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Summary for Lesson 1:
The class did very well today, and impressed me with how much they already knew. Almost across the board students were able to confidently answer questions, and were also able to take guesses and explore words they didn’t know, although some students seemed a little bit more quiet than others.
The adjective game proved particularly useful in warming the students up and getting them to think creatively about vocabulary and language. It also provided an opportunity for the students to share their vocabulary with one another, thereby increasing their collective vocabulary bank. This game also helped the students develop their confidence when speaking up.
Reading levels were impressive when reading the extract, and every student that took a turn reading did so with clarity and confidence. Some of the students found it particularly hard to approach an unknown word. I encouraged the students to use the words around it to help them guess, but this is something that we will need to work on as we progress.
Students were hesitant to approach words they didn’t know when working through the list of vocabulary, and some words proved difficult. But I believe that with time and effort the words will become second nature!
What we covered in the lesson:
– An adjective game
– Reading an extract from Matilda by Roald Dahl
– Defining and exploring a list of new vocabularyHere is the vocabulary list fo this lesson:
Magazine – a publication containing articles and illustrations, often on a particular subject
Hankering – a strong desire to have or do something
Enlightened – having a rational, modern and well-informed outlook
Recipe – set of instructions for cooking a meal
Spoiled – harmed in character by being indulged
Bingo – a game where players mark off numbers called randomly by a caller
Hooked – addicted
Enthral – capture the fascination or attention of
Refuse – saying no
Deny – refuse to give something or admit the truth
Librarian – someone who works in a library
Taken aback – shocked
Unaccompanied – alone or without a guide
Nevertheless – although
Toddle – move with short, unsteady steps (like a toddler)
Waddle – walk with short, clumsy steps
Glorious – being worthy of fame or admiration
Spectacular – beautiful in a dramatic way
Cosy – giving a feeling of comfort, warmth and relaxation
Coddle – over indulge or over protect someone
Devour – eat quickly or hungrily
Formidable – intimidating or large
Wonder – a feeling of amazement or admiration
Witness – to see an event, usually a crime or accident
Achievement – a thing done with success, effort or skill
Fuss – a display of unnecessary or excessive excitement
Commotion – a noisy disturbance
Seldom – rarely, not very often
Rarely – not very often
Worthwhile – something that was worth the time, money or effort put into it
Interfere – intervene in a situation without invitation
Neon – shining brightly
Magnificent – extremely beautiful, elaborate, or impressive
Lush – growing well
Azure – blue like the sky
Aqua – blue like water
Melancholy – sad in a pensive way
Prosperous – rich or well off
Knightly – like a knight
Sacred – being related to God, worthy of worship
Homework
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today.
– Pick ten of your favourite words from the list above and write a story. The story can be about anything, but I want it to include every one of the ten words you have picked, a moment of recognition, something blue, and a moment of humour (something funny). Be prepared to share your stories in the next lesson!
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Summary for Lesson 2:
Very impressive work once again this week! We had a slightly smaller class but every student responded by stepping up to the plate, resulting in an engaged and stimulating hour of discussion. This week we covered an extract from Anne of Green Gables, as well as revising last week’s vocabulary. The students responded well to the quiz on last week’s vocab, stepping up to the challenge with energy. Momentum dipped slightly when it came to working on comprehension – I would advise the students to look over the extracts before the lesson in future if possible, in order to gain the best understanding of the extract and it’s meanings.
I encourage the students to embrace approaching an unknown word, and try their best to take a guess. Nine times out of ten they end up being correct! More focus will be given in future lessons on how to deduce the meaning of words from their context and/or their root words in order to give the students the tools to learn new vocab on their own.
Here are the new words for this week:
1. Hollow – adj. empty inside; n. a hole or depression in something
2. Fringed – v. to form a border around something
3. Alder – n. a kind of tree from the birch family
4. Traverse – v. to travel across or through
5. Brook – n. a small stream
6. Reputed – v. to be generally regarded as having done something
7. Intricate – adj. very complicated or detailed
8. Headlong – adj. moving with the head first
9. Cascade – n. a small waterfall with several stages; v. to fall slowly or elegantly
10. Due – adj. expected or planned for a certain time
11. Regard – v. consider or think in a specific way
12. Decorum – n. behaviour in keeping with good taste
13. Conscious – adj. aware of one’s surroundings
14. Ferreted – v. to rummage about in a place in search of something
15. Wherefore – adv. For what reason
16. Thereof – adv. of that
17. Dint – n. a dent or hollow; a blow or stroke
18. Neglect – v. to fail to care for something
19. Capable – adj. having the ability to do a specific thing
20. Concern – n. anxiety or worry
21. Notable – adj. worthy of attention or note
22. Prop – n. something that holds up a structure
23. Abundant – adj. existing in large quantities
24. Awe – n. a feeling of respect, mixed with fear or wonder
25. Triangular – adj. resembling a triangle
26. Peninsula – n. a piece of land almost surrounded by water (almost an island)
27. Gauntlet – n. a strong or armoured glove
28. Myriad – n. a countless or extremely great number or variety of things
29. Sow – v. to plant a seed
30. Ought – adv. Used to indicate duty or correctness
30. Government – A group of people with the authority to govern a country
31. Evidence – A fact or piece of information to support a belief
32. Arrange – Put things in a neat or attractive order
33. Distance – The length of space between two points
34. Persuade – Get someone to do something through argument or reasoning
35. Opinion – A view or judgement about something, not usually based on fact
36. Cause – Something that gives rise to an action or condition
37. Perhaps – Used to express uncertainty or possibility
38. Region – An area or part of a country
39. Display – Put something in a prominent place so that it may be seen
Homework:
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today.
– Write a piece of descriptive writing about a place that is the opposite of Avonlea. Include at least five antonyms for the words we have learned today.
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Lesson 3 Report:
Very good work from everyone this week! The students did really well in the refresher quiz at the beginning of the lesson – it’s good to see that they are retaining so much of what we’re learning! And special shout out to those of you that joined us for the first time this week and still participated in the quiz!
Students are beginning to gain confidence when approaching new and unfamiliar vocab, which is good to see. We also had a good discussion about the text this week, The Secret Garden, and it was very nice to hear that all of the students had either already read The Secret Garden or were convinced to do so after the lesson.
I would just like to reiterate that it is important that the students do not have last week’s vocab list with them when we do the quiz at the beginning as it means I’m not able to properly assess their progress with retaining the words. Otherwise, a very good session!
Vocabulary:
1. Used to – familiar or comfortable with
2. Chirp – make a short, sharp, high-pitched sound
3. Twitter – give a call of light sounds
4. Bare – empty, basic or simple
5. Hopping – jumping on one leg; spring or leap
6. Pretend – behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not
7. Peck – (of a bird) – strike or bite something with its beak
8. Persuade – convince someone to do something
9. Tremble – shake uncontrollably
10. Coax – gently and persistently persuade someone to do something
11. Flirted – of a bird, wave or open and shut its wings quickly
12. Waistcoat – close fitting sleeveless jacket
13. Satin – a smooth and glossy fabric
14. Puffed – n. swollen and round in shape; v. breathe in short gasps
15. Grand – magnificent and imposing in appearance or size
16. Contrary – opposite in nature or direction
17. Startle – cause to feel sudden shock or alarm
18. Scarcely – only just; almost not
19. Dare – have the courage to do something
20. Perennial – lasting or existing for a long or infinite time; enduring
21. Rusty – covered in rust, a reddish flaking substance that forms on iron or steel when it gets wet
22. Usually – Under normal conditions; generally
23. Material – The matter from which a thing is or can be made
24. Unit – An individual thing or person
25. Become – Begin to be
26. Except – Not including; other than
27. Course – The route or direction followed by something, the way something progresses
28. Design – A plan or drawing produced to show an object before it is made; a decorative pattern; to create something
29. Curl – Make something or become a spiral or curved shape
30. Crawl – Move forward on the hands and knees
31.Equipment – The necessary items for a particular purpose
Homework:
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today.
– Pick one of the words from the vocabulary list and use it to make a title with. Then use that title to write a short story about the discovery of something unexpected.
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Lesson 4 Report:
Very good work from everyone involved this week! As the class was slightly diminished this week we were able to engage more fully with the text, and I was able to quiz the students more thoroughly on the vocabulary we had learned so far, as well as the new vocab this week. Discussion about the text was energetic and focused, and I was particularly impressed with the class’s performance in the refresher quiz and the opening activity where they engaged with new words.
I would still like to see some more engagement with the comprehension questions. I would advise that the students read through the extract and do some background research before the class in order to help stimulate discussion. I would also like to see some more homework from the students so that I can properly assess their progress. But otherwise, a very good lesson!
Vocabulary:
1. Glow – give out a steady light
2. Undoubtedly – without doubt; certainly
3. Wisp – a small thin piece or amount of something
4. Vapour – a gas-like substance suspended in the air
5. Throb – a strong regular beat
6. Gallop – n. the fastest pace of a horse; v. to go at the pace of a gallop.
7. Rumble – make a continuous, deep and resonant sound
8. Unmistakable – not able to be mistaken for anything else; very distinctive
9. Gurgling – to make a hollow bubbling sound
10. Snoring – to make a grunting or snorting sound in one’s sleep
11. Tremendous – very large and impressive
12. Vast – a very great extent or quantity
13. Cellar – a basement room in a house, usually used for coal or wine
14. Enormous – very large in size or quantity
15. Thrumming – to make a continuous rhythmic humming sound
16. Coiled – arranged in a coil; curled in on itself
17. Crusted – having or forming a hard outer layer
18. Enchantment – a feeling of great pleasure or delight
19. Frightful – very unpleasant or shocking
20. Guardian – a person who protects or defends something
21. Crept or creep – move slowly and carefully in order to not be noticed
22. Menace – a person or thing that is likely to cause harm
23. Uneasy – causing or feeling anxiety; troubled or uncomfortable
24. Doze – sleep lightly
25. Draught – a currently of cool air in a room
26. Dim – not shining brightly or clearly
27. Nostrils – the holes in a nose
28. Lair – a place where a wild animal lives
29. Development – how something grows or evolves
30. Guard – verb: to watch over in order to protect or control
32. Rough – having an uneven surface; not smooth
33. System – a set of things that work together in a connected way
34. Instrument – a tool or implement
35. Compel – Force someone to do something
36. Earnest – showing sincerity or conviction
37. Foe – An enemy or opponent
38. Hoax – a humorous or unkind deception
39. Insolent – Showing a rude lack of respect
Homework
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today.
– Describe an encounter with a dragon using ten of the words from the vocabulary list above, or any of their synonyms or antonyms.
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Lesson 5 Report:
Had a fun and energetic lesson today, with active and focused engagement from all students, despite a couple of technical issues! We began the lesson with a round of Vocabulary Bingo which the students become very competitive in (which I was glad to see).
We then took a look at an extract from Roald Dahl’s The Witches and discussed some comprehension questions together, which the class engaged with really well. The vocabulary list for this week is slightly shorter than previous weeks so I expect ALL students to send me a written response for homework this week! I have left some of the definitions blank as I would like the students to source definitions as part of their homework.
Vocabulary:
1. Ordinary
2. Sizzling – very hot
3. Plotting – secretly making plans
4. Territory – a piece of land owned by a person
5. Passion – strong and barely controllable emotion
6. Cashier – a person responsible for payments in a shop
7. Scheming
8. Churning – moving about vigorously (usually liquid)
9. Whizzing – move quickly through the air
10. Murderous
11. Bloodthirsty
12. Squelching
13. Reckon – be of the opinion
14. Tetchy – irritable or bad-tempered
15. Motto – a short sentence or phrase chosen to encapsulate certain beliefs
16. Stalk
17. Wretched
18. Tread – walk in a specified way
19. Shrivel – wrinkle and contract due to loss of moisture
20. Devilry
21. Neurotic – abnormally sensitive, obsessive or anxious
22. Personable – friendly and easy to get on with
23. Defame – damage someone’s good reputation
24. Ghoul – an evil spirit
25. Concerned – worried, troubled or anxious
26. Malicious
27. Dazzling
28. Scrutinise – examine or inspect closely and thoroughly
29. Absurdity – being unreasonable or ridiculous
30. Conclusive – decisive, proving something
31. Unfeasible – inconvenient or impractical, not possible
32. Quirky
33. Habits
Homework:
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today, filling in any gaps.
– Write a diary entry describing an encounter with a Witch. Use 10 of the words in the list above or their antonyms or synonyms.
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Dear diary,
Today I had a quirky day at school, my teacher Miss Beagle is not an ordinary person, she’s a MALICIOUS WRETCHED WITCH!
This happened in school when she was teaching history. I was tired and drifted off to sleep in the lesson. Miss Beagle went tetchy, she took out her old wand and pointed it at me furiously but didn’t curse a spell, she became very absurd, and shouted out some rude words. I don’t know why she is being so murderous to me, she is such a bloodthirsty person. This made me feel shocked and concerned about what she might do next. I reckon she’s probably going to squish me to death under her tremendous stinky feet.
I had a very bad expierence, it ruined my day. Hopefully tomorrow I will forget about it and have a better day.
Your neurotic friend Weiya
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Lesson Report 6
Very focused and energetic lesson this week! The students did very well in Vocab Bingo, and I’m glad to see that they are assimilating the vocabulary from previous weeks really well. The Matching Activity also ran smoothly, and I’m impressed with the breadth of the students’ existing vocabulary as always!
The extract went down very well too, and the students engaged really well with the comprehension questions. The vocabulary was a little easier this week but I’m hoping this will give the students the chance to revisit and revise previous weeks’ work.
Homework:
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today and fill in the blanks.
– Imagine that you are a news reporter sent to write a report on Charlotte and her web. Write an article using ten of the words in the list above.
Vocabulary:
1. Immediately – straight away, now
2. Ceiling – the upper interior surface of a room
3. Previous – occurring before in time or order
4. Shrunk
5. Sac
6. Cocoon – a silky case spun by insects for protection
7. Curiously – in a strange and unusual way
8. Magnum Opus
9. Patience
10. Assure – tell someone something positively to dispel doubts
11. Masterpiece
12. Goslings – baby geese
13. Languishing
14. Dew
15. Strand – a single think length of something like a thread or wire
16. Dozen – twelve of something
17. Marvel – be filled with wonder or astonishment
18. Miracle – an extraordinary and welcome event that is not easily explicable and is therefore attributed to god or divine agency
19. Husky – low pitched and hoarse
20. Swollen
21. Hoarse – sounding rough and harsh
22. Carousing – to drink alcohol and enjoy yourself in a noisy and lively way
23. Gorge – verb; to eat a large amount greedily
24. Leavings – things that have been left
25. Ripe – (of fruit) ready to eat or harvest
26. Seasoned – having had salt, pepper, herbs or spices added
27. Acute – experienced to a severely unpleasant degree
28. Indigestion
29. Aid – Help, to help
30. Commence – Begin
31. Heroic – Having brave or determined characteristics
32. Maximum – The greatest amount possible
33. Lofty – Very high or of a noble nature
34. Imitate – Copy someone or something
35. Perilous – Full of danger or risk
36. Awkward – Causing difficulty; hard to deal with or unreasonable; uneasy or embarrassing
37. Banish – Send someone away from a place or country as punishment
38. Adopt – To legally take someone’s child and bring it up; to take up or follow
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Lesson 7 Report
Excellent work from everyone this week! This was a really fun, energetic and focused lesson. The students did very well on Vocab Bingo and on the Opening Activity, and engaged well with this week’s extract. The extract, How to Train Your Dragon, was really well received and the students seemed to enjoy reading and talking about the content.
1. Hiccup – an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm resulting in a gulping sound; a temporary or minor setback
2. Heir
3. Hooligan – a young and violent troublemaker
4. Initiation
5. Bleak – charmless and inhospitable; cold and miserable
6. Sneer – a contemptuous or mocking smile
7. Limpets – a marine mollusc
8. Glint – a small flash of light
9. Admittedly – used to express a concession or recognition that something is the case
10. Republic – a sate in which supreme power is held by the people and their representatives
11. Tradition
12. Dramatically
13. Scallop – an edible mollusc
14. Bellow – emit a deep loud roar, typically in pain or anger
15. Lesser – not so great or important as the rest
16. Tame – not dangerous; domesticated
17. Solemnly – in a formal and dignified manner
18. Burglary
19. Scenic – impressive beautiful natural scenery
20. Loom – appear large and threatening
21. Dizzyingly
22. Cacophony
23. Hibernate – spend the winter in a dormant state
24. Ominous – giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen
25. Heartily – in a hearty man; loud, vigorous and cheerful
26. Piranhas
27. Barren – of land, too poor to produce much or any vegetation
28. Abode – A place of residence; a house or a home
29. Constant – Occurring continuously over a period of time
30. Summit – The highest point of a hill or mountain
31. Wound – An injury caused by a cut or blow
32. Wasteful – Using or expending something carelessly
33. Unorthodox – Contrary to what is usual, traditional or accepted
34. Hygienic – Being clean and sanitary, conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease
35. Limb – An arm or a leg of a person or animal
36. Origin – The point or place where something begins or is derived
Homework
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today.
– In the first two chapters the main character, Hiccup, is confronted with a most difficult challenge and one that he must endure in the face of ridicule from several other boys. Describe a time in your own life when you (or a friend) were faced with a difficult challenge using ten words from the vocab list.
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Lesson 8 Report
We had a really fun, lively and focused lesson today, beginning with a round of Vocab Bingo. Once again the students impressed me with the amount of words they have retained from our previous lessons together. We then looked at an extract from the Chronicles of Narnia which the students seemed to enjoy. This was followed by engaged and lively discussion about the text and the effects created by the language and images used within it.
1. Cistern – a tank for storing water
2. Sloping – of a surface or line, slanting up or down
3. Plaster – a soft mixture of sand and cement used for spreading on walls to create a smooth surface
4. Smuggler – someone who trades or transports stolen goods
5. Rafter – a beam forming the internal framework of a roof
6. Various – different from one another; of different kinds or sorts
7. Burglar
8. Jolly – happy and cheerful, or ‘very’
9. Feeble – lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness
10. Game
11. Lantern – a lamp with a transparent case
12. Gang
13. Rot – process of decay of natural matter
14. Drains – a channel or pipe carrying off surplus liquid
15. Exploration
16. Occasion
17. Draught
18. Bolt – a bar that slides into a socket to fasten a door or window
19. Deserted – (of a place) empty of people
20. Furnished
21. Brief – of short duration; not lasting for long
22. Assistance – The action of helping someone by sharing work
23. Average – Of the usual or ordinary amount, standard, or rate; having qualities seen as typical of a person, group or thing
24. Lament – A passionate expression of grief or sorrow
25. Idol – A person or thing that is greatly admired
26. Prompt – To cause an event, action or feeling; an act of encouraging a speaker
27. Pasture – Land covered with grass on which animals graze.
28. Vanish – Disappear suddenly and completely
29. Superior – Higher in rank, status or quality
30.Torment – Severe physical or mental suffering
Homework
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today.
– Continue the story in your own words. What do you think will happen next? Include ten of the words from the vocab list.
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Lesson 9 Report
Lovely and lively lesson from everyone this week! Vocab bingo went very well, and the students are continuing to assimilate the vocabulary which is encouraging. This week we looked at an extract from Watership Down which the students handled really well. We spent much of the lesson picking apart the sense of the extract and exploring its meaning, discussing the motivations and possible outcomes of the extract.
Vocabulary
1. Veteran – a person who has had long experience in a particular field; an ex-member of the armed forces
2. Turf – grass and the top layer of earth
3. Pecking – (of a bird) strike or bite something with its beak
4. Tussock – a small area of grass that is thicker or longer than the grass growing around it
5. Continual – having no interruptions
6. Relentless
7. Recall – remember
8. Warren
9. Imminent – about to happen
10. Doe – a female deer, hare, rabbit, rat, ferret or kangaroo
11. Raid
12. Enable – make (something) possible
13. Recount – tell someone about something; give an account of an event or experience
14. Nibble
15. Relish
16. Standing – position, status or reputation
17. Ascent
18. Disadvantage
19. Victim
20. Receive – be given, presented with, or paid something
21. Pity
22. Perpetual – never ending or changing
23. Deliberate
24. Invent
25. Astral – relating to or resembling the stars
26. Collar
27. Sunken – at a lower level than the surrounding area
28. Arduous – Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring
29. Consent – Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something
30. Estimate – Roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity or extent of
31. Debate – Argue something in a formal way
32. Foundation – A base or support for a structure or argument
33. Ignorant – Lacking knowledge or awareness; uneducated
34. Surprise – An unexpected or astonishing event
35. Ambition – A strong desire to do or achieve something
36. Bargain – To negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction
37. Complex – Not easy to understand; complicated
Homework
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today and fill in the blank definitions.
– Continue the story in your own words. What do you think will happen next? Include ten of the words from the vocab list.
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Lesson 10 Report
Fun and energetic lesson this week, with very good focus demonstrated by all of the students. Vocab Bingo went very well after a few technical difficulties were sorted out, and the students enjoyed and engaged with the extract from The Chamber of Secrets, resulting in an active discussion about the segment. I continue to be confident about the students’ assimilation of the weekly vocabulary.
1. Spate – a large number of things coming in quick succession
2. Vivid
3. Enthusiasm – intense and eager enjoyment, interest or approval
4. Drench – to wet thoroughly; soak
5. Squelched – make a soft sucking sound when pressure is applied to mud or liquid
6. Preoccupied
7. Morose – sullen and ill-tempered
8. Dashing
9. Plumed – decorated with feathers
10. Torrential – falling rapidly and in very large quantities
11. Transparent
12. Elegant – graceful and stylish in appearance or manner
13. Airy – spacious, well lit and well ventilated; or not treating something as serious
14. Erupt
15. Fuming
16. Sinew – a piece of tough tissue uniting muscle to bone
17. Mewling – cry feebly; whimper
18. Skeletal
19. Deputy
20. Plastered – cover something, especially to an extent considered excessive or too much
21. Foul – offensive to the senses
22. Tapestry – a piece of thick fabric with pictures or designs weaved into it
23. Jowls – the lower part of the cheek, especially when it is fleshy or drooping
24. Aquiver
25. Antique – A collectable object that has a high value because of age and quality
26. Chaos – Complete disorder and confusion
27. Artful – Clever or skilful, especially in a crafty or cunning way
28. Coy – pretending to be shy or modest in order to attract
29. Derelict – In very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect
30. Flawless – without any imperfections or defects; perfect
31. Rigid – Unable to bed; not flexible
32. Linger – Stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctance to leave
33. Puncture – To make a small hole in something; a small hole in something through which air escapes
34. Quench – Satisfy one’s thirst by drinking
Homework
– Revise the vocabulary we have learned today and fill in the blanks.
– What happens next? Continue the story in your own words, thinking in particular about the conversation that will take place between Harry and Filch. You can either write this from third or first person perspective. Use 10 words from the vocab list above.
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