Morning Routines

Morning Routines

Do you ever find yourself at school wondering where your morning went? Sometimes we take for granted the little things that make us fresh and ready to learn in for school. This morning, while pondering the way we automatically move through our daily routines, I decided to mentally narrate my morning schedule.

"I am brewing a pot of coffee. I love coffee. It tastes delicious. I am admiring the flowers in my yard while I drink it. Next, I am showering. I am enjoying the fruity scent of my favorite soap. Now I am drying off. While I am dressing, I am thinking about another cup of coffee. Next, I am brushing my teeth.

"At this moment, I realize I am running late. I am rapidly combing my hair and tying it into a bun. I am making toast while I prepare a second cup of coffee. After quaffing the coffee, I am putting on a pair of flats. I am grabbing my keys and darting for the door."

This is not the first time I've narrated my routine while performing these tasks. Sometimes, after a night dealing with insomnia, I find myself narrating my morning in my head to remind myself what comes next. It keeps me alert before the caffeine in my coffee begins working. Being exhausted has that kind of effect on me.

About Present Progressives

Watch this video to learn the basics behind using present progressives.

Why don't you try this activity to practice using present progressives?

Vocabulary:

pondering (to ponder): to think about something in a dreamy way

automatically: to do something without the need to think about it (i.e. something you do all the time, like make coffee)

mentally: inside your own mind

narrate: to speak about yours or someone else's actions, like a story teller

admiring (to admire): to look at something with affection

scent: an odor or aroma, usually one that is pleasing

rapidly: quickly, fast

quaffing: to drink a beverage deeply

darting (to dart): to run quickly

insomnia: the inability to sleep

exhausted: very tired

Activity:

1: The late train was moving ________ to get to it's next stop on time.

2: I listened to my teacher ________ the fairy tale out loud to the class.

3: Her perfume's ________ smelled delightful.

4: After I spent ten hours moving furniture, I was ________.

5: Seth's friends watch him ________ for the bank door so he can get inside before they closed.

6: I never look for a price tag while I am ________ pretty clothes.

7: I ________ took note of an idea I had so I could write it down later.

8: I am watching a man ________ his soda, and wondering if it will make him burp.

9: I have ________, so sometimes I cannot get to sleep at night.

10: I suddenly realized I was cooking spaghetti at eight in the morning. Without realizing the time, I must've ________ started to cook dinner.

Jambalaya?

New Orleans is famous for it's food and culture. One of the signature dishes in New Orleans cuisine is Jambalaya.

Jambalaya is made with rice, vegetables, meat, seafood, and spices. For meats, Louisiana natives generally use chicken or andouille sausages, but ground beef and ham are occasionally used. Vegetables include green bell peppers, onions, celery, and tomatoes. Jambalaya is generally cooked with three pots, and can take an hour to boil.

New Orleans was a mixing pot of cultures in the 1800s. Spanish and French immigrants lived mainly in the French Quarter, a section of the city popular for tourism today. Spanish residents attempted to make paella, a popular rice dish. However, they lacked saffron, the main spice. They used spices imported from the Caribbean. These spices created a unique flavor, and Jambalaya was born.

Why don't you try making Jambalaya? Click this link for twenty easy jambalaya recipes.

For more information about New Orleans cooking and culture, visit Gumbopages.com.

Vocabulary

Signature: an item that becomes an identifying mark for its creator

Andouille: a sausage of French origin made with pork, peppers, onions, wine, and seasonings

Occasionally: not occurring very often

Paella: A popular Spanish rice dish with rice, vegetables, meat, and seafood

Saffron: a rich, yellow spice used in dishes and to color cloth

Caribbean: a series of islands south of Florida known for their tropical temperatures and rich cultures

Unique: unlike any other

Activity

Maria's ________ electric blue hair color was unlike any of her classmates.

When I visited Madrid, Spain this summer, I ate ________, a delicious rice dinner.

I only visit the amusement park ________ because it is too expensive to visit often.

I purchased some delicious ________ sausage at a French market near my house.

On my honeymoon, I vacationed in the tropical islands of the ________.

My new dress is a golden yellow, much like the color of ________ spice.

Josephine's bakery is famous for their ________ cookie, oatmeal chocolate chip.