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?
Winter 2026 Homework -- Use English, read, and study vocabulary!
Winter 2026 Vocabulary 1 Kahoots So Far! (Links only work for two weeks )
I hope you can finish the written homework quickly. I want it to help you remember vocabulary and grammar patterns. Research shows that taking a break and then reviewing is really good for memory. Testing yourself is good studying. Using English in real life is your best homework.
SB=blue book WB=white book
For Monday, January 26: Do p. 30 in the workbook. Study vocabulary words. If you have time, write answers to the questions with the songs on the class website. We're going to have a new Quizlet set for vocabulary soon.
1-23 Today, we practiced adverb placement (Maybe goes first. Probably: Will probably, but probably won't. Most likely: Will most likely, but most likely won't.) We started Unit 3 and described the picture on p. 32. We played a Kahoot and a sentence game.
For Friday, January 23: Study Unit 2. Write 5 sentences using at least 5 vocabulary words that I wrote on the little white board this term. If the Kahoot was difficult, do it again.
1-22 We finished Unit 2 by going over old homework (WB 24,25,26,27). We described two pictures. I introduced Ventures Arcade -- quick games to practice the grammar and vocabulary in our book. We did Book 2, unit 2. We also played a long Kahoot about Unit 2.
For Thursday, January 22: Study Unit 2. Make sure you completed Unit 2 in the workbook. Study vocabulary.
1-21 Today, we had three groups, and two volunteers to work with me.
For Wednesday, January 21, Do WB p. 28 and the worksheet about tenses. You don't have to do all the exercises on the QR codes. Study Unit 2. We'll probably have a quiz on Thursday.
1-20 We played with verb tenses. (What's a verb? an action word. What's a verb tense? The form -- spelling or extra words -- that show the time of action. )Today, I introduced past tense. For regular verbs, add ed to make a past form. Irregular verbs are memorized. Past form is only for positive statements. We use base form with Did for questions and with didn't for negative statements. Sometimes the ed sounds like /t/. (Worked, cooked watched.) We talked about our activities last weekend. Examples: She went to an Iranian school. He went to church. She didn't go to church. They stayed home and relaxed. She had guests. She visited her friend.
Then we practiced using future with going to then matching questions and answers with three tenses for future: Future with going to, future with will, and present continuous We did p. 29 in both the student book and the workbook. We identified and matched tenses for questions and answers.
For Tuesday, January 20, do the worksheets: An International actor & We're hungry so we're going to eat. Read in English. Study Unit 2. Make sure you finished WB p. 18-27. Study vocabulary. If you don't already know ordinal numbers and prepositions of time, practice them.
Since there's no school for Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday, we read about Martin Luther King Jr.'s life today. He was well educated. He worked at a church. He was an excellent speaker. He believed in civil rights -- that laws should be good and apply to everybody equally. He worked for non-violent change. Some people that didn't like his ideas were very violent, and one of those people killed him. His leadership helped pass new laws in the USA: including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned segregation and employment discrimination, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protected Black voter registration, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 which banned the practice of not allowing people to buy houses in some neighborhoods ("redlining").
We had a spelling quiz for days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We practiced future with be going to. We did a Kahoot for future. The Kahoot used might. Might means maybe will. We did a song. Shall is a very old English word that means "will." When boys are named after their dad (have the same name as their father), the father is Sr. (senior) and the son is Jr. (junior.)
NO SCHOOL MONDAY
For Friday, January 16, 2026: Do Workbook p. 26-27. Study spelling for the days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. (Practice recognizing) Study vocabulary. If you don't already know ordinal numbers and prepositions of time, practice them.
1-15-26 We read a chant that used future with going to ____(base verb). We reviewed beginning level ordinal numbers with dates and steps. (Video on pronouncing ordinal numbers.) We reviewed prepositions of time with a Kahoot .
For Thursday, January 15, 2026: Do Workbook (white book) p. 24 & 25. Study vocabulary. Study spelling: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Study vocabulary. Study spelling: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
For spelling: Do the word search and say the letters out loud starting with the first letter. Copy the word until you can write it without looking. Write two sentences using the word.; (examples:)I usually work on Monday. It's hard to wake up on Monday morning. She never works on Sunday. He doesn't go jogging on Sunday.
1-14 Today, we talked about the difference between at the moment (NOW) and in a moment (VERY SOON). We wrote sentences. We started with routines with "every". Example: I read a book every evening. She works every afternoon. Then we used future with will. I will read a book tonight. She will work tomorrow afternoon. We practiced want to ____(BASE verb) vs. wants to ______(Base verb). We pronounced the difference between vacation and vocation. We practiced the names of some vocational courses on SB p. 25. We reviewed adverb placement: Maybe goes first! Maybe, I'll exercise in a moment. Maybe, I won't get there on time. Maybe, I'll take a nap. Probably goes AFTER will. I'll probably work for another hour. I probably won't go to Florida this afternoon. Most likely is just like probably. He will most likely be on time. She'll most likely be late. They probably won't get enough sleep.
I mentioned non-action verbs because someone wanted to say, I'm seeing her. I told her to say, I'm looking at her or I see her. I'm seeing her means I'm dating her. Some verbs are never or rarely used in a continuous (progressive) verb test. The five senses: see, hear, feel, smell, and taste all have times when they are in present tense even when the time is NOW -- especially if you include a description or opinion. (Peek-a-boo, I see you. I hear you. The soup tastes salty. This desk feels smooth. That shirt feels soft.) The most common non-action verbs are have, want, need, and like. I didn't talk about have which can be non-action or normal depending on its meaning. When have means own, it's non-action. When have means eat or enjoy, it's normal. (I have a pen right now. She's having a snack right now. We are having a good time at the moment.)
For Wednesday, January 14: Do WB p. 22-23. Study vocabulary.
Today, we practiced future with will especially saying "it'll ____(base verb) We use it'll for weather forecasts and estimates. We did a Kahoot about will/won't, and reviewed vocabulary.
For Tuesday, January 13: Do this worksheet: Yes & No. If you don't understand how, underline the verb then use the same verb in the other column. On the left, the verb should be positive in present. (plays/plays) On the right, the verb should be negative in present. (doesn't play/don't play)
What's simple present? It's a verb tense -- a typical pattern/spelling of action words that shows time -- simple present is usually the base verb or (he/she/it) verb+s or es. We use it for schedules (I work at 9:00 on Sunday. He works on Friday.), routines (I wake up at 5:15 AM), facts (The buses are yellow) & frequency. (She always does her homework. She sometimes eats rice. She never eats pork.)
We often use simple present form verbs with frequency adverbs: always, usually, sometimes, rarely, seldom, never. We often use future verbs with the adverbs "maybe," "probably" and "most likely." Use "most likely" just like "probably."
Word order advice: Put MAYBE first. Examples: Maybe, I'll cook dinner, or maybe, I'll eat out. Maybe, you'll do all your homework. Maybe, she won't understand. Maybe, it'll rain this week. Maybe, we'll have time to play more games.
Put PROBABLY before won't, but after will. Examples: We probably won't have time to read all the stories I want. She probably won't come before her doctor's appointment. He probably won't get a new job tomorrow. We probably won't allow pets in the classroom. I'll probably come to class tomorrow. We'll probably play a game. He'll probably win the first Quizlet game, but she'll probably win the Kahoot.
Use MOST LIKELY just like PROBABLY. Examples: We'll most likely improve our English a lot. They most likely won't pass the Reading Test. (They need 20 points to move up to the next level, and 5 points will most likely take more than 50 hours of reading.)
1-12-2026 Today, we reviewed and practiced simple present tense verbs using Kahoot. Kahoot: Do or Does, Kahoot: present simple. We talked about verb tenses.
I talked about when to add s or es for plural nouns or 3rd person singular simple present verbs. Most of the time, just add s. If the last letter is O or the last letters sound like S (ss, sh ,ch, x), use es. Go -- goes, kiss-kisses, wish-wishes, tax-taxes)
In English, description words are always singular, even when it's really crazy for them to be singular.
For Monday, January 12: Do p. 22 in the blue student book. Think about your schedule. If future with will is difficult for you, watch the videos and do these exercises: Simple Future with Will.
1-9-26 We did a Kahoot to practice will and won't. We use three different verb tenses to talk about the future in this class. You can use present continuous (be ___ing) for now or for a future you feel sure about. (I'm typing right now. After I finish, I'm driving home.) Make sure the time is clear and the action is sure if you use present continuous for the future. We usually use present continuous for NOW. (I'm working now. He's driving now. They're practicing at home.)(Future: I'm driving home after class. He's working tomorrow. I'm going shopping next Saturday. She's making deliveries tomorrow morning. She's going to Egypt next Summer. They're getting new jobs after they finish this class.)
Use be going to _____base verb for a future that you already planned. Casually, people write be gonna ____(base verb) because that's how be going to ____(base verb) sounds when we speak it in the USA. Do NOT say gonna to--the na in gonna is the to. Do not skip the 1st verb "to be" (am, are, is) in a formal situation even though many native speakers seem to not use it. It's a signal that you are well-educated. (Example: I'm probably going to explain future verbs again. You're going to practice English. He's going to come early. She's going to be late. We're going to work hard. They're going to learn a LOT.
Will _______(base verb) is good for any future sentence. We always use it when we first volunteer or talk about possibilities. Maybe I'll finish this book Maybe you'll get bored. Maybe he'll go to DC. Maybe, she'll go the party. Maybe we'll enjoy food. Maybe they'll be on time.
What's a verb tense? (verb tense is the grammar word for the correct patterns of spelling and helping verbs for action words. Grammar tense patterns give information about time and should ALWAYS match time phrases. (Examples: I work every day. I worked yesterday. I will work tomorrow. I'm working right now.)
We practiced the sounds of the color vowel chart. We practiced listening for the difference between "rose boat" won't and "cup of mustard" want. We did a survey using "want to" and a dictation to conversation.
For Friday, January 9: Workbook p. 21. Study vocabulary.. Study the color vowel chart. Each color vowel color makes one vowel sound. The chart shows all the vowel (open voiced) sounds in English.
Want more homework? Please read in English. You can sing with lyric videos, find things to read here or join one of my reading groups on Ellii.com.
Ellii.com requires sign up, but I already paid, so you should not pay. If you want, go to https://ellii.com/students Our 1st level code = 7DS6SB, Our regular level reading code is 82449N. If you have great English reading skills, try code 6GS2JJ. If you want to read to prepare for citizenship, use class code MSAU4L
Want grammar? Study simple present verb tense. We practice simple present when we contrast "I want to understand" with "She wants to understand."
1-8 Today, we did WB 19 and went over WB p. 20. We did a reading on SB p. 24. I introduced the color vowel chart. (Color vowel chart links to a Youtube.com video from Karen Taylor--one of the creators of the color vowel chart-- who explains what it is. Don't believe her when she says your brain stops you from hearing any sound. Believe that it's really difficult to hear and say sounds that are not in your native language)
I like to use the color vowel chart to explain and remember how to pronounce words in English. English has 5 vowels, but at least 14 vowel sounds. The chart has one color for every vowel sound.
For Thursday, January 8 Do Workbook p. 20.
1-7-26 Today, we did WB 18 & 19. We did SB p. 19. I showed the links for homework, vocabulary and to learn typing on the student website. We talked about using "too" to agree with positive statements, "either" to agree with negative statements, and "actually" to disagree or signal that we changed our mind. (Video with examples. Spell hamburger, "hamburger" not like the video) We played a game to practice simple present, to after like, I like ___(Nouns) vs. I like to ____(verbs) and agreeing and disagreeing.
For Wednesday, January 7: Do workbook p. 18. Study vocabulary.
1-6-26 Today, we talked and wrote about the picture on SB p. 18. We did the listening on p. 19. Some people took the reading test. Other people talked about goals and listened to the song, "Desperado."
For Tuesday, January 6, 2026: Study vocabulary and do the worksheet - page 1 & page 2
1-5-26 Today, we introduced ourselves to each other. We got textbooks. We talked about the class. Nouns are names of people, places, things, & ideas. Verbs are = or action. Use base verbs (no ing, no s, no past form) after will or after want to. We use "to" between like/want and verbs I like chocolate./I like to eat. I like Bachata./I like to dance. I like books./I like to read. She wants to learn spelling, but he wants to practice listening. They both want their books. He wants to learn grammar rules, but she doesn't.
Fall 2025 Homework
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.
