Nate's Reading and Writing Classes

*Warm-up: Read the following about snow Snow is a beautiful thing.  It snows in Philadelphia during the winter.  The snow covers the ground, and the land becomes white.  Snow is frozen water that falls from the sky in cold weather. It usually falls in winter. Snow is white and soft, and it covers the ground, trees, and buildings.  Many people like to play in the snow.  They go sledding, throw snowballs, and make snowmen.   However, snow can also cause problems. Roads can be slippery, and travel can be difficult. When the weather becomes warm, the snow melts and turns into water. There were big snowstorms in the Philadelphia area in January.  The snow is still on the ground.  Schools were closed and people stayed home. *Short Writing: Write about snow.  Do you like snow?  Why?  What do you do in the snow?  Do you see snow a lot in your country?  

By Nate Feldman Warm-up: Write a letter to AJ or EP about their situation.  Tell them how you feel about their situation. Drill: use verb to be in your writing.  We use verb to be to describe nouns, adjectives, and prepositional phrases. I am a teacher.  I am happy.  I am at work. Use the verb to be in 5 sentences. 1. You can improve your English _______ watching movies in English. A) so B) because C) by D) therefore 2. He was tired, _______ he went to bed early. A) because B) therefore C) by D) so 3. We didn’t go swimming _______ the water was too cold. A) therefore B) so C) because D) by 4. It rained heavily.  _______ , the football match was postponed. A) by B) so C) because D) therefore 5. She saved money _______ cooking at home instead of eating out. A) because B) so C) by D) therefore 6. He didn’t study hard, _______ he failed the exam. A) because B) therefore C) by D) so 7. We decided to take a taxi _______ the bus was late....

By Nate Feldman Welcome to ELS Philadelphia reading and writing class!  My name is Nate, and I will be your teacher for this month.  We will learn about many fun things.  Your English reading and writing skills will get better. Here are some fun facts about me!  *I like to travel a lot.  I went to many countries before.  I went to India, Jordan, Egypt, and the UK.   *I like to play sports.  I play softball and I run a lot.  I also play football and swim. *I like animals.  I have a dog and a cat.  Their names are Kipper and Brownie.   *I have two children.  Their names are Sara and Sofia. *I like to do creative things.  I play piano, make videos, draw, write stories, and I like to do short plays.   Tell me about yourself!  Notes: Today we read the passage "Down Memory Lane," about AJ, who remembers everything, and EP, who forgets everything. Vocabulary: tragic, psychology

 By Nate Feldman Class Objective: Discuss whether time off from work is useful or not.  Build communication skills through taking positions on a subject and explaining it.  Role playing real life situations. Warm-up: 1. Opinion Line (Movement Activity) How it works: One side of the room will be  “Strongly Agree” and the other “Strongly Disagree.” Read the statement: “People should take time off from work regularly.” Students stand on the side they agree Ask students to explain their position. Allow students to move if they change their mind. 2. Role-Play: Workplace Scenario Employee requesting time off Manager Coworker HR representative Scenario: An employee asks for time off due to stress or personal reasons. Goal: Reach a fair decision. 3. Should We Go to the Beach Today? Divide students into groups.  Each group will focus on a different aspect of the trip. 1. Weather team: What's the forecast like?  Is it safe? 2. Budg...

  The Haunted House   By Nate Feldman Josh and his friend Aaron approached the haunted house at the end of the street.  When they arrived, they saw a big sign on the door, "NO ENTERING!"   "We're not supposed to be here," Aaron said to Josh. "Don't be afraid," Josh told him.  There is nothing scary inside.   They opened the big, black wooden door in front of them.  It made a loud creaking sound.  Inside there was darkness. "This place is scary," Aaron said to Josh.  "I want to go back." Josh ignored him.  He walked further into the house.   All of a sudden, there were loud sounds.  There were sounds of people laughing and screaming at the same time.  But there were no people. "YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THIS HOUSE!" a deep voice yelled at Josh and Aaron. Aaron grabbed Josh's arm.  "I told you!  We are not permitted to be here!  Please, let's go!" Josh ignored Aaron and the voice.   ...

 By Nate Feldman Write a persuasive essay on one of the following topics: *Should people pursue a job that brings enjoyment, or one that brings more money? *Is the gig economy really beneficial for people on the margins of society?  *To become successful in work, is it essential that you work longer hours, or is doing that unhealthy for your work-life balance?   *Do you think studying longer hours gives more knowledge to students, or does it lead to burnout?  

By Nate Feldman Warm-Up Activity: Give students a blank circle. Ask them to divide it into sections (school/work, sleep, family, social media, hobbies, exercise, etc.). Then ask them to create a second pie showing their ideal balance. Discuss: What differences do they see? What small changes could improve balance? Model Essay: Living a More Balanced Life by Nate Feldman  Have you ever mixed your work life with your personal life?  Many people do.  I work as a teacher.  Teachers have to do things at home to prepare for their lessons the next day.  In addition, it is not all that uncommon to see parents who are constantly on the phone with someone from their office while they are at home or somewhere out with their family.  Many people nowadays talk about something referred to as "work-life balance."  It's the idea that you need to balance how much time you focus on work with other interests in your life (hobbies, family, relaxation etc.)  The que...

  By Nate Feldman                                                                 Should Work Be Enjoyable? The words work and fun seem to go against one another.  Work is something we do because we have to earn money and contribute to our respective societies in one form or another.  Fun is usually the things we do when we are not work, whether it be hobbies, or some kind of recreational activity.  But, what about the idea of work being enjoyable and fun?  Is this really possible?  I personally believe that work should both be enjoyable and fun at the same time.  And when I say that, I don't mean you shouldn't be serious when you are doing it.  From my perspective, you can do work the right way while finding it enjoyable and fun.  Take teaching in class f...

By Nate Feldman *We will take a reading quiz based on the first reading in the book about the gig vs. traditional economy. *We will go over vocabulary on P.41 and have discussions with the new words. *We will read about the "dark side" of the gig economy. Vocabulary: 1. accumulate: gather or increase the amount of something (ex. 3 inches of snow have accumulated in the last hour, or people go to school to accumulate knowledge, or I have accumulated a lot of wealth in my life). 2. algorithm: a set of calculations that follow a pattern, especially created by a computer 3. at stake: when something very crucial or important depends on something else (Because it is a playoff game, the team must win.  A lot is at stake in this game OR there is a lot at stake in this meeting because it will determine the future of the company).   4. degree of: there kind of is something, not completely but partly true (ex. you said I can be a hypocrite sometimes.  I guess there is a degree ...

By Nate Feldman Warm-up:  *Do Exercise A and B on P.40.  Then, use the vocabulary in your own sentences about a subject of importance to you.   For example, according to the Yale Health Center, the average American eats about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day OR the Yale Health Center points out that the average American eats about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day.   Then, use the research you have to build a good introduction to a persuasive essay.   For example: Do you like to eat sweet things?  Many people do, especially in the United States.  In a recent study by the Yale Health Center, it said that the average American eats about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day.  The same study also found that teenagers even eat more sugar, a whopping 34 teaspoons of added sugar!  This should come as no shock as so many types of food in the United States is filled with sweeteners of all kinds.  But, no matter how good this may taste, is this a healt...

 By Nate Feldman According to Nate, you need to study reading and listening for the final exam.   In a recent study by Harvard University, 54% of Americans…….   In a recent study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Americans eat too much sugar.   Advocates of sugar say that it makes our food delicious!   Critics say that it is unhealthy for us.   Some people regard Mr. Nate’s class as silly.   Some people see Mr. Nate’s class as great!    In contrast to my friend, I like studying (my friend doesn’t).   Shion points out in his essay that traditional work is better.   Nate pointed out in class that it is ok to disagree and be respectful.   You were supposed to study.   Instead, you were so lazy. You said you would help me.   Instead, you did nothing for me!  

 Should People Follow Others? By Nate Feldman   There are many times in our lives where the decisions we make are based on what others tell us is the right choice more than what we feel is correct. These decisions can range from simple things, such as the type of clothing we wear, or where we are going out for dinner on a particular night, to bigger things such as who we get married to, or what kind of career we have. However, is this a good thing? Should we make choices based on what others tell us to do? In my view, I think we should always listen to what others have to advise us, but we also need to make our decisions from our own judgments.   There is nothing wrong with getting input from others. We don't know everything, and there is nothing wrong in admitting that. It is wise to take guidance from people who may have more experience or wisdom in a number of areas. When you are looking for a job, for example, it's good to hear from people who are in...

By Nate Feldman Class Objective: Reading and analyzing Persuasive Essays. 1. Read Persuasive Essay, "The Case for a Rapid Transition to Renewable Energy."  Read with classmates and answer the six questions.  Then, discuss whether you agree with the author's main ideas or not. 2. We will read, "Who Wins in the Gig Economy, and Who Loses?" P.35-36.  We will answer questions on P.37-38.  We will do P.39 if we have time.