Easy. Read more. Countless studies have shown that people who read for pleasure, are better writers. Just think about it... if you are reading you are interacting with language, you are learning new vocabulary, and you are making connections between what you already know and what you are reading about. This is what the English Language Arts program is all about. Reading for pleasure is the key to success in English, and it doesn't even matter what you read. Read a novel. Read the sports scores. Read the liner notes of a CD. Read a webpage. It all helps.
Ask around. There are lots of avid readers at MDJH. Some of them are even in your class. (Scary I know) They can recommend (or trash) many of the latest novels. And since they are the same age as you, they are probably more in tune with the 'neat-o' novels you young 'cats' are reading these days.
Arghhhhhhhhhh! 'A lot' is two words. Seeing it written as one word drives me up the wall. A lot of people do it. Think about it... would you ever write 'alittle' as one word? As a phrase, 'a lot' is overused in student writing. I see it a lot. And a lot of the time there are a lot of more vivid or more descriptive words that would get you a lot more attention from a lot of your readers, and a lot more marks from a lot of your teachers.
They are my sons. I love them alot. Sorry... I love them immeasurably, and I often use events from their lives to illustrate things we are discussing in class. I'm trying to give it up because they are threatening to kill me in my sleep if I don't. If you saw them, you'd know why I'm taking their threats seriously. Scary kids. Tough too. Drop by my class and I'll show you their pictures. I've even got some cute baby pics of them in diapers. I'm sure they wouldn't mind.
This is my hotmail address, and some of my students have added me to their contact lists in MSN Instant Messenger. I don't mind. It's actually a great way to stay connected. Also, some students who are not comfortable asking questions in class are more comfortable talking on line ***Warning! If you decide you'd like to chat with me, I may attempt to correct your spelling and grammar.***