Waiting is the Hardest Part

Monday!  It all happens on Monday!  We found a house that we both love a little more than a week ago.  We put in offer in.  and we wait.  It is a foreclosure, so there is a certain date when all bids must be in.  We have no idea what the highest bid is, but we hope it is ours!  We have been trying to fill our time with other activities.  I think I drug hubs to like 5 different garage sales this morning.  I will keep you posted.

Also on Monday, I have an interview with another school in the district.  Eek!  First thought when I got the call was, "What will I wear???"  I already have the outfit picked out and will post an interview pic later.  I will have to wait until the end of school on Monday before I can have the interview.  Wait, wait, wait!   To help alleviate my nerves, which I have been trying to keep at bay, I have a two page list of potential questions that I have been brainstorming through in case I get asked those questions.  The position is for 4th grade at a different school in town with a principal that I have heard wonderful things about.

On to other important things,

If you missed my other posts on life-saving grammar check them out here!

More homophones for you.  Today we are going to talk about they're, their, and there.  It can be confusing if you haven't had a lesson in a while, but here is a trick to help you out.

There has the word here in it.  It is usually referring to a place.  The cow is over there.
TheIr has an I in it.  It refers to people.  Their cow is over there.  (The cow belongs to someone.)
They're is a contraction of the two words they are.  Try replacing they're in the sentence with they are.  If it doesn't make sense, it is the wrong word.

For example, They're dog chewed the ball.  (Replace they're with they are.)  They are dog chewed the ball.  It doesn't make sense.  It is the wrong word.  Their dog chewed the ball.  (Correct!!)

They're going to the store.  They are going to the store.  (Yes!! It works!!)

Thanks for making the teaching of young children not a waste of time.

xoxo,

One down...

I survived the first round of testing.  It is difficult for someone who is not a teacher to understand how mentally taxing it is to do absolutely nothing while students try (or don't try) to remember everything I have taught them.  I have some really great (sarcasm) stories about what some students chose to do during the test.  I am not really allowed to share...maybe in a few years.

Today my husband and I went for our first run in 6 weeks.  The anticipation was more brutal than the actual run.  I have been really working on lengthening my stride.  My husband noticed improvement today, but he said I was still doing my kick out to the side with my legs.  I don't notice while I am doing it, so it is super hard to fix.  Do you run weird?  We should be friends.  You should also join me in running my first mud run in Dallas on June 1st.  I have always struggled with running consistently.  I quit things in my personal life constantly which is super annoying.  Usually I sign up for a race, train, and then quit running afterwards.  To not fall in this trap, I have signed up for a race every month until this race.  After I run a race, I will sign up for another one.  That way I can't quit, right?!?!?

Even though the writing test is over this year, I still cringe inside when I hear grammar rules being broken.  For me, it is more annoying to hear bad grammar over reading it.  But I am sure there is someone out there who just cringed over the way I put together that last sentence.  

We talked about homophones last week.  Today I want to talk about double negatives.  Don't run off just yet!!  This is a super easy fix!

When you have two negative words (No, not, never, none, nothing, no-one, nobody, nowhere, neither, don’t, can’t, cannot, won’t,  wouldn’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, isn’t, wasn’t) in a sentence, they cancel each other out and make a positive.  

These are just a sample of things that are not appropriate to say:

I didn't do nothing.

I don't have to listen to nobody.

There wasn't nowhere to go.

We can't just do nothing.  

Seriously, check yourself!  If this is still confusing or if you love grammar as much as I do, check out the Superheroes of Grammar.  My friend already bought me their book.  Nerd alert!  

I can make you smarter in 5 minutes!

Last week, I shared with you my passion for helping change the way we speak and write.  Selfishly, I want you to support the learning of my students, so that they will do well on their test.   

If you are using your\you're incorrectly, it is like saying 2+2=3.  I mean, you would be upset if another teacher walked into your classroom and told your students that.








Like the above comic states, your shows possession.

• I want your sandwich.
• Your dog is pretty. 
• It is your turn.

To check if you need an apostrophe, plug in "you are".

• I want you are sandwich.  
• You are dog is pretty.
• It is you are turn.

Nope, it doesn't work.

Usually people err on the side of using your when you're is correct.  I guess that extra letter and an apostrophe are a killer to type.

You're is a contraction which stands for you are.

• You're stepping on my shoe.
• You better come inside, or you're going to be in trouble.
• You're running too fast.

Shabam!  Let's check to see if we need that apostrophe by plugging in the words "you are".

• You are stepping on my shoe.
• You better come inside, or you are going to be in trouble.
• You are running too fast.

Just like that, you are smarter..  Or at least you sound smarter,

This stuff makes my heart happy

It is the eve before school starts.  Yay!   Boo!  As I was telling my friend today, it is the beginning of the end (of the school year).  State testing starts in two weeks with 4th grade Writing.  The students are responsible for writing compositions and for revising and editing papers.  Usually the mistakes in the test follow common grammar concepts and spelling rules. 

I have noticed that a lot of adults, even teachers at my school, could benefit from a refresher course on these 4th grade concepts.  Unless I am really close to you, I will not point out your grammar mistakes; however, please know that I am desperately trying to teach children the correct way as other adults consistently show them the wrong way through their speech and written words.  (Disclaimer: I am not perfect, and I will make mistakes, but I just hope it is not concerning the rules that the state of Texas requires 4th grade students to know.)

I found this on pinterest and thought it appropriate.

Grammar matters.

As I tell my students, there is a big difference between

"Let's eat Grandma!"

and

"Let's eat, Grandma!"

Join me next week for a refresher of the usage of your and you're!