Irregular Verbs

Let's discuss irregular verbs!

Recall that regular verbs are formed by just taking the present tense verb and adding "-ed" to the end. An example of that would be the verb "yell." The past tense, because it's a regular verb, would be "yelled."

An irregular verb, however, does not follow that "nice" rule about adding "-ed" to the end for the past tense. Irregular verbs have a completely different word used.

Let's look at some examples.

1.)
Present tense: run
Past tense: ran

2.)
Present tense: shake
Past tense: shook

3.)
Present tense: shine
Past tense: shone

For a list of some irregular verbs, visit
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslirrverb.html

and

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm.


Check out those sites, pick 1 irregular verb, come back here, and post the following things: the present tense form, the irregular past tense form, and then use that past tense form in a correctly written sentence.

I'll start!

Present tense: awake
Past tense: awoke
Sentence: Last week, I awoke to the sound of a honking horn.

Now you try!

Writing Terminology

No matter what test you're doing (GED, FCAT, SAT, etc.)or homework assignment you may be working on, there are some basic terms associated with essay writing. In fact, if you've ever attended one of the online workshops about essay writing, you've probably heard these terms used.

Try this Quia "Rags to Riches" game that tests your knowledge of writing terminology. It's ok if you don't know all of the terms; for those that you don't know, however, consider writing them down and making flash cards to help you learn them!

Once you complete the game, come back here & blog about your results. Was this a review for you or did you learn something new? What terms (if any) were you not familiar with, but learned after doing the activity? What was your final score? Did you enjoy this activity?

Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/rr/311270.html

(Please note that although this game is referencing the FCAT test, everything presented is still 100% valid for those who are not doing the FCAT. Feel free to share this with any friends or relatives who are working on their FCAT writing skills, as this can help them too.)

Have fun!!!

Writing- Word of the Day

I found a neat website called DailyWritingTips.com and on there they have a "word of the day" section. If you click that link above, you're brought to the archive area where you can see past words of the day.

There are tons of great words there that you may not know. I'd like you to visit that site (DailyWritingTips.com/), find a word you do not currently know (or know well), and click on it. When you do that, you'll see the word and its definition. Come back here & post two words their definitions so we can all learn new words.

I'll start!

Word of the Day: Meritocracy

Meritocracy (mĕr’ĭ-tŏk’rə-sē) is a system where the advancement of individuals is based on their performance and ability. American companies, for instance, are said to be more meritocratic than Italian ones, where nepotism (family connections) prevail.

Now you try!

Vocabulary- Words with Multiple Meanings (Math)

The English language can be tricky because so many words have more than one meaning. This blog post is going to focus on some math terms that you know (and love) that have multiple meanings. Let's examine a few.

Fraction:In math, a fraction would be represented by values like 1/2, 1/4, or 5/8.
In general terms, a fraction means just a portion of something.
Example sentence: Sally completed just a fraction of her work for the day.


Area:In math, area is the amount of flat space that a figure covers. Depending on the figure, there are different formulas to use to calculate that specific value.
In general terms, area means a certain section of land or space.
Example sentence: This particular area of North Carolina is beautiful.


Volume:In math, volume is the amount of 3-dimensional space that something takes up, such as a box or a basketball.
In general terms, it could mean the amount of sound.
Example sentence: The volume of his radio is too loud for me.

Can you think of more math words that have dual meanings? Take a look at the list found at http://www.mathwords.com/a_to_z.htm. Be sure to scroll down since there are a ton of words to see! Find a word that has a particular meaning in math, but then a different meaning when it's used outside of a math context. Post your word, the math definition, and then try to give your best definition of what the word means outside of math. Lastly, use that word's non-math version in a sentence (similar to what I showed you above).

Writing-Let's Celebrate Dictionary Day!

Did you know that October 16th, was "Dictionary Day?" Did you know such a thing existed? If you've participated in other blog topics, you've probably had a chance to use an online dictionary.

Fun Fact: Noah Webster, considered the Father of the American Dictionary, was born on October 16, 1758. Webster began to write his dictionary at the age of 43 and completed the dictionary 27 years later.

Take a look at this online dictionary, http://www.merriam-webster.com. On there, they have a "Word of the Day" category and even an archive where you can see past words of the day!

So, to celebrate "Dictionary Day" I'd like you to visit the Merriam-Webster online dictionary's word of the day. To get there, click this link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wodcalendar.pl. Pick any word or date you want & click on that word. You'll see the word, a definition, and an example sentence. Come back here & post at least three results!

I'll start!

kvell
\KVEL\
verb
to be extraordinarily proud, rejoice

Example Sentence: Critics kvelled over the violinist's triumphant return to the stage where she had made her debut many years ago.

Sharing Websites

Many of us visit websites often that we find interesting, fun or informative.

Please share at least one of these websites with us. List the website address, explain the website and tell us why you think it is worth sharing.

Let me start with one site:

http://www.walkthetalk.com/pages/inspirational-movies.htm

It is a website that provides motivational messages for individuals,business leaders and even teens.

My favorite part of the site are the motivational movies. Whenever I can use a "pick me up" I watch a short movie. I think we can all benefit from a short movie to motivate us!



Thank you Shenea for this blog idea!

Commonly Misued Words: Then and Than

It's very easy to mistakenly type one letter and change the whole meaning of a word. Take, for example, the words "then" and "than." Those have very different meanings and usages.

The word "then" is used when referring to a time or an order of events. Look at the examples below.

She opened up her purse and then took out the car keys.
First, put the bread in the toaster. Then turn it on and wait.

The word "than" is used when making a comparison between things. Look at the examples below.

I like cookies more than I like ice cream.
Henry buys broccoli less often than carrots.

Show me how you'd correctly use the words "then" and "than." Write one sentence illustrating usage of each word.

Commonly Misued Words: Accept & Except

By making an effort to correctly use all words in your writing, you can see big improvements in overall quality. What you say (and write) is a representation of you. If you went to the mall, you'd probably try to not mistakenly wear your shirt backwards or inside-out. With writing, it's the same way!

Another set of common misused words are the terms "accept" and "except." These aren't truly homonyms (words that are pronounced the same, but have different meanings), as they are said two different ways.

The word "accept" is used when talking about receiving something. Two examples are below.

I have accepted the new job offer.
My mailman asked if I'd accept the package on behalf of my neighbor.

The word "except" is used when excluding or leaving something out. Two examples are below.

I like many vegetables except broccoli and cauliflower.
Everyone came to the party except for my sister and her boyfriend.

Practice using those two terms. Write one sentence that shows the correct way to use each word, "accept" and "except."

Writing- The Most Important Proper Noun

We've discussed proper nouns before. But what do you think is the most important proper noun of all? I bet you wouldn't be surprised to hear that it's your own name!

How many times each day do you write (or type) your name? It's probably many more times than you really think! Your name should always be written just the way you'd write any other proper noun (such as "Coca Cola," "Pepsi," "New York City," or "Florida"). The first letter of each name should be capitalized. But do you do that? Do you always do that?

No matter if it's an email, a blog post, a text or signing in to an online workshop, your name should always be typed with the first letter of each part being capitalized! Sometimes we all feel a bit lazy, and it might be easier to not capitalize it, but that's not right. You are important! Your name is important! Write it in a way that shows the importance!


*** Remember that on the blog, you can type your full first name and just the last initial! ***


Write one short sentence telling me what you hope to do before the end of the year. Then, be sure to correctly sign (type) your name at the end. Here's an example.

By the end of 2010, I hope to have met most of my New Year resolutions.

-Lourdes P.

Customer Service

In almost every position, good customer service is invaluable. Whether you are a doctor, teacher, attorney, administrative assistant, clerk, technology representative,construction, realator, hair dresser, sales associate and on and on.....customer service is key! Remember you may not work with outside customers but even your fellow co-workers should/can be considered customers.

Please read these valuable customer service "words" shared by Steve Ventura in the book Serve Right


TALKING YOUR WAY TO BETTER SERVICE

The 10 important words to say:
I apologize for our (my) mistake. Let me make it right.

The 9 important words to say:
Thank you for your business. Please come back again.

The 8 important words to say:
I’m not sure, but I will find out.

The 7 important words to say:
What else can I do for you?

The 6 important words to say:
What is most convenient for you?

The 5 important words to say:
How may I serve you?

The 4 important words to say:
How did we (I) do?

The 3 important words to say:
Glad you’re here!

The 2 important words to say:
Thank you.

The 1 important word to say:
Yes.

Share your comments on these customer service "words". What words work for you or have worked "on" you?

Writing- Common Misspellings

When writing, you want to focus on the ideas and how you're conveying them. But don't let your ideas get overshadowed by misspellings. To see a more complete list of the most common misspelled words, visit this link

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0781709.html

I've picked a few words from that list. Now you get to practice using the word and spelling it correctly. Please select a word and use it in a sentence.

believe
changeable
definite
embarrass
government
grateful
guarantee
independent
knowledge
library
night

Tell me a story-October's edition

There's nothing worse than writing because you're forced to do so. Not every writing task should be like that, so let's have some fun and do a "tell me a story" blog!

I'll give you some key terms that I'd like you to weave into your story. You can make your entries funny, serious, informative, or persuasive. It's up to you. The only "rules" are that you should write your entries correctly and, most importantly, you have to enjoy this task! :-)

Here are the key words to use.

October
Weather
clouds
Candy

I look forward to seeing what you submit!!!

Please include your name (if anonymous) and spell check before you submit.

Commonly Misued Words: Witch and Which

Happy October!

With Halloween around the corner, this next blog post is about the words "witch" and "which" is quite appropriate. These words, like many of the others that we've discussed during the "Commonly Misused Words" topics, are homonyms or homophones. They're pronounced almost identically, but have very different meanings. Let's look at each one a bit closer!

The word "witch" is meant to be used when describing the Halloween character who has the pointy hat, pointy shoes, and rides a broom. It can also be used to describe a nasty, mean-spirited person.

The word "which" can be used as a pronoun, as in the example below.
"Which of these should we buy?"

It can also be used as an adjective, shown in the example below.
"I spent the day at the mall, during which time my car was being fixed."

Probably the easiest way to remember this is to ask yourself if you're talking about a person or character. If that's not what you mean, then go with the word "which."


Can you write two sentences that show how to use the words "witch" and "which" correctly? Give it a try now!

Writing-Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 5)

As we continue on with our blog discussions about using hyphens correctly, we reach part 5. (Who knew there were this many "rules" for hyphen usage? I certainly didn't!)

Rule: Use a hyphen between a prefix and a capitalized word.

Remember that a prefix is a word part that comes at the beginning of the word. For more information on prefixes and to see a list of some common ones, click this link or this one!)

Examples:

My mother loves to study the pre-Civil War era.
Charlie spilled spaghetti sauce on his white T-shirt.

When it comes to computers, I am very pro-Dell.
Some parts of the world have anti-American feelings.

Tell me what you think about this rule for hyphens? Does it seem logical? Do you think you can incorporate it into your writing (when necessary)? Did you know about this rule before? Have you seen this used correctly in other things you've read lately?

Please share your thoughts be using 2-4 complete sentences.

Writing-Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 4)

Here's the next bit about using hyphens correctly so your writing is the best it can be.

Rule: Use a hyphen with terms that involve numbers and letters.

Examples (Part 1): early-1980s, mid-1990s, late-2000s

Example (Part 2): The Olympic gymnast, Nastia Luiken, scored high-9s on her routines in order to win the gold medal.

Now it's your turn. Write two sentences that correctly illustrates this rule for using hyphens.

Please make sure to review your post before submitting it.

Writing-Using Similes

Have you heard of the term "simile" before? Wikipedia describes it as literary device that uses the words "like" or "as" to compare two unlike objects or ideas. I bet you've seen writing, especially poetry, that used a simile or two! Let's look at a few examples.

North Dakota is like an ice box in the winter. It is freezing cold there!
(That simile is comparing the state of North Dakota to an ice box.)

My cat, Spanky, is like a tiger stalking his prey when he plays with his toys.
(That simile is comparing my cat, Spanky, to a tiger.)

Florida summers are as hot as the sun's surface.
(That simile is comparing summers in Florida to the sun's surface. Both are very hot!)

Take a look at the list below (from http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/spoon/similes.php) of some common similes. Pick two and try using them in a couple of sentences!

As agile as a monkey
As alike as two peas in a pod
As bald as a baby's backside
As big as a bus
As big as an elephant
As black as coal
As blind as a bat
As blind as a mole
As bold as brass
As brave as a lion
As bright as day
As bright as the sun
As busy as a beaver
As busy as a bee

One of my favorite similes shown above is the "as blind as a bat." I've often said that my sister, without her glasses, is as blind as a bat!

Writing- Personification

Many times in descriptive writing, you'll come across personification, especially if you're reading or writing poetry. Personification is giving human traits (qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics) to non-living objects (things, colors, qualities, or ideas).

For example, consider this sentence: The rain kissed my cheeks as it fell. It's impossible for rain to do an action such as "kiss" someone on the cheek. However, that paints and picture in the reader's mind!

Think of a non-living object and some human trait that you could use with it. Below are some examples of sentences that use personification.

The palm tree danced in the wind.
Her yellow polka dots screamed with their brightness.
The huge pumpkin sat in the middle of the field.

Visit this link (http://www.imschools.org/cms/Units/Poetry/student2.htm) and look at the 10 examples given. Then, come back here & post your favorite one!

Writing-Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 1)

The next few blog posts will focus on when hyphens should be used in writing. As you know, the English language has lots of rules and even more exceptions to those rules. But learning when to use a hyphen and, just as important, when not to use it will make your writing even better! (These rules can be found at the Online Writing Lab (OWL) by Purdue University.)

Rule 1: Use a hyphen to avoid confusion or an awkward combination of letters.

Example: You can re-sign a petition. (Meaning to sign again)
Note: No hyphen is needed in the word "resign" as in resigning from a job. (Meaning to officially quit or leave your job.)
Reason: The hyphen helps with correct pronunciation of "re-sign."

Example: A teenager may be semi-independent. (The hyphen is used because without it, you'd have the letters "ii" right next to each other and that may make it hard to know what term it is.
Note: No hyphen is needed in the word "semiconscious."
Reason: Use a hyphen when you have two of the same letters next to each other with each word part.
Additional examples: The word "shell-like" needs the hyphen, but the word "childlike" does not.

What do you think about this rule? Is it something you'll be able to apply in your writing? Did you already know this rule before today's blog entry? Answer the two questions and write a sentence with a hyphen.

Writing-Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 2)

Let's continue our discussion and exploration of hyphen usage in writing. This next rule may be the simplest one of all!

Rule 2: Use a hyphen with compound numbers.

Examples: forty-six, sixty-three, twenty-nine

Note: When writing numbers like those, you have two options: use the numbers (46, for example) or spell it out and use the hyphen.

I'd like you to write two sentences and show both of the ways to correctly use numbers. I'll give you an example below.

1.) My sister is twenty-eight years old.
2.) My sister is 28 years old.

Now you try it!

Writing-Using Hyphens Correctly (Part 3)

Here's a bit more about using hyphens correctly in your writing.

Rule: Use a hyphen with the prefixes "ex-" (meaning former), "self-", and "all-."

Examples: ex-husband, self-assured, all-inclusive

Can you think of any terms using those prefixes that would require the use of a hyphen? If so, post them. If not, that's ok, just take one or two of these terms and use them in a correctly written sentence.

Writing as a Memory Tool

Have you ever considered that writing can be a tool that helps you remember things better? That's not really a surprise to many of us, especially since so much emphasis is placed on taking notes or writing other important things down! Here's an interesting fact that I came across today!

Few people realize how fast memory fades. Studies on memory have shown that, without review, 47% of what a person has just learned is forgotten in the first twenty minutes and 62% is forgotten after the first day. (University of Texas at Austin).

Isn't that amazing, but also kind of scary?!

Our next set of blog topics will focus on how to be a better note-taker! So, let's do a little opening activity right now! How, why, or when do you take notes? Once you take them, what do you do with them? Share your opinions with us!

Vocabulary- Resume Terms

Have you ever wondered if there's specific vocabulary that you'd use on a resume? Well, the answer is "yes." Take a look at this neat site that I found that does just that!

http://esl.about.com/od/businessspeakingskills/a/j_vocabulary.htm

The first part of that site lists verbs that will help you express just exactly what you did with impressive vocabulary. These verbs are used to express responsibilities and tasks performed. Please look at the list below & identify 2-3 words that you'd like to look up so you can understand the meaning a bit better. Then, visit an online dictionary (like http://www.merriam-webster.com/), look up the word, and come back here to post each word with its definition!

accomplished
acted
adapted
administered
advanced
advised
allocated
analyzed
applied
approved
arbitrated
arranged
assisted
attained
blended
brought
built
carried out
catalogued
changed
classified
collaborated
compared
completed
computed
conceived
conducted
constructed
consulted
contracted
controlled

Writing -Less May Be More!

Have you ever heard the term "less is more" used? Well, it's used when having more of something isn't necessarily a good thing. Graduation speeches are a perfect example of this! Sometimes, people may think that they have to do things a certain way or a certain length (for writing or speaking). However, having more is not always better! Less is often a more attractive alternative.

Let me present you with this situation. A person is giving a speech or presentation. Instead of covering the main points in 5 or 7 minutes, the person takes 15 or more minutes, leaving everyone wondering when it was going to end. In this case, less would have been more! Had this person covered what they wanted to do in less time, they would've received a more favorable response from the audience.

This is true with your writing. Never "fluff" it up. Cover your main points. Be concise. If you do that, it won't matter how short or long it was, as you did what you needed to do!

Have you ever heard, seen, or read something that was too long and you felt could have been presented in a much shorter way? If so, what was it?

Paraphrasing

Many times, a boss or supervisor may want you to write a short summary to paraphrase what was said or what happened at an event (like a meeting). Paraphrasing or summarizing means that you're not giving a word-for-word account of what transpired, but that you're giving the most important points or an overview of things.

Let's look at an example.

Perhaps you're at a restaurant and your friend says this to the waiter: "I have some questions about the breakfast specials. Are they all prepared with butter? I'm not sure that I want butter. What about the pancakes? Are they made with butter too? Oh, forget it. I'll just order the waffles and not worry about it."

You might paraphrase that by telling someone that your friend asked some questions about the food, including if it was made with butter, and he decided to order the waffles. (Do you see how that is a much shorter way to give someone the main idea?

I'd like you to give it a try! Visit one of the web sites below and pick a story to read. Then, come back here & paraphrase what you read in 2-4 sentences.

Travel Channel
CNN Entertainment
USA Today

Always awesome alliteration!

Have you heard the term "alliteration" used before? Even if you haven't, I bet you're familiar with it or could recognize it. Take a look at the sentences & phrases below. Each is an example of alliteration.

Candace creates candy canes.
Stephanie sang so soulfully.
Trent's terrific trees
Always awesome alliteration

Wikipedia defines alliteration as a literary or rhetorical stylistic device that consists in repeating the same consonant sound at the beginning of several words in close succession. An example is the Mother Goose tongue-twister, "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers …".

Do you want to see some examples of poetry that use alliteration? Visit this link: http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/alliterationclassics.html.

Next, come back here & try writing a 2 to 3 word phrase that is an example of alliteration. (If you get stuck, you can "borrow one" from the poems that you see.)

Writing- Business Expressions (Part 2)

The previous blog post let you check out 20 common business idioms. How about a look at another set of 20 to see which ones you know & which ones you don't know?

Check out this site:

www.teacherjoe.us/BusinessExpressions02.html.

Please review that list, post the 4 idioms that you're least familiar with, and include the meaning of each.

Writing- Business Expressions (Part 1)

There are some common business expressions that you may hear (or read or write). Do you know what they mean? Like some other idioms that we've explored, they mean something different than if you tried to literally interpret them.

www.teacherjoe.us/BusinessExpressions01.html

Check out the 20 business expressions. Pick the 6 that you were least familiar with, come back here, and post the expression with its meaning.

Business Vocabulary (Part 3)

With any discussion of business, it's important to include mention of money. Our next set of business vocabulary terms will relate to money! (Who doesn't love that?!)

Visit this link:

www.englishclub.com/business-english/vocabulary_money.htm

Find 4 terms that you don't know (or don't know well) and post the words with their definitions. Can you then write two sentences that incorporates both of those words used correctly? Give it a try!

Business Vocabulary (Part 2)

Next, let's explore some business vocabulary related to meetings. (At some point it seems like we're all in a meeting or hearing about a meeting that happened!)

Visit this link:

http://www.englishclub.com/business-english/vocabulary_meetings.htm

Pick 4 terms that you're not familiar with and post them to this blog. Then pick one word you are very familiar with and how/why.

Business Vocabulary (Part 1)

With so much emphasis today on the economy and the job market, let's spend some time looking over some important business vocabulary terms that relate to employment.

Visit this link:

http://www.englishclub.com/business-english/vocabulary_employment.htm

Find 4 terms that you're not totally familiar with and come back to this blog so you can post the words & definitions of each. Then try to use two of those words correctly in a sentence.

Vocabulary - Technology Terms

Here are a set of technology terms http://www.tekmom.com/buzzwords/ to review. Please select 5 words that you aren't familiar with, click on each word, and look at the definition. Then come back & post what you learned!


field
gigabyte (GB)
hard disk/hard drive
hardware
HTML
icon
initialize
Internet
kilobyte (K)
megabyte (MB)
memory
modem
monitor
network
peripheral
pixel
processor (micro-)
RAM
RAM vs. Hard Disk
record
scanner
software
spreadsheet
URL
USB
virus

Writing-Turning Your Brainstorming Into More

The last blog post asked you to do some brainstorming on things that came to mind when you thought of the season of "summer". I'd like you to make sure that you participated on that topic and then, once you've done that, think about one of your brainstorming ideas. Turn that into a sentence or two where you're giving more detail about that item.

I'll start!

Brainstorming: warmer weather

Sentences: The summer brings hot weather. Instead of having cold fronts that bring chilly air, you can count on summer on having temperatures that range from 85 to 95 degrees. It is not always nice to be outside in Florida.

Using your brainstormingNow you try

Writing- Brainstorming

Any good writing has some planning, pre-writing, and/or brainstorming that happens before the actual writing starts. Did you know that this part of the writing process only needs a few minutes and can be as short as just some words & phrases?

Let's practice this now! Brainstorm some words or phrases that come to mind when you think of the season of summer. (Note: there's no right or wrong answers when doing brainstorming!)

Here are a few things that come to mind for me. Your list may be similar or different!

warmer weather
greener grass
rain storms
flowers

Now let's see your brainstorming list for some summer terms.

Vocabulary - Use it or Lose It

Look at a set of vocabulary terms (with meanings).


apparel- clothing
beseige- blockade
compress- shrink
denounce- to condemn openly
dispatch- report, kill
douse- soak
expressly- plainly
famished- starving
forsake- to give up, to leave
gainful- profitable
immense- very large or great
inept- totally without skill
ingenious- imaginative
instantaneous- done in an instant
irk- to annoy

Which words did you already know? Which 2-3 words did you not know that well (prior to this activity)? Please post those words with their meanings. Then, challenge yourself to use two of them in a correctly written sentence!

Writing- Idioms (Part 3)

Let's continue our exploration of idioms. The last blog post focused on some medical idioms. This time, we'll focus on idioms dealing with color.


Did you ever hear (or read) that a person's face was "as red as a cherry" after a certain event? That saying implies that a person's face was red, possibly from embarrassment or maybe a severe sunburn. That idiom helps you imagine just how red the person's face it. It may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it certainly helps to convey the point!


Take a look at this list of idioms dealing with color.
http://www.idiomconnection.com/color.html#B


Then, once you've reviewed them, try the quiz to see how well you know them!
http://www.idiomconnection.com/color.html#BQ


Lastly, come back to the blog, write your favorite color idiom, the meaning of it, and tell us how you did on the quiz!!!

Writing- Idioms Part 2

Let's continue our exploration on idioms. Use the link below to access a website that talks about some medical idioms. Remember that an idiom is a phrase or saying that is not meant to be interpreted literally.

Have you ever heard the phrase "under the weather" stated by someone? Since that's a pretty common saying, I bet you already know that it means "not feeling well."

After you review the medical idioms on that page, try the short 10-question quiz that follows and check your answers! Then, return to the blog to tell us your favorite medical idiom, what it means, and how you did on the quiz.

Medical idioms: http://www.idiomconnection.com/medical.html#B

Writing- Using a Thesaurus

Have you ever used a thesaurus to find a similar word? Imagine that you're writing a paragraph (or more) about a specific topic, such as "running." However, you feel that you've used the term "running" too much and want to vary your terms. If you'd like some suggestions, a thesaurus is the perfect place to go!

Here's a link to an online thesaurus.

http://thesaurus.reference.com/

Visit that site, type in a words up top, and click "search." Do this with 4 different words. The thesaurus will do the word and give you a list of synonyms (similar words). Then, come back here, tell us what words (4) you picked and what results the thesaurus gave.

I'll start!

My word was "run." The thesaurus gave me the following similar terms: abscond, amble, barrel, beat it, bolt, bound. (There were more words listed, but for the purposes of this blog post, you don't need to list them all.)

Now you try!

Writing- 100 Essential Business Nouns

Today, we'll look at 100 essential business nouns. Visit this site (http://www.speakspeak.com/html/d2e_resources_top_100_nouns_library.htm) and review the list.

Pick out 6 words that you're not familiar with and go look up those terms in an online dictionary, such as Dictionary.com or Merriam-Webster.com. Then, once you've gotten the definitions, please come back here, post each word & its definition.

Be sure to return to this blog topic to see what other students have added after your response. It's a quick way to learn more words and to help others learn new terms too!

Goal Setting-Important Decision

Every once in a while we need to take an inventory of our life. Unfortunately, we are always so busy and find it hard to take time to reflect. Take a few minutes today and watch this short movie (3 minutes).

What did you think about it? Do you agree with the comparison of the land and mind? Did it make you think about some new or old goals you may have?

Please share your thoughts in 3-5 complete sentences.
http://www.thestrangestsecretmovie.com/walkthetalk?SRC=MSECRET&utm_source=Walk+the+Talk+Master+List&utm_campaign=bb3efbfe19-MSECRET&utm_medium=email

Writing- Idioms

Idioms are one of the hardest parts of the English language. An idiom is a term or phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal definitions and the arrangement of its parts, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use.

The phrase "keep your eyes peeled" is an idiom. You couldn't interpret that literally, as your eyes can be "peeled" the way a banana can be. But, figuratively, that means to keep your eyes opened and be on the lookout!

Test your knowledge of some common idioms that you may come across in writing & speaking. Try this Quia activity and then come back here to report which idioms (if any) were new to you and which one you were most familiar with already.

Quia activity: http://www.quia.com/mc/66234.html

Relationship: Good Writing and Good Reading

Would you believe me if I told you that good writers are generally good readers too? So one way that you can improve your writing skills is to practice reading! Think about it this way: when you read something, no matter if it's a book, magazine article, or even a recipe, you're coming across important vocabulary words, seeing punctuation being used, and getting ideas that expand your mind!

You (or your children) may have heard the term SSR used before. SSR stands for sustained silent reading. Everyone, no matter what age they are, should do at least 20 minutes of sustained silent reading each day. This will improve your reading skills and your writing skills too! Would you believe that even comic strips or comic books (sometimes called "graphic novels") can be used for your daily SSR time!

Here are some links that you can use for your daily SSR time. These are some of the websites that I visit daily to read about different things.

People magazine (celebrity gossip)
Sun Sentinel (Broward/Dade/Palm Beach news)
CNN (National and world news)
The Weather Channel (Forecasts and climate information)


What have you read lately? In a few sentences, tell me about the last thing you read. Maybe it was a magazine article about a celebrity or maybe it was something in your online course.

Writing -Nouns

Any complete sentence will always have two parts to it: a subject and a predicate (or verb). Sentence subjects can use singular or plural nouns. (Recall that a noun is a person, place, or thing.)

Singular subjects talk about one noun. Let's look at an example.
The phone is in the office.
In this case, the singular subject is "phone," as only one phone is being discussed.

Plural subjects talk about two or nouns. Below is an example.
Three phones are in my house.
In this case, the plural subject is "phones." There are multiple phones being referenced in that sentence.

Test your knowledge of the singular and plural forms of some nouns by playing this Quia matching activity. Then come back here & report how you did! Did you learn anything new?

Quia link: http://www.quia.com/mc/67715.html

Have fun!

Time Management

Imagine that you had a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400, and carries over no balance from day to day. Every night it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during that day. What would you do with such an account? Most likely you would make certain that you spent every cent every day.

Are you surprised that you have such a bank?

It is the time bank!

Every morning, the bank credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever you have failed to spend or invest wisely. It will not carry over a balance. It does not allow for an overdraft. Each day, it opens a new account in your name: each night it erases your balance. If you fail to use the day's deposits wisely, the loss is profound. If you can invest about 10 percent of this resource each day, for your online course you will receive major dividends in your teaching and learning stock.

There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". No matter how wonderful your time management skills are, you cannot get more than 86,400 seconds in a day. You must live each day on your daily deposit, and invest it wisely to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success from your personal and professional life! The clock is ticking. Make the most of each online day as well!

How do you make the most of each online day? Share some of the techniques you use to keep you focused and organized in your class.

Common -Homonyms

The eLearning writing blog has had many topics that focused on homonyms. Recall that a homonym is a word that has the same pronunciation as another word, but is spelled differently and has a different meaning. The words "sent," "scent," and "cent" are examples of homonyms.

How well do you know some common homonyms? Are you ready to challenge yourself with a Quia activity? Test your skills with the words "to," "too," "two," "who's," "whose," "your," and "you're" (among others). Find someone who you can play this game with, as it's more fun to have a partner for the challenge board game.

Play this Quia game (http://www.quia.com/cb/39371.html), come back here, tell us who you shared the activity with, how you did, and if you learned anything new!

Vocabulary-Computer Terms

The eLearning blog has focused a number of posts on vocabulary. Good writers & speakers have a broad, varied knowledge of different words. Today, let's focus on some basic computer terms, as all online students should understand these words.

Take a look at the list below. Read through the terms. Pick 4 terms that either you don't know or don't know well. Post the term and the definition. Then try to use the term in a sentence.


Hardware: The physical components of the computer system.
Software: The programs or instructions that tell the computer what to do.
CPU: The brain of the computer or central processing unit.
ROM: The permanent memory that is built in your computer. This is read only.
RAM: The computer's working memory, sometimes called random-accessed memory.
Megabyte: Approximately a million bytes.
Gigabyte: Approximately a billion bytes (or 1,000 megabytes).
Input Device: The hardware that is used to pass information into the computer.
Output Device: The hardware that receives and dislplays information coming from the computer.
Modem:The device that allows your computer to talk to other computers over a telephone line.
Monitor: A video or computer display device.
Laser Printer: A printer that uses both laser and photographic technology to produce high quality output.
Printer: The hardware that provides printed output from the computer.
Hard Copy: A printed copy of computer output.
Compact Disc: A disc on which a laser has digitally recorded information such as audio, video, or computer data.
Hard Disk: A fixed, large-capacity magnetic storage medium for computer data.
Floppy Disk:A portable magnetic storage medium for computer data that allows users to randomly access information.
Graphical User Interface: The use of graphical symbols instead of text commands to control common computer functions such as copying programs and disks.
Icon: A small picture or symbol respresenting a computer hardware function or component.
Ink-jet Printer: A type of printer that forms letters on the page by shooting tiny electrically charged droplets of ink.

If you would like to see it in a chart format please visit:
http://www.quia.com/jg/65620list.html)

Sheridan Technical Media Center

Have you visited our media center recently? It has so many things to offer. Please watch the movie below and share your thoughts to the following questions:

https://sheridantechnicalcenter.eduvision.tv/Default.aspx?q=M1%252fSz0zM2veQE4GZg2JxFg%253d%253d
(Copy and Paste this link to your URL if it does not work)

Did you learn something new about our media center?
Does the media center offer more than books to check out? Please provide some examples.
List 4 things that you can do at the media center.

Sheridan Technical Job Board

Please visit the Sheridan job board:

The address is www.collegecentral.com/sheridantechnical

Please register to access our job board. Once your register, Kelly (our job coach) will grant you access and you can then search for open positions. Even if you do not find something of interest right away (or are looking for work), come back and visit-it is a work in progress. Once you have access you will also find a library of career videos and documents, as well as numerous other resources.

Please feel free to contact Kelly (our job coach). She can be reached at kellyellis@browardschools or (954) 303-2842

Once you visit the site and register please look at one of the resources that the site offers and answers the following questions in your comments:

Was this site helpful?
Will you consider posting your resume?
Which article or video did you find helpful?

Vocabulary-Use it or Lose It

Today's the day to learn a few new words! Look at the list of words below. Pick four that you're not familiar with, visit the online dictionary, get the definition, and then come back here to post your findings!

Accolade
Bolster
Cryptic
Ephemeral
Hedonist
Lamentation
Obliterate
Plummet
Resolution
Tentative

You can use this link (http://www.merriam-webster.com) to get to the online dictionary.

It's helpful to see the part of speech of the word, so include that too & see if you can then use the word correctly in a sentence!

Food, Nutrition and Health

Happy 1st day of Summer!

At the beginning of the year many of us had resolutions that may have included eating better and excercise for overall health and well being. If that was the case, hopefully it is going well for you!

There is so much information about health and wellness and we would like you to visit a site that we use! Please visit www.mypyramid.gov. It is a great website for you and your family. It offers information on exercise, nutrition and health.

Visit the site and click on-get a personalized plan. It is located on the right side of the home screen under I want to:

Follow the directions and get your personal plan. Once you have completed this activity please look around the site and share your thoughts with us!

Was it an interesting site?

Have you visited this site before?

Do you plan to visit it again?

Will the personal plan be helpful to you?

Please share your thoughts with two to three complete sentences paying attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Writing-Parallel Structure

Have you heard of the term "parallel structure" when it comes to writing? It's certainly not something you hear of every day, but is an important part of good (and correct) writing!If you're a fan of the Olympics and gymnastics, you've heard of and seen the parallel bars. Think about those for a minute.

What do you notice about those bars? Well, you could say that they are very similar to each other. They have the same form, style, and layout as each other. Believe it or not, this is true of good writing! Let's take a closer look at how sometimes you may have a sentence that has multiple verbs in it. Just like those parallel bars, you want those verbs to be in the same format as each other and to follow the same layout. So if one verb is in the past tense, they all should be!

If one verb is using the present participle form, they all should be! Below are some examples.

My sister was running, jumping, and playing all over the soccer field.
Verona ate dinner, slept for a bit, and then jogged.
The baby eats and sleeps throughout the day.

Did you see how each sentence had multiple verbs, but they were all similar in format and tense? That's something to pay attention to the next time you write!

Now you try it!

Write three different sentences that use two or three verbs and has correct parallel structure.
I know you can do it!

Writing-Choosing the Right Word

How many times have words like "there," "their," and "they're" been confusing to you in your writing? Those words are called "homonyms" or "homophones" which means they sound the same when you say them, but they have different meanings and spellings.

So let's study these words and have a little fun at the FunBrain.com site with a "Word Confusion" game. Click the link below to visit the site, play the game, and then report your results!

If you get a part wrong, that's ok!

Just write down the two words, make some flash cards to learn the different meanings, and review them regularly.

Word Confusion Game

Writing-Do you paint an "exact" picture?

If you've been outside in the lately, you know that it's "hot." But that word is not as descriptive as you'd like. If you said "hot" to different people, you'd get some different interpretations of what that means. Let's take a look!

Someone from Miami may say that "hot" to them means anything over 90 degrees. Someone from New York may say that "hot" means anything over 70 degrees. Lastly, someone from Alaska may say that "hot" means anything over 50 degrees! This doesn't mean that you shouldn't use the word "hot" in your writing. However, with words like that where meanings can be different, be sure to add in those additional details to help paint that "exact" picture.

To practice this, tell me about how the hot weather feels to you. Is it really hot or are you thinking it's pretty nice? Give me those details to help me understand what you mean! In fact, I'll give you a short example.

Today I went outside and it was hot! The thermometer said 90 degrees, but I was sure it was hotter than that. It was humid with no breeze. I decided to put on shorts and a sleeveless shirt.
If it got any hotter, I'd need to find a nearby pool to cool off or stay inside all day.

Now you try!

Tell me a story- June's edition

One of the most fun things about writing is using it when you don't have to!

So let's do just that! This topic, although not an informative or instructional one, is here to let you practice all of the writing tips, tricks, and rules that we've previously discussed.

Please remember to pay close attention to your spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. Also, follow the instructions! Like some of the past "Tell me a story" blog entries, this one is going to use the same beginning and then you can take the story in any direction that you want.

Try to be creative and add 3-5 sentences. Be sure to check back here & read other bloggers' responses. Please begin your story with the following and then continue it on as you'd like!--

"I was thinking about the July 4th weekend and ..."

Writing-Synonyms

Have you heard of the term "synonym" before?

A synonym is a word that has a similar meaning of another word. Some synonyms are listed below.

Laugh - Chuckle
Cry - Sob
Happy - Elated
Sad - Dejected
Walk - Stroll
Run - Trot

Here's a really great website that will test how well you know your synonyms for some words. It's also a fun way to help expand your vocabulary! Knowing synonyms will help improve your writing because you'll have varied word choice. Try this synonym game, come back here, report how you did, if you enjoyed it, and which set of synonyms were new to you!

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/phonics/synonyms/synonyms.htm

Writing-Be Persuasive!

I want you to practice your writing skills today! Can you be persuasive? Using this blog-think about what it is that keeps you coming back week after week to this blog?

How would you persuade someone to use this blog if they hadn't tried it before? What reasons would you present to convince them this is something worth the time and energy to use? What's the best thing about the writing blog?

Please share your thoughts in 3-4 correctly written sentences. Remember to carefully read your post before submitting it and check for all of those things that go into good writing: correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, word choice, and sentence structure.

Capitalization & Punctuation

Two of the most basic and most important parts of good writing are correct capitalization & punctuation. Without these items, sentences look sloppy and incomplete. Play this Quia game to test your capitalization & punctuation skills. Then, return to the blog and tell us how you did! Also, write a sentence or two stating who else you could share this game with so other people could work on these important things.

http://www.quia.com/rr/242194.html

Enjoy!

Writing- "We Need This Yesterday"

How many times has someone asked you for something and they needed (or wanted) it done immediately? This could happen at work or at home.

How do you deal with it? Check out this blog post from the Bad Language site. Then, come back here & let me know if you found it to be interesting & helpful.

http://www.badlanguage.net/we-need-this-yesterday-how-do-you-react

Writing-Using a Thesaurus

Have you ever used a thesaurus to find a similar word? Imagine that you're writing a paragraph (or more) about a specific topic, such as "running." However, you feel that you've used the term "running" too much and want to vary your terms. If you'd like some suggestions, a thesaurus is the perfect place to go!

Here's a link to an online thesaurus.

http://thesaurus.reference.com/

(Remember if you click on the link and it does not work you can copy and paste it to your URL)

Visit that site, type in a four different words-go up top, and click "search." The thesaurus will do the word and give you a list of synonyms (similar words). Then, come back here, tell us what words you picked and what results the thesaurus gave for each word.

I'll start! My word was "run." The thesaurus gave me the following similar terms: abscond, amble, barrel, beat it, bolt, bound. (There were more words listed, but for the purposes of this blog post, you don't need to list them all.)

Now you try!

Writing Terminology

No matter what test you're doing (GED, FCAT, SAT, TABE etc.), there are some basic terms associated with essay writing. In fact, if you've ever attended one of the online workshops about essay writing, you've probably heard these terms used.

Try this Quia "Rags to Riches" game that tests your knowledge of writing terminology. It's ok if you don't know all of the terms; for those that you don't know, however, consider writing them down and making flash cards to help you learn them!

Once you complete the game, come back here & blog about your results.

Was this a review for you or did you learn something new? What terms (if any) were you not familiar with, but learned after doing the activity? What was your final score? Did you enjoy this activity?Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/rr/311270.html

(Please note that although this game is referencing the FCAT test, everything presented is still 100% valid for those who are not doing the FCAT. Feel free to share this with any friends or relatives who are working on their FCAT writing skills, as this can help them too.)

Have fun!!!

Writing-Compound Sentences

The next type of sentence to discuss is the compound sentence.

To help you remember what this is, think of a compound word like "sandpaper." A compound word is made from two individual (or independent) words that are joined together. Similarly, a compound sentence has two parts to it and each is an independent clause.

Independent clauses are complete thoughts that could stand on their own (if separated).
There are two key things to remember with compound sentences. First, you will always have a comma used at the end of the first independent clause. Then, immediately after the comma, you will have a connector or conjunction (such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) used.

You can remember those connectors by using the acronym FANBOYS, which comes from the first letter of each of those connecting words. (Isn't that neat?!)

Let's look at some examples of compound sentences. These use the most common connectors.

1.) Today is Monday, and tomorrow I have off of work.
2.) Roxana was listening to the radio, but the power went out.
3.) The calendar is on the wall, so you can mark your birthday on it.

Notice that each sentence has two complete thoughts. For the first example, you could have separated the thoughts. If you did that, you could have written this. "Today is Monday. Tomorrow I have off of work." If you write the thoughts separately, you have two simple sentences!

If you keep the thoughts together and use the connector "and," then you need to have a comma before the connector. Plus, if you read that sentence out loud, you pause after the first thought, so that's another indicator that a comma is needed.

To practice joining the independent clauses, play this Quia game.

Then, come back here & write two compound sentences to tell us how you did and if you enjoyed it!

Writing-Simple Sentences

The next few blog topics are going to focus on different types of sentences.

The first one that you'll use is the simplest out of all sentence types. The "simple sentence" is exactly what it sounds like. It has a subject and a verb, but no dependent or independent clauses to worry about.

Below are a few examples of simple sentences.

1.) The newspaper was delivered today.
2.) Sunday was Mother's Day.
3.) Sheridan Technical Center has a graduation ceremony in June.
4.) Blue is a good color for you.
5.) Melissa brought water and a snack to the marathon.

Notice that a simple sentence is not always a short sentence, as you saw in the third and fifth examples. However, a simple sentence has just one thought to it. There are no connection of thoughts with words like "and," "however," "but," etc. (You can have a connection of items in a simple sentence. This would be similar to what you saw in example number five.)

By using simple sentences, you can focus on the other important aspects of your writing: correct capitalization, punctuation, and subject-verb agreement.Tell me about what you did today. In two or three simple sentences, share your activities. Remember the characteristics of simple sentences as we discussed above and show me what you can do!!

Writing-Using Contractions

You may find that you want to use a contraction of words in your writing. Below is a short list of some common contractions. For a more complete list of contractions visit this site:

http://edhelper.com/Contractions3103.htm

it is = it's
I am = I'm
they are = they're
do not = don't
does not = doesn't
would not = wouldn't

Some writing experts say that you should not use contractions in your formal writing. However, if you can use them correctly, you don't need to avoid them! Notice that all contractions need the apostrophe.

How well do you know your contractions? Try this Quia game to test your skills! Come back to the blog after you complete the game and write two sentences. First, tell us how you did. Next, correctly write two sentences using a contraction.

Quia game: http://www.quia.com/mc/366989.html

Writing-Subject Pronouns

An important part of writing is varying the words you use. To help accomplish this, you can use subject pronouns such as "he," "she," and "they." But, be sure you use them correctly!

Think about whose name you're replacing with the pronoun and then make sure the pronoun matches in both gender and number.

Try this Quia game about subject pronouns. Then, come back here & post how you did!

Remember to write your results in complete, correctly-written sentences.

http://www.quia.com/pop/51661.html

Enjoy!

Happy May! Tell me a story

There's nothing worse than writing because you're forced to do so. Not every writing task should be like that, so let's have some fun and do a "tell me a story" blog!

I'll give you some key terms that I'd like you to weave into your story. You can make your entries funny, serious, informative, or persuasive. It's up to you. The only "rules" are that you should write your entries correctly and, most importantly, you have to enjoy this task! :-)

Here are the key words to use:

May
Flowers
Sunset
Peace


I look forward to seeing what you submit!!!

Use it or Lose it!

We're expanding our minds & vocabularies today with this installment of

"Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It."

Are you ready?

Take a look at the word list (shown below) and pick three words that you're not already familiar with in your day-to-day vocabulary.

Use an online dictionary (such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com) to define it. Post the words, its part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.), and the definition.

Be sure to look through what others have posted! It'll help all of us improve our vocabularies! As an extra challenge, you can try using that word correctly in a sentence!

• Abstain
• Blighted
• Credulous
• Enshroud
• Haughtiness
• Lachrymose
• Obfuscate
• Plethora
• Repudiate
• Tedium

Prepositions

Did you know that you use prepositions all the time in your writing & speaking? According to Wikipedia, a preposition indicates a relation between things mentioned in a sentence. In English, the most used prepositions are "of", "to", "in", "for", and "on." (Wikipedia link)

Think about it! Without prepositions, you wouldn't be able to give you reader that exact picture that you want to paint for them.Test your preposition skills by playing this short 8-question game by going here:

http://www.quia.com/pop/46312.html.

Once you're on that site, click the "Play this game" box to start the activity. Once you're done, return to the blog & post your results by using complete, correctly-written sentences!

Commas- The Best Trick!

The English language has so many rules and even more exceptions to those rules. This is especially true of rules relating to comma usage in writing. Rather than go over all of those rules, I'm going to share with you my favorite "trick" for writing. You're going to love it!

Writing and speaking are very closely related. If you have a sentence and don't know if a comma is needed, read your sentence out loud. Pay close attention to where you naturally tend to pause. That's where a comma is probably needed!!! Let's try it now.

Read the sentence (shown below) out loud and see where you pause.

While flipping channels I came across a new television show.

I bet you paused after the phrase "while flipping channels." That gives you an indication to put a comma at that point in the sentence. Doing so, you'd end up with this: "While flipping channels, I came across a new television show."The next time you're unsure if a comma is needed, try this trick!

In fact, reply to this post and tell me if you think it will help you.

Writing: Subject Pronouns

An important part of writing is varying the words you use. To help accomplish this, you can use subject pronouns such as "he," "she," and "they." But, be sure you use them correctly!

Think about whose name you're replacing with the pronoun and then make sure the pronoun matches in both gender and number.

Try this Quia game about subject pronouns. Then, come back here & post how you did!

Remember to write your results in complete, correctly-written sentences.

http://www.quia.com/pop/51661.html

Enjoy!

Usage- "A" versus "An"

In grammar, the terms "a" and "an" are referred to as indefinite articles. They're used before singular nouns. But what's the difference and how do you know which one to use? In most instances, the article "a" can be used. The exception, however, comes when the noun that follows starts with a vowel (the letters 'a,' 'e,' 'i,' 'o,' and 'u').

Let's look at some examples!

1.) I borrowed a book from the library.
2.) A thunderstorm is predicted for tomorrow.
3.) Did you see a movie this weekend?

4.) An elephant was part of the circus.
5.) My sister packed an umbrella in her car.
6.) Did you taken an English class this year?

How good do you think you are at using "a" and "an" correctly?

Test your skills by playing the "Rags to Riches" game found here: http://www.quia.com/rr/53245.html. Then, come back & report how you did. Don't forget to include your thoughts on the activity. Was it fun? Did you challenge yourself? Would you recommend this activity to others who'd like to practice their "a" versus "an" skills?

Writing-Political Cartoons

Have you ever heard the term "political cartoon" or seen one of these? With all that's going on in politics right now, I bet you have!

Wikipedia.com defines a political cartoon (sometimes called an editorial cartoon) as an illustration or comic strip containing a political or social message, that usually relates to current events or personalities.

Let's look at an example.

What does that image say to you? Look at the title shown on the image. It says "World Markets." So you know it's dealing with economics. Next, look down the left side. You see negative percentages. The shape that's used (a spiral) is also significant. To me, this political cartoon is expressing that the world markets seem to be in a downward spiral. Isn't that what you've been seeing & reading on the news lately?

Visit this site: http://www.cagle.com/politicalcartoons/. Once you're there, be sure to scroll down to see all of the cartoons. Find one that you can relate to or maybe one that you've read about recently. Then, come back here and tell us about what the cartoon showed and what current event it was related to.

Commonly Misued Words: Been and Being

The words "been" and "being" have very different meanings & usages. Getting them confused and using the wrong one can really jump out at a reader. So let's spend some time focusing on each one and learning more about them.

Been: This word is pronounced like "bin." It is used as a helping (or auxilary) verb and is the past participle of the verb "be." Here are some examples of the word "been" in a correct sentence.

1.) I have been waiting for 5 hours.
2.) Terrance has been on the varsity football team for a while.
3.) My grandparents have been in the hospital.
4.) You have been a great student.
5.) She has been shopping already.
6.) The test has been completed as of yesterday.

Being: This word is pronounced like "bee-ing." It can be used in various formats including a noun and a present participle. Let's look at some examples of each.

1.) We are all human beings. (noun)
2.) The alien beings are shown in movies. (noun)
3.) I am being a cat for Halloween. (present participle)
4.) You are being a good student by studying. (present participle)
5.) They are being taken to the airport right now. (present participle)
6.) She is being given an award. (present participle)

Here are some helpful hints to use!

** The word "been" will always have either "has" or "have" in front of it. It' s used when talking about something that already happened.

** The word "being" might use "am," "is," "are," "was," or "were" in front of it. It will never have the words "has" or "have" used with it.

Can you correctly use the words "being" and "been" in a sentence? Give it a shot!!!

Writing: Let's End Hunger (Part 1)

Have you ever heard of a website called freerice.com? It's a great site with 2 main goals: to provide education to everyone for free and to help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free. How nice would it be to help others while helping yourself?

On that site, you can play vocabulary games. For every question that you answer correctly, the freerice.com website will donate 20 grains of rice through the United Nations' World Food Program to help end hunger.

Your task is to visit the site (freerice.com), play a vocabulary game (or even a few of them), and then report back on your experience! Did you enjoy the site? Was the vocabulary easy or difficult? How many games did you play? How many games did you win by answering correctly

Writing-Word of the Day

I found a neat website called DailyWritingTips.com and on there they have a "word of the day" section. If you click that link above, you're brought to the archive area where you can see past words of the day.

There are tons of great words there that you may not know. I'd like you to visit that site (DailyWritingTips.com/), find a word you do not currently know (or know well), and click on it. When you do that, you'll see the word and its definition. Come back here & post the word plus its definition so we can all learn new words.

I'll start!

Word of the Day: MeritocracyMeritocracy (mĕr’ĭ-tŏk’rə-sē) is a system where the advancement of individuals is based on their performance and ability. American companies, for instance, are said to be more meritocratic than Italian ones, where nepotism (family connections) prevail.

Now you try!

Writing-Be Descriptive!

Did you know that October 10th is "National Cake Decorating Day?" Doesn't that sound fun?

Imagine that you were going to create and decorate a cake to represent you and your personality. What would it look like? What colors would you use? Why did you pick those colors? What kind of decorations (edible or not) would be included on the top? Be as descriptive as possible! Good writing should paint a picture in the reader's mind and that's your task for this blog topic. Are you up to the challenge?

The inside of my cake would be yellow since that's a bright, happy, cheery color. I would make a creamy light blue icing because that's my favorite color and is soothing to the eyes. Lastly, I'd include multi-color sprinkles on top. Sprinkles are fun and always make me smile. Like my cake, I think every day should include those things: happiness, fun, and smiles!

Now describe your cake to me! How delicious and wonderful can you make those words and images?

Writing-Problem Phrases (Part 3)

Let's continue on with our examination of some problem phrases.

Knowing how to use these items correctly will make your writing and speaker even better!

Problem phrase: Couldn't care less

Rule: Be sure to make it negative.

The phrase "I could care less" is incorrect.

Here's an example of how that phrase is used correctly.
I'm not a fan of broccoli. I couldn't care less about how it's cooked. I know I will never like it.

Now you try!

Writing-Problem Phrases (Part 2)

The next problem phrase that you should know about (and be able to use correctly) is below.

Problem phrase: Used to
Rule: Do not omit the "d."

The phrase "use to" is incorrect.

Here's an example of it being correctly used.

I used to love eating ice cream every night.

Now you try it!

Writing-Problem Phrases (Part 1)

In writing (and even speaking), it's important to use your words and phrases correctly.

This next series of blog posts will focus on some commonly misused phrases. These items are ones highlighted on the Weber State University webpage.

Problem phrase: Supposed to
Rule: Do not omit the "d." The phrase "suppose to" is incorrect.

I was supposed to go running today, but the rain stopped me.

Try using it correctly in a sentence!

Commonly Misused Words: Shudder and Shutter

With hurricane season just around the corner, this next set of commonly misused words is quite appropriate. Even though the words "shutter" and "shudder" have similar pronunciations, they have very different meanings. Let's take a look!

The word "shutter" is generally used as a noun. Think of the shutters you put on your home when a hurricane is predicted to happen. (It can also be used as a verb if you're going to "shutter" something up.) Examples of both uses are below.

Example ("shutter" as a noun): We put metal hurricane shutters up on our windows.
Example ("shutter" as a verb): My neighbors are going to shutter their windows tomorrow.


The word "shudder" can be used as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means a small shake or vibration. As a verb, it means to shake.

Example ("shudder" as a noun): There was a shudder in the car as we drove on the bumpy road.
Example ("shudder" as a verb): Sitting in the very cold room, John shuddered.


Now it's your turn. Pick one of those words and use it correctly in a sentence.

Commonly Misused Words: Peace and Piece

Let's discuss two more commonly misused words: peace and piece. These words are homonyms. They are pronounced almost exactly the same, but have very different meanings and spellings.

The word "peace" means harmony, calmness, or a lack of fighting.
The word "piece" means a part of something.

Can you use those two words correctly? Try it now by writing two simple sentences that show the correct meanings of "peace" and "piece."

Here's an example.

1.) There is no peace when war is happening.
2.) I'd like to try a piece of the chocolate cake.

Commonly Misused Words: Which and Witch

Halloween won't be here for a while, but that's ok! This next blog post is about the words "witch" and "which." These words, like many others that we'll discuss during the "Commonly Misused Words" topics, are homonyms or homophones. They're pronounced almost identically, but have very different meanings. Let's look at each one a bit closer!

The word "witch" is meant to be used when describing the Halloween character who has the pointy hat, pointy shoes, and rides a broom. It can also be used to describe a nasty, mean-spirited person.

The word "which" can be used as a pronoun, as in the example below.
"Which of these should we buy?"

It can also be used as an adjective, shown in the example below.
"I spent the day at the mall, during which time my car was being fixed."

Probably the easiest way to remember this is to ask yourself if you're talking about a person or character, similar to what you see in the picture below. If that's not what you mean, then go with the word "which."


Can you write two sentences that show how to use the words "witch" and "which" correctly? Give it a try now!

Writing - Compound Words

A compound word is one that has two parts to it. Think of the word "pancake." That's a compound word made by combining the terms "pan" and "cake." So why is it important to know about compound words? Well, like many of the things we've discussed, the more correct your words and writing are, the more effective you'll be in getting your ideas across to the reader!

Test your knowledge of compound words. Try this activity and see how you do! Did you know all of them? Did you know most of them? Pick out your favorite compound word from the activity and use it in a sentence.

Writing Terminology

No matter what test you're doing (GED, FCAT, SAT, etc.), there are some basic terms associated with essay writing. In fact, if you've ever attended one of the online workshops about essay writing, you've probably heard these terms used.

Try this Quia "Rags to Riches" game that tests your knowledge of writing terminology. It's ok if you don't know all of the terms; for those that you don't know, however, consider writing them down and making flash cards to help you learn them!

Once you complete the game, come back here & blog about your results. Was this a review for you or did you learn something new? What terms (if any) were you not familiar with, but learned after doing the activity? What was your final score? Did you enjoy this activity?

Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/rr/311270.html

(Please note that although this game is referencing the FCAT test, everything presented is still 100% valid for those who are not doing the FCAT. Feel free to share this with any friends or relatives who are working on their FCAT writing skills, as this can help them too.)

Have fun!!!

Commonly Misused Words: Break and Brake

Words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings are called "homonyms" or "homophones." In your writing, it's important to make sure that you use the right word. Remember that writing is a reflection of you and you always want to make a great impression, even with your readers!

The word "break" can be used as a verb or as a noun. Let's look at some examples. (The first two sentences use "break" as a verb, and the last two sentences use "break" as a noun.)

1.) If you drop the glass, it will break.
2.) The burglar was going to break into the neighbor's home.
3.) There will be a break between the morning and afternoon classes.
4.) Let's stop the car and take a break at the gas station.


Quite the opposite, though, is the word "brake." This word can also be used as a verb, noun, or adjective, but has very different meanings.

Verb Example: I had to brake hard to avoid hitting the skunk in the road.
Noun Example: Tim had the brakes replaced on his truck.
Adjective Example: Pep Boys will have brake pads on sale this week.

Notice that in all of those examples, there is some relation to a vehicle. (You could also talk about "brakes" on a bicycle, motorcycle, scooter, dirt bike, etc.)

Can you use those words in two sentences and use them correctly? Give it a try now!

Writing-Handling Numbers

Sometimes when you write, you're going to need to include a mention of numbers of things. In formal writing, it's best to follow this simple rule: write the numbers from one (1) to ten (10) using letters; numbers eleven (11) and larger can be written using just the numbers.

Below are two examples illustrating this rule.

Terry bought nine types of soda for the party.
There were 45 people at the city council meeting.

Why does this rule for writing out the numbers using words only apply when going up to ten?

Well, first of all, those are sho rt, easy words to write (or type). Could you imagine having to write every number with wor ds? Gosh! It would be a pain to have to type one thousand five hundred twenty seven instead of 1,527. Secondly, remember that this is just for formal writing, such as essays. Other types of writing (informal emails, lists, or memos) can use numbers for any value.

Start to look for this when you read newspaper or magazine articles! I bet you'll begin to notice this more and more.

Give it a try. Write two sentences. The first one should use a number where the rule tells you to write it out using words. The second sentence should use a number that does not have to be written in words. Let's see how you do! I'll start!

I can run up to four miles. I hope to be able to run 13 miles one day!

Writing-Stay Away from "Fluff"

Look up into the sky and find the fluffiest cloud you can see. It's probably large and "poofy." But if you condensed it down, there wouldn't be much substance there. Well, fluffy writing is the same way! It's large (fills up a lot space on paper), but doesn't have much substance to it. Since your goal is to be an effective writer, you want to avoid the "fluff" as much as you can!

You're probably asking yourself, "What exactly is fluffy writing?" and that question is important. If you know what it is, you know what to avoid. Below are a few examples of "fluff."

The following phrases/sentences are things to stay away from in your writing.

1.) "Let me tell you..." (You're doing the writing, so it's understood that you'll tell it.)

2.) "Let me explain this." (It's expected in your writing that you'll explain your topic.)

3.) "As I will show..." (You're the author, so you're in charge! There's no need to state this.)

4.) "I believe that..." (Since this writing is coming from you, it's implied that this is what you believe.)

5.) "As I've shown..." or "As I've explained..." (There's no need to state this, unless someone else did the "showing" or "explaining," the reader knows that you showed/explained these things.)

Sometimes it may be hard to not use these phrases. But you're all good writers, so you can always find a different way to state what you're trying to say in a strong, effective, compelling way!

Now, look back at something you have recently wrote (email, homework, letter) and share where you may have found some "fluff" or share your thoughts on this topic.

Usage- "Like" versus "Such As"

Did you know that formal writing makes a very clear distinction between the terms "like" and "such as" when using them to cite examples? (Don't worry, I didn't know that either until I researched it a bit, but it does make sense!)

Both terms are used to make comparisons, and here is how to know when to correctly use each one.The term "like" is used if you're citing only one example. Look at the sentence below that demonstrates this.

Search engines like Google help people locate information quickly. Conversely, the phrase "such as" is used if you're citing more than one example. The sentence below shows this.

Search engines such as Google and Yahoo help people locate information quickly.

Try it out! Write two sentences where one uses the term "like" and the other uses the phrase "such as." Let's see how you do!

Writing - Common Misspellings

When writing, you want to focus on the ideas and how you're conveying them. But don't let your ideas get overshadowed by misspellings. To see a more complete list of the most common misspelled words, visit this link http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0781709.html.

I've picked a few words from that list. Now you get to practice using the word and spelling it correctly. Please select a word and use it in a sentence.

believe
changeable
definite
embarrass
government
grateful
guarantee
independent
knowledge
library

Writing - What's Your Purpose?

When you write, you always need to have a clear purpose or reason in mind. Are you trying to be serious and convey facts? Do you want to be persuasive and try to get someone to change his or her opinion? Would you like to be funny and make the reader laugh? No matter what you're trying to do, you always need to know your purpose before you even put your pen (or pencil) to the paper!

In previous blog posts, I've asked you to tell me a story where I gave you some items that you had to include. The story could have been funny, romantic, informative, or even scary. This time, I will give you some items to use, but your goal is to make your writing funny or whimsical. Your events, situations, and characters can all be as outlandish, crazy, or odd as you'd like!

As you write your story, be sure to include the following elements: yellow school bus, three packets of artificial sweetener (such as Splenda or Sweet-n-Low), a lawn chair, and Sam's parakeet named Lucille Ball.

I can't wait to see what you come up with! You've got your purpose, you've got your items, and you're ready to get creative!

The Semicolon

Semicolons can be thought of as being very, very similar to periods. They should only be used when what falls on either side of it is a complete thought. Let's look at an example of this!

Today has the most beautiful weather; I spent the whole day outside.

Each part is a complete thought (with a subject and a verb). You could say "Today has the most beautiful weather." That is fine. Then, you could start a new sentence and say "I spent the whole day in the pool." That is also fine. Each of those could be sentences on their own. However, if you'd like to keep them "connected," you can use the semicolon (like you see above).

Now it's your turn. I'd like you to write 2 separate sentences. Then, write those same thoughts as one sentence where there is a semicolon as the punctuation between them.

I'll start!
Separate: My cat is so tired. He spent the whole day sleeping on the comfortable chair.

Combined: My cat is so tired; he spent the whole day sleeping on the comfortable chair.

The Colon

The English language is interesting. There are countless ways to say the same statement. Many times, it just depends on your style of writing. Today, we're going to examine the colon, which is a type of punctuation. The colon looks like this : (two vertical dots). Generally, colons are used to show that a list will follow. Let's look at a two examples. You'll see that the same idea can be written with or without a colon. It just depends on the format you're most comfortable with!

Example 1.)
The guests brought many items: ice, soda, cookies, cake, and even napkins.
Or
The guests brought many items such as ice, soda, cookies, cake, and even napkins.
(Notice that the first sentence uses the colon to symbolize that the list of items will follow. The second sentence doesn't need a colon because it uses the phrase "such as." Both ways are correct.)

Example 2.)
Kevin had a lot to do tonight: study for his test, prepare lunch for his younger sister, and change the oil in his car.
Or
Kevin had a lot to do tonight. He was going to study for his test, prepare lunch for his younger sister, and change the oil in his car.
(Notice that the first sentence uses the colon to symbolize that the list of what Kevin has to do will follow. The second sentence doesn't need a colon because it has separated the thoughts into two complete sentences. Both ways are correct.)


Which way do you prefer? Take a moment and write a sentence that uses a colon. Then, write the same idea, but make your sentence (or sentences) so that no colon is needed.