English is genial

    Winter is here! During December, January, and February, the northern hemisphere blankets with snow, temperatures drop significantly, and the holidays take over.   In the United States, people continue working and studying. Schools take a two to three break week to celebrate the new year.   Traditionally, in the United States, December is the holiday season, observing Christmas and other celebrations as Hannukah and Kwanza.  December also marks the last month of the Gregorian calendar. People celebrate the new year On December 31st with parties and delicious dinners.  In the United States, December is known as the high buying season. People celebrating religious holidays give gifts to their loved ones to express their appreciation and good wishes for the upcoming year. 

  During the months of September, October, and November the weather begins to cool down in the northern hemisphere, and the trees start changing colors, from green to yellow and red leaves.  People also start dressing differently, wearing long pants, sweaters, and even boots.  In the United States, people celebrate an important and unique holiday: Thanksgiving. S ince 1941 , this Holiday has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It commemorates the pilgrims' successful harvest in 1621, thanks to the natives' helping hand. It is one of my favorite holidays, and it reminds us to be grateful for the good people in our lives. In the United States, fall also is related to discounted prices at stores and football. People make apple pies, and kids love playing outside in the milder weather.  Overall, fall is so much fun! And we can use different words to describe what happens during this season. Such words are called adjectives. Adjectives are a part of Englis...

  What are you doing? Right now, you are reading. You just started an action and will continue it. You are looking at a website, this website. You are doing something, and it is ongoing. A few seconds ago, you thought about this text, and right now, you are still thinking about this text, processing this information. To read this article, you are scrolling down. When we talk about ongoing actions, that's present continuous: a situation that has begun in the past is still active and may continue in the future. Imagine, while reading this article, you receive a call from a friend. Hi there! What are you doing? she asks. Oh! I am reading an article; I need to study for my test. I hope you don't take too long - she says - We could go to the basketball game after. I am trying to finish quickly. You reply, the thing is, I am talking on the phone. Ok, she says, I get it! I'll leave you alone, hurry up! Were you able to identify the ongoing actions? The following chart gives...

Find the difference and the adjectives with these two activities.  This is a perfect adjective game for kids and introduces them to the concept: an adjective describes the noun; it makes it more specific.  Click on the images below; look at the drawings, and guess which piece is different by clicking on them!   Activity one shows a zombie in a haunted graveyard. Activity two shows a haunted house with creepy things around it. How to identify an adjective? We have the noun "house," and we need a word to describe it. How would you call it? "black" or "haunted" or even "funny"; those are   adjectives   because they tell  how the house is :    black house / haunted house / funny house. An excellent way to engage my students is to challenge them to find the adjective each time they spot a difference. If they noticed a black cat, they should repeat: "this is a black cat" and adequately identify the adjective. Find here a compelling ...