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GRAMMAR

We are beginning the 3rd quarter focusing on grammar. We will introduce other topics as the quarter progress. 
Grammar is the study of the way words are used to make sentences. Our class will focus on the eight part of speech.
 
NOUN: A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. We will be learning and dissecting ten different types of nouns. 

The 10 noun types we will be interacting with include the following list:
1. Common Nouns
2. Proper Nouns
3. Material Nouns
4. Compound Nouns
5. Pronouns
6. Abstract Nouns
7. Concrete Nouns
8. Collective Nouns 
9. Uncountable Nouns
10. Countable

​COMMON NOUNS : A noun that is not specific towards objects and living things. 
Sentence: My school did not want to get air conditioning for each classroom.
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​PROPER NOUNS: A noun that is referring to a specific thing. 
​Sentence: West Middle school provided air conditioning to each classroom. 

MATERIAL NOUNS: A noun that is a type of solid, liquid, etc. 
Sentence: My clothes are made out of leather.  

COMPOUND NOUNS: A compound noun is a noun that is made up of two or more words. 
Sentence: I saw a rainbow near my house. 

PRONOUNS: They refer to something owned by the speaker or by someone or something previously mentioned.
Sentence: She did not want to go to the park with her friends. 

ABSTRACT NOUNS: A noun denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object.
Sentence: He fell in love with another student. 

CONCRETE NOUNS: A Noun that is a name of an object, living things, etc. 
Sentence: The computer was full of dust. 

COLLECTIVE NOUNS: A noun that can be used when there are more than one or two. 
Sentence: I saw an army of eagles. 

COUNTABLE NOUNS: A noun that could actually be counted. 
sentence: I plucked three hairs off of my eyebrow.  

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS: A noun that could not be counted. 
Sentence: There are like seven billion hairs on my head. 

Be sure to include an image or images for each different type of noun. 

Write a sentence for each different type of noun. 

Highlight the noun you used in each sentence.

Directions: Using text boxes, write these questions in your blog. Then, explain why the answer you choose is correct and explain why the other answers are incorrect. 

Context Clues: 

1. Read the passage then answer the question.
Construction on Florence's grand cathedral began in 1296. Over a hundred years later, however, the structure remained unfinished, with an enormous hole in the roof. The designers had intended to top the cathedral with the world's largest dome, but this plan was stymied by architectural limitations. The main factor stalling progress was the fact that no one knew hot to create such a massive cupola without large, cumbersome support systems. 

What is the meaning of cupola as used in the passage?
1.Dome
2.Roof
3.Decoration
4.Cathedral 

Answer: I think that number 2 is correct because I think that cumbersome means heavy woods, which need to be set up to build a roof. Also I don't think it was a dome because in the passage it stated that they gave up on the idea of building such a large dome, decoration was not involved in one of the issues to the problem, and I think that cathedral  means a roof but a very old style of a roof. 

2. Read the passage then answer the question.
While the political feats of her husband, President Chiang Kai-shek, may be more widely recognized Soong Mei-ling's accomplishments are just as notable. As First Lady, Soong Mei-ling's introduced her husband to Western culture and ideas. Likewise, she served as her husband's emissary, or spokesperson, to the West. During a visit to the United States in 1943, Soong Mei-ling became the second woman to address a joint session of the U.S Congress. The trip earned her the esteem of the American public, who praised her passion and determination, and she raised billions of dollars in aid for her country. 

What is the meaning of emissary, as used in the passage ?
1. A person sent to a foreign country to do religious work 
2. A person sent on a mission to represent another person or country
3. A secret agent 
4. A soldier paid by a foreign country 

Answer : I think that number 2 is correct because Soong Mei-Ling went to another country to represent her husband. Also in the passage it did not state anything about her going to another country and doing religious things, she is not a secret agent because the revealed her name, and the passage did not state her being in the military 

​3. Underline, circle or highlight the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that scrutinized means examined closely.

Do humans beings have the freedom to make their own choices, to act out of their own free will, or are all choices, in some sense, predetermined by prior causes and physical laws? In 2007, neuroscience John-Dylan Haynes sought to answer this questions by conduction an experiment: volunteer subjects were seated in a brain scanner and were asked to press a button with their left or right index fingers whenever they felt the urge. Hayne's team scrutinized the subjects subjects' brain activity in real time, carefully monitoring the results and searching for patterns. 

4. Underline, circle or highlight the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that innovations means inventions. 

Men and women on board the space station need to work out, but it is done in little to no gravity. This situation presents some unique challenges, but scientists have developed many innovations to help astronauts stay in good shape. These include special shoes and new types of weight-lifting machines, treadmills, and exercise bikes that all work without gravity. This physical activity is important because it helps address the detrimental effects of zero gravity, such as premature aging and the loss of muscle mass and bone density. 

Affixes & Stems: 
Directions: Circle the answer below that is the correct response, next write a sentence using the word, and then highlight the word.

5. what does the word repulsive mean?
A. Causing others to move or stay away 
B. Cooperating on a group activity 
C. Disappointing or angering others
D. Doubting someone's intentions or motives 

Sentence: The boy was very repulsive around other students. 

6. What does the word recede mean ?
A. To say something again 
B. To start and stop repeatedly  
C. To move back 
D. To look forward 

Sentence: I constantly have to recede about whether I should join the drama club or not.

7. Who is better equipped for subsea exploration ?
A. A sailor 
B. A scuba diver 

Sentence: The boy was not equipped for subsea exploration.

​8. Which is a common misspelling of "2" ?
A. Too
B. Two

Sentence: the boy was two rows away from his friend unfortunately. 

9.If you had an eventful day, how might you describe it? 
A. Exciting
B. Boring 

Sentence: It was an eventful day since my family came to my house and celebrated my birthday. 

10. What would a humorless person be unlikely to appreciate?
A. A good book 
B. A good joke

Sentence: My baby brother is very humorless since i rarely see him smile.

Reference/Multiple Meaning:
Directions: Read carefully to answer the next two questions !

11. Look at this sentence:
These seats are cheap because the foul pole obstructs the view of home plate.

Circle or underline the definition of obstruct that the sentence uses. 
    
Obstruct/uhb-struhkt/​verb obstructing, obstructed 1. To block a path with an obstacle: ​After the avalanche, snow and ice obstructed the road. 2. to interrupt or block an action: Don't obstruct justice by lying to the police. 3. To block from sight: The palm trees outside our window obstructed our line of sight . --From Latin (obstruere) 

12. Look at this sentence:
To make a simple fish stock, simmer the head of a bass in water with some herbs, celery, and white wine.

Circle or underline the definition of stock that the sentence uses. 

Stock/stok/ noun pl stocks 1. A supply of goods available for sale: After the heat wave, the store's stock of air conditioners wad depleted. 2. A broth that uses a base for soup, gravy, or sauces: This soup recipe calls for chicken stock, carrots, onions, and potatoes. 3. A share of a company used for trade and investment: Do you own any stocks or bonds? --From Old English 

Inferences: 

Inference is a conclusion you draw based on evidence in a reading passage. Read each paragraph and answer the inference questions that follows. 

Maggie was getting ready to walk to school. She put on her coat and grabbed her backpack As she was leaving her mother said, "I love you. Be carefull." 

you can infer that ...
A. Maggie is in kindergarten or first grade
B. Maggie lives close to school 
C Maggie is never late to school
D. Maggie is excited about going to school 

Answer : Letter B is correct because in the passage it states that " ready to walk to school," people usually take the bus to go to school if the school is far, in this case Maggie will walk which probably means that she lives close to her school. Also in the passage, it did not talk about her being in kindergarten or the first grade, it never stated that she was in a rush, and it did not state her being pumped up for school. 

Hudson hurried out of the house so he wasn't late for work. He wore overalls and carried a toolbox with wrenches in it. He hopped in his truck  and drove off. The sign on his truck said, "Pipe Masters."

You can infer that...
A. Hudson is an auto mechanic
B. Hudson enjoys his job 
C. Hudson works as a plumber
D. Hudson is a truck salesman

Answer: Letter C is the correct answer because in the passage it said, "Pipe Masters." Also Letter A, B, and D is incorrect because it did not state that he worked on cars, it never sad that he is happy when doing his job, and he was never a salemans'.

Nicole came out of the elevator in her apartment building. She ran to the curb and held up her arm to hail a taxi. When she hopped in, she said, "Please take me to 345 45th Street." 

You can infer that ...
A. Nicole's car is broken 
B. Nicole is going on vacation 
C. Nicole is going shopping
D. Nicole lives in a large city

Answer: Letter C is correct because she could be going shopping to a near store. Letters A, B, and D are incorrect because it never stated that her car was broke or that she NEEDED a taxi, Most people would get on a plane or take a car drive if they're going on vacation, and it never stated that she was crowded with people as much big cities have. 

Everett held his father's hand as he crossed the busy parking lot. They walked into a grocery store. Everett's dad lifted him into the seat of the shopping cart. "Here," said dad, "You can hold my shopping list." 

You can infer that...
A. Everett had never been to a grocery store 
B. Everett's dad does not shop often
C. Everett's dad needs help with the shopping
D. Evertt is very young

Answer: Letter D is correct because most children would want to go on top of the shopping cart. Letter A, B, and C is incorrect because it never stated that Everett is very unfamiliar where he is at, the passage never stated that Everett's dad was very unfamiliar on what to do, and lastly Everett's dad never needed help according to the passage. 

​Homophones are "sound alike words" - different spelling, different meaning, same sound 

DIRECTIONS: Highlight the correct homophone & tell why the other one is incorrect. 
1. I had to (ad, add) the numbers together for my math homework. 
2. There was a (be, bee) getting nectar from a flower. 
3. The (bear, bare) was licking honey from its paw. 
4. I have to (cell, sell) my car to get another one.
5. Yaya, did you (hear, here) what Betzy said?
6. I am sick and the doctor says I have the (flew, flu).
7. Sometimes when you bake, you need to add (flower, flour) to the mixture.
8. My little cousin is (for, four) years old.
9. Hopefully nothing bad happens and (wore, war) doesn't start.
10. Didn't you say your favorite food is (steak, stake). 

Answers: 
1. "Ad" is incorrect because that means like a commercial that you would see when you are playing a game, etc.
2. "Be" is incorrect because it means to exist or to occur.
3. "Bare" is incorrect because that means not secured with something or cover. 
4. "Cell" is incorrect because it is a particle inside our body's or could be classified as a cellphone.
5. "Here" is incorrect because it stand to be present as in you're there.
6. "Flew" is incorrect because it means to fly or to be tossed.
7. "Flower" is incorrect because it is a small plant that grows out of the earth.
8. "For" is incorrect because that stands for what to do.
​9. "Wore" is incorrect because it means to be old or worn out.
10. "Stake" is incorrect because that means as a hard wooden wood to support something.  

Thanksgiving means that my whole family gets together and eats as much turkey as possible. Thanksgiving also means that I get to see my cousins and talk to them about school, family, etc. My sister, dad, and me like to go to Walmart and buy whatever has the best sales, especially electronics.  After spending at least two hours we go in the car and drive home and get to show our other family members what we got. Thanksgiving also means that I get to stay up very late because my mom and dad go out to different stores to buy thing for my siblings and my christmas wishlist. Overall Thanksgiving is a very fun holiday to celebrate for me and my family.

The reason why I think West Middle School is the best out of all the schools in the RPS district is ,because we have an amazing program called CAPA. CAPA includes many special arts like dance, theater, visual art, etc. Not only do we have a program, but we also have and amazing library with computers and places to sit and read. Most of all we have incredible teachers that respects us, keeps us safe, and are very responsible.