Mostly for Dummies

Teacher: Hey there, buddy! I see you're curious about what the word "mostly" means. Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible. You know when you have a big bowl of your favorite cereal, and you've already eaten most of it, but there's just a little bit left at the bottom? That's kind of like what "mostly" means.

Imagine a bowl of cereal with only a few flakes left at the bottom.

So, "mostly" means that something is happening or is true for the most part, but there might be some exceptions or a small amount that doesn't quite fit. It's like saying "almost all" or "nearly all" but leaving a little room for some things that are different.

Now, let's try to understand this word a little better by exploring a couple of examples. Imagine you're going to a party, and your friend tells you, "Hey, there will be mostly adults there." What do you think that means?

Pause and allow the student to think.

Student: Um, does it mean that there will be a lot of adults, but maybe also a few kids?

Teacher: Yes, exactly! Great job! When your friend says there will be mostly adults at the party, it means that the majority of people there will be grown-ups, but there might still be a few youngsters that show up. "Mostly" emphasizes that adults will be the main group, but allows for the possibility of some exceptions.

Now, let's dive into another example to make sure we've got the hang of it. Imagine you're playing a video game, and you're really good at it. Your friend asks, "Do you win mostly or sometimes?" What do you think they're asking?

Pause and allow the student to think.

Student: Are they asking if I win the game a lot or just sometimes?

Teacher: That's spot on! When your friend asks if you win mostly or sometimes, they're curious if you win the game frequently or if it just happens occasionally. They want to know if your victories happen most of the time or if they are more of a rare occurrence.

So, my friend, "mostly" is a word we use to describe something that happens or is true for the most part, but there may be a few exceptions or a little bit of a different situation. It's like eating almost all the cereal from a bowl but leaving a few flakes behind. Remember, it's all about emphasizing what is happening most of the time but allowing for some deviations.

Give a thumbs up and encourage the student.

Teacher: You're doing an amazing job understanding this word, buddy! Keep up the great work, and if you have any more questions, I'm here to help you anytime!