Check out the very first edition of our newsletter!
October 2024
469.817.9809 ReadingRanch.com
Pre-k - 8th Grade
Literacy & Tutorial Centers
Bridging the Gap How the Reading Ranch Helps Struggling Readers Thrive
For children struggling with reading, the classroom becomes a place of frustration, not discovery. While other students eagerly pore over stories and lessons, these children are left looking at the words that seem to linger just beyond their reach. The joy of learning can fade, leaving them with self-doubt and stress. I have witnessed this heartbreaking struggle many times throughout my more than 30 years as a teacher. My desire to help these gap kids — students whose reading abilities weren’t low enough to qualify for additional school services yet not high-performing enough to succeed — led me to begin my own reading program, designed with these children in mind. I have always enjoyed being around children. Their laughter, cheerfulness, kindness, and positive mindset create a happy environment, and I love being part of a setting that encourages growth. I knew it was my calling once I discovered my love for education. As a teacher, I enjoy creating a curriculum that truly caters to different learning styles. By using multisensory methods, I can meet the unique needs of every child, giving them the tools to succeed. In the classroom, I quickly noticed the “gap kids” struggling with reading. Many of them were well-behaved children who often went unnoticed, but inside, they were grappling with frustrations over their challenges. Their confidence was declining, and they were losing their spark for learning.
my program, The Reading Ranch. I wanted to create a space where these students could thrive and reignite their excitement for learning. The pathway from dream to reality was not easy, but hard work doesn’t scare me — few can outwork me. My never-give-up work ethic came from my dad, a farmer and cattle buyer with no formal education who never complained about his work, and loved what he did. My husband, Brian, and I started this program out of our home before moving into a portable classroom. It eventually grew to the point where we needed to secure a designated space for the Reading Ranch. It took me 11 years to earn my PhD as we balanced raising our daughters, working endless hours to get Reading Ranch off the ground, and continuously developing much-needed small-group instruction programs. Many challenges came our way, including a fire, flood, tornado, burglary, and COVID-19. I never gave up. My faith played a significant role in guiding me through the challenges, and I feel blessed to use my talents to help children build stronger reading skills. Watching children’s faces light up when reading and writing are no longer a struggle is incredibly rewarding. Today, the Reading Ranch has grown to 17 locations throughout Texas. The program is designed primarily for mainstream students not receiving the additional support they need to reach their full potential in traditional classroom settings. We focus on bridging the gap by providing targeted instruction and strategies to enhance their confidence in reading skills.
We strive to create a fun environment where children know they can grow. As I look to the future, I envision Reading Ranch continuing to deliver outstanding services to children who need academic support. By nurturing strong readers and writers, we are opening countless doors of opportunity for their future, equipping them with the essential skills they need to thrive on any path they choose. Outside of Reading Ranch, I enjoy spending time with my beautiful family. We have three successful daughters, and our granddaughters. Brian and I love life in Celina and southern Oklahoma with our dogs, rescue horses, mini- ponies, donkeys and barn cats, life is wonderfully full and rewarding. I’m not planning to retire anytime soon because I find immense joy in helping children read — it hardly even feels like work. Seeing children regain their confidence and develop a love for learning makes every challenge worth it. —Dr. Kim Southwell 1
I truly believe in the principle of finding a need and filling it, which led me to start
ReadingRanch.com
Fluency Fun
Easy Reading Strategies Every Parent Can Try
Many young readers hit bumps in the road on their journey to reading fluency, the ability to read with accuracy, speed, and expression. There are fun and simple ways to help your child develop stronger fluency skills you can do right at home. Get ready for storytime because we’re sharing three of our favorite at-home activities to help your child improve their reading fluency. REPEATED READING Repetition is an effective way to help build fluency. Have your child pick out a short written passage on a topic they are interested in, like animals or sports, and read it aloud so they can hear how it should sound. Next, ask them to read the passage to you and time them. Your child will read the passage aloud multiple times to improve their speed and accuracy. After each reading, give them tips on how they can improve, praise their successes, and ask them questions about the content to test their comprehension skills. CHORAL READING Choral reading is another excellent way to help children develop their skills, especially if they are shy or nervous about reading out loud. This
can be done with a group of children or at home with just you and your child. Start by reading a short passage aloud and ask your child to follow along. Next, read the passage together, aiming to match each other’s speed and rhythm as closely as possible. Over time, this should help your child feel more confident about reading and helps them to establish their pronunciation and rhythm. READ AND LISTEN You can also utilize a few quality online and digital resources to practice fluency with your child. Some special audiobooks allow children to read along, highlighting the text as the words play. This helps children understand what words look and sound like and how to read words expressively. Some websites offer audio playback options so your child can listen and read along. Not only does this help with their pronunciation and expression, but it also helps them build their vocabulary. Adding these fun activities to your regular routine can help support your child on their reading adventure. Remember, the more practice your child has with reading, the more confident they will become in their skills.
From Sounds to Words
The Power of Phonological Awareness
VOCABULARY AND MEMORY Phonological awareness also plays a significant role in developing vocabulary and figuring out new or unfamiliar words as they arise. Children who can recognize and use the sounds of letters can better compare words they have never seen or heard with known words. They can also better understand that some words sound alike but have different meanings. IMPROVING THROUGH PRACTICE Children who struggle with this awareness can significantly benefit from exposure to spoken words. Some activities you can do at home with your child include reading aloud, singing, and having them practice talking with trusted family members. Focus on the sounds of words by clapping out the syllables and pointing out the beginning and ending sounds. Phonological awareness skills build a strong foundation for children’s success as readers and writers. By helping young people understand how sounds come together to form words, they develop the ability to decode and encode language effectively.
Imagine your child clapping their hands along to the rhythm of a song or playing with the sounds in a word, stretching out the syllables. Phonological awareness is the ability to hear words and manipulate individual sounds in spoken language. This ability is one of the most essential elements of reading, and it is one of the best predictors of a child’s future reading abilities in school as they grow older. Children who struggle with this skill often experience reading challenges throughout their education. Let’s explore why phonological awareness is so important for children to be successful readers. PHONICS AND THE ALPHABET Phonics, or the practice of matching sounds of spoken English with single letters or groups of letters to form words, is a necessary part of reading. For students who need more phonological awareness, translating printed text into spoken words may be difficult. They may know and recognize the letters in the alphabet but need clarification on what the letters actually represent. This ability to take single or groups of letters and combine them into words is critical for learning to read.
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Like the song says, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but did you know doctors prescribed it to treat maladies in the 18th century? Sugar is more than just a sweetener for your coffee — it’s a sweet topic with a long history and many interesting uses. From its ancient origins to its place in the Milky Way (not the candy), this tasty ingredient may be more intriguing than you realize. SUGAR IS THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD. Sugar has been a pantry staple for our entire lifetimes, but its origins go back to 8000 BCE. Researchers believe sugar cane plants were first cultivated in New Guinea and used by native people as chewing gum. One of the earliest written mentions of sugar was in The Mahabhashya of Patanjali, a study of Sanskrit, written around 400–350 BCE. Over time, sugar cane plants made their way across the globe, coming to America in the 15th century. Sugar cane is now one of the most produced crops in the world. SUGAR WASN’T ORIGINALLY A SWEETENER. Though visions of cupcakes and other desserts spring to mind when we think of sugar, it was first used as a spice and medicine. In 9th century Iraq, it was combined with fruits and spices to create medical syrups and infusions. British doctors prescribed it to treat a wide range of ailments, including eye irritations, which were treated by blowing sugar right into a person’s eye. When it came to England, the wealthy first used it to season savory dishes. It wasn’t until the 19th century that working-class people began to use it to sweeten baked goods or tea. THERE’S SUGAR IN SPACE. Sugar is literally out of this world. In 2000, scientists discovered a simple form of sugar called glycolaldehyde in the center of the Milky Way and near a star about 400 light years away from the Earth. While this isn’t the same type of sugar we consume, it plays a significant role in creating DNA and could signal the possibility of life outside our planet. Sweet Secrets Candied Facts About Simple Sugar
Pumpkin Pie French Toast
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
INGREDIENTS •
1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil, or as needed
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1 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts 8 slices day-old bread Maple syrup, to taste
• •
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup canned pumpkin purée
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• •
3 large eggs
• •
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Take A Break Place 1 slice of bread in the bowl and let it soak briefly to coat both sides. Lift bread to let excess liquid drip back into the bowl, then transfer to the hot skillet. 4. Cook for 2–3 minutes or until golden brown, then flip and cook the other side until done. 5. Stir batter to redistribute walnuts and repeat with other slices of bread, cooking in several batches if necessary. 6. Serve warm with maple syrup. DIRECTIONS 1. Lightly oil a skillet and heat over medium heat. 2. Whisk half-and-half, pumpkin purée, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice together in a bowl. Stir in walnuts until evenly distributed. 3.
Next time you sprinkle sugar on your cereal or enjoy a sweet treat, remember you’re indulging in a fascinating ingredient with a history as rich as its flavor!
Autumn Boo Candy Coffee Foliage
Ghost Gourd Moon Spooky Soup Tailgate Touchdown
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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
A Journey to Help Children Reclaim Their Spark for Learning Engaging Activities to Enhance Fluency at Home The Building Blocks of Reading Success Sugar in Medicine … and the Milky Way Pumpkin Pie French Toast Loyal Pup Risks Life to Protect Loved Ones
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From Rescue to Rescuer
Poncho’s Inspiring Story
In a heartwarming story of canine courage, a rescue dog named Poncho has emerged as a hero after putting his life on the line to defend his family during a home invasion. The events unfolded on a fateful night in early June when an intruder broke into Poncho’s home in northern New Mexico. Poncho, an 8-year-old rescue pup, sprang into action the moment the intruder entered the home. Without hesitation, the brave dog leaped at the would-be criminal, determined to protect his family at all costs. In the ensuing struggle, Poncho suffered a deep neck wound that miraculously missed his vital organs. But the attack didn’t stop there — the intruder then proceeded to kick Poncho repeatedly.
Undeterred by his injuries, Poncho managed to hold the intruder at bay until others could intervene and restrain the criminal. Poncho’s family then embarked on a desperate two-hour journey to Albuquerque, searching for emergency veterinary care. Remarkably, the family ended up at the doorstep of Española Humane, the same rescue organization where they had adopted Poncho. The dedicated staff immediately sprang into action, performing extensive surgery to clean and repair Poncho’s traumatic neck wound. The brave pup stopped breathing at one point, but the veterinary team successfully revived him. Despite his severe injuries, Poncho has steadily regained his strength. His tail never stops wagging, and he responds enthusiastically whenever he hears the words “good boy.” Poncho’s dad promised him a lifetime of rib-eye steaks to reward his heroic actions. Poncho’s story is a powerful reminder of the unwavering loyalty and bravery rescue animals can possess. If you’re considering adding a furry friend to your family, consider visiting your local animal shelter or rescue organization. You never know — you might just find your very own guardian angel, just like Poncho’s family did.
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