Nate's Reading and Writing Classes

  Descriptive Essay: The Quiet Strength of Maria Maria is the kind of person whose presence you feel before she even speaks. She does not command attention with loud words or dramatic gestures, but with the calm steadiness of someone who truly listens. Her quiet strength is what draws people in. At first glance, she appears reserved — her soft voice and gentle smile suggest a shy nature. But once you get to know her, you realize that behind that calm exterior lies an ocean of courage and compassion. Every morning, Maria wakes up before sunrise to care for her garden. The small patch of land behind her house bursts with life — sunflowers, basil, and marigolds stretch toward the light as if grateful for her touch. Gardening is not just a hobby for her; it is a form of meditation. She says it reminds her that patience and care can turn even the smallest seeds into something beautiful. At work, Maria is known as the problem-solver. Her colleagues admire how she handles stressful sit...

  I. Pre-Reading Vocabulary Activity 🔤 Step 1: Match the Word with Its Meaning Match each word or phrase (A–J) with the correct meaning (1–10). A Vocabulary B Meaning 1 dawn → a. the earliest part of the morning when the sun first appears 2 aroma → b. a pleasant smell, especially of food or drink 3 vendor → c. a person who sells things, often in a market or on the street 4 mosaic → d. a pattern made up of many small, colorful pieces 5 glisten → e. to shine with a soft reflected light 6 tang → f. a strong, sharp flavor or smell 7 bouquet → g. a bunch of flowers arranged together 8 rhythmically → h. done in a regular, repeated pattern of beats or sounds 9 perfume → i. a pleasant, sweet smell 10 heartbeat → j. something essential that gives life or energy to a place or group 💡 Extension: Choose three of these words and write your own sentences before reading the essay. Example: I have a worked as a vendor at arts and crafts festivals before.         ...

 Describe one of the following 1. A beautiful place  2. A store you really loved 3. A bleak and dark place

  📝 Exercise 1: Identify the Sentence Type Read each sentence and determine whether it is: Simple Compound Complex Compound-complex Sentences: Although I was tired, I finished my homework, and I reviewed for the test. She enjoys reading historical fiction, but she doesn't like biographies. Because the weather was bad, the flight was delayed. I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining before I could leave the house. After he ate breakfast, he washed the dishes, and he took out the trash. Write your own sentences: Make compound-complex sentences to describe a thing or place.  Write five. Example:  When I was walking in the park, I saw bright colorful leaves everywhere, so I felt very happy. 1.    2.   3.   4.   5.   Writing Practice.  We read descriptions about baseball gloves.  Think of an object that is most important to you.  Perhaps it is something in your kitchen, or...

 By Nate Feldman Simple Sentence Compound Sentence Complex Sentence Compound/Complex Sentence   Simple Sentence: I am a teacher.   I work at ELS.   I am happy today.   A baseball glove is very nice.   I play softball on Sundays.   I have a glove.   It is made of leather.   It is brown.   It feels very soft.   It smells like leather.   I like it so much.   Compound Sentence: Baseball is very interesting, but I never played it.   Baseball gloves are very nice, so I want to wear one.   I am not angry, nor am I sad.   The room isn’t comfortable, nor is it modern. The weather was nice yesterday, so I went outside for a while.   It was a little chilly, so I put on my hoodie.   I took a walk, and I saw many nice colorful leaves on the trees.     The weather was nice.   It was chilly. I wore a hoodie.   I went outside.   I took some photos.   Ther...

  📝 Descriptive Essay: The Baseball Glove – A Player's Trusted Companion A baseball glove is more than just a piece of sports equipment; it is a symbol of the game’s tradition, precision, and personal connection. Whether resting on a little leaguer’s hand or being broken in by a professional, a glove tells a story — of effort, training, and moments of triumph or near-miss. At first glance, a baseball glove may appear simple, but its design is anything but. Typically made of high-quality leather, the glove is constructed to provide durability and flexibility. The leather must be soft enough to close easily around a fast-moving ball but strong enough to endure the force of many catches. Over time, as the glove is used more, it molds to the player’s hand, creating a unique fit that feels almost like an extension of the body. There are various types of gloves, each tailored to specific positions on the field. Catcher’s mitts are heavily padded to absorb the impact of fast pitches, ...

  🧠 Pre-Vocabulary Activity: Haunted House Descriptive Essay Before reading the essay, match each word with its correct definition. Then, try to use each word in your own spooky sentence! Word Definition dilapidated A. So scary it sends a shiver down your spine eerie B. To shine with a faint, unsteady light creaking C. Broken down or in very bad condition glimmered D. A strange and mysterious feeling, often causing unease ominous E. A long, low sound something makes when it moves or is stepped on shudder F. A trembling movement caused by fear or cold foreboding G. Giving the feeling that something bad is going to happen cobwebs H. Spiderwebs, especially old and dusty ones 🕯️ Descriptive Essay: The House at Raven Hollow At the edge of the forgotten woods stood a dilapidated mansion, hidden beneath a canopy of twisted, lifeless trees. Its once grand exterior was now cloaked in shadows, the paint peeling like dry skin, windows shattered like broken teeth, and ivy crawling up ...

  A Blustery Day The wind arrived before the clouds did. It came whistling through the trees at dawn, rattling the windows like an impatient visitor. I woke to the sound of its breath—long, low gusts that rose into high-pitched howls, like the moan of some ancient spirit lost in the sky. The branches outside scraped against the house, their leaves torn and dancing in wild spirals, carried far beyond the yard. Stepping outside felt like stepping into motion. The world was alive with movement: loose papers skittered across the pavement like startled insects; trash can lids clattered down the sidewalk; power lines swayed and hummed, vibrating with invisible tension. The trees leaned with the wind, their limbs thrashing, surrendering to the force without breaking. Overhead, the clouds galloped fast and heavy, turning the sky into a rolling sea of gray. The air itself was sharp, cold, and full of scent. It carried the smell of damp leaves, overturned soil, and the faint mineral tang...

  Eudora Welty – "The Corner Store" Quiz Part 1: Multiple Choice (1 point each) What type of store is described in Eudora Welty’s "The Corner Store"? A. Department store B. Grocery store C. Hardware store D. Bookstore In "The Corner Store," what memory does Welty associate most strongly with the store? A. Her first job B. Her childhood C. A family tragedy D. Learning to read How does Welty describe the storekeeper, Mr. Sessions? A. Cold and impatient B. Mysterious and distant C. Kind and predictable D. Absent and forgetful What item does Welty recall buying with great joy as a child? A. Licorice sticks B. Pickles C. Gumdrops D. Ice cream The overall tone of "The Corner Store" is best described as: A. Nostalgic and warm B. Critical and bitter C. Sarcastic and humorous D. Formal and detached

  The Day Outside When I walked outside, it was a bleak day.   The sky was gray .   It was like the sky was depressed .   Some trees had changed their colors from green to bright yellow, orange, and brown as it was the autumn season.   I saw squirrels scampering around, carrying large, round acorns in their mouths (sight). The wind blew hard, causing the branches and leaves to wave back and forth as if they were dancing while making a loud rustling sound .   The wind whistled through the trees. (sound) I felt a chill inside of me from the blustery wind.   I could feel my hair moving from side to side as the wind blew it in all directions.   I could feel the goosebumps popping up on my skin.   My body trembled and shook as it shivered. (feeling)

 By Nate Feldman I see two square shaped pieces of bread on top of each other with brown peanut butter and jelly, either grape or strawberry or raspberry, in-between them. I feel the soft touch of the bread. I taste the combination of slightly salty peanut butter with sweet jelly. One of the most quintessential lunch items for young Americans is the iconic PB & J, or Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.  In case you have never heard of it, I will describe it for you here. You take two slices of square-shaped bread, and you place them down.  Usually, people take a scoop of peanut butter and smear it with a spoon in all directions.  Then, you can take a spoonful of jelly and add it on top of the peanut butter.  I have heard of people who put the peanut butter on one piece of bread and then put the jelly on the other, but I don't do that. When that is finished, you put the pieces of bread together.  You can see the peanut butter and jelly from inside beginnin...