Is your English better than it was last September? How can I make this class better?
Learning Chocolate: practice dental vocabulary
Learning Chocolate: Practice words for dental problems
Learning Chocolate: Practice words for dental procedures
How often do you go to the dentist? Did you get any procedures recently?
Is this the worst Elvis song? It's a good example of "don't have to.' What do you have to do? What are some things you don't have to do?
When you get out of your car (or off the bus), don't come to our class in Trailer 4. Go to the front door -- door #1 of the big Plum Center building.
Walk through the front door of the big building at Plum Center, walk past room 100 - the ESOL office -- and walk out the back door. Then come to our class in Trailer 4.
If you can read and understand this, please text the information to your friends in my class.
Did you see the moon last night?
Our school gives reading tests mostly to show people who give us money that we are a good program. The tests are completely different than our curriculum. It often takes 100 hours of reading to move up 5 points on the test. Last summer, however, three people moved up almost 10 points in only 5 weeks. Please read as much as you can. It's best if you feel interested and know most of the words -- no more than 7 new words per page.
What is your favorite genre? What are your favorite books?
NEVER dive in shallow water...
Many students in our class said they don't like Halloween. If you want to see a Halloween post, click here.
Video about diving history for anyone that says, "What is dive?"
Do you like to swim? How often do you go swimming? Do you like to watch diving at the Olympics?Most of these videos are very challenging. You may want to turn on CC-closed captioning and change playback speed to .75
Long Challenging Video: Virginia Decides
If you want to vote by issue or candidate rather than by party, you can get information about who's on the ballot from Ballotpedia. If you don't want to enter your home address, put in the address of the closest elementary school, and you can still get your information. Once you have the names on the ballot, you can google the names and read their websites.
Please stick with me! Don't follow the advertising for Steve...
Where are your favorite places in Northern Virginia? Are they easy to get to from Plum Center?
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What's your favorite holiday? Do you usually go shopping before that holiday? What do you buy?
What do you like to wear on your favorite holiday?
Did you ever have to change your routine? What happened?
Fairfax County children don't have school, but we have school. I'm going to be here.
Do you have a favorite day of the week? Do you have a favorite season? Write about it!
What do you want to do this weekend?
What do you have to do this weekend?
What are you going to do this weekend?
Did you do anything special today? What did you eat? Did you ever celebrate a holiday about the moon, about harvest, or about the Equinox?
I was very worried that I might keep you late on a Friday. I'm sorry I didn't show who won the second Kahoot in class! Here's a screen shot of the winners!
Here's a link to the other Kahoots we did! Kahoot for pronouncing ed.
Shift can mean move a little. Shift can be a simple dress or a slip. In our book, shift is a set of hours. Businesses that are open 24 hours per day -- hospitals, factories, 7 11-- have shift workers.
Shift work is typically morning shift from 7AM-3PM. Afternoon shift is 3PM-11PM. Night shift is from 11PM - 7AM. When I did shift work, night shift workers got extra pay.
When I hear "night shift," I think of this song. This song was popular right after Martin Gaye died. I think that night shift might mean heaven in this song.
Did you ever work the night shift? What did you do?
Where will you go this weekend?
Where are the most beautiful places in the world? Where do you want to travel to?
When is a good time (season) to go to the places you like? (I like Florida because I visited it in the winter. My husband doesn't like Florida because he lived there during a very hot August.)
Do you celebrate Rosh Hashanah? More than 30,000 people in Fairfax county will pray, reflect, and plan for a better year today.
What do you usually do for New Years? What can make this year better than last year?
Many students miss fresh food. Some food in the USA is better for shipping with no damage than for tasting fresh and delicious. We have many Farmer's Markets in this area. You can see the big list here or under "community."
Can you type? Can you program a computer? Can you draw? Can you make jewelry? What are your best skills? What are your most unusual skills?
Ripley surprises her colleagues. Do you have skills that surprise people? One of my students can catch fish with his hands, and another student can make a heart with cream in her coffee.
I'm very sad about this new rule. I think eating together at breaktime and talking about it is one of the best ways to practice English. We can only have covered drinks. We can eat outside.
I like fajitas, chili, and kung pao chicken more than cheeseburgers and hot dogs.
What are your favorite things to eat? What food is good for health? What food is good for picnics? What food is good for holidays? What food is not good for you? Why?
List of Kahoots 5 Fall 2025 Vocabulary 5.
Homework for Friday, November 21: If you have time and/or money, make or buy food to bring to the class party tomorrow. Please come.
11-20 Today we used "Let's ____(base verb)" to suggest activities. We did a lyrics cloze to "Let's go fly a kite." We did SB 120 & 121 & WB p. 113. We did Kahoot: Household Problems & Kahoot Verb tenses
Homework for Thursday, November 20: Write an email to me at PimteacherLaurie@gmail.com Imagine you live in a terrible place. Write a letter of complaint similar to the letters on WB p. 111 or SB p. 118
11-19 Today was reading day. We did WB 108, WB 110, WB 111, and SB p. 118. Red & Blue Group read about Johnnie's terrible apartment search experience.
Green & Blue group practiced short and long vowel sounds. Long vowels sound like their name (Green tea E, Gray Day A, White tie I, Blue moon U, Rose boat O) Vowels followed by vowels often say their name -- they are long vowels. (Green tea: reach, steal, feel, heel, we'll, wheel) A vowel followed by two consonants often uses its short (punch in the stomach) sound Silver pin: rich, still, fill, hill, will. Long vowel A=Gray day: chase, fade, shade, age, tail.)(Short sound E = red dress = chess, fed, shed, edge, tell)
We read about Thanksgiving.
Homework for Wednesday, November 19: WB p. 106 & 109. Study 5 Fall 2025 Vocabulary 5. Study reading day vocabulary: Green and blue vocabulary or Red and Blue Vocabulary.
11-18 Today we did SB 117, WB p. 107. We used the format from p. 114 to speak and write recommendations for many of the categories on the bottom of p. 115. I showed people the "students recommend" section of this website. My class website and the online reading groups on Ellii.com are always available to my students even after your class session is over.
Ellii requires registration and has NO connection to Fairfax County Public Schools. I subscribe because I want to use some of their teaching materials. My subscription allows me to have online student groups. You don't need to join to do well in my class or get promoted, but two of my former students improved their reading while practicing on Ellii.com
www.ellii.com Code V3THWG (green group in class)
www.ellii.com Blue code is 409LSL
www.ellii.com Red code is 166GS2JJ
www.ellii.com Citizenship code is MSAU4L
www.ellii.com Phonic Awareness is KXW84H
www.ellii.com English for Nursing Assistants is 4S5BCR
Homework for Tuesday, November 18 SB 115 -- Using suggestions on p. 115, write recommendations on a paper for me, Example: I recommend Backlick Road Service Station because their gas is relatively cheap.
11-17 We did WB 104 & 105. SB 116 and SB 114 & the top of 115.
Homework for Monday, November 17: Do WB 104 & 105.
11-14: Today, we practiced using modals (Can, could, will, would) for requests. When you ask someone to do something for you, you can use any of these question words with a base verb. They are interchangeable in this context. (SB 112-13) Would is more formal than will. Could is more formal than can. All of them are okay in most situations.
When you ask if someone wants something, you can only use would, as in Would you like a drink? Don't use can, could, or will with like.
An outlet in a house is an electrical outlet. It's where you plug in your appliances. Appliances are machines that use electricity to help with housework or cooking.
We practiced vocabulary with a Kahoot and with Quizlet Live. We also practiced future with be going to with a chant and with a Kahoot.
Homework for Friday, November 14: Do WB p. 102 & 104. Study new vocabulary set 5 Fall 2025 Vocabulary 5. Study verb tenses.
11-14 Today, we started Unit 9. (We did SB p. 110-111) We went over a LOT of vocabulary for the kitchen and problems in the kitchen. (5 Fall 2025 Vocabulary 5.) We did a writing assessment by writing about a time that we went to the park.
Homework for Thursday, November 13 -- Read over the things we read in class today. Can you turn in the reading about Veteran's Day tomorrow?
11-13 Today was reading day. We all practiced vocabulary and phrases used at dentists. Green & Blue practiced BL and BR sounds. Red & Blue read about a sushi chef.
NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 11
Homework for Wednesday, November 12. Read in English for at least twenty minutes. (I gave out a reading on Veteran's Day, but you can read anything you want. If you like children's books, some students improved their reading test scores after reading books on Uniteforliteracy,com ) Study reading day vocabulary: Green and blue vocabulary or Red and Blue Vocabulary.
11-10 We talked about our weekends. We practiced using have to/must not/can't _____(base form) for rules. We had three groups with 3 different discussion topics: rules for children, rules for employees, and rules for students. We learned about how to register. We took a vocabulary quiz. We did a Kahoot about health problems.
If you are moving to high intermediate, start studying irregular verbs.
Homework for Monday, November 10: Study 4 Fall 2025 Vocabulary for Vocabulary Quiz, Do handout to practice have to & has to. Page 1 Page 2 Think about words for a doctor you like or a park that you like. When did you last see the doctor or go to that park?
11-7 We took an Employment Survey. We practiced "have to/has to _____(base verb) and the difference between must not _____(base verb) and don't have to _____(base verb) You have to practice to get good at English. You must consider context when you learn new words. You don't have to translate every word to improve quickly. You must not teach people wrong grammar rules. You don't have to come to every class to pass to the next level, but you have to respond to questions appropriately and quickly. You also have to read pretty well.
We practiced beginning level prepositions (at a time, on a day/date, in a month/year) and added during and by. Monica pointed out that we say on time to describe at the correct time - not late. Use during for at the same extended time as and by to mean at and before the following time. Our Kahoot was short, but a little difficult. We usually don't use a preposition when is means =.
Homework for Friday, November 7 -- Handout about emergencies. Page 1, Page 2 = the back
11-6 We did a worksheet describing an emergency with present continuous verbs and there was and there were. Use there was followed by a singular noun: There was an accident. There was a dog. There was a man.
Use there were followed by plural nouns: There were many accidents. There were a lot of dogs. There were some men.
We had conversation groups that talked about health and food. We played Quizlet Live in teams using 4 Fall 2025 Vocabulary
Homework for Thursday, November 6 - Try Reepworld Medicine. It works better on a computer or a tablet than on a phone.
11-5 Today was reading day! There are new words on your reading day vocabulary sets: Green and blue vocabulary or Red and Blue Vocabulary.
NO SCHOOL TUESDAY November 4
Homework for Wednesday, November 5: Study vocabulary set 4. Study your reading day vocabulary: Green and blue vocabulary or Red and Blue Vocabulary. If you have time to do the Reading Packet, please do it and ask questions about anything you don't understand. If you don't have time, please don't copy the answers to give it to me. Also, if you can, try Reepworld Health-- Medicines. Pills are both tablets and capsules.
11-3 We wrote about our weekend. We read about Carl's nausea and medical appointment at a clinic. We did a have-has Kahoot. Everyone did really well for the positive sentences. We did the substitution drill practice, "What's the matter?" (The one I explained on Thursday, but we didn't do) We did listening fill-in-the-blank worksheets for Herbert's Party and Doctor, Doctor.
Homework for Monday, November 3: Study vocabulary set 4. Read in English for twenty minutes a day. (Anything that's interesting!) If you have time, I want you to do Reepworld Health-- Prescriptions for Wednesday.
Need something to read? These links go from easy to hard. Tell me if any of them don't work for you. Children's books are on Unite Books - one student who read these with her daughter improved a LOT on our reading test. You can join reading groups on Ellii.com. You can get books at a library. DO NOT PAY $$$. f
Ellii requires registration. You don't need it for my class, but two of my former students improved their reading a LOT by practicing on Ellii.com
www.ellii.com Code V3THWG (green group in class)
www.ellii.com Blue code is 409LSL
www.ellii.com Red code is 166GS2JJ
10-31 Aziza brought Halloween candy for everyone. We wrote about what we're looking forward to. Usually verbs after to have to be base form, but in this expression they are gerunds -- the ing form. I'm looking forward to sleeping late on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. I'm looking forward to the party. We talked about the weather -- a five day forecast. Carlos showed us the math to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius. We practiced answering, What's the forecast with it'll be sunny, it'll rain, it'll be partly cloudy. We can also answer with it's supposed to be sunny. It's supposed to rain. It's supposed to be partly cloudy. We reviewed health problems, and played a game to practice talking about remedies using "You should ____(base form)". You should put ice on it. You should eat chicken soup. You should go to the doctor. You should take medicine. We read a story about a sick guy that felt that he needed to stay to work. We had conversation questions about health. (One small group did conversation questions about Halloween.) We did a partner dictation about the time change this weekend. We filled in the blanks on the lyrics to "Shallow."
Homework for Friday, October 31 -- Study New vocabulary set 4. Read in English for twenty minutes. Need something to read? These links go from easy to hard. You can join reading groups on Ellii.com. You can get books at a library. DO NOT PAY $$$.
www.ellii.com Code V3THWG (green)
www.ellii.com Blue code is 409LSL
www.ellii.com Red code is 166GS2JJ
10-30 Today, we took a quick vocabulary quiz, and we talked about health problems. We had a LOT of new words, so I'm starting a new vocabulary set: 4 Vocabulary set 4.
Homework for Thursday, October 30 Study vocabulary set 3 for a quiz.
10-29 We added a lot to Green and blue vocabulary or Red and Blue Vocabulary.
Today was reading day. Green & blue group practiced speaking and reading about the weather. We also read about some farmers who bought a lamb 36 times to help the seller pay her medical bills. Red & Blue group read and talked about preventing heart attacks, diet, and superstitions. We added a lot to Green and blue vocabulary or Red and Blue Vocabulary.
Homework for Wednesday, October 29 - Study your reading day vocabulary! Green and blue vocabulary or Red and Blue Vocabulary. If you want more to read and listen to, sign up for my (free to you) online reading groups.
www.ellii.com Code V3THWG (green)
www.ellii.com Blue code is 409LSL
www.ellii.com Red code is 166GS2JJ
Mary Ann's group vocabulary is at Red and Blue Vocabulary.
10-28 Today, we went over the rest of Unit 1 in the workbook. We played Quizlet Live. We did an online grammar quiz. We played a game to practice present continuous verbs & changing verbs to match a time phrase. We took a unit 1 quiz.
Homework for Tuesday, October 28- Study Unit 1 for a quiz. I want you to be able to identify and use opinion-size-color-pattern-noun for clothing descriptions. (SB p. 8) Use length-type-color for hair. I also want you able to correctly use simple present and present continuous verbs (SB p. 10) We'll have the Vocabulary 3 quiz on Thursday.
10-27 Today, we practiced contrasting and using simple present and present continuous verbs. We talked about using have. When have means "own," it's never present continuous. We can say, "I have this pencil right now," Don't say "I'm having this pencil right now. Most other verbs are present continuous right now: I'm talking right now. I'm working right now. You usually shouldn't use simple present right now: I work right now. I talk right now. She's having a baby=she is pregnant. No "having" for children after that. He's having a party means he's hosting a party.
If the meaning is enjoy or eat, have is normal -- Present continuous now: I'm having a snack right now. Simple present for routine: I have snacks every afternoon. We did a Kahoot to contrast simple present and present continuous.
Homework for Monday, October 27-- Do the worksheet. Study vocabulary set 3. Study Unit 1 -- practice using adjective order and contrasting simple present with present continuous. Write me an email that describes a famous person, friend, or relative at pimteacherlaurie@gmail.com
Today, we practiced writing and listening. We reviewed low intermediate adjective order: opinion, size, color pattern noun. We talked about two exceptions: north American native people often say " big beautiful" and "big ugly" but that's not in the "right" order. We wrote descriptions of our classmates and guessed who they were. We read the email on p. 12. We played Quizlet live. We talked about new words. We did a partner dictation and a fill-in-the-blank song.
Homework for Friday, October 24 -- Do workbook p. 14 & 17. Study vocabulary set 3. Notice that we're almost finished with Unit 1, so we're almost ready for a Unit 1 test.
Today, we practiced using simple present tense with "How often" questions & group conversation. We practiced using frequency adverbs with a Kahoot. We identified simple present and present continuous verbs. We went over the homework on WB p. 10 and practiced speaking it. We practiced using simple present with but, too, & either on SB p. 17.
Homework for Thursday, October 23 -- Do workbook p. 10, 14, & 16 Study new vocabulary set 3.
10-22 Today was reading day! Laurie's group vocabulary is at Green and blue vocabulary I put things for you to read (if you want to) at www.ellii.com Code V3THWG (green)
www.ellii.com Blue code is 409LSL
www.ellii.com Red code is 166GS2JJ
Mary Ann's group vocabulary is at Red and Blue Vocabulary.
Homework for Wednesday, October 22: Do workbook p. 10 & 16. Study new vocabulary set 3.
10-21 Today, we did SB p. 13. We went over the answers for SB 14 & 15. We practiced using time marker phrases at the beginning or end of a sentences. (NO time marker phrases in the MIDDLE) We put a comma after the time phrases at the beginning. We didn't use any commas when the time phrase is at the end. We did WB p. 15. We practiced using frequency adverbs before most verbs, but after verb to be. I talked about matching verb tense to time phrase: Yesterday, I didn't come to school. They light lanterns for Diwali every year. She is getting dressed up in a gorgeous dress. She usually works very hard. She didn't go to work last week. Two months ago, we didn't have classes in Trailer 2.
In English, descriptive words are always singular even when it's utterly crazy for those words to be singular. Our weekend was three days. -- We had a three-day weekend. (NO S on day if it's before the word we're talking about.) Her son is sixteen years old. She has a sixteen-year old son. I have a four-door car, but he has a two-door car. My car has four doors, but his car has two doors. That building has twelve floors. That is a twelve-floor building.
NO SCHOOL MONDAY
Homework for Tuesday, October 21: Finish blue book p. 14 & 15. Do WB p. 14. Study new vocabulary set 3.
Today, we did WB p. 12, SB p. 10, 11, 14 & 15. We didn't finish SB p. 14. We practiced using time markers (phrases like every day, every week, on Monday, Now) with BOTH simple present and present continuous. Every _______ and usually go with simple present. I work every day. I usually wear blue shirts. He visits his mother every Saturday. She cleans the kitchen every morning. We do laundry every Saturday. I usually drink coffee in the morning. He usually eats soup. We usually speak English in class. He usually drives to class, but she often takes the bus. Look! Right now. & At the moment go with present continuous. Look! The sun is shining and the wind is blowing. I'm writing about the class at the moment. What are they doing right now? Hyck Jin is checking his phone. (Of course, he checks his phone every class. Look! Washington is asking an excellent question! Of course. He asks excellent questions every class. Look! Amparo is coming in late. Of course. She can't come on time because she has to drop off someone before class. Today, most of the students are wearing black. Of course! They usually wear black clothes.)
Most time markers go at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. They don't go in the middle. If you put a time marker at the beginning, put a comma after it. Don't put a comma before a time phrase at the end of a sentence. We usually have class on Mondays, but we don't have class on Monday, October 20. Every weekend, I clean the kitchen. I clean the kitchen every weekend.
Present continuous is for NOW and for the future. We practiced answering "What are you doing after class?"(I'm going home. I'm going to work. I'm picking up my daughter. and "What are you doing this weekend?" I'm spending time with my parents. I'm watching my children play soccer. I'm going to a party. I'm doing laundry. I'm cleaning my kitchen.)
Frequency adverbs: always, usually, sometimes, rarely, seldom, never go before the (simple present tense) verb, but after verb to be: am, are, is. I usually come to class. I am usually in class.
We took a vocabulary quiz and wrote about a classmate.
Homework for Friday, October 17. Do BLUE Student book p. 10 and WHITE Workbook p. 12. Study vocabulary set 2 and new vocabulary set 3.
10-16 Today we practiced using adjective order and Unit 1 vocabulary with WB pages and a game. We talked about Present Continuous vs. Present Tense and watched the video on SB p. 10. We reviewed Unit 8 vocabulary (set 2) and our current vocabulary (set 3) with Quizlet live.
Homework for Thursday, October 16: Study vocabulary set 2 and new vocabulary set 3. Do p. 6 & 8 in the workbook. You now have new vocabulary sets: Green and blue vocabulary or Red and Blue Vocabulary. I want to give a quiz for vocabulary set 2
Some people will finish the Dictionary-adjectives worksheet, but the first part is difficult because my copier didn't copy it in color. Ava and Ella have blond hair. Luis has black hair. Zara has brown hair.
10-15 Today was reading day. Red & Blue group read about Tarsila de Amaral and practiced advanced adjective order. They also read about the movement to change Columbus Day into Indigenous peoples Day. Green group also practiced using adjectives. We read about a man who wanted to start a business. We talked about phonics as we listened and pronounced common letter combinations: ch, green tea ea and gray day ai words. We practiced finding answers to tricky reading questions in texts.
10-14 Today, we did the first four pages of Unit 1 -- 6, 7, 8, 9. We described people. Native speakers use a complicated word order for adjectives: Number, Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Pattern, Origin, Material, Purpose (NOUN). Our class will practice Opinion, Size, Color, Pattern for clothes, and Length, type, color for hair. Use this order to make your own phrases for things you often want to describe. (I have an old blue car. She has a tall, four-year-old daughter. That's a beautiful long green dress. She's wearing a sexy, tight, red dress.) We practiced vocabulary with Quizlet. We practiced adjective order with a Kahoot.
Homework for Tuesday, October 14: Study vocabulary set 2 and vocabulary If you didn't turn in the handout from Friday today ( Chang is going to watch the fireworks, We're hungry, so we're going to eat) turn it in on Tuesday. It has two sides, but I only put one side on here last Friday. 1. I didn't assign new written homework today. We won't have a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, but I want to have one soon. If you want, bring a recipe for a dessert that you like.
10-13-25 Today we talked about our weekend. We practiced writing sentences in different verb tenses. We read an old-school style Columbus Day history and practiced using past tense correctly. We played Quizlet live. We talked about Columbus Day and Clothes.
Homework for Monday, October 13: Do the handout to practice be going to ____(base verb) for the future. Study vocabulary set 2 and vocabulary 1. We'll probably have a vocabulary test on Tuesday.
10-10 Today, we practiced using be going to _______(base verb). Use be going to ___(base verb to talk about plans for the future. It's better to use "will" when you don't have an existing plan. We often correctly use present continuous for the future when we have plans to go somewhere. We did a Kahoot to practice future with be going to.
Homework for Friday, October 10: Do the handout. Study new vocabulary set 2 and vocabulary 1.
10-9 Today, we talked about jobs. We played Quizlet live to practice the verbs on page 98. We practiced using what and where with a job history. We did Ventures Arcade- Blue 2 Unit 8. We took a quiz.
Homework for Thursday, October 9 Study Unit 8 especially can vs. could, what vs. where, and the verbs on p. 98. Bring your job history. Study new vocabulary set 2 and vocabulary 1. Finish These People are Employed to turn in.
10-8 Today, we talked a lot. Many students answered the most common question, "Tell me about yourself." We did pair work and a FSW to practice common expressions in job interviews.
Homework for Wednesday, October 8 -- Study Unit 8. Bring your job history. Study new vocabulary set 2 and vocabulary 1.
10-8 Today, we practiced using a time sheet. (SB 106) We also reviewed can/could to talk about skills now/in the past. (WB 101) We gave each other advice about how to get a job.
Homework for Tuesday, October 7: Do WB p. 101. Study new vocabulary set 2. Have you finished Unit 8 in the workbook? If you didn't turn in a resume or job history today, bring it tomorrow. Write your answers to these common job interview questions
10-6 Today, we reviewed unit 8 vocabulary and ideas (using past tense, using present tense, and using conjunctions - and, but, or)(WB 90, 91, & 95) We studied how to use can & could for ability. (SB p. 107) (I could dance ballet when I was eighteen years old, but I can't dance ballet now. I couldn't drive when I was fourteen years old, but I can drive now.) Can and could are modals. Modals don't follow verb tense rules. Can is always can. Could is always could. They both go with a base form verb. When used for ability, can is present and could is past. When used for requests, can and could are used the same ways. (Can you please do your homework? = Could you please do your homework?) Could is a little more formal than can.
Homework for Monday, October 6: Do WB p. 98. Write and bring your job history. Start to write answers to common job interview questions
10-3 Today, we went over WB 100, 96, & 97. I explained the three ways to make future tense. We did a reading and talked about our opinions of some jobs. We talked about the upcoming weekend. We practiced talking about errands. We played Quizlet live. FOUR people won!!
Homework for Friday, October 3: Study new vocabulary set 2. Do workbook p. 92 & p. 98. As always, read something you like in English (No more than 7 words you don't know per page). Homework for Monday: Do WB p. 98. Write and bring your job history. Start to write answers to common job interview questions
NO SCHOOL THURSDAY
10-1 Today we used past and present tenses to talk about duties (responsibilities). We did p. 102 and p. 104 in the student book. We practiced vocabulary set 2 with teams doing Quizlet.live. In response to Kabir's question, I talked about one of the most important topics in this class, basic verb tenses. Use present continuous for action verbs right now. (I am writing about the class. They are driving home. She is taking the bus) We can use simple present for right now, but we usually don't. We usually use simple present to talk about schedules, frequency, and facts. (I go to school every weekday. Water boils at 100 degrees C. She watches soccer games every Saturday. He works four evenings a week. She never drinks wine. I usually visit my mother in the evening. I have an old car. She doesn't come on time.) Use simple present for things that are always true, things that repeat, when you use a frequency adverb (always, usually, sometimes, seldom, never), and for non-action verbs now. Non-action verbs often involve ownership, opinion, the senses (see, hear, feel, taste, smell), and emotions. I see you! He hears us. Aziza's food tastes delicious. Coffee smells wonderful. I don't have that paper. I need it.) Use past tense for actions that are finished. (We talked about duties. We finished two pages in the book. We practiced vocabulary. We didn't write very much. I made a mistake five seconds ago, then I fixed it.)
Homework for Wednesday: Do workbook p. 95. Study new vocabulary set 2.
9-30 Today, we practiced using what to ask about an activity (What are you doing? I'm writing about class. What did she do? She worked. What did you eat for breakfast? I ate an egg on toast and a mandarin. What are you doing? I'm drinking coffee. )We used where to ask about location. (Where do you study? I study at Plum Center. Where do you live? I live in Springfield. Where does she live? She lives in Fairfax. Where did they buy their coffee? They bought it at 7 11.) We used when to talk about time. When is your birthday? It's in August. When can you come? I can come on Monday. When will we have a day off? We're off on Thursday. When did you come to Northern Virginia? I came to NoVa in July, 1990. (Want to practice with a Kahoot? Kahoot what or where) We did a past tense kahoot so we practiced the 3 ways of speaking ed and we practiced the irregular verbs on p. 98. We reviewed spelling rules for adding ed. (Usually just add ed. Consonant y -- no y -- ied. (study-studied, try-tried) Vowel y - just add ed -- played, enjoyed.
Homework for Tuesday. Do this worksheet -- remember base form with didn't and past form for affirmative. Do WB 94 if you didn't do it last weekend. As always study vocabulary especially new vocabulary set 2. If you don't have much time, play the matching game for five or ten minutes. Read anything that interests you in English. It's your level if you don't know between 2-7 words per page. if you want to try the Kahoot again, it's here: Kahoot for pronouncing ed.
9-29 Today, we talked about last weekend. We contrasted the verbs that go with usually, last weekend, and next weekend. Usually: (I usually work. He usually mows the lawn. She usually buys groceries. They usually play soccer.) Last weekend ( I worked last weekend. He mowed the lawn last weekend. She bought groceries last weekend. They played soccer last weekend. Next weekend. (Next weekend, I'll work. He's going to mow the lawn. She'll buy groceries. They are going to play soccer. We practiced pronouncing simple past regular verbs and did a Kahoot for pronouncing ed. Some students talked about their past with conversation questions, while other students took a vocabulary retest from our vocabulary: class words set 1. We did a fill-in-the-blank listening worksheet with "How did you know."
Homework for Monday: Do WB . 94. Read something in English. Study new vocabulary set 2. If today's quiz was difficult, study vocabulary again.
Today, we practiced using present tense with 'on the weekend" and "every weekend." We studied vocabulary. We took a vocabulary quiz. We studied conjunctions: and, but, or. Use and with similar or additional information. Use or for choices -- pick only one. Use but as a warning: opposite is coming.
Homework for Friday, September 26. Study vocabulary. for a quiz. Do Workbook p. 90. If you know the vocabulary from set 1, look at our new vocabulary set 2.
9-25 Today, we reviewed agreeing with too and either by writing sentences. We used "but" to show differences in opinion. I don't like fish, but Romario does. I like spicy food, but Romario doesn't. I don't like bussing tables, and he doesn't either. He likes to dance, and I do too. We practiced using present continuous verbs for NOW and for the future (after class.) We played Quizlet live. We went over vocabulary in a hospital on p. 96 (SB) and we did the listening on p. 97 (SB). One trick: you don't need to do something if you already did it. We did partner dictations for writing sentences about the picture on p. 96.
Homework for Thursday, September 25: Write an email to me at Pimteacherlaurie@gmail.com. You can talk about your job or you can write about a weekend or a day off. Study vocabulary.
9-24 Today, I introduced the idea of using too (for affirmative) and either (for negative) to agree. We played games to practice vocabulary & using verbs. We identified present and past verbs with WB p. 5 and with this Kahoot: ID past or present. We practiced using past form for affirmative and base form for negative with this Kahoot: Simple Past: Contrast positive and negative.
Homework for Wednesday, September 23: Do Workbook (White book) p. 5. and study vocabulary. If you want to try the Kahoot again, here's a link. For WB p. 5, use present tense with every or usually. Use past with last.
9-22 Today I used a slide show to teach the formal grammar rules of "simple" past tense. It's important to use a past form verb for affirmative sentences (I sat down after class. I walked this morning. I went to an amazing show.), but use a base verb with didn't for negative sentences (I didn't sit down. I didn't walk this morning. I didn't go to a show last week.) Use a base form with did for questions. (Did you sit down? Did you walk to school? Did you see a show?) We watched the slides, practiced some examples, talked to each other, filled out a worksheet, and wrote sentences for "find someone who."
Study vocabulary, D Homework for Monday, September 21- WB p. 96-97. Study vocabulary. If you want to try the Present Continuous Kahoot again, click here.
9-19 Today we reviewed present continuous and identified job duties (SB p.103). We spent a lot of time talking about spelling rules that go with adding an ing. We described the picture on SB p. 2, we did the listening on SB p. 4, and we did a present continuous kahoot. (link above)
Homework for Friday, September 18. Study vocabulary.. Do this worksheet.about can ___base verb I hope it's easy and you can do it quickly.
9-18 Today, we practiced listening to people who talked about their skills. We used "you can't ____(base verb) to talk about rules. We went over the color vowel chart. We wrote about objects that our classmates brought.
Homework for Thursday, September 17: Study vocabulary. Do WB p. 3. Bring something that you like to talk about. (Can be a picture on your phone, but please choose tonight, not during class>) I'm not looking for a full oral presentation, but I want you to talk about it in English. Example from me: I'm Laurie. "Olive sock" Laurie. I brought this tee-shirt because it's very special to me. It's special because my mother gave it to me. She gave it to me because she said I helped her do a NASA experiment, and she wanted me to have the NASA team tee-shirt.
9-17 We reviewed our vocabulary with a game. We completed p. 2 in the white workbook, and the listening on p. 3 in the blue student book. We practiced using the Color Vowel Chart., and present continuous verbs. We also practiced listening with can and can't. We talked about our skills. If you can't do something that a job interviewer asks for, tell them that you are willing to learn and that you usually learn quickly.
Homework for Wednesday, September 16- Study vocabulary. Bring an object or a picture of an object that you like to talk about!
9-16 Today, I introduced the color vowel chart. A vowel is a letter (a, e, i, o, u) or a sound we make with our voice. English has 5 vowels. We often only teach 10 sounds for those vowels, but there are fourteen sounds. The color vowel chart has one color for every sound. I rarely use "auburn dog" because it's not a common sound in a Northern Virginia accent. I hope we can use this chart to teach and remember pronunciation, spelling, and reading.
We played a board game to get to know each other.
Some people took a reading test. Others did a grammar (mixed verb tense) page and wrote a paragraph.
Homework for Tuesday, September 15: Study class vocabulary for today. Answer questions on the class website (blog) either as a comment or on paper.
9-15 Today, we introduced ourselves. We interviewed a classmate. We tried our first line dialog. How many people did you talk to? We talked about the class and about class goals. Skills are actions that you can do. When you talk about skills, stress the action after can. I can cook. I can read. He can play the guitar. In the sentence, I can cook, pronounce "can" like Kn or Kuhn. When you talk about things you can't do yet, stress can't.
Can-can't-will-won't & want to ____________(Base verb) A base verb doesn't have a special ending like ed, s, or ing.
