• b. A sincere compliment is worth its weight in gold.
• Practice: He complimented his wife.
• Reaction: Angry, annoyed
• c. Always encourage your child’s curiosity.
command • 4) be about to—near future
4. Language points
• The use of over in the text
• 1) I tiptoed over and kissed her on the back of the neck. (L.8) • over adv.—across a distance or open space, either towards or away from sb/sth • 2) “What have you been doing over the holidays?” (L.33) • over prep.—during, in the course of (a period or an event) • 3) To ease the situation, I picked up her brand-new sweater from the floor
1.About New Year’s Resolutions
• C.Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions
• 1. Don't over promise • 2. Set out a path . • 3. Set markers on your path. • 4. Tell people! • 5. Don't give up!
•
Practice: He greeted his daughter and even her doll.
•
Reaction: None.
• e. Show an interest in your children’s friends.
•
Practice: He made small talk with Kit’s friend.
ideas (1); • Composition writing—narration; • Letter writing—introducing someone •
Text I Pre-reading activities
• 1.About New Year’s Resolutions
• A.Top 10 Most Common New Year Resolutions • 1. Lose weight • 2. Stop smoking • 3. Stick to a budget • 4. Save or earn more money • 5. Find a better job • 6. Become more organized • 7. Exercise more • 8. Be more patient at work/with others • 9. Eat better • 10. Become a better person
• a. Be spontaneous in showing affection.
• Practice: He sneak up on his wife and kissed her on the back of the neck.
• Reaction: His wife shrieked and dropped a cup.
•
1.About New Year’s Resolutions
B. Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions
• 1) Spend More Time with Family & Friends • 2) Fit in Fitness • 3) Tame the Bulge • 4) Quit Smoking • 5) Enjoy Life More • 6) Quit Drinking • 7) Get Out of Debt • 8) Learn Something New • 9) Help Others • 10) Get Organized
While-reading activities
- Listen to the tape for general information Study the text in detail • 1.The main idea of the story: • The writer carried out his New Year’s resolutions faithfully to improve himself, but the results all went contrary to his expectations.
Contents
• Detailed study of Text I & II • Oral work: • Role-play: asking about bank accounts;
Interaction activities: making one’s resolutions
Guided writing: Basic writing techniques—expansion of
• g. Encourage creativity in the young.
•
Practice: He suggested children carve a salad spoon
for Maggie.
•
Reaction: Maggie was irritated.
(2) The practice of his 8+2 resolutions
4. Language points
• A brief summary of the ways to express futurity • 1) will/shall and infinitive—the neutral
future • 2) to be going to—future intention • 3) be to do (sth)—arrangement or
• 1)…you get out of them what you put in. • 2)…will be blessed with a richer life… • 3)…Be spontaneous in showing affection • 4)...it wasn’t my idea to stay out until four a.m. • 5) I’ll bet the fellows are swarming around. • 6)…she has become extremely aware of being female. • 7)…you are not feeling your best after last night. • 8) She contributed very little. • 9) Anybody else would have thrown in the sponge. • 10) The kids have been impossible all day. • 11) they had the nerve to say you suggested it. • 12) Kit has been in a poisonous mood. • 13) you cross-examined Marilyn about her boyfriends. • 14) I was only making small talk. • 15) drawn by the commotion. • 16) they know where they stand. • 17) I was illustrating my points with gestures. • 18) The kids were sprawled on the floor… •
2.Pair work: what are your New Year’s resolutions?
3.What’s the text about?
• -The title discloses very little information. • -A narrative piece of writing • -Characters: Dad: the hero • Maggie: his wife • Sammy: 1st son, 5 • Roy: 2nd son • Kit: 1st daughter, 14 • Gretchen: 2nd daughter
•
Practice: He told his son with great patience how the
watch worked.
•
Reaction: Sammy became absent-minded.
(2) The practice of his 8+2 resolutions
• d. Meet your child at his own level.
(2) (4) His usual/old self—as the husband: lazy, enjoyed himself thoroughly; as the father: serious, strict, stern, quick-tempered, unequal
3.Sentence Comprehension
•
Practice: He took down the Christmas tree for