Journal- April 7th

Grammar Lesson # 20 Among vs. Between

Among is a preposition used with three or more persons or things.

Example: I could not decide among the three different desserts which I wanted to eat.

Own Sentence:

Between is a preposition used with two persons or things.

I could not decide between the cheesecake or the apple pie, so I ordered both!

Own Sentence:

WTHI Journal

1. Why did Novalee tell Forney that she didn't love him?

2. How did Forney help Novalee to become the person she is at the end of the book?

3. Do you think you could work at the plastics factory described in Chapter 34? Why or why not?
Describe your ideal job.

Journal- April 6th

Grammar Lesson # 19- That vs. Which

In both cases, they refer back to a thing, place, idea, and NOT a person

That--Use the at the beginning of clauses that are essential for the meaning of sentence. If you took it out, the meaning of the sentence would change. You don't put commas around clauses beginning with 'that'

Example Sentences:

The biggest area of the house that needs to be fixed is the roof.

The movie that intrigued me the most was Clash of the Titans.

Own Sentence:

Which--Use at the beginning of clauses just add extra information to a thing, place, or idea but aren't essential for the sentence. Because that information could be taken out, 'which' clauses have commas around them.

Example Sentence:

Strawberries, which are my favorite fruit, only come into season in August and September.

Soccer, which takes a lot of energy, can't be played when there is snow on the ground.

Own Sentence:


WTHI Journal

1. Why do you think Forney couldn't go to his own sister's funeral?

Journal- March 30th

Grammar Lesson # 18

Except vs. Accept

Except- Preposition meaning not including-- Everything is prepared for the party except ordering the balloons


Own Sentence:


Accept- Verb meaning to consent to receive-- Brianna need to learn how to accept criticism from others. I accepted the award on behalf of my sister.


Own Sentence:

WTHI Journal

1. Why is Novalee so jittery and nervous when she goes to the college class? Why is going to the class a big milestone in her life?


2. Reread 293-294. How did Novalee's vision of what college would be like differ than from what it actual was like?


3. What does Willy Jack pawn off in Chapter 32? Why does he do this?



4. Why do you think Willy Jack kept hearing Novalee's voice at the end of Chapter 32?


5. Based on the end of Chapter 32( p. 307-308), what happened to Willy Jack at the train yard?


2.
Own Sentence:

Journal- March 29th

Grammar Lesson # 17- Assure/Ensure/Insure


Assure- To remove doubt and anxiety from a person/animal--I assured my little sister that there would be cake at the party.

Own Sentence:


Ensure- To guarantee an event or condition-- To ensure that there would be enough food for everyone, I order three extra submarine sandwiches.


Own Sentence:

Insure- Limiting a liability financially; The car was insured for 5,000 damage.


Own Sentence:


WTHI Journal

1. Do you think Brummet will ever forgive Lexi for what happened to him? Why or why not?


2. What advice does Novalee give to Lexi at the end of the Chapter 30? Is this solid advice? Why or why not?


3. How has Novalee changed from the beginning of the book until now?

Journal- March 25th

Grammar Lesson # 16- Bring vs. Take

Bring- Verb Meaning Coming a Place with something--Bring=Here--Please bring the chips and dip to the party with you; You'll need to bring a number 2 lead pencil to the ACT test.

Own Sentence:


Take- Verb Meaning Removing from one place to another--Take= There--I need to take the trash out to the curb for morning pick up; I must take my suit to the dry cleaners before my interview.

Own Sentence:


WTHI Journal

1. How do you think Novalee felt when she forgot the film for her first photo job?



2. Do you think Forney should get outside help for his alcoholic sister?



3. What about Roger Briscoe initially attracted Lexie Coop to him? ( You may have to reread part of Chapter 28 to find out.) Were there any warning signs at that point?


4. What do you think will be some of the effects of the physical and sexual abuse of Roger Briscoe will be on Lexie and her kids?

A.


B.


C.

Journal- March 24th

Grammar Lesson # 15- Threw vs. Through vs. Thorough


Threw- Past Tense of the verb throw-- I threw the ball toward the batter;

Own Sentence:


Through: Preposition describing moving in one side and out another-- I went through the menu deciding what to order for lunch

Own Sentence:

Thorough: Adjective meaning complete with regard every detail-- Jason did a thorough job proofreading my letter for grammatical errors.

Own Sentence:

WTHI Journal

1. How was Novalee able to construct her home with just $ 26,000? What does this tell you about the friends Novalee has?



2. According to Forney, What 'hobby' or 'cause' has Americus taken up in Chapter 27?


3. Why do you think Sam Walton's death had such an impact on Novalee?


4. Why do you think Benny Goodluck wanted to go with Novalee on her first photography job?

Journal- March 23rd

Grammar Lesson # 14- Further vs. Farther

Farther- Dealing with physical distance- I threw the ball farther than she did; If I travel any farther on the highway, I'll need to stop and get gas;


Example Sentence:

Further-Talking about mental/metaphorical distance- He went back to college to further his education; Upon further review, I found out that I didn't pay my cell phone bill like I thought I did.

Example Sentence:


WTHI Journal Questions

1. Why did Willy Jack want to leave Ruth Myers for Johnny DeSoto?



2. Why is Billy Shadow an ironic name for Will Jack to have?



3. Did Willy Jack deserve to be dumped by Ruth Myers and have his song taken away from him? Why or why not?

Journal- March 22nd

Grammar Lesson # 13- Affect vs. Effect

Affect- Verb meaning having an impact on or to have an effect on -- The death of my cat affected me greatly; A change in weather can affect growth of crops greatly.

Own Sentence:

Effect- Noun meaning a change as a result of another cause. Brian's decision had a profound on not only him but others as well; The effects of rising temperatures on earth have not yet been completely felt.

Own Sentence:

WTHI Journal

1. Why was Sister Husband so important in Novalee's life?


2. How do you think her loss will impact Novalee in the long term?


3. Why do you think Novalee decided to still work at Walmart even though the one in Sequoyah was demolished?


4. What's the significance of Novalee deciding to build her own home at the end of Chapter 25?

Journal- March 18th

Grammar Lesson # 12- Principle vs. Principal

Principle- noun meaning an essential truth or fact-- One principle of physics is theory of relativity; I would not allow her to compromise my principles of what I know to be wrong and right.

Example Sentence:

Principal-- Adjective meaning the first among. The principal reason for writing journals is to reflect on what you have read.

Example Sentence:

Principal- Noun meaning the head of an organization like school. The principal spoke over the intercom.

Example Sentence:


WTHI Journal

1. What are the descriptions that foreshadow the tornado in Chapter 23?


2. What does mean when she says, "I feel like we're playing grown up"?


3. Why do you think Forney decided not to tell his true feelings for Novalee at the hotel in Santa Fe?

Journal- March 16th

Grammar Lesson #11- Better vs. Best

Better- Comparing Two Items-- He is better at golf than I am. He is the better listener of the two brothers.

Example Sentence:

Best-- Indicating the top quality of group of three more-- In my opinion, Blue Bunny is the best ice cream brand. I had the best 100 yard dash time of my class.

Example Sentence:


WTHI Journal

1. Why is winning the photography award so important to Novalee?



2. Why do you think Novalee invited Forney to attend the award ceremony with her?

Journal- March 16th

Grammar Lesson # 10- Who Vs. Whom

Who-- Pronoun used to refer to subject. It can be replaced with 'he'.

A. Mr. Brown who is a great history teacher went to the conference in Washington D.C.


Explanation:The word 'who' is referring to Mr. Brown, the subject of the sentence


Who knows the answer to the question?

Explanation: I could reword the sentence He knows the answer to the question.

Own Example Sentence:


Whom- Pronoun referring to the object of a sentence. It can be replaced with 'him' and it still makes sentence

A. Jackson asked to whom I gave the award at the end of the season.

Explanation:I could reword the sentence, I gave the award to him at the end of the season.

B. Whom did you see?

Explanation: I could reword it, Did you see him? or You saw him.


Own Example Sentence:

Where the Heart Is Questions

1. How does Willy Jack spend the money that Claire Hudson gives him? What does this show about him as a character?


2. What description from Chapter 21 tell us that Ruth Myers' recording studio isn't successful as others?


3. What are some of the idiosyncracies that Ruth Myers has? What does the way she treats her plants might tell you about how she treats people?


4. Will Jack gets an extreme makeover on his appearance.

Why did Ruth Myers do this?

Do you think having a makeover on your outside appearance can better your self esteem? Why or why not?

Journal- March 15th

Grammar Lesson # 9- Good/Well

Good is adjective describing positive aspects of noun or pronoun--The soup had a good smell to it; He did a good job on his project.

Example Sentence:

Well- Adverb describing positive attributes of a verb, adverb, or adjective; He performed well under pressure. She was well prepared for any challenge on the horizon.

Example Sentence:

or

Well- Adjective describing the health of a person. I am well now.


WTHI Journal

1. Look through the book so far. Find three examples of figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification) used to describe people, places, or events in Where the Heart Is so far. Mark the page number as well.

a. " " p. #

b. " " p. #

c. " " p. #

2. Why do you think Billy Letts uses these for description in her story instead of using more straight forward description?


3. Choose a character from the book. Based on what you know of them, come up with a two figurative language phrases to describe them too.

Example: Sister Husband's hospitality was a warm blanket wrapping up Novalee from the insecurities of the world.

Journal- March 10th

Grammar Lesson # 8- Bad/Badly

Bad- Adjective adding information to a noun or pronoun--The movie was so bad I left half way through it. I got a bad feeling about letting him take my car.

Example Sentence:

Badly--Adverb adding information to a verb, adjective, or another adverb--The move script was badly written; The wrestler performed badly at the state tournament.

Example Sentence:

WTHI Journal--Chapter 18 and 19

1. Why is picking the perfect Christmas tree so important for Novalee?


2. Why do you think the couple from Mississippi decided to kidnap Americus?


3. What emotions was Novalee going through while Americus was kidnapped?

Journal- March 8th

Grammar Lesson # 7- Then/Than

Then- A word used indicate a transition in time. You need to finish your project then review your vocabulary; If the Husker women's basketball team wins the Big 12 Conference, then they'll get the 1st seed in NCAA National Tournament.

Own Sentence:

Than- A word used to compare two objects or ideas. Sharks have more teeth than other species of fish. He knew more about car engines than I could ever fathom.

Own Sentence:


WTHI Journal--Write five questions you would ask the characters or Billie Letts if you could interview them.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Journal- March 3rd

Grammar Lesson # 5- Here/Hear

Here--Indefinite pronoun expressing a location-- Here is the book you ordered; Place the lamp on the desk here.

Example Sentence:

Hear--Verb meaning to understand what someone is saying. I went to hear the speaker discussing the proposed Walmart in town; Our ability to hear is an important skill in the workforce.

WTHI Journal

1. Summarize what happened in Chapter 17 yesterday.


2. Why do you think Novalee is so interested in photography?

Journal- March 1st

Grammar Lesson # 5- Sit/Set

Sit--A person or thing placing them themselves in a lower position-- I like to sit on the porch swing and drink lemonade. I love to sit for hours on end reading.

Example Sentence:

Set-- An object that is put in a lower position by another person or thing-- Please set the orange juice down before you spill it. The student set a good example for the class.

Example Sentence

WHTI Journal

1. Describe the style that Moses Whitecotton uses to take of Americus. If you forgot, reread the end of Chapter 14.


2. How are his pictures different than traditional studio portraits?


3. Why do you think he prefers taking photos in this style rather than the traditional way?


4. There's an old saying, "a picture's worth a thousand words" a). What does this mean? b). Do you agree or disagree with this saying? Why or why not?

Journal- February 25th

Grammar Lesson # 4

Your/You're

Your- Possessive 2nd person pronoun-- Your essay was well written; I could tell you gave your best effort.

Example Sentence:

You're- Contraction of You + are-- You're going to need passport to travel to Europe; You're making great progress on your project.

Example Sentence:

WTHI Journal

1. Lexie Coop tells Novalee, "Girls like us don't get the pick of the litter." What did she mean by this?


2. Novalee seems hesitant to go on a date with Troy Moffatt. Why do you think she's cautious about going on another date?


3. Why do you think Novalee decided to go in and get Sister Husband's brakes fixed with her own money?


4. There's an old African proverb, "it takes a village to raise a child." How do the last couple of chapters from Where The Heart Is represents this proverb? Do you think having neighbors involved in raising and taking care of a child is a good strategy?

Journal- February 24th

Grammar Lesson # 3

Bored/Board

Bored--Adjective or verb meaning to be tired or disinterested-- I was bored hearing about John's long story; The night long ride on the train bored me to no end.

Example Sentence:

Board: Noun meaning a meaning a piece of material or a group of individuals on a governing body-- In order to complete the drafting projects, I'll need ten 3 x 5 boards. The school board decided to shorten the school year.

Example Sentence:

Where the Heart Is Journal

What is Novalee superstitious of?


Why do you think Novalee is a superstitious individual?


Do you think she'll be able to get over her superstitions? Why or why not?


Why do you think Willy Jack uses people to his own advantage?


Do you have any superstitions or traditions that you go through for good luck? If so, which ones?

Journal- February 23rd

Grammar Lesson # 2-- There/They're/Their

There-- Indefinite pronoun-- Please move the char over there; There is a good chance we'll have a quiz on Friday

Example Sentence:

They're- Contraction They + are-- They're planning to watch the Huskers; They're originally from Florida

Example Sentence:

Their-- Possesive pronoun--They give their best effort on the writing exam; The basketball team worked hard during their practice session before sub-districts.

Example Sentence:

Where the Heart Is Journal

1. What character is the book so far do you identify with the most so?


2. Write a couple sentences describing the character physically and personality wise.


3. Find a passage from the book describing your character or a quotation from the character.

Write it



Why does this passage represent the character?

Journal- February 22nd

Grammar Lesson # 1- It's/Its

It's= Contraction of It is-- It's going to snow today; It's less than a month until spring;

Example Sentence:

Its= Possessive pronoun referring a thing-- The lion stalked its prey; My car needs its transmission worked on now.

Example Sentence:

WTHI Journal

In "Where the Heart Is", Novalee Nation seems to have grown up much sooner than other people her age.

1. What has caused her grow up sooner than others?


2. Does she always make the best decisions as an adult? Why or why not?


3. Would you consider yourself mature for your age? Why or why not?

Journal- February 17th

Walmart has a primary role in the book Where the Heart Is. Walmart also has a significant role in America and worldwide as an economic but also social force.

Do you think Walmart is good or bad for America overall?

Yes or No

Give three reasons why. Explain your reasons by giving support.

1.


2.


3.

Journal- February 16th

Write five questions to characters in the book as if they were really. Have them be 'why' or 'how' questions

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Education Article

Read the following article

Main Idea:

Key Facts:

A.


B.


C.


D.


What is your opinion of what Bill Gates is arguing?

2nd Essay--Choose three major changes you would make with the U.S. education system. For this essay, you can use outside sources if you want to support your reasons.

Hook:

Thesis:


Change 1

A.

B.

C.

Transition from Change 1 to Change 2

Change 2

A.

B.

C.

Transition from Change 2 to Change 3

Change 3

A.

B.

C.
Conclusion

T=

Journal- January 5th

Root

alter= other

The main character of "Where the Heart Is" contains a character who has an odd superstition, an irrational fear.

1. Do you have any superstitions? If so, which ones?


2. Do you have any rituals you do for good luck?


3. Are you afraid of anything others might consider silly or irrational?