Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you think of a Pitbull? I can guarantee it’s not a description of a warm fuzzy animal. Instead, most people think they are viscous, mean predators out to devour half of the human population. I was one of those people at one time until, my husband brought home a stray dog. I can vividly remember as being an awfully dirty, smelly, skinny, and sad appearing dog. Now, a year and a half later, I can tell you that the love that I have for this dog which I named Muscles is immense. Muscles has become an asset to my family in many ways for my children he has become their companion especially when they need to feel comfort after a stressful day in school. As for myself, he has aided me as a therapy dog which has helped my anxiety level go dawn tremendously. Muscles constant love, playfulness and affection is not only seen by our family who loves him but from complete strangers as well. Once a stranger gets to know him they I notice how their fear of this breed changes and they often say to me “after getting to know Muscles I have come to realize not all Pitbull’s are bad that it’s the owners that make the dog who they are.” I believe this statement to be true as my dog is a true example: “A well-loved dog is a good dog.”

Tell me your pet stories?

Vocabulary:

•  Pitbull (noun) --a dog

• viscous (adjective) --brutal, savage

•  predators (noun) --an animal that naturally preys on others or a person or group that exploits others. 
• devour (verb) --eat hungrily, consume,  

•  population (noun) --people, community, society

•  stray (verb) --move away, get separated

• immense (adjective) --huge, massive

• companion (noun) --associate, partner

•  aided (verb) --help, assist

• breed (noun) --describing a type of animal. 

Vocabulary Exercise: 

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word.

1. I went to the store and asked the owner “what type of ___________ is that beautiful dog? The owner replied a______________.
2. Lions are very_______________ and tend to be________________ among other animals.
3. The __________dog that we found ______________all the food we gave him.
4. This school has a high ___________________of ESL students.
5. Laura has such an ________________love for her pet dog cooper which she views as her ______________. 
6.   Andrea ___________ her friend up the stairs.

Grammar Point: In the English grammar there are articles the and a/an that refer to a specific or particular noun the is a definite article and a/an the indefinite article. For example, if I say, “let’s take the car instead of the truck,” I mean a specific type of automobile. 

Grammar Assignment: Write five sentences utilizing the vocabulary, I have provided within the passage you just read. Remember to include within your sentences articles the and a/an

Unfortunate Outcome

Now that September is here I started to reminisce on all the holidays that I have celebrated with my family, friends as well as my preschool students. One of my fondest memories has always been the decorations that I tended to do with my students in representation of those holidays. But unfortunately, I received notification from our school administration that this year we cannot create any of those holiday decorations due to, our new school curriculum not permitting it! I find this news terribly disappointing because I believe that preschool students especially ESL students that have not resided in the United States since birth should have the opportunity to experience some American traditions that are now part of their new-found culture. 

Do you find this unfair or have a similar experience?

Vocabulary:

•  started (verb) --begin, commence, get underway

•  holidays (noun) -- festivity or celebration

• celebrated (adjective) --festive, something you do with your family or friends that could involve music, food, and decorations.  

•  fondest (adjective) --loving, caring, affectionate

•  memories (plural noun) --something you can remember from your past.

•  decorations (noun) --something that is added to something else to make it more attractive.

•  tended (verb) --regularly behave in a particular way.

•   representation (noun) --portrayal

•  unfortunately (adverb) --sadly, unhappily

•  received (verb) --person was given something.

•  notification (noun) --telling, alerting  

•   terribly (adverb)--awfully, very bad

•  disappointing (adjective) --unfortunate, discouraging  

•  resided (verb) --where a person lives. 

•  experience (verb) -- encounter, meet 

Vocabulary Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word.

1. Angela said one of her ____________memories is her wedding day.
2. _______________, this was not my brother best game of the year he played ________________.
3. My mother __________________in a small town in Ecuador named Manavi. 
4.  I ______________to study for my final last week.
5.  Last year my family and I ________________thanksgiving in Florida, it was the best _____________ever.
6. Last year Tommy _________________to go to the barbershop for a haircut every Friday.  

Grammar Point: All sentences must always have a subject and a predicate. A subject in a sentence tells whom or what the sentence is about. Whereas, the predicate tells what the subject is or is doing.

Grammar Assignment: On the sentences provided in the vocabulary exercise draw a line under the subject and a predicate in each of the sentences.