Monday, April 6, 2015
Shopping
Shopping is one of my favorite hobbies. I love buying things for myself, but I also enjoy
purchasing items for other people. When I walk into a store with the goal of buying a present for another
person, whether it is a family member or a friend, I contemplate what type of gift would make them happy. I always try
to purchase something that I know
the person would like rather than if I like it myself. Since the weather is getting nicer as we move
into spring, I decided to go shopping for some new spring clothing this week. At
the start of a new season, it always
feels good to find a new outfit
appropriate for the change in weather. When I went shopping this week, I
purchased two new dresses made out of a lighter material that are perfect for
the warmer temperatures that spring will bring. I am definitely looking forward
to wearing these dresses in the coming weeks as the weather gets nicer!
Vocabulary
hobbies (noun)-activities
or interests done for pleasure
goal (noun)- end or aim
contemplate (verb)-to
think about deeply
purchase (verb)- to buy
season (noun)-a period
of the year characterized by changes in weather or temperature
outfit (noun)-set of
clothes worn together
Vocabulary Exercise
Please fill in the
blank with the appropriate vocabulary word.
1. Fiona’s
_________________ include reading, sewing, and playing basketball.
2. My favorite
___________________ is fall because I love when the leaves change color.
3. Claire bought a new
___________________ to wear to her friend’s birthday party.
4. I need to
___________________ a new headlight for my car.
5. During math class,
the students__________________ how to solve the difficult problem on fractions.
6. The _____________of
the game is to reach the finish line first.
Grammar Point
There are four types of
sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory.
1) Declarative
sentences make a statement and end in a period (.).
2) Interrogative
sentences ask a question and end in a question mark (?).
3) Imperative sentences
give a command or request and end in a period (.).
4) Exclamatory
sentences express strong feeling and ends in an exclamation point (!).
In each of the following
sentences identify the type of sentence and add the correct punctuation at the
end of the sentence.
1. Christine went to
the beach
2. Park the car in the
driveway
3. I cannot wait to go
to Ireland this summer
4. Do you know what
time it is
5. Matt painted his
room blue
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Easter is a joyous holiday
which I spend with my father’s family each year. On Easter morning, I attend
Mass with my family, and then we go out to eat at a restaurant for an early
dinner. The highlight of Easter in
my family is the traditional egg hunt.
Each year, two members from each family (my dad is one of four siblings)
participates in the egg hunt. The week before Easter, my grandmother colors a dozen eggs, and the previous year’s
winner hides the eggs in my grandmother’s house. After Easter dinner we return to my
grandmother’s house for the egg hunt to commence.
My family is very competitive, so
the egg hunt is taken very seriously. Members of my family roll on the floor to
look under tables and couches and also stand on chairs to look on ceiling fans
and air conditioners. The egg hunt is over when all 12 eggs have been found.
Whoever found the most eggs is the winner and will hide the eggs for next year’s
hunt. This year the hunt ended in a tie with my aunt, my cousin, and I all finding
3 eggs. My aunt and I graciously let
my cousin be named the winner since she has never won before. She will hide the eggs next Easter. I love
spending Easter with my family and enjoy the traditions that we participate in
each year.
Vocabulary
joyous (adjective)-
full of joy and happiness
highlight (noun)-
important event
hunt (noun)- a search
to find something
dozen (noun)-group of
12
commence (verb)- to
begin
competitive (adjective)-
strong desire to win
graciously (adverb)-willingly
or kindly
Vocabulary Exercise
Match the vocabulary
word with the appropriate antonym (word meaning the opposite).
1. ____commence a.
unhappy
2. ____hunt b.
to end
3. ____competitive c.
unwillingly
4. ____graciously d.
unambitious
5. ____dozen e.
unimportant event
6. ____highlight f. ten
7. ____joyous g.
give up searching
Grammar Point
Prepositional phrases modify nouns and verbs.
Prepositional phrases consist most simply of a preposition and an object of the
preposition. Some common prepositions that I used in my post are on, for,
to, in, and with. The prepositional
phrases from my post include of my family,
for the egg hunt, and in a tie.
Complete the following
sentences by adding a prepositional phrase.
1. The car
_________________________________ was red.
2. The dog ran
_____________________________.
3. Please look for the
boat ___________________________.
4. The shop
________________________sells the best fudge.
5. I went to the movies
__________________________.
Stress Release
Having a full time
teaching job, going to graduate school, and maintaining a private tutoring
business puts a lot of stress on my daily life. Although I enjoy teaching as
well as going to school, at times I need to find time to remove myself from the structured events of my day. The way I
have found to best relieve my stress
is by going to fitness classes at the gym where I belong. My two favorite
classes are Zumba and yoga. These two classes are very
different, but both offer ways for me to let go of all my stress. Zumba is a
high-energy cardio workout that incorporates dancing and fitness with upbeat
music. I really enjoy this class because I feel like I am dancing for an hour,
and I love to dance! Yoga is a much more slow-paced, relaxing workout. When I practice yoga, I feel at peace, and all
my worries and concerns fall away. Through
stretching and mediation, my mind focuses on the moves I need to hold and is no
longer bothered by any problems or troubles I had encountered in my day or
week. I think it is important for everyone to find their own ways of relieving
their stress. Holding on to stress can make you sick, both mentally and
physically. Attending Zumba and yoga classes at my gym give me the positive endorphins to rid myself of stress.
Vocabulary
structured (adjective)-
clearly defined organization
relieve (verb)-
to reduce or ease pain or anxiety
Zumba
(noun)-fitness program combining dance with aerobic routines performed to
popular, usually Latin-American, music
yoga (noun)-
mental and physical exercises to reach spiritual enlightenment
practice (verb)-to
repeat or perform frequently
concerns
(noun)-worry or anxiety
endorphins
(noun)- hormones that reduce pain and produce happy feelings
Vocabulary
Exercise
Match the vocabulary word with the correct
synonym.
1.____ Zumba a.
positive hormones
2. ____practice b.
worries
3.____yoga c.
dance-inspired fitness class
4. ____endorphins d.
diminish
5. ____concerns e.
organized
6. ____relieve f.
mental and physical fitness class
7. ____structured g.
carry out regularly
Grammar
Point
Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases,
and clauses. There are seven coordinating conjunctions that can be remembered
by the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Fill in the following sentences with an
appropriate coordinating conjunction.
1. Deserts are hot and dry, _______________ some
plants grow there.
2. Richard might go to the movies, ____________ he
might stay home.
3. Our family went on vacation, _______________ we
visited the Washington Monument.
4. Laura wants to go to Paris, ________________
she does not have enough money.
5. Sabrina runs every day, ___________ she wants
to stay in shape.
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