Kid Edition
Whisking Up Family Fun
sounds, and textures while learning new words. Having them measure ingredients and pour them into bowls is an easy way to refine their motor skills, and your guidance behind the counter will encourage them to follow directions. If your kitchen companion is a baby, you can still involve them by describing the sights, sounds, and smells surrounding them and letting them touch some of the food — all great tools to assist in developing their connection to the world. KID-PROOF YOUR MEAL PREP. Before taking your child on a culinary journey, check that their countertop travels won’t endanger them. It’s obviously a big no-no to rest a sharp knife on a cutting board that small hands can reach, but little things like toothpicks can also pose a risk. If your small
assistant is old enough to cut up ingredients, a plastic utensil will be less painful than steel if the blade misses its mark. KEEP FAMILY FLAVORS FLOWING. Want to give your elderly mom or dad a holiday surprise they’ll never forget? Present them with a meal based on one of their famous recipes that their grandkid(s) helped prepare! Holiday gatherings are great for sharing the details and delicacies that shaped your family’s history — and a wonderful opportunity to pass down those special traditions to the next generation. With the holidays upon us, now is a perfect time to introduce little ones to the joys of baking and cooking by turning your kitchen into a safe space for learning and bonding.
Could your child be a future celebrity chef? Could your baby be a world-class baker in waiting? Help transform your toddlers or school-age kids into tiny tastemakers by following these three simple tips. USE YOUR SPACE AS A SKILL ZONE. It takes more than just a love of food to make delicious meals and treats, as cooking and baking put all five senses to the test. Helping in the kitchen enables small children to heighten their awareness of smells, tastes,
Multisensory Magic Tap Into All Senses for Reading Success
AUDITORY To stimulate their sense of hearing, try auditory techniques like listening to text recordings, repeating sounds aloud, and starting discussions about the material you read. Auditory methods help children develop their phonological awareness and learn the difference between various sounds, which will help them as they form words. KINESTHETIC Movement and physical activity can really help a child engage with reading and writing differently. You can try activities like having them trace letters and words in the air or in the dirt, acting out scenes in a favorite story, or using hand gestures to represent different sounds. By utilizing kinesthetic techniques, children will feel a deeper connection to reading and writing and improve their motor skills simultaneously.
TACTILE The sense of touch will also help children feel more engaged with their learning. You can use letter titles to form words, write on textured surfaces, or use sandpaper to trace letters. Tactile experiences aid in memory, a better understanding of spelling patterns, and word recognition. By making reading and writing a full-body experience, you give your children powerful learning tools. Multisensory techniques tap into the unique and diverse ways that children process information, helping them feel more confident in their abilities. So, grab those flashcards, get some markers, turn on an audiobook, and don’t hesitate to get hands- on with reading activities. With multisensory approaches, every sense brings children one step closer to fluency and a love of reading.
Learning to read and write doesn’t have to be a one-dimensional experience. Multisensory learning, which involves engaging multiple senses at once, can help children connect with letters and words so they stick. By utilizing sight, sound, and touch, kids can improve their reading skills, develop greater motivation to read, and gain better comprehension. Multisensory techniques are especially helpful for children with dyslexia. Let’s explore how you can help your young reader by appealing to their senses. VISUAL Visual techniques focus on the sense of sight, employing images and text to help children retain and process the information. Some common ways to teach visually are using flashcards, pictures, diagrams, or colored markers to highlight important information. Visual aids help children comprehend the material better and also support memory retention.
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Reading out loud to your children is one of the best ways as a parent to get your little ones interested in reading and help them build their literacy skills. Sharing storytime can strengthen your family bond, improve their academics, and keep them excited about reading. Whether you pick up a book for enjoyment or to build their skills, this activity together is a way to enhance their abilities in a loving, nurturing environment. Raising Readers Build Bonds and Brains With Family Reading Time
Creamy Thai Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp coconut oil •
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1/4 cup almond butter 3 cups diced carrots 3 cups peeled, diced sweet potatoes Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups chopped yellow onion 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger 2 tbsp red curry paste
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Cayenne pepper (optional)
4 cups vegetable broth, divided
Take A Break Bring soup to a low boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are fork-tender. 4. Blend with an immersion blender until the soup is smooth. 5. Season with salt and pepper. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for more spice if desired. DIRECTIONS 1. Melt coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 5–6 minutes. Stir in curry paste. 2. In a small bowl, whisk 1/3 cup broth with the almond butter until smooth. Add the mixture to the pot, along with the carrots, sweet potatoes, salt and pepper, and remaining vegetable broth. Stir to combine. 3.
STORYTIME AND FUN TIME If the goal is to enjoy some entertainment with your children, have them select the book. When they get to choose the story, it will keep them engaged and excited to hear the words. Don’t read too fast — read at a pace that allows them to truly take in the story’s context. Most importantly, have fun with it. Make sure to use inflection in your voice and dramatic facial expressions, and go ahead and pause for a laugh. If your child isn’t interested in the reading, try switching the book or acting out the different parts. READ ALOUD, RISE AHEAD Reading aloud can also help your child learn and build their skills. When trying to help your children academically, pick a book slightly above their reading level but still easy enough for them to follow along. Continue to make it fun by being animated when you read. This will help them build their vocabulary and learn new concepts. Make it engaging by asking questions about the book as you read and having them summarize after every few paragraphs. You can ask them to read along. FAMILY FUN Reading is an activity the whole family can enjoy, so invite everyone to participate in storytimes at home. You can turn it into a fun game by reading a passage and having the family guess the longest word. You can also take turns reading and discussing the book as a group. When everyone listens to stories together, it helps build social skills and gets everyone excited about reading. Reading aloud is a great way to foster a passion for reading, develop skills with words, and teach your children empathy. Even just 5–10 minutes of reading together daily can make a difference.
Cardinal Cocoa Frosty Garland Generosity Menorah Mittens Peppermint Pinecones Snuggle Unity Yule
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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
Give the Gift of Reading
Mix, Measure, and Make Memories
Get Hands-On With Reading
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The Power of Reading Aloud
Creamy Thai Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
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Samson and Cleo’s Tail-Wagging Tale
How a Kitten Helped Samson Unleash His Inner Pup A Purr-fect Match
While they were out traveling, Samson spotted a kitten in the window of a building and immediately wanted to play. It was an “aha!” moment that Samson could indeed make deep bonds; it just had to be with the right animal. A couple of months later, they brought home a tiny kitten named Cleo, and the instant friendship surprised everyone. They gently placed the backpack with the little kitten inside in the middle of the room, and Samson immediately sprung into excited barks and tail wags. Lea said they were never expecting him to be so excited about his new friend, and the two have been inseparable since. “It was so heartwarming to see him come out of his shell and immediately form a connection with Cleo,” Lea said.
Now, the pair spend every moment they can together, playing, napping, and enjoying each other’s company. Cleo has become an avid adventurer since the family started taking her on hikes. When the kitty tires out, she takes a ride on her older brother Samson, who looks so proud to be transporting his sister. Cleo, a tiny kitten with a big heart, allowed Samson, a workaholic looking for a friend, to break out of his shell and explore his world in ways his family never thought possible. Now, thousands of people worldwide watch their friendship and adventures on the animal-odd couple’s Instagram page @calvin.andco .
Golden retriever Samson takes his job as a medical service response dog very seriously, maybe even too seriously. For owner Lea Hendy, it became apparent quickly that the loveable giant didn’t know how to dog. On their days off at the dog park, Samson was the odd man out, sitting alone in the corner while the other pups played. It seemed like he couldn’t turn off work mode or form bonds with other dogs. Samson joined Lea’s family to train as a service dog. When she noticed his seeming lack of social skills with other dogs, she was determined to find a way to bring him out of his shell. Little did she know that a chance encounter with a cat would change everything.
“It shows that friendship has no bounds,” Lea said. “Anyone can be friends.”
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