My Worst Experience

My worst experience would have to be my job where I started out this school year in September. Over the summer, I resigned from my position as an aide after four years in a district to further my career and gain more experience. August came around and I had not found a job yet, which made me begin to worry. One day over the summer, I randomly hand delivered my resume to a school not even knowing if there were any openings. Later that week, I received a phone call asking if I could come in for an interview for an AIS/cafeteria position. Without hesitation I said yes. I went in for my interview and met with the principal and assistant principal. I felt my interview went well and they told me I would hear from them after the weekend if I got the job or not. To my surprise, the principal called me that afternoon and offered me the job. I quickly accepted and was so excited that I found a job for the upcoming school year. Little did I know that it would be the worst month of my life.

I attended Superintendent Conferences and introduced myself to anyone who came my way. I would say with a smile, "Hi I'm Christine, the new AIS and cafeteria position." The responses I would get were, "Good luck with that job" sarcastically or "God bless you for taking that job." I couldn't believe how rude and unwelcoming people were and knew I was missing something about my new job. I thought I was going to be an AIS (Academic Intervention Services) teacher, pushing into classrooms and being able to teach and work with students in small groups. I assumed the cafeteria position would be monitoring in the cafeteria for a few periods to make my position full time. I was wrong. My day consisted of pushing into only two classrooms for not even 40 minutes and spending the rest of my day (10:30-1:30) in the cafeteria where I was the head person in charge.

I was so upset that I was spending my days in a school where I didn't feel welcomed or like I fit in. Staff members were very clicky. The way the principals presented the position was not at all what I walked into and felt tricked into accepting a job that was not for me. I felt I would be wasting a year in a cafeteria, miserable and not gaining any classroom experience. Luckily, I heard word of a permanent substitute position in another district and was offered the job in October. I am currently still at this position and could not be happier. I work in a small elementary school, with an amazing principal as well as staff members. I am gaining classroom experience by subbing and cannot wait to see what the future has in store.


Vocabulary:
Experience- the process of doing and seeing things and of having things happen to you
Resigned- to give up (a job or position) in a formal or official way
Worry- to think about problems or fears
Randomly-chosen, done, etc., without a particular plan or pattern
Resume- a short document describing your education, work history, etc., that you give an employer when you are applying for a job
Hesitation- to stop briefly before you do something especially because you are nervous or unsure about what to do
Attended- to go to and be present at
Sarcastically- using or showing sarcasm
Rude- not having or showing concern or respect for the rights and feelings of other people
Clicky- when two or more people are always obnoxious to others around each other
Tricked- an action that is meant to deceive someone
Permanent Substitute- a teacher is a person who teaches a school class when the regular teacher is unavailable


Exercise: Fill in the blank
Look back at my story and fill in the sentence with the correct vocabulary word used.

                                                                Word Bank:
                     experience         attended           permanent substitute     worry       hesitation


1. My worst ______________would have to be my job where I started out this school year in September.

2. Without _______________ I said yes.

3. I __________ Superintendent Conferences and introduced myself to anyone who came my way.

4. Luckily, I heard word of a _______________    _________________ position in another district.

5.  August came around and I had not found a job yet, which made me begin to ___________.

Grammar Point: Commas
A comma marks a slight break between different parts of a sentence. Used properly, commas make the meaning of sentences clear by grouping and separating words, phrases, and clauses.

Write 3 sentences using a comma correctly.

1.

2.

3.

Dear Alien

If you were to write a letter to an alien to tell them about Earth what would you want to say? Here is what I would tell them.

Dear Alien,

Let me tell you about Earth. Earth is the third planet from the Sun. As the Earth orbits around the Sun it turns on its axis, rotating around in 24 hours. It takes 365 days for one complete orbit. The Earth orbiting around the Sun causes us to have seasons. It is the only planet in the Solar System that has life as far as we know. Many people live on Earth. This is possible due to the Earth's atmosphere. Earth is home to humans, plants, and animals. Humans are lucky to be living on Earth. Earth is a wonderful place to be with lots of opportunities. There are many places to go and things to see. For example, there are many different states, stores, schools and zoos. You should come visit soon! 

                                                     Sincerely,

                                                        Miss K 

Some facts from: http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-earth.html


Vocabulary
Earth- Planet on which we live 
Planet- a large, round object in space that travels around a star
Orbits- one complete movement along its path
Axis- the imaginary straight line that something (such as the Earth) turns around 
Rotating- to move or turn in a circle 
Complete- to finish making or doing 
Seasons- one of the four periods (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) into which the year is commonly divided
Solar System- our sun and the planets that move around it
Atmosphere- the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet
Opportunities- an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

Exercise Fill in the Blank  
1. How many days does it take for one complete orbit around the Sun? ___________
2. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall are called _________________.
3. Earth is the _____________ planet from the Sun. 
4. The imaginary straight line that something turns around is called __________. 
5. Earth's _____________ allows there to be life. 


Grammar Point Letter Heading 
There are three things you need to have when writing a letter: A greeting, body, and closing with your signature.

Now it's your turn! Write a letter to an alien telling them anything you want about Earth. Remember to have all three parts of a letter!

Inventions

There are so many inventions in the world. Have you ever thought of something that you believe would be a good invention? I know I have! People create new things everyday. Those new creations lead to success and fame. There are many steps to take before an invention turns into a product. Here are some steps to follow:

Part One: Imagine your product
1. Brainstorm Ideas
2. Decide on an idea
3. Research your invention
Part Two: Patenting your invention
1. Create a thorough record of your invention

2. Consider hiring a patent attorney
3. Get a provisional patent application
4. File for a patent  
Part Three: Making your invention a reality
1. Create a prototype
2. Create a presentation
3. Present your invention to a manufacturer
4. Produce your invention
5. Advertise your inventio

Taken from https://www.wikihow.com/Invent-a-Product

What this means is to think about your invention, get rights to your idea, and make your invention come to life by finding a company that will broadcast and sell your product.

Inventions are created by people thinking about things that will better someone's life. You never know, your idea may be next!

Vocabulary
Inventions- a useful new device or process
Create- to make or produce something
Success- the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame
Fame- the condition of being known or recognized by many people 

Steps- any of a series of successive stages in a process 

Product- something that is made or grown to be sold or used

Patenting-  an official document that gives a person or company the right to be the only one that makes or sells a product for a certain period of time
Attorney- a lawyer 

Application- a formal and usually written request for something

Prototype- an original or first model of something from which other forms are copied or developed  Manufacturer- a company that makes a product 

Advertise- to make the public aware of something that is being sold

Broadcast- to send out by radio or television

Exercise Brainstorming
Think of 3 ideas you believe would be good inventions. Use some of the vocabulary words in your sentence. For example, After meeting with a manufacturer, I was able to get my product up and running by broadcasting it on my own commercial.

1.

2.

3.

Grammar Point Steps
Think of your favorite recipe. List the steps in order for how to make your recipe of choice. Make sure you write down all the directions out clearly for someone else to be able to follow them.

                                                                 Steps:


1.

Finding The Perfect Book to Read

Ever read a book in school and just don't understand or like what it is about? That's okay, it happens! Sometimes we have to read books we aren't fond about but we can also read books we enjoy. There are so many books and different genres to choose from in the world! For example, some are fantasy, fiction, non-fiction, and mystery. You can find books in a library, buy them online or use a technology device, such as a Kindle and download the book. Reading books can be relaxing and is a great way to build up your vocabulary. Whether you realize it or not, reading helps in so many ways. Your brain becomes stronger when reading by being more fluent and learning new words. There are three different parts to a story, which are the beginning, middle and end. You can read a story by yourself, an adult can read to you or you can listen to a story online. It is very important to read on a daily basis. Make reading fun by picking a book that looks interesting to you!

                                             

Vocabulary:

Understand- to know the meaning of something 

Fond- having a liking for something...'aren't fond about' not having a liking for something 

Enjoy- to take pleasure in something 

Genres- a particular type or category of literature 

Fantasy- something that is produced by the imagination 

Fiction- written stories about people and events that are not real 

Non-fiction- writing that is about facts or real events 

Mystery- something that is not known
Library- a place where books, magazines, and other materials are available for people to use or borrow
Online- done over the Internet
Kindle- an e-reader device

Download- an act of moving or coping a file
Vocabulary- the words that make up a language
Fluent- done in a smooth and easy way
"Daily basis"- something that happens every day
Interesting- attracting your attention and making you want to learn more about something

Exercise: Multiple Choice
Choice the word that best fits the sentence. Once you find the word, circle the letter that goes along with it.

1. A book that has stories about people and events that are not real is called
    a. mystery     b. fiction      c. fantasy

2. A place you go where you can borrow books is called the
    a. Library     b. Super Market      c. Park

3.  When you ________ something you know the meaning of something.
     a. understand      b. genre      c. non-fiction

4. The more you read the more _________ you will become.
    a. fluent      b. online      c. fond

5. Attracting your attention and making you want to learn more about something is called
    a. interesting      b. download      c. vocabulary 

Grammar Point: Punctuation
There are different ways you can end a sentence. They are with a period (.), a question mark (?), and an exclamation point (!). A period is used for a statement, a question mark is used when asking a question and an exclamation point is used to show excitement. Write a sentence using each punctuation mark.

For example, "Disney was so much fun!"

1.

2.

3.

Favorite Pets

They say a dog is a man's best friend. Having a pet can make someone feel loved. Animals have a sense of knowing when someone is happy or when something is wrong. Pets keep people company, whether they are reading, watching television or taking a walk. Depending on the pet, they also are aware of their owners and the people that take care or them, as well as strangers. Dogs in particular are loving with family members and friends of the family. However, sometimes they do not like people like the mailman. Dogs become protectors of their home and want to keep their owners safe. When I was growing up we had a family cat, his name was Flip. Flip was a great companion and always stayed by my side when I was feeling sad. Everyone in my family cared for him and he cared for each of us in a different way. It is a special thing to have a pet and care for an animal. If you're lucky you get one that cares for you back.

Vocabulary:

Sense- a particular feeling 

Wrong- not agreeing with the facts or truth 

Company- someone or something you spend time with 

Aware- knowing that something exists 

Owners- someone who owns something together with another person 

Care- things that are done to keep someone to something safe and healthy 

Strangers- someone you have not met before or do not know 

Protectors- a person or thing that protects someone or something 

Companion- a person or animal you spend time with 

Special- different from what is normal or usual 

Exercise: True/False
Determine whether the definition of the word is true or false. (Correct or not) Circle your choice.

1. Being aware is knowing that something exists. (T/F)
2. When someone is wrong they are different from what is normal or usual. (T/F) 

3. Strangers are people who own something together with another person. (T/F)
4. Someone or something you spend time with is called company. (T/F)
5. When you care for something you do things to keep someone or something safe. (T/F)

Grammar Point: Past Tense -ed
Write 3 sentences using the past tense of a action with the -ed ending. For example, "Having a pet can make someone feel loved."

1.

2.

3. 

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

                                   "Life is not about the destination, it's about the journey"


Ever wonder about what you want to do in your future? You can be and do anything you set your mind to! There are so many opportunities in the world to choose from when it comes to thinking about how you want to spend your future. A cop, teacher, doctor or lawyer are just a few examples of career paths you can choose from. Ever since I was younger I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I had some wonderful teachers who helped me learn and succeed through school, which made me want to be a role model for other students. It is an amazing feeling you get when a light bulb goes off in a students brain when they understand the lesson being taught or just showing that they appreciate you. Don't wish to grow up too fast. And don't feel discouraged if you choose one career path and it does not work out. You have your whole life ahead of you and everything will work out.


Vocabulary:
Wonder- to think about something with curiosity
Future-the period of time that will come after the present time
Set- to decide on or choose something
Opportunities- a situation in which something can be done
Career- a job or profession someone does for a long time
Succeed- to achieve or correct the desired result
"Role Model"- someone you look up to
Feeling- an awareness by your body of something in it or on it
"Light bulb goes off"- when someone suddenly realizes something
Appreciate- to admire and value
Discouraged- to make someone less determined


Exercise:
Fill in the blank with the correct vocabulary word

1. I felt ____________ when my friend said, "You can't do that." (discouraged, wonder)
2. In my ___________ I want to be a doctor. (appreciate, future)
3. Mary had so many _______________, she was unable to decide which job to choose.                      (opportunities, set)
4. My sister is my ______________. (role model, succeed)
5. Alex put his __________ before everything else. (feeling, career)


Grammar Point: Contractions: Don't 
Write 3 sentences using the contraction "don't." For example, I don't like driving in the rain.

1.

2.

3.

Spotify Playlists

                                 "Music is the art of thinking with sounds" Jules Combarieu 

Listening to music can have an affect on someone's mood. There are all different types of music genres that a person can choose from depending on how they are feeling. The good thing about music is it has a way of making people feel emotion, whether it is happy or sad. Rocking out to your favorite song can help release tension and make you feel better. After having a hard day at work, I blast the radio and sing along to songs I know and it makes me feel better. It is also nice to listen to songs that I can relate to and know that other people in the world are going through what I am going through. Music can be played in the car, while doing work if it does not distract you or when your parents ask you to clean your room. When studying for a test, think of your favorite song and keep the tune in your head. Replace the lyrics of the song with information on the particular subject. By doing this, it will allow you to memorize and learn your material while having fun with it.


Vocabulary:
Mood- the way someone feels
Genres- a particular type or category of literature or art
Emotion- a strong feeling
"Rocking Out"- to play music in a loud or energetic way
Tension-   a feeling of nervousness that makes you unable to relax
Blast*- with as much loudness or power as possible
Relate- to show or make a connection between two or more things
Distract- to cause someone to stop thinking about or paying attention to someone or something
Tune-a series of musical notes that produce a pleasing sound when played or sung
Lyrics-  the words of a song
Memorize-  to learn something so well that you are able to remember it perfectly

Exercise:
Match the word to it's correct definition 

1. Memorize  ______                             a. the way someone feels 

2. Tune   _______                                   b. a strong feeling 

3. Relate  _______                                 c. a feeling of nervousness that makes you unable                                                                      to relax 

4. Distract _______                                d. to show or make a connection between two or                                                                        more things 

5. "Rocking out"  ______                       e. a series of musical notes that produce a pleasing                                                                    sound when played or sung   

6. Blast  ________                                  f. to learn something so well that you are able to                                                                        remember it perfectly   

7. Tension  ______                                 g. a particular type or category of literature or art

8. Lyrics  _______                                  h. to play music in a loud or energetic way 

9. Mood ________                                 i. with as much loudness or power as possible 

 10. Genres _______                              j. to cause someone to stop thinking about or paying                                                                attention to someone or something 

11. Emotion _______                             k. the words of a song 


Grammar Point: Commands

List 3 different commands:
1.
2.
3.