You want me to eat what?

There is a first time for everything; for me eating Polish food was a first. I have always been a relatively bland eater, sticking to my heritages traditional dishes, spaghetti and meatballs or meat and potatoes. Place something different on a plate in front of me and chances are my stomach will go to sleep growling. So when James and his family suggested trying the new polish restaurant in town I was less than confident I would be full at the end of the meal.

To my surprise, to was delicious! I had a sample dish with cheese and potato porgies (notice I snuck in potatoes), kilbasa, and golabki. This is a big deal for me, which is why this picture was taken! Maybe next year ill eat fish…..baby steps.

Vocabulary

Relatively (adverb)- in relation, comparison, to something else

Bland (adjective)- not interesting

Heritage (noun)- something that comes from family background

Traditional (adjective)- long-established

Confident (adjective)- having strong belief

Delicious (adjective)-highly pleasing to the senses, especially to taste

Vocabulary Activity 

1. Relatively                                                 A. In relation, comparison, to something else

2. Bland                                                       B. Having strong belief

3. Heritage                                                   C. Something that comes from family background

4. Traditional                                              D. long-established

5. Confident                                                E. Not interesting

6. Delicious                                                 F. Highly pleasing to the senses, especially to taste

 Grammar Point

Adjectives are words that tell you something about a noun. For examples I said the polish food was delicious. The adjective, delicious told you how the polish food tasted. Write three sentences and highlight the adjective you used in each.

http://www.classroomjr.com/mad-libs-worksheets/school-mad-libs-lunch-time/

What would you do if I sang out of tune?

This was the first February break I had off in seven years and although I had classes on Tuesday and Thursday night, I packed my days and remaining nights with friends and family. As the end of break approached, James and I took the opportunity to visit his parents who still live in James childhood home upstate, NY.  On Thursday night after class, we hopped in the car and started to drive. Since we got a bit of a later start the usual, we were in no rush to make to back for family dinner.  This was the first time, we could remember, not having a plan for when we arrived so we decided to take our time and enjoy the ride together. Quickly this became my favorite ride “home”. About 2 hours into our drive we saw a sign for small town karaoke; we were in a giddy mood and feeling spontaneous so pulled off and stopped at this small town pub.  We ordered dinner and shortly after we found ourselves onstage singing… out of tune of course! This is a picture a local took for us. What a fun night!

Vocabulary

Remaining (adjective)- still existing

Approached (verb)- to come near or nearer to

Opportunity (noun)- what makes it possible to do something

Karaoke (noun)- to sign along with music on stage

Giddy (verb)- feeling excited

Spontaneous (adjective)- acting on a sudden thought

 Vocabulary Activity

Across

2. what makes it possible to do something

5. acting on a sudden thought

6. feeling excited

Down

1. to come near or nearer to

3. to sign along with music on stage

4. still existing

Grammar Point

A pronouns is a word that replace the noun: he, she, we, everyone are all pronouns.

Read the lyrics to the song Disney song Reflection in the movie Mulan and circle at least five pronouns.

Look at me,

I will never pass for a per-fect bride, or a perfect

daughter.

Can it be, I'm not meant to play this part?

Now I see, that if I were truly to be myself.

I would break my fam-'ly's heart. Who is that girl I see?

Staring straight

back at me?

Why is my reflection someone I; don't know?

Some how I cannot hide,

Who I am.

Though I've tried.

When will my reflection show?

Who I am?

Inside?

When will my reflection show, who I am, 

inside.?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_BtlAw4trg

Slope side

Skiing was phenomenal; the perfect balance of both fun and challenging. The photo above is of my sister Nicole, my friend Mike, me and my boyfriend James (from left to right). With the recent snowfall we all had high expectations for the perfect trail conditions and had the itch to hit to slopes. We were likes kids in a candy shop; our alarms were set yet never used, we rose with the Saturday morning sun. The day flew by, we had a blast skiing and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company; I’m not sure which was more sore my legs from skiing or stomach from laughing.

Vocabulary

Phenomenal (adverb)- very remarkable

Challenging (adjective)- testing one's abilities; demanding

Recent (adjective)- not long ago or not long before

Expectations (noun)- a strong belief that something will happen

Had the itch (idiom)- really wanting to do something

Thoroughly (adverb)- aware of detail

Vocabulary Activity  

1. Phenomenal                                          A. aware of detail

2. Challenging                                           B. very remarkable

3. Recent                                                 C. really wanting to do something

4. Expectations                                         D. a strong belief that something will happen

5. Had the itch                                         E. testing one's abilities; demanding

6. Thoroughly                                           F. not long ago or not long before

Grammar Point

An antonym is a word that is opposite in meaning to another word. For example in the above paragraph that skiing was challenging, the antonym or opposite would be skiing was easy. Use the dictionary to find an antonym of the following five words.

1. Start _______________

2. Open ______________

3. Fast _______________

4. High _______________

5. Happy ______________

and the training begins

I had my gym cloths on, ready for the gym but found myself doing anything I could to procrastinate. I went

to the computer and began surfing the web, finally a searched for races in my area I may be interested in running. I came across a half-marathon being held on Saturday, May 3^rd 2014; I went out on a limb and signed up! I knew I could do it because I have run a marathon before but I also knew I needed to get off the computer NOW and get motivated.

I have been training for just under two weeks and couldn’t be happier. I feel healthier and more fit than I have in a long time, I relish the time I get to spend clearing my mind after a long day, and enjoy attempting to conquer a challenge. Thus far I am proud of my focus on the task and determination to success. I can’t wait until race day, I am craving the sense of fulfillment you get when crossing the finish line! 

Vocabulary

Procrastinate (verb)- put off doing something

Out on a limb (idiom)- to do something that is different then usual

Motivated (verb)- wanting to do something badly

Relish (noun)- appreciate

Conquer (verb)- overcome

Determination (noun)- focus

Fulfillment (noun)- satisfaction or happiness

Vocabulary Activity 

1. Ashley’s dad said, “do not ________________”; start your homework right now!

2. After practicing for the long time, James was ___________ to win the first game of the season.

3. James scored the winning goal! He had a strong sense of ­­­­­­­­­­­­______________.

4. During the long winter I learned to ­­­­­­­­____________ the summer sun.

5. Learning a second language can be very hard, but I know my students will ­­­­­____________ the challenge.

6. The teacher was right; because of the students ____________, they conquered the challenge of learning a second language.

7. After working as a businesswoman for two years I decided to go ________ _____ __ ______ and try something new.

Grammar Point

Synonyms are different words that have the same or similar meaning. For example the words Conquer and overcome are synonyms of each other.  Please find synonyms of the following three words. http://thesaurus.com/browse/happy

1. Happy

2. Mad

3. Beautiful 

Winter Wonder Land

It has been a very white winter so far this year, just yesterday long island got hit with another snow storm given us a total accumulation of just about 15 inches.  With each storm, I bundle up in my snow pants and jackets with my many layers beneath and shovel the driveway.  It feels as though this process has become myelinated from the constant repetition. There is just one problem; it never seems to get easier. 

Yesterday after shoveling for what felt like the 500^th time, I came inside and relaxed by the fire with my hot coco in hand.  After all the hard work, I thought to myself it’s finally time to enjoy this snow; the conditions on the mountain will be outstanding; I’m going skiing!

Vocabulary

Accumulation (noun)- gathering of something

Beneath (preposition)- under

Myelinated (verb)- easily remembered

Repetition (noun)- doing something over and over again

Conditions (noun)- how something appears

Outstanding (adjective)- very good

Across

5. gathering of something

Down

1. doing something over and over again

2. easily remembered

3. under

4. very good

6. how something appears

Grammar Point

Prepositions are words that precede a noun (or pronoun) to show the noun’s (or pronoun’s) relationship to another word in the sentence. In the paragraph above I wrote “ jackets with my many layers beneath”, beneath is a preposition. Some other examples of prepositions are above, on, across, inside.  Come up with five prepositions and put each in a sentence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byszemY8Pl8

Fishing

I grew up on Long Island; my house just a short bike ride away from the beach. During my summers I spent endless hours along the shore; I read my books and collected shells, dug holes and made magical sand castles. I canoed for miles and when given the opportunity I boated with friends and family. I loved to go tubing, water skiing and wakeboarding, I loved to be in the water and loved swim. One thing I never did while on the water was fish.

Occasionally, my dad would take my brother fishing, but I never tagged along. My mom told me all about how my grandpa loved fishing, yet I never tried it out. My uncles when fishing and so did my cousins but that was for boys. I never though much about fishing or cared to give it a try, until I met my boyfriend; his favorite pastime is fishing and he wanted to share his hobby with me. Finally after years of being around the sport I gave it a shot. 

Now I fish frequently, most often with James. I fish in salt water and fresh water, off a boat and from shore; I also go ice fishing and fly-fishing. My favorite memory was going salmon fishing, feeling excited and watching James excitement as I hooked and landed my first salmon. The best part of all though, is getting to spend quality time on the water with all the people I love.

Vocabulary

Magical (adjective) - beautiful or delightful

Opportunity (noun)- a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something

Occasionally (adverb) – not often

Pastime (noun) an activity that someone does for enjoyment

Hobby (noun)- an interest pursued for pleasure

Frequently (adverb) – often

1. Magical _____                                                A. A set circumstances that makes it possible to do something

2. Opportunity ____                                           B. Often

3. Occasionally ____                                          C. Not Often                                               

4. Pastime ____                                                 D. Beautiful or delightful

5. Hobby ____                                                   E. an activity that someone does for enjoyment                                                                                                     

6. Frequently ____                                             F. an interest pursued for pleasur

Grammar Point

The past tense: this tense is used when speaking about something that already happened. Usually words in the past tense end in “ed”.  Look up the following word in the dictionary and put the correct form of the past tense.

Jump _______________

Discuss _______________

Plant _______________

Has _____________ (hint does not end in “ed”)

Lacrosse

It began in my backyard; my passion for lacrosse. I stood mesmerized as my older brother and his friends joked and tossed around. Shortly after my older sister and her friends had joined the fun, and as the baby I was determined to do the same. I officially began playing lacrosse in forth grade with my brothers hand-me-down stick in hand; it read "No Fear". I carried that saying with me throughout my lacrosse career, with no fear, anything was possible. I played for my middle school team and made varsity as a freshmen, I was on cloud nine. Along with high school, I played travel lacrosse for four years, this was a bit of a reality check, the pool of talent was much bigger then I expected. With hours of practice, much sweat and many tears, I made my dream come true, I was offered a scholarship to play college lacrosse. I had the exceptional opportunity to play Division 1 lacrosse at Manhattan College where I made many friends and memories to last a life time.  

Vocabulary

Passion (noun)- strong emotion (ex. strong love/dislike)

Mesmerized (verb)-hold the attention of (someone) to the exclusion of all else

Determined (adjective)- very focused  

Hand-me- down (idiom)- something that is passed down from one person to another

Cloud Nine (idiom)- to be very happiness

Scholarship (noun)-a sum of money given to a student for school

Exceptional (adjective) - unusual                                                                                                                     


Vocabulary Activity

1. The boy was ______________________ by the show on television that he didn’t hear the phone ringing.

2. Jack was ­­­­________________ to finish his homework before dinner, so he could go outside to play.

3. My dog was on ­­­­­­_____________ _____________when I gave him a doggy treat.

4. All of my hard work and studying paid off because I was given a ____________ at attend college.

5. Since I am the youngest in the family, I get a lot of _________ ____ ________ from my brother and sister.

6. Nicole was given the _________________ opportunity to travel Prague for free!

7. Ashley got her ______________ reading from her dad.

Grammar Point

Idioms are phrases in English whose meanings are different than they appear. You do not take idioms literally. Cloud Nine is an example of an idiom, it dose not mean you are actually on a cloud; it means you are very happy. Below are three sentences, the phrases in bold are idioms. What do you think these phrases mean?

When the teacher asked the answer to 1+1, the students replied, “that’s a piece of cake”           

Jack was outside for three hours but to him it felt like only 10 minutes, he told his mother “time flies when your having fun”

When Jacks mother wanted him to slow down as he ran toward the ice cream truck she yelled “Hold your horses”