Fast Moving February

 Hello, Friends.

This week is full of celebrations and beginnings leading up to Easter. Some are secular and some are religious in nature.

• Monday: Presidents Day. Celebrate a day off.
• Tuesday: Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. Celebrate a feasting day before the fasting of Lent.
• Wednesday: Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of Lent in the Christian calendar. Catholic churches and other Christian denominations observe this day. Learn more about the customs and meaning in this Parade article.

The Declaration of Independence

The end of the Declaration of Independance wraps up with the actions that the colonists had taken to avoid conflict.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

This is not the end...Read more about the style and the writing of this document in The Stylistic Artistry of the Declaration of Independence. It is worthwhile to revisit the Declaration of Independence again and examine how it is written and how the arguments are portrayed. Be prepared to spend a long time on this, but it is well worth the while.

American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST, Zoom

We are continuing to polish our skills with similar signs. Finding and reminding ourselves of what we know is always useful and helpful.

February 21: We continue our similar sign discussions.

American English: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST, Zoom

We talked about everything from grief, to gratitude, to grammar. We continue to broaden our use of the present perfect verb tense, which often includes an adverb or time phrase to set the context.  Try to add these words to your conversations about what you have or haven't done:  ever, never, for, since, already, yet, so far, just, recently, lately, many times, more than once, this month, this year. 

February 23: 

Prepare talking points or a piece of writing about one or more of these topics:

• What have you done in the past to prepare you for your dream job?
• What have you done in your life that you are proud of? OR What has someone else done that you are proud of?
• What experiences have you had that make you unique?

Review words beginning with U-Z on the list of "1,000 Words.” As you do, think about how you could use each word in a sentence.  Many words in English have multiple meanings.

American Accent Training: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 AM EST, Zoom

Accent concentrated on the long i and low ow sounds. 

February 23: Polish your pronunciation and learn a new tip.

Kid's Conversation: 4:30-5:00 PM EST, Zoom

We are talked about inventors. This inventor is very interesting. Momofuku Ando is the inventor of Cup Noodles. We talked about his interesting story in creating this popular and delicious food. Read more about him in the Wikipedia article. He saw a solution to feeding hungry people with the resources available from the American culture to the Japanese culture. His solution was to make noodles with the flour rather than make bread.

February 24: We are continuing to talk about inventors and inventions.

in nature: having attributes or qualities

leading up to: precedint

talking points: topics that invite discussion

well worth the while: valuable for the time spent

wraps up: ends