Blog Archives

Here is a Quick Reading Selection--How Fast Can you Read and Answer the Questions that Follow?

10/29/2020

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Time Yourself! Try to read this passage and answer questions in less than 20 minutes time! Put your answers in the Comments section, and let me know exactly how much time you took!
Good Luck!

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Some Inspiring Words For Your Reflection Journal

10/28/2020

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Copy the quotation below (exactly as it appears) into your Reflection Journals. Be sure you are using the left page to do so. Use the right page to write your reflection (or thoughts) about this inspirational quote.

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Vocabulary for Newsela Halloween Article

10/28/2020

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Hi Everyone! Above you will see the two lists of vocabulary words we began working on during Monday night's class! Please refer to these lists to answer the questions below. Try not to use your notes to do so. We will check your responses when this exercise is complete. Have fun!

Please note: Not all words are used!

1. The problem had not ended--it was __________________________________.

2. When did you first __________________________________________ the woman who would later work for you?

3. Sherman had a _______________________________________________ job; he had no opportunities to receive a raise or promotion.

4. That statistic has been ___________________________________ as proof that people should wear masks no matter what!

5. The new children in the neighborhood were known as ______________________________________________ because they roamed around town trying to find friends.

6. There were no _______________________________]_______________ at the game; social distancing rules didn't allow people to sit and watch.

7. Christmas is a holiday that occurs ______________________________________, which means "yearly."

8. Sara decided to ________________________________________________ a poem she had memorized.

9. The balloon was filled to ______________________________________________. If it were filled any more than that, it would burst!

10. Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers left a ______________________________________ of brotherhood and racial harmony for the world to remember them by.

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Root of the Week: Graph

10/22/2020

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We have learned that the Greek root graph means to write. Knowing this information will allow us to understand the meaning of many words that contain this root. Let's look at a little more information and a few examples below together, and then you will be placed in breakout rooms to do the practice exercise that follows!

First, let's learn something new about our Root of the Week. When we look at the etymology of graph, we see that it comes from the Greek word graphios, which means something drawn or written.

It is also important to know that a root can be used as an affix.

An affix is an attachment to a root word. It can be placed before a word and be called a prefix. It can be placed after a word and be called a suffix.

An example of a prefix could be last week's root, auto. We place auto in front of words to add or change their meaning. We understand, for instance, if you were writing an autobiography, you would be writing about your own life story. You would be writing it yourself.
Exercise: Can you think of another prefix you have used while speaking or writing?

An example of a suffix could be the -ed you place after a word to show it happened in the past. When you add -ed to learn, for instance, it becomes the word learned. The suffix changes the meaning of learn from a word in the present tense to the past tense.
Example: I learn a lot in school. (present tense)
Example: I learned a lot in school yesterday. (past tense)
Exercise: Can you think of other suffixes we use every day?

Graph can be used as a word on its own, naming a picture or chart showing information that is organized in a particular way.
Example: The graph Joshua drew showed whether people in the class preferred eating hamburgers or hotdogs at barbecues.

Most often, however, you will see graph used as a suffix. One example we demonstrated yesterday was the word calligraphy, which means beautiful writing. In this case, graph combines with -y to make a suffix that includes writing and the field study related to writing. Calligraphy is the study of beautiful writing. Using this logic, what do you think photography means?

Now, let's try a few exercises in breakout rooms.

Directions: Please answer the questions below with your partner(s). Talk about how or why your answers make sense. Decide which person will be the spokesperson who will report to the class when you are finished. Enjoy--and be creative!!

1) Would you rather be in a photograph or take a class in photography? Write about your choice and explain your answer. [Remember to use our two-sentence approach: Your first sentence should make a statement about your selection. Your second sentence should explain why you made this choice, but it should not begin with the word because.

An example of a different choice about favorite seasons could be:

Fall is the most beautiful season of the year. The leaves turn spectacular colors, pumpkins and decorations adorn many houses, and people can take part in a variety of sports during such moderate temperatures.

2) A bibliography is a written list of books you use to write a research paper. Knowing this information, imagine you are writing a paper about the difficulties of living during a pandemic. Create a list of four book titles that you could use to find important facts about a pandemic. The book titles do not have to from actual books--you can have the fun of making up your own titles for this activity. Be sure we can tell from your titles why they make sense to use for writing a paper of this type!

3) A telegraph is a means of communication in which people had to write from a distance. Use a new tab in your computer browser to research how this system worked. Write a minimum of three sentences in your own words (paraphrase!) and describe this method!

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HYPERBOLE--the best literary device known to mankind:)

10/20/2020

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Directions: As you can see demonstrated in the title above, a hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration that you use for effect. This means that you speak this way on purpose so that others know how strongly you feel about something! In the examples of hyperbole below, identify the hyperbole and write what it means in the Comments section.

1. I was freezing to death when I took a walk near the lake last January.
2. She had told him a million times where she was going, but he asked her again anyway.
3. This is the best coffee shop in the world.
4. The new mom said she hadn't slept in ages!
5. I have been waiting in this line forever!
6. It was so hot in Florida I could not breathe!
7. My heart stopped when I saw my old friend.
8. When the thief was caught, his whole world came crashing down.
9. The man said he saw his whole life flashing before him in the moments after his accident.
10. Terence's friends would tell you he talks nonstop after winning a hockey game.