Too much to do

Too many times there’s too much that needs to be done. I have two dogs that constantly need to go outside for a walk and release their energy. Two jobs that I need to juggle and sometimes I have to work late for. I wish I had the ability to pause time and fall into a deep sleep for a short period of time. This will give me the rest I need to feel a significant difference. It would provide me with a jolt of energy when I actually get up from it and continue my busy day. Have you ever felt a moment like that before? A time when it seemed like there was too much to do? What did you do in that situation?

Vocabulary:

Constantly (adverb) continuously over a period of time; always.

Release (verb) all or enable to escape from confinement; set free

Juggle (verb) cope with by skillful balance

Ability (noun) possession of the means or skill to do something

Significant (adjective) having a particular meaning; indicative of something

Jolt (verb) give a surprise or shock to (someone) in order to make them act or change

Situation (noun) a set of circumstances in which one finds oneself; a state of affairs.

Vocabulary Exercise:

Complete the sentences with the correct vocabulary word.

constantly released juggle          ability significant           jolt      situation

1. People __________ many responsibilities in life.

2. Technology is ____________ changing as time goes on.

3. In times of stress her dreams were _____________.

4. She tried to ________ him out of his sadness.

5. She ____________ his arm and pushed in aside.

6. The coach managed to lose his _________ to motivate his players.

7. That ___________ will really hurt Jack.

Grammar Lesson: Two, Too, To

Two, too, and two are another set of words that frequently cause confusion.  They are also considered homophones because they are all pronounced in a similar way but mean different things and have different spelling. 

TO: 

• Can be used as a preposition of movement or direction. 

Ex: I will take you to the airport.

• Identifies the person or thing affected or receiving something.

Ex: I gave it to Jade

• Can be used t show a change of state, condition or quality

Ex: She tore the letter to pieces

• Can be used as the first part of an infinitive (to + verb= infinitive)

Ex: He needs to study more.

TOO:

• Can be used before an adjective or an adverb for reinforcement to mean “very” or “more than..”

Ex: This house is too big for me.

• Can be used as an adverb to mean “also” or “in addition”

Ex: I was very tired last night and my mother was too

TWO:

• Only used as a number. Two = 2

Ex: There are two cats outside.

Grammar Assignment:

Fill in each sentence with the correct word.

To: a function word Too: also Two: a number

1. I am going _________ read a book.

2. Donald ran _________ miles.

3. Is Ann coming ___________?

4. She got ________ wrong on the test.

5. My brother likes ________ play baseball.

6. I was at the park ________ times today.

7. Those clothes are _________ expensive.

8. Cindy got __________ strikes in bowling.

9. I need _____ write_______ pages for school.

10. I need you ________ help me it’s _______ heavy.

Useful Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv2Ai5GES1w

Thankful

Thankful

Many times we go through life not thinking about what we are truly thankful for. Our wants tend to magnify the needs that are being met. But there are moments in our lives where we need to take a step back and ponder on those things that have truly blessed us in our lives. Aside from the material things we have, there are individuals that have truly made a big impact on our lives. For example, my parents have always been there for me. They’re the most giving people I have in my life. They give me love, support, financial help at times, and more. They’re always thinking about my life over theirs. I am truly blessed to have both of my parents in my life because not many people have that. I thank God every day for those two, and my hope is that one day I could bless them in the same way they have blessed me.

Vocabulary:

Tend (verb) to be disposed or inclined in action, operation, or effect to do something:

Magnify(verb) to increase the apparent size of, as a lens does.

Ponder(verb) to weigh carefully in mind; consider thoughtfully.

Aside(adverb) in spite of; put apart: notwithstanding

Impact(noun) influence; effect:

Financial(adjective) of or relating to those commonly engaged in dealing with money and credit.

Vocabulary Exercise:

Complete the sentences with the correct vocabulary word.

tend      magnify        ponder       aside impact           financial

1. People around here ____________ to wear gloves in the winter.

2. Take a few minutes and ___________ the question before you answer the question.

3. We felt the full _________ of the storm

4. They could use technology to ____________ their sales.

5. He pushed people _____________ as he ran to the bus.

6. Dan showed little interest in his ___________ status.

Grammar Lesson: Their, There, They’re

Their, there, and there are considered homophones because they are pronounced similarly but mean different things. This causes confusion for many.

Their: is a third-person plural possessive adjective. It shows that a particular thing belongs to “them.”

Examples:  Have you met their son yet? Or   Is that their book?

There: may function as an adverb, an adjective, a pronoun, a noun, or an interjection.

1. (adverb) there refers to a place

  Ex: Please sit over there.

2. (adjective) there is used to emphasis, especially after a noun modified by a demonstrative adjective 

Ex: Ask that man there

3. (pronoun) there is used to introduce a clause or sentence 

Ex: There is no hope.

4. (noun) there it may mean “that point”

Ex: He stopped and went on from there.

5. (interjection) there expresses feeling such as relief, satisfaction, sympathy, or anger.

Ex: There! It’s done.

They’re: is a contraction of they and are

Ex: They’re the best.

Grammar Activity:

Look at each sentence and determine if the right there, their or there, is being used. Circle if the sentence used the correct or incorrect there, their or they’re.  If a sentence used the wrong there, their or they’re, cross it out and put the correct one on top.

1. Correct or incorrect:  They parked there car under the tree. 

2. Correct or incorrect:  Sam and William are still sleeping because they’re exhausted.

3. Correct or incorrect:  They can’t find there seats on the airplane.

4. Correct or incorrect:  I’ll stay here. You go they’re.

5. Correct or incorrect:  Their aren’t any tickets left for the two o’clock train.

6. Correct or incorrect:  Are there any cookies left?

7. Correct or incorrect:  Where are they’re books?

8. Correct or incorrect:  Why can’t I go over there?

Useful Link:

Their There They're - Homophones Song - Educational Music Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G45RQ5b4W78

Fun Holiday Memes

                                                                          

                                                                                

    

                                                

Christmas in November.

Hi everyone, I hope all is well. As the 2020 year begins to come to a close and the holidays start rolling in, I can’t help but share my feelings on what I feel about seeing Christmas in November. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, but I think it’s way too early to be putting up a Christmas tree and watching Christmas movies in November. It feels like we are rushing, possibly, forgetting the Thanksgiving holiday and what it stands for. Thanksgiving is a time to take a step back and look at the blessings we have in our lives. In my eyes, we lose the authenticity of Thanksgiving and Christmas when we try to rush to them before their time. I understand why many people are turning to Christmas. They are looking for a little bit of joy that holiday brings, but why can’t we find that same joy when celebrating Thanksgiving? Maybe we need to reevaluate the value we put on Thanksgiving. What are your thoughts about Christmas in November?

Vocabulary 

1. rolling (adjective) moving by revolving or turning over and over

2. rushing (adjective) moving with urgent haste

3. possibly (adverb) perhaps (used to indicate doubt or hesitancy)

4. forgetting (verb) fail to remember

5. blessings (plural noun) a beneficial thing for which one is grateful

6. authenticity (noun) the quality of being authentic (genuine)

7. reevaluate (verb) evaluate again or differently 

8. value (noun) the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of             something.

Vocabulary Exercise: Matching

1. rolling:         a. a beneficial thing

2. rushing         b. evaluate again or differently

3. possibly         c. moving with urgent haste

4. forgetting d. the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.

5. blessings e.  moving by revolving or turning over and over

6. authenticity f. the quality of being authentic (genuine)

7. reevaluate g. perhaps

8. value h. fail to remember

Grammar Point

Linking Ideas with a Conjunction

Sometimes you want to link two ideas with a second S+V+O combination. When you do, you need a coordinating conjunction [FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)]

The new formula looks like this:

S+V+O, COORDINATING CONJUNCTION+S+V+O

EX: Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, but I think it’s way too early to be putting up a Christmas tree…

Grammar Assignment

Write 4-5 sentences on your feelings about Christmas in November using conjunctions

Falling for Fall

 

Autumn, Queen of Year

– by Winifred Sackville Stoner, Jr.

“When the pumpkins are so yellow

And the vines with grapes abound,

When the melons are so mellow

And the nuts fall to the ground;

When persimmons lose their bitters,

And the apples are so red;

When we love to eat corn fritters

Since the roasting ears have fled;

When vacation days are over

And the children go to school,

They no longer play in clover,

But much learn “Arithmos-rule,”

When weird Hallowe’en’s most naughty elves

With gnomes and sprites appear,

While fat Thanksgiving fills the shelves –

‘Tis AUTUMN, QUEEN OF YEAR.”

Vocabulary

1. vines (plural noun) a climbing or trailing woody-stemmed plant of the grape family.

2. abound(verb) exist in large numbers or amounts.

3. persimmons(noun) an edible fruit that resembles a large tomato and has very sweet flesh. 

4. bitters (plural noun) having a sharp, pungent taste or smell.

5. fritters (plural noun) divide something into small pieces.

6. fled (verb [past tense]) run away from (someone or something)

7. clover (noun) a herbaceous plant of the pea family that has dense, globular flower heads.

8. gnomes (plural noun) a legendary dwarfish creature supposed to guard the earth’s treasures                    underground.

 

Vocabulary Exercise: Matching

1. vines a. a herbaceous plant of the pea family

2. abound         b. divide something into small pieces.

3. Persimmons c. run away from (someone or something)

4. bitters b. a creature that guards the earth’s treasures underground.

5. fritters         e. exist in large numbers or amounts.

6. fled         f. an edible fruit

7. clover g. trailing woody-stemmed plant of the grape family.

8. Gnomes         h. having a sharp, pungent taste or smell

Poetry Talk

The poet uses something called End rhyme in this poem. This is when a poem has lines ending with words that sound the same. For example, yellow and mellow, abound and ground, bitters, and fritters, red and fled, etc. 

Write a 6-line stanza(poem) using end rhyme like the poet did in this poem. Follow the fall theme when writing your own poem.