Blog Entry #5

For the activity below,  you will need identify the characteristic of the verb that is presented in each sentence. Use the word bank provided to assist you with the task.

Finite & nonfinite verbs
Finite verb are verbs that are connected to common nouns. Nonfinite verbs are verbs that are able to stand alone.

Tense and aspect verbs
Tense verbs are verbs that show the time of the event from the point of view of the speaker. Aspect verbs show if the action in the verb is continuous, completed, or habitual.

Modality verbs
Modality verbs show the likeliness that something will occur. It shows probability, obligation, or ability.

Form-type of verbs
There are three forms of verbs. There is the simple present verb in which -s is added to the end of the base. There is also the present participle in which -ing is added. And then there is the simple past and the past participle which is expressed by adding -ed.

Active or passive voice verbs
Active voice verbs are verbs where the subject is the do-er; the verb is the active voice. When the subject is the done-to the verb is the passive voice.

Transitive or intransitive verbs
Transitive verbs are verbs where some action is moved across the verb to another nominal group; usually known as the object. intransitive verbs are verbs that Intransitive is the opposite where some action is not moved across the verb.

Read each sentence and identify the characteristic of the verb that is present.

1. John watches his favorite show on television every Monday night at seven o'clock. (FINITE)
2. I am not sure, but Kelsey might be coming to class tonight. (MODALITY)
3. On Saturday I am going to the fair. (FORM-TYPES; PRESENT TENSE)
4. John kicked the ball. (TRANSITIVE)
5. Kerry tossed the ball for hours (PASSIVE VOICE)
6. I love to dance. (NON-FINITE)

Below is on online quiz for transitive and intransitive verbs:
http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/verbs/quiz231.html">Variable

Blog Entry #4

Read the story below to find out how Ms. H spent her weekend. After reading, fill in the correct pronoun that fits in each blank using the word bank provided.

What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a class of nouns that substitute nouns.

Word Bank

I: a word used in place of one's self or in place of their name
it: a word used in place of a noun
they: a word used in place of a group of people
them: the informal form of they
their: a word to describe something being a possession of someone else
we: a word used to describe a group of people in which you are included
me: the informal form of "I"


This past weekend was so much fun! I took a ride to Staten Island to do a pizza tour with my family. _it_ was so fun seeing _them_ . When I arrived to   their    house, we immediately left for the first restaurant. As  we_ were driving there   they  told  me   all the about the pizza places we were going to since _I_ have never been before.

When _we  got to the restaurant we order a large pie for everyone to share. The pizza was so good! _It_ was the best pizza I had ever tasted (and believe me , I've tasted a lot of pizza)!

Next, _we  were off to the next pizza place. Again we order a large plain pie. After testing that pizza _we_ all decided that the first one was still our favorite.

Then we drove to the last and final pizza place. When we got there we ordered the same as we  did at all the other places; a large plain pie. I am not quite sure if this pizza was our least favorite because we were so full or really because it was not a contender.

After being stuffed to the brim of pizza we went back to play some board games and reflect on the wonderful day that we had. Boy do I love pizza, but something tells me I won't want pizza for a long time.

Use the link below to find some worksheet that help further your student's understanding of pronouns:

http://www.k12reader.com/subject/pronouns/

Blog Entry #3

 

PAST TENSE

 

The past tense is a verb tense used to explain events that have already occurred. The following exercises will help students understand the use of simple past tense.

 

Because I feel patriotism is an important issue to talk about, I wanted to bring this article into discussion. The article brings up the issue of not allowing American patriotism to be openly displayed at a Colorado high school. This brings up for much debate because America is so diverse. 

1. Read the following article You can't celebrate America, school says found at: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/02/03/todd-starnes-cant-celebrate-america-school-says/ & also displayed below

2. Use the word bank below to help further understand the past tense:

declined: to have denied someone something they asked for
confused: to have made something unclear
offered: to have given something
required: to have needed something
rejected: to have been denied something
huddled: to have gathered together

3. Next, underline the words in the article that are presented to the reader in ONLY the past tense.

You can’t celebrate America, school says

By Todd Starnes

 

Students and parents at a Colorado high school are outraged after administrators turned down their request for a spirit week day honoring America because it might offend non-Americans.

“They said they didn’t want to offend anyone from other countries or immigrants,” a 16-year-old member of the student council told me. “They just really did not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.”

The student council at Fort Collins High School had proposed having a day to celebrate the United States during next week’s Winter Spirit Week. The young people pitched “’Merica Monday” – and invited their classmates to dress in patriotic colors. Their proposal was promptly shot down by administrators.

“They said they didn’t want to be exclusive to any other country,” a 17-year-old member of the student council told me.

The students and parents who talked to me about this incident have asked to remain anonymous. The parents feared their children might face reprisals from liberal educators.

“It’s bizarre and idiotic that we’ve come to this crossroads in our society that we are having to sacrifice our own culture and belief system,” one of the parents told me. “I can’t even tell you how it got our blood boiling.”

After the administrators rejected the day to celebrate America, the teenagers offered a compromise – “My Country Monday.”

“We opened it up to everyone – no matter what country you are from,” the 17-year-old student told me. “That got declined, too.”

The school’s decision left students frustrated, confused and angry.

“It’s shocking,” the 16-year-old said. “There are men and women fighting for our country and we should be able to celebrate that and be proud that we live in a country where we are allowed to vote – the right to free speech. They won’t even let us celebrate it.”

The irony, said the students, is that they are required to participate in Cinco de Mayo celebrations. One member of the student council pointed out the hypocrisy – and noted that students were not being forced to dress in red, white and blue for “’Merica Day.”

“We were confused why we couldn’t do one day that was for America,” the student told me.
The parents said they are “so tired” of political correctness.

The principal at Fort Collins High School did not return my phone calls and neither did the assistant principal. A spokesperson for the Poudre School District sent me a statement acknowledging that they rejected the “’Merica Day” celebration.

“Building administration met with the students to discuss the inconsistency of this day versus the other planned theme days including PJ day and Twin day,” the statement read. “The students then suggested changing the first day to My Country Monday and administration agreed. This theme day allows students to showcase their pride in America and for international students, their country of origin.”

However, parents and students said that’s not accurate. They said My Country Monday was originally rejected last week and was only reinstated midday Monday – shortly after I called the school district and began making inquiries (a coincidence, I’m sure.)
I asked the district spokesperson to clarify their statement. The spokesperson did not return my message.

“They said they didn’t feel comfortable having a day celebrated where students might feel uncomfortable with the patriotism that students are showing,” one of the students told me.
Unbelievable. This is the United States of America. We welcome the huddled masses yearning to be free with arms wide open. But if you come to our land and take offense at our values and traditions, then as we say down South, "don’t let the door hit you where good Lord split you." 
And shame on the administrators at Fort Collins High School for treating American school children like second-class citizens.

To the young patriots at Fort Collins High School, I offer these words: America, America, God shed His grace on Thee. Don’t let your teachers tell you otherwise.

4. Have students write a reaction to the article using ONLY the past tense. Also, to help guide students to use patriotic vocabulary suggest that they review words highlighted in bold throughout the article to discuss their opinions. If students are unsure of any definitions, a English language dictionary will be provided.

5. Here is a website to help teachers further introduce the past tense:
http://www.teach-this.com/resources/past-simple