Hello Book Bums families!
This is a very special edition of our newsletter as we are celebrating our first birthday! We're so grateful to all of you who have read and enjoyed our work all year. This week we're sharing some of our favorite features from newsletters past.
We love to hear from you! You can reply to this email to tell us what you'd like to find in the newsletter in the coming year.
Bookbums.com is an Amazon Associate; We earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on a link to Amazon.com and make a purchase, We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We do recommend the products. Feel free to find them by other means.
Word of the Week
indulge (verb/action word) - to give in to something
Indulge your sweet tooth with a tasty piece of pie.
*Try using the word of the week in conversation with your kiddo and challenge them to do the same.
Literary Calendar
• November 30 is the publication anniversary of Joy of Cooking.
• The classic cookbook has sold over 20 million copies and is found in many kitchens.
• Reading recipes is a great way to build literacy through new vocabulary and measurements as well as a fun way to spend time together in the kitchen.
From our Bookshelves
Ann Patchett may be more well-known for her novels, but this new book of essays is a treasure. She reflects on reading, writing, family relationships, knitting, and Snoopy in a way that feels both profound and like talking with a friend. If essays are new for you, this book is a wonderful place to begin. You can read one in just a few minutes or relax for an hour with as many as you like.
"Reading fiction not only develops our imagination and creativity, it gives us the skills to be alone. It gives us the ability to feel empathy for people we've never met, living lives we couldn't possibly experience for ourselves, because the book puts us inside the character's skin."
-Ann Patchett
Tips for Families
When your kids are doing something that you would like for them to continue doing, say, aloud, what you’re seeing—just like an enthusiastic narrator. When your kids are doing something that you’d prefer they stop doing, either don’t mention it or address it quickly and with low energy.
When tutoring, I often say, “Yes! Both hands are on your paper. That will keep your paper from slipping as your hand moves across the paper as you write.” and “You have both hands on the word card. That means you can hold it in place with one hand, and your finger can do the pointing with the other hand. I wish I could take a picture of you right now. Well done!” and “Great job flipping from one sound to the other.” and “Yes! You remembered the magic e with no reminders from me.”
The idea is that we should keep remarking, positively, about the things we want repeated. Dr. Howard Glasser calls these Kodak Moments because they’re like active snapshots of what you see happening. Remember, iit’s not about our interpretation. Refrain from saying, “I like the way Joey is listening.” It’s not about us. It’s about honoring the actions of the person doing them.
To extend this idea, you can also acknowledge that the child’s actions indicate a level of greatness. At Book Bums, you’ll hear us say things like, “Whoa. You made the sounds and decoded a really tricky word. That’s what great readers do!” At home it might be, “You fed the dog without a single reminder. That’s what being responsible looks like, buddy. Well done!”
It’s simple, and it works. Acknowledge what you want repeated.
(This works with adults, too!)
Tips for Readers and Writers
For some family fun, how about inviting your kids to make some signs to cheer on our Bengals next weekend? Some poster board would be great, but even copy paper and markers will work. Whether you decide to make posters or not, you can still notice the spellings of words you see a lot of at a Bengals' game.
Who Dey!
Do you notice that the w-h in who says /h/? Most question words begin with w-h, but the others say /w/. (A lot of kids write h-o-w when spelling who because the first sound is /h/. It’s tricky.)
Cincinnati
Do you notice that Cincinnati has the /s/ sound at the beginning? C-i (and c-e and c-y) can make the c say /s/.
Bengals
When I say this word, it sounds like /beng-glz/. The a-l doesn’t say /all/ or /Al/ like it typically does. It’s like there isn’t an a there. We know that every syllable has to have a vowel, and the final syllable in Bengals has an a.
Burrow
Joe Burrow’s name has a bossy r. Notice how the u doesn’t make a sound? It’s being bossed by that r just like Burrow’s the boss on the field.
Chase
Ja’Marr Chase’s last name has a magic e that jumps back, over the s, and tells the a to say its name. That e’s doing magic just like Chase does his magic on the field!
McPherson
In Evan McPherson’s name, I hear the word fear, but I don’t see an f. P-h can make the sound /f/ like in phone. McPherson’s confident about the Superbowl. No fear in McPherson!
Pause for Poetry
Invitation
by Shel Silverstein
If you are a dreamer, come in
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...
If you're a pretender, come sit by the fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!
Wordology Workshop
• The Latin root script means write. You find it in the word inscription.
• How many more words can you think of that include script? Try making it a family challenge. Remember you may find the root anywhere in a word, beginning, middle, or end.
• Here are some script words we came up with: inscribe, scripture, manuscript, transcript, and, postscript
Practical Grammar
The words two, to, and too are homophones (homo=same, phon=sound)
They sound the same, but they have different spellings and different meanings.
The word two is a number word. (two = 2)
The number two, (Hold two hands up showing the number two with your fingers.)
Has a w, (Bring those twos together, wrists inward, to make a w with your two peace signs.)
In the middle. (Shake your head yes.)
Don’t let that w make you crazy. Words with t-w having something to do with two occur often.
Think: twenty, twice, twins, twelve, between
The word to has to do with moving or reaching in a direction.
Invite your kids to write the word to, and when they cross the t, make that horizontal, crossing line into an arrow.
The word too can have two meanings. It can mean:
1. more than enough, above what is expected
2. also; as well; in addition
Too has two o’s and it has two meanings!
If you know someone who would benefit from our newsletter or tutoring at Book Bums, please share this email with them! Thank you.
Copyright © 2024 Book Bums, All rights reserved
Our mailing address is:
7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road Suite L
West Chester, OH 45069