In This Issue:
ARTICLE
NEWS
BOOK REVIEW
ADVENTURE STORY: THE CAVE DWELLERS
ADVENTURE STORY: THE GALLANT MYSTERY

ARTICLE

HELP STAMP OUT CONSONANT BLENDS!

While earning her Reading Instruction Specialist certification from Academic Associates, she discovered an easier, more natural way to teach the sounds of blended consonants. "My old method was actually hindering my students from learning to read! The Academic Associates method teaches in the very first lesson what used to take me nearly all year," she exclaimed.

But students must know how to blend consonants to form words. Learning which consonants make only one sound each and then blending them naturally as they occur in words is an easier and more effective method than trying to memorize blends out of context. You can incorporate this breakthrough method into whatever reading instruction program you're currently using. Instead of isolated blends, simply teach the sounds of the consonants and help the students to say them sequentially. The sounds will blend into words naturally. This works with all consonant blends.

Guest article by Academic Associates founder Cliff Ponder.

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NEWS

We now have the classic stories Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Cursoe on our website for you to download for free. This is special version rewritten in one syllable words. You will be amazed at how many one syllable words there are! This is great reading practice especially for students who have completed lesson four. Check it out here.

BOOK REVIEW

Enid Blyton is one of my favourite children's book authors. She is not so well known in North America, but in Britain and other countries her books are famous. She has written hundred of books for all ages of children. They always entertain and represent good values.

This month I would like to bring to your attention The Secret Island by Enid Blyton. This is the story of three children who are treated unkindly by their relatives after their parents disappear. One day they discover a secret island and decide to run away. With the help of their friend Jack they plan their escape. What happens and how they live is an interesting story for ages 7 and up. This is the first in a series of five "secret" books. Each book features the same children in an exciting adventure.

Adult Reading

Family First is a great book by the famous Dr. Phil [McGraw]. He has much practical, down-to-earth advice and insight on building a successful family. Topics include: Special Strategies For Divorced Or Blended Families, The Five Factors For A Phenomenal Family, and 7 Tools For Purposeful Parenting. No matter what struggles our family is going through or how great our family is, we always need to be learning and improving. This is one book loaded with great ideas. For our clients who live in Prince George, we have a copy in our library that you may borrow or you may wish to pick up your own copy.

We trust we will see you here next month.

Yours in life building,
Glenn and Diane Davis
Learn To Read Prince George and the World

THE CAVE DWELLERS

"Have the horses gone far, do you think? Juan?"

"No, we shall probably find them a few hundred yards up the pass. They are trained not to go on without riders, and when their first alarm at the firing has ceased they will halt."

When the cairns were finished the vaqueros cut down two saplings and make a couple of rude crosses, which they fixed above their falled comrades. Then they all proceeded up the pass, and soon came upon the horses, and, mounting, continued their way down into Monterey, where they arrived just as the sun was setting. Here Juan's wound was attended to. The injury was to the left arm, which had been thrown forward in the act of firing. The ball struck just above the elbow, and had cut a groove from that point nearly up to the shoulder.

"This is evidently my unlucky arm at present, Will," he said, with a smile; "after having three gashes below the elbow a week ago, it now gets ploughed with a rife bullet."

"I should call it a lucky limb, Juan, considering that they are nothing but flesh wounds, and that had not the arm received them, both knife and bullet might have given you a vastly more serious wound elsewhere."

"Yes, that is true enough. There is one comfort in being wounded in this country. You can't go into the smallest village without finding half a dozen people capable of dressing an injury, more especially a knife wound. In fact, knife fights are so common that very little is thought of them unless a really dangerous injury is inflicted."

"Will not this prevent your riding for a day or two, Juan?"

"Not a bit of it. We had intended to stop here to-morrow to give a rest to the horses, but the next day we will push on. Happily, we shall not have to be on our guard against danger, for the risk of falling in with marauding red-skins is too slight to be thought of. Our next day's ride will be an easy one, across a cultivated country. Then we have a long day and a half of mountain work."

The passes which they had to traverse before arriving at Senor Sagasta's ranch astonished Harland, who had no previous experience of such scenery. Sometimes they were traveling up ravines so deep and rugged that it was almost twilight below, while at others they wound along a natural ledge on the face of precipices where a stumble of the horse would mean certain death to it and its rider. Higher and higher they wound, until, crossing a narrow shoulder of bare rock, they looked down into the broad valley owned by Juan's father.

"Do you see that white speck in from of the dark patch of trees? That is the hacienda. As the crow flies, I do not suppose it is more than seven or eight miles away, but by the way we have to go it is five times that distance, and if we are there by this time tomorrow we shall have every reason to be satisfied."

When they started out the next morning, Juan sent one of the vaqueros on the with news that he would arrive two hours after his messenger.

"It is just as well to give them notice," he said to Will. "I told him to mention that I have my arm in a sling, but that I have no serious injury. It has been hurting me a good bit for the past two days, and as I have not got much sleep I expect that I am not looking what you call very fit, therefore it is as well that they should not think me in a very bad way when I ride up; besides, I dare say they are getting anxious about me. You see, they will have calculated upon my having ridden a good deal faster than we have done, for with the two horses one can push on rapidly, and, knowing when the horses would have arrived at San Diego, they have, I am sure, been on the look-out for me for the past three or four days. Of course the wound was nothing in itself, but in such rough riding as have had one gets sudden jerks that do not improve its condition. You have bathed it for night and morning, but there is no doubt it has become a good deal inflamed, and I shall have to keep quiet for a few days after we get there."

Will himself was by no means sorry that the journey was approaching its end. Wholly unaccustomed to riding, he had been so stiff at the end of the second day's journey that he could scarcely dismount unassisted from his horse. This had to some extend worn off, but he still felt that every bone in his body ached. The last ten miles were performed at a canter. The horses seemed as glad as their riders at being on level ground again, and were doubtless well aware that they were close to their home once more. They were within three miles of the hacienda, when they saw two mounted figures riding to meet them.

"It is my father and sister," Juan said. "I thought that they would lose no time in starting after Antonio arrived with the news that I was close at hand."

Next week we will start on Chapter 4: A Great Ranch. I wonder what Juan's father's ranch will be like.

THE GALLANT MYSTERY

Scott and Sandy's minds whirled. Was Janna and Dick's father, Mr. Lewis, really a traitor? Is that why he hadn’t been released yet. What would Janna and Dick think? Could they be friends would a traitor's family?

Scott and Sandy stood breathless during the long pause that followed that statement over the intercom. After what seemed like forever there came the sound of scuffling feet.

"You know the situation now so I'll be going," came the first voice.

Quickly shutting off the intercom, Scott stepped back from the desk. Seconds later the office door slid open. The man in the doorway was tall, skinny and looked like he was in his mid-forties. He wore a high-ranking security officer's uniform: black pants and dress shoes with a red shirt. The shirt had a short V neck and was made of soft, velvety material so that it was both good looking and comfortable. On the right arm was a patch with the symbol of the El Empire - giant, semi-transparent hands holding a galaxy. On the other sleeve was his Lt.'s stripes. In spite of being surprised, a smile spread over his face when he saw Scott and Sandy. "You have two visitors." he said over his shoulder to Sgt. Walters.

Sgt. Walters rose out of his chair and came to the door. "You might want to stay Lt. This is the young lady who witnessed the incident in the park." The Lt. held out his hand to Sandy, "It's good to meet you, Miss Langlish." Taking her hand he bowed and lightly kissed it. Sandy blushed with pleasure. "I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience, especially since you've only arrived onboard." "It has been rather exciting." said Sandy regretfully. Her face twisted, betraying her troubled thoughts. The Lt., not realizing they had overheard part of his conversation, merely thought Sandy was disturbed about the shooting. He turned his friendly smile to Scott and shook his hand. "You must be Mr. Scott Langlish."

Scott nodded, "Yes, sir."

"By the way, I'm Lt. Stern. I am in charge of the investigation into this shooting. We don’t like to think things like that can happen on the Gallant, but unfortunately even we are not immune to the effects of the Fall." Sgt. Walters motioned them into his office. "Come on in. I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."

Scott went a light shade of red as he replied, "Uh...no. We just got here." "Good, I hate to keep important people waiting." The office was nice, but not very big. The walls were covered with fine Theoakian wood. A few pictures and diplomas were modestly hung. A deep, soft, brown carpet covered the floor. The desk sat out from the back wall just enough for Sgt. Walters to slide behind it. The fine Theoakian wood of the desk almost glowed with polish. The only thing on it was a computer console and one file folder. Sgt. Walters slipped behind his desk and the other three sank into the comfortable, green Luxchairs which were around it.

The memory of what had happened was still vivid in Sandy's mind and she told them about to the best of her ability. When she had finished they asked her some questions and she tried to answer them. Sgt. Walters and Lt. Stren were so friendly and relaxed that they soon put her at ease. Scott also answered all the questions which were directed to him, but he hadn't seen much.

When they had finished Sgt. Walters said, "I want to thank you for coming down. You've been a big help."

As Scott and Sandy went out into the hallway Lt. Stren said, "I believe the rest of your stay will be more peaceful."

"I hope so." said Sandy. She strongly disliked adventures, but when they came along something had to be done. They could not just be ignored.
Back at their apartment Scott and Sandy settled back down to their school work. The afternoon went by quietly enough. With the interview over Sandy was able to do her school work better, although the though of their new friend’s father being a traitor trouble her. She hoped they had heard the last of the entire incident. Later Sandy helped Mrs. Langlish prepare supper. Cooking was something Sandy enjoyed and she was thrilled on the occassions her mother let her make entire meals by herself. After supper Sandy put the dishes in the dish washer and wiped down the table, it was not as creative as designing a meal but all part of the job.

After everything was done and put away Sandy said, "There's a Kerdell movie playing on level 27 and it starts in half an hour. It should be pretty funny."

"Yeah, he usually is." replied Scott.

"Yes, not yeah." corrected Mrs. Langlish coming into the living room. "Sorry, mom. Can we go?" "Yes, you may." "Maybe Dick and Janna would like to come too." said Scott. Truth to tell, he was thinking more of Janna than of Dick. "I imagine they could use a little cheering up."

Sandy didn't like the idea, in fact, she had decided she didn't like Janna very much. There was something about her 'superior' attitude which irked Sandy. But since it was obvious Scott liked Janna, Sandy didn't say anything.

"There's certainly no harm in asking." said Mrs. Langlish. Scott and Sandy went across the hall to ask. It was Janna who answered the chiming of the door bell.

Blushing slightly Scott asked,"Would, uh, you and Dick like to come to the Kerdell movie with us?"

"I don't think so," she said, her eyes seemed to look right past them. "It might be a good idea, Janna." said Mrs. Lewis coming up behind her, "You and Dick should get out of the apartment for awhile. I always enjoyed Kerdell movies. The last one I saw was 'Just Floating Around'. I would burst out laughing for days after. Tom, Mr. Lewis that is, thought I was crazy."

"Ok, mom," said Janna reluctantly. It was clear she would rather not go.

Dick appeared in the apartment hallway. He was bouncing a small ball. Glancing at his watch he said, "We'll be late if we don't hurry." Dick could be trusted to know the time and place of every movie shown on the Gallant. There was an uncomfortable silence as they strolled down the hall to the nearest ElLift. Janna was avoiding looking at anyone, hoping no one who notice her watery eyes. Scott had his hands in his pockets wondering what to say. Sandy was walking by herself behind them and Dick was leading the way twisting and turning and bouncing his ball. He was the only one who seemed at ease.

"I'm sorry to hear about your father." said Scott trying to say something comforting and break the tension. As soon as the words were out of his mouth he knew he had made a mistake. Stopping suddenly Janna whirled on him. The tears were beginning to run down her face, smearing her make-up. She shouted, "He's not a traitor!"

"I...I...never said..."