Chelsea F.C.

The Chelsea Football Club is the hottest team in the English Premier League! Piloted by the brilliant play of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, The Blues have won their last 5 games by and combined score of 19-0.  The supporters at Stamford Bridge have enjoyed a resurgence of their favorite team after a historically bad year for the club in their 2015-2016 campaign.  Chelsea will look to continue their inspired play on Sunday against Middlesbrough.

Key Vocabulary
Brilliant (adjective)- very impressive
Combine (verb)- to mix together to form a single thing
Supporter (noun)- a fan of a sports team
Resurgence (noun)- a period of growth that occurs after a period without growth.
Historically (adjective)- relating to history.
Inspired (adjective)- very good or clever.

Vocabulary Exercise:

Create a sentence for each of the vocabulary words. Don't forget to use the vocabulary word in the sentence. Start with a capital letter and end with the appropriate punctuation.

1. Brilliant: ________________________________

2. Combine: ___________________

3. Supporter:______________________

4. Resurgence: ______________________

5. Historically:__________________

6. Inspired:_________________



Grammar Point:
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that consist of a preposition and an object. Prepositions are words such as in, at, on, by, and many more. This phrase modifies a noun or verb by adding additional information to the subject and action in the sentence.

Grammar Activity:

Write 2 sentences with a propositional phrase.

1) _____________________________________________________________________

2) _____________________________________________________________________

America Chooses Our Next President!

Every four years the citizens of the United States of America exercise their right to vote to elect the leader of our country.  The president of the United States has many responsibilities as the leader of the executive branch of the government. It is his or her job to enforce the laws of our country and to act as the leader of our military.

In the 2016 election America has chosen Mr. Donald J. Trump as the next president.  Mr. Trump had a shocking victory on Tuesday, November 8th to defeat Secretary Clinton by a significant margin in the Electoral College.  This victory, along with the other elections held on Tuesday, gave the Republican party control of all 3 branches of the United States federal government. We will study these topics more in depth later on in the year.

Key Vocabulary
Citizen (noun)- a person that lives in and is legally a part of a country or society.
Elect (verb)- to choose by voting.
Responsibility (noun)- a duty or task that you are required or expected to do.
Executive Branch (noun)- the part of the US government that enforces the laws.
Enforce (verb)- to make sure people do what is required.
Significant (adjective)- large enough to be noticed
Federal Government (noun)- Refers to the United States national government.

Vocabulary Exercise:

Create a sentence for each of the vocabulary words. Don't forget to use the vocabulary word in the sentence. Start with a capital letter and end with the appropriate punctuation.

1. Citizen: ________________________________

2. Elect: ___________________

3. Responsibility:______________________

4. Executive Branch: ______________________

5. Enforce:__________________

6. Significant:_________________

7. Federal Government: ______________________


Grammar Point and Activity: 
A and an are indefinite articles. Find these articles in the above passage and look at the word that follows each one. Do you notice a pattern? Then, write 3 sentences that use either a or an. 

(Hint: It has to do with vowels) 

The 9/11 Museum and Memorial

On Veteran's Day weekend it is important for us, as Americans, to honor those that have risked or given their lives for our country and our freedom.  One historical site that provides an amazing educational experience is the 9/11 Museum and Memorial in Manhattan.  The attacks that took many innocent lives, also acted as the catalyst for the "War on Terror" that American soldiers have endured for 15 years.  The experience at ground zero can not be described in words, it can only be felt in order to understand the impact that those atrocious attacks and amazing acts of bravery had on the people of the United States of America.  As a teacher of American history, I strongly suggest that all students from 7th-12th grade make the trip to learn about the events.

Key Vocabulary 
Honor (verb): to show great respect
Freedom (noun): the right to live without being controlled.
Educational (adjective): having to do with learning.
Catalyst (noun): Something that causes quick change.
Endured (verb): suffered.
Ground Zero (noun): term used to describe the area that was attacked in downtown Manhattan on 9/11/2001.

Vocabulary Exercise:
Matching!

1. Honor ___                                         a. to show great respect
2. Freedom ___                                     b. having to do with learning.
3. Educational ___                                c. the right to live without being controlled
4. Catalyst ___                                      d. term used to describe the area that was attacked in                                                                                   downtown Manhattan on 9/11/2001
5. Endured ___                                     e. Something that causes quick change
6. Ground Zero ___                              f. suffered

Grammar Point:

Past Tense: The past tense -ed is used when you are writing or talking about something that happened in the past. For example, I wrote "...American soldiers have endured for 15 years" 

Grammar Activity:

Please write 3 sentences using the past tense.

Exciting Start for the New York Rangers!

Going into the 2016-2017 NHL season, there were many doubts about the young New York Rangers roster that was set to take the ice in front of veteran net-minder, Henrik Lundqvist.  The youth and "inexperience" has proven to be a great recipe for a new and improved style of hockey that has allowed the Rangers to lead the league in goals scored per game and to start off the year with an 11-4 record.  The youth of the team, including, led by Jimmy Vesey, have been the best show on Broadway for the past month.  It is the hope of Rangers fans across New York state the their team continues their superb play.

Key Vocabulary:
Doubt (noun)- to be uncertain or not sure about something.
Veteran (adjective)- a person that has experience.
Recipe (noun)- a way of doing something to produce a specific result.
Youth (noun)- refers to the group of young players.
Broadway (noun)- the main street in New York City where the Rangers play their home games.
Superb (adjective)- extremely good.

Vocabulary Exercise:

Create a sentence for each of the vocabulary words. Don't forget to use the vocabulary word in the sentence. Start with a capital letter and end with the appropriate punctuation.

1. Doubt: ________________________________

2. Veteran: ___________________

3. Recipe:______________________

4. Youth: ______________________

5. Broadway:__________________

6. Superb:_________________




Grammar Point: A noun is a person, place, animal, idea or thing. 

Grammar Activity: I use nouns to help add detail to my story. Please write one paragraph about a day in your and then identify all of the nouns.

The Cubs Win the World Series!

Baseball has long been considered "America's favorite pastime".  This statement implies that watching and playing baseball is America's favorite hobby or form of entertainment. Well, for as long any living American can remember, they have not seen the Chicago Cubs win the championship of their favorite hobby.  At least, not until this year.  The Cubs have finally won the World Series for the first time since 1908! The storied franchise did not make it easy on their desperate fans, the went down 3 games to 1 in a best of 7 series before making a comeback and bringing the city of Chicago a championship that some thought the would never see.

Key Vocabulary
Considered (adjective)- resulting from careful thought.
Pastime (noun)- what a person does for entertainment when he/she is not working.
Imply (verb)- to express an idea without directly saying it.
Hobby (noun)- what a person does for entertainment when he/she is not working
Storied (adjective)- having an interesting history.
Desperate (adjective)- having a strong need.

Vocabulary Exercise:



Grammar Point: An adjective is a word that describes a noun. For example, I said "...did not make it easy on their desperate fans." I described the fans by saying that they were "desperate". 

Grammar Activity: Please write three sentences using adjectives to describe a noun. Underline the adjectives you use in each sentence. 

Get to Know the Blogger! My Favorite Experience!

My Trip to Madison Square Garden

                I had been waiting for this day since the mailman delivered the UPS cardboard package containing our tickets over a month before.  I spent most days after school observing every detail of the intricate piece of paper that would serve as my pass into the “Most world’s most famous arena”.  I had our seat numbers memorized and I was amazed by the detail of the photograph of my favorite player, Mike Richter, which served as the background. 

Now it was game day and I sat in anticipatory silence with my parents and brother who seemed more relaxed as the automated calming male voice on the Long Island Railroad called out “This is the train to Penn Station, the next station is Hicksville”.  All four of us were dressed head to toe in in red white and blue as the train jetted past Long Island main streets.  The anxious excitement in my belly grew with every passenger that boarded with a jersey, hat, or t-shirt that supported my favorite team.  I began to really get a feeling that I was about to be part of something  bigger and more thrilling than any experience I had ever been a part of before.

We exited the train and I caught a whiff of Penn Station for the first time.  Any description of this scent cannot do justice to the peculiar odor.  It was a mixture of pizza, Mexican-cuisine, alcohol, the cologne of businessmen, and a few not-so-pleasant mystery aromas that combined to create the “city smell” that I have grown to love.  As we walked, I was holding my father’s hand and Dan was holding my mother’s.  We made it through the maze of people, stairways, and Auntie-Anne’s pretzel vendors until we came heard the music playing in the arena and felt the cold from the ice.  Finally, my family and I entered the arena to see streaks of blue and white zipping around the ice. I stared in amazement as my eyes fell on number 99.  

Key Vocabulary

Contain (verb)- to have or hold something.

Observe (verb)- to see.

Memorize (verb)- to learn something so well that you can remember it perfectly.

Anticipatory (adjective)- describing a feeling of excitement.

Peculiar (adjective)- strange or different.

Aroma (noun)- a smell.

Vocabulary Exercise:

Synonyms:

Give a synonym (similar word) for each vocabulary word

1. contain:  _______________________

2. observe: ________________________

3. memorize: ________________________

4. anticipatory:________________________

5. peculiar: ________________________

6. aroma: ________________________

Grammar Point: An adverb is a word that is used to modify an adjective, verb, other adverb, or word group.  

Grammar Exercise: Write a paragraph about your own favorite experience and then go back and identify all of the adverbs that you used. (If you didn't use any... ADD SOME!)

The United States Wins the Ryder Cup!

The United States has won the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008.  After disaster at Medinah and controversy after a disappointing 2014 performance, the USA seems to have found a winning formula.  The victory for team USA was a milestone in the professional careers of all those that contributed on the American side.  Congratulations to Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson, and the rest of the American team on their historic win! The golfing world now has two years to prepare for golf's greatest team event to return to France in September of 2018.

Key Vocabulary

Disaster (noun)- An event that has negative consequences or results.
Controversy (noun)- Disagreement.
Formula (noun)- A method of doing something.
Milestone (noun)- A very important event that occurs in a person's life.
Contribute (verb)- to help a cause.
Historic (adjective)- important to history.

Vocabulary Exercise:
Directions- Unscramble the following word:

Siasdtre

Rrosoytevcn

Rtincboute

Emisltoen

Thosrici

Ufrlamo

Ickemsoln

Yrder Puc



Grammar Point: A proper noun is a noun used to name a person, place or organization. Proper nouns are always capitalized. 

Grammar Exercise:Identify the proper nouns from the text above and then make a list of three additional proper nouns that you think of on your own!