Blackboard Skills for the Week of October 27 - October 31, 2025

Hi, everyone!
Let's get ready for some new idioms, literary terms, and more!! As always, enjoy the process!!

Part One 
Idioms
Directions: Please read the following sentence, which contains an idiom in bold print. Use the context clues in the sentence to figure out what this particular twist in language could mean! Enjoy!
Sentence: Sean could not believe his luck when he scratched the lottery ticket; in his family, something like this only happened once in a blue moon.
Your Explanation:

Has anything ever happened to you that you would say was once in a blue moon? Describe it here, using complete sentences in your answer!

Part Two
Grammar Challenge
Directions: Select the correct verb in each sentence below that goes along with the subject. Be sure you know which word functions as the subject, and which verb works best with it!
1. The students in RW3 (know, knows) all their grammar rules quite well!
2. When the day was finally over, the customer service representative could not believe she (has, had) answered more than one hundred phone calls.
3. While harvesting new vegetables in the garden, the neighbors decided to (help, helps) each other to finish their work more quickly.
4. Of all the boys on the baseball team, Sarah's son Ryan (was, were) the best home run hitter.
5. While taking the HiSET, Janet (remember, remembered) not to spend too much time on one question.
6. Last Tuesday, the test proctor (keeps, kept) letting the students know how much time was left in their GED exam.
7. At the end of the week, Halloween, a holiday filled with costumes and treats, (will, has) take place.
8. Are you comfortable enough with your computer knowledge to (take, takes) your tests online?
9. On Monday evenings, our students will (bring, brought) their new Reading workbooks to class.
10. I could not believe how quickly many students (finish, finished) the grammar book.com test the other day!

Part Three
Literary Terms
Today's Term: Setting
Definition: The setting of the story is the time and place in which the action in the story takes place. Sometimes we are told exactly what that may be, and other times, we have to figure it out by the events in the story, including what people may be wearing, how they may be speaking, or even the type of music they may be listening to. 
Directions: In each sentence below, please answer the question that follows.

1. Jim and Tyrone passed in their test papers, zipped their Nike jackets, and walked to the gym to work out.
Question: What can you infer is the setting of this story?

2. All the ladies did a curtsy while the young men bowed before going to the dance floor to dance a minuet.
Question: Is this a modern story? Tell why or why not.

3. There were lots of animals, and Sarah had to feed the goats and take the morning eggs from the hens.
Question: What can you infer is the setting of this story?

4. All the visitors viewed the animals through glass windows. Children especially were very excited to see these animals up close!
Question: What can you infer is the setting of this story?

5. Gina was typing as fast as she could. She had to send out a document quickly, and she wanted Mr. Martin to give her a promotion for a job well done.
Question: What can you infer is the setting of this story?

6. Ted and Felix went out to the field and waited for the next batter to step up to the plate.
Question: What sport is being played, and what could this setting be?

7. Fazio and Simon ran around the court, each one trying to beat the other to the hoop.
Question: What sport is being played here, and what is a possible setting?

8. Teresa sat in the big, comfy chair and began watching her favorite show.
Question: What can you infer is the setting?

Directions: Now it's your turn to create! Please write two different sentences that describe a particular setting, but do not say what each one is. You will switch papers with someone in class, who will then make an inference about your setting.







Part Four
Writing
Directions: Please continue the story I have begun for you. Be sure to add at least five complete sentences, maintaining the same point of view and verb tense. Enjoy!

     It had been a hectic day at work. The store was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday afternoon, and people were rushing through the aisles looking for different products. It was during this time that Alice saw someone she had not seen for over ten years walk through the front door!