Modify that Puppy!

Modify is not a word that kids use often. So when I start talking about words modifying other words I might as well be Charlie Brown's teacher, because the students that don't understand stop hearing intelligible words.

This week a solution came to me. Now my students are more comfortable with the word modify. 

Modify that Puppy

"I am going to say a word. When I say the word you are all going to automatically have a picture of it in your head, but everybody's picture will be different. When I point to you, I want you to say one word that will modify everybody else's picture."

"Puppy."

"Carolyn, change the picture that is in everybody's head; modify that puppy!"

"Huge!"

"How many of you had a picture of a chiuaua in your head? Carolyn just modified the picture in your head. She changed it, right? Modify just means to change."

My student's lit up the room with their radiant brilliance. One girl was physically affected, she jumped in her seat as though she had been struck by lightening, "Oh! I get it!!" Her hand shot into the air in hopes of getting a chance at our new game.

"Ron, modify that puppy!"

"Soft!"

We all felt the mood in the room shift as we imagined burying our hands in that huge, soft puppy's fur.

More hands.

"Amber, modify that puppy!"

"One-eyed!"

There was actually a collective "Oooohhh" for our poor puppy.

I can't believe none of us thought of miraculously healing our puppy with a simple modification to his eye. Ah well, another day.

How do you grammar?

Students have had great success learning vocabulary by participating in oral review of words and dialoguing about the usage of their vocabulary words before working in their Wordly Wise workbooks. Indeed, the conversation around these words has been both interesting and enlightening!

How do You Grammar?

This is my student's pet tease anytime someone mishandles a sentence.

Grammar is what class is about these days; with a touch of vocabulary. Most of the school year has been devoted to increasing vocabulary skills. Throughout the year while students discussed the meaning/meanings of a word my teacher heart was thrilled each time I heard them ask, "Is that used as an adjective or a noun?" The intertwining of grammar and vocabulary will continue with more emphasis on grammar as students find the answer to the question; How DO you grammar?

Soon my students will be going on a field trip to Half Price Bookstore. We will cover the basics of searching for a book by author and/or category and each students will pick out their own book to take home and read.