Journal #25 'My Vocabulary History'

-I think I am very weak in my word choice just as I said in my self assessment I did a while ago. Because of the way I talk daily, I dont always use big words to describe the way I'm feeling or what not. I usually use simple words in my sentences rather then challenging words I've learned in middle school. Although I have had a vcabulary book to study words in middle school I've never really got to the point where I used those words daily.
-Well, during my whole elementary and middle career, I've always had tests occasionally on my spelling/ vocabulary words. Before each test it would be an assignment to write down each word and definition and then to study from it. Other than that, we ould write the words a couple of times and fit each word in a sentence provided and find the synonyms and antonyms of the word.
-Well first, I take whatever technique I've used in the past. But since then I think i changed my ways. I use my context clues first to see what it really means. I take a quick guess and then look it up. I'd say it a couple of times and move on.
-Well, since we are getting into a lot of reading I would like learn more challenging words that I should probaqbly know by now and apply them to my essay and etc. I feel like I;m behind with my vocabulary so I would like to learn as many words as possible. I could use my updated words I've leanred in my upcoming essays or when I'm giving presentations.

New Memories But Same Old Traditions.......

As we rushed out of the house, my mom laid our traditional “money jar” right outside the frontthe door like each New Years Eve. While Dad beeps the car horn as a signal to tell my mom to hurry we reverse out of the garage and await for her on the edge of the curb. Finally in Waipahu, I stepped out of the car shrieking and startling from the loud BOOMS and BANGS of fireworks. Greeting and hugging my family all the kids excite to the coming of the New Year. I could hear babies crying when they heard the fireworks pop and see my little cousins throw their little “Pop Pops” at the ground. Surrounded with all the joy and excitement my cousins and I hurried to finish our food and began lighting up anything in our sight. Since my cousin’s friend lived right across the street we called to challenge them. Endless colors from fountains sparkled and the smell of smoke filled the air creating this very gray fog. My cousin, Alyssa got so caught up with trying to win, that she forgot to throw the firework causing it to pop right in her hand. She quickly ran to me and I called everyone to come out of the house to help her. I wasn’t mad but the adults didn’t allow us to pop anything anymore because of this incident. Bored as ever, my cousin kept crying all night while the adults just sang on the karaoke; it was torture. Leaving Waipahu, we made it home just before New Years. Once it hit twelve, first person to walk through the front door had to close the “money jar” and bring it in the house. Tradition has it that the parents put money into the “money jar” every New Years Eve and by the time the youngest of the children get married(ME) the money jar will be given to them and so on.