January 29 and 30, 2025 Skills

It has been quite a month, for sure. There have been lots of people out sick, including me, and lots of car emergencies (oh, wait--that's me, too!)! Okay, technically and grammatically, it should say "that's I," but since I feel as though I am speaking to you rather than writing to you, I am going to use words I would say in conversation:)

Here is Part One of today's skills! Enjoy!

Idiom of the Day
Idiom: When It Rains, It Pours
Please note: Yes, I picked this one due to my having two car emergencies in a row, and it seems to fit!

After having to bring my car to the mechanic twice in the same week, I couldn't help saying, "When it rains, it pours."

Questions to ask: Did I have a positive or a negative experience with my car this week? What does it mean when we say "It is pouring out"? Let's try to connect the two, and talk about why this idiom works in this particular situation!

Writing: Think about a time in your life when you could have used this idiom. Write about It in the space below. 



Second Idiom of the Day
Idiom: After every storm, there is a rainbow.

Even though Sara did not get either of the two jobs she wanted, she realized that after every storm, there is a rainbow.

Questions to ask: When we use the phrase "even though" at the beginning of a sentence, what do you think is going to happen in the second part of the sentence? Will there be a change? Is someone trying to do something despite an obstacle that's in the way? Let's talk about what this means!

Writing: Have you ever found the rainbow at the end of a storm? Write about this idiom even if you have never experienced it yourself. Tell about it in the space below. 



Greek and Latin Roots

Root: inter-
Origin: Latin
Meaning: between or among

Examples: intermittent (yes, your vocabulary word!), interactive, interview, internet, international, interjection (a new part of speech we will learn today!)

Sentence Example: The windshield wipers swept across the glass periodically. I did not need to have them on all the time because it was just a light rain! I was happy to have intermittent wipers that worked in this way.

Your Sentences: Create sentences using at least two of the examples of inter- words listed above OR any words of your choice that contain inter-! Write your sentences below!




Grammar Challenge
Today's Part of Speech: Interjection

Definition: An interjection is a word or phrase that is generally used to show an emotion!
Example: Wow!
Example #2: Ugh!

Note: An interjection is not actually part of a sentence! In fact, if we were to diagram a sentence that contained an interjection, the interjection would be on a line of its own above the actual diagram. I will demonstrate what I mean on the board!

Directions: Please find the interjection in each sentence below! 

1. Oh, no! What will we do now?
2. Did you see what is on the menu for tonight's supper? Ugh!
3. Shh! I can't hear what the teacher is saying!
4. Yay! This is the best class ever!
5. Who made this cake? Yummy!!
6. Hey! Don't I know you?
7. Oh! I thought you wanted me to wait for you!
8. Hmm, I am trying to think of a better way to write this essay!
9. Yes! I can't believe I am going to the Super Bowl!!
10. Did you really think I would forget your birthday? No way!!

Writing: Write three sentences in which each one contains an interjection (from the above sentences or one of your own). I know you can do it! Absolutely!!




Trouble-free Punctuation
Punctuation of the Day: Comma

There is no punctuation mark that is used more often (and sometimes, not often enough) as the comma. It is a mark that seems rather weak, since it does not end a sentence the way a period or a question mark does. It also does not show strong emotion in the way an exclamation point does! Because of this, many people feel they can use this poor punctuation mark the way they want, when they want, and how they want!

But, of course, that's not true!

Tonight, we will begin to tackle the most misunderstood and complex punctuation mark of all: the comma! 

Commas Part One
Commas used in a Series (or the Serial Comma)
Definition: A series is a succession of things, one after another, listed in a sentence. Sometimes the series contains items that are alike, and other times, the items in the series are unrelated. 

A comma is placed between these items so that we can clearly understand where the separation is among them!

Example: I went to the store and purchased chocolate, eggs, sugar, cookies, and coffee.

Note: Do you see that the commas separate each grocery item I bought at the store? What would happen if I did not separate them this way?

Example: I went to the store and purchased chocolate eggs sugar cookies and coffee.

Note: Without any commas, you may make an inference that I bought chocolate eggs, which are often sold during the Christian holiday of Easter! You may also infer that I bought sugar cookies, which are sold all year long (and often baked during various holiday seasons).

Having commas in the correct places within a series helps us know exactly what was bought at the store. We are able to read the sentence more effectively and understand it more easily!

Directions: In the following sentences, decide where a comma should be placed. We will discuss this as a class, but if you would like, you can insert the comma where you think it belongs.

1. Tomas and Azela went to the concert had supper afterward and stopped for ice cream on the way home.

2. I know that John Tom Steve Joshua James Daniel and Isaiah will be at the party on Saturday.

3. I decided to buy three books four pencils and two notebooks for class.

4. I went to Boston Chelsea Somerville Medford and Wakefield before I found the store I was looking for!

5. Don't worry about always getting 100 having the best answers in class or doing everything right all the time.

Note: In number five, you can see an example of parallel sentence structure in how the words "getting," "having," and "doing" are used!

Writing: Create three sentences of your own that include a series of items, but do NOT put the commas where they belong. You will switch papers with or read your sentences to a classmate, who will decide where the commas should go!