January 4 -8     "Ghosts of the Lagoon"

expedition - a journey with a goal or purpose
harpoon - a spear like weapon used to hunt large fish
lagoon - a shallow body of water separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs
phosphorus - a substance that glows with a yellowish or white light
reef - a ridge or rocks, sand, or coral near the surface of water
conflict - disagreement of interests or ideas; a fight or struggle
response - something said or written in reaction to a question
predict - to say what you think will happen
native - a person born in the area
occasion - a fact  or event that makes something else possible
position - a person's attitude or opinion
skillful - having great ability
clever - intelligent; quick witted
courage - being brave, valor, fearless
synonym - words with similar meanings

January 11 - 15     Wordly Wise

whet - to sharpen
sheen - a bright shine
inane - foolish; silly
fierce - wild and untamed
ebb - to flow back
diminutive - very small
adorn - to decorate; to make more beautiful
drivel - foolish talk
sleigh - a carriage for going over snow
anxiety - a feeling of uneasiness
bale - a large bundle
infect - to spread disease
pit - a hole in the ground
solemn - serious; grave
escort - to go along with
avid - very eager

January 19 – 22 WW 4-12

ponderous - heavy and slow-moving
clot - a think lump formed in a liquid
abrupt - sudden; unexpecte
utmost - most distant; farthest
vanquish - to overcome; to defeat
callous - hardened; unfeeling
extend - to make longer
reprimand - to scold in a harsh manner
cast - the actors and actresses in a play
source - the place where something begins
urge - to plead with
swindle - to cheat out of money or property

January 25 - 29     Aaron’s Gift

pogrom – raids/attacks on Jewish community by the Cossacks in the 19^th century

coaxed – persuaded by gently urging

foreshadowing – a clue that something is about to happen

plunged – to thrust or throw forcefully into something

pylons – towers marking turning points for airplanes in a race

peddlers – a person traveling about selling goods

mascot – a person, animal, or object that is believed to bring good luck

stoop – small porch

thrashing – moving wildly

frenzied – wildly excited, frantic

assassinate – to murder by surprise attack for political reasons

predicting – thinking about what might happen in the future based on clues

personification – figurative language in which an animal, object, or idea is given human qualities and described as if human

finally – at the end

vengeance – the return of injury for an injury

February 1 - 5

advice - opinion given as to what to do or how to do something; suggestions

authority - 1: the right or power to give orders or make decisions 2:a person or book that can be expected to give correct information or advice; an expert 3: a person who has the right to govern or to enforce the law

dearth - scarcity; an insufficient supply; a shortage

encourage - 1: to make someone feel more confident 2:to give help or support; to promote

ethical - right or correct according to some system of morals

loath - to hate or despise

mourn - to be sad or show sorrow over someone's death or a loss

narrate - to give the story of; to tell

pry - 1: to raise or move with a crowbar 2: to get, detach or open with difficulty 3: to look or search closely or curiously

range - nouns  1: a row or line, especially of connected mountains 2: the distance that can be traveled, as by a car 4: open land over which cattle graze 5: a cooking stove 6: a place to practice shooting verbs 1: to wander about; 2: to vary within certain limits

soar - 1: to rise 2: to fly high in the air

undermine - 1: to dig or make a tunnel 2: to wear away and weaken the support 3: to injure or weaken in a sneaky way

utter - to speak

witty - clever in an amusing way

February 16 – 19

bitterness – a feeling of disgust or resentment

prey – to have a harmful effect

succeed – to come after; to follow

tangible – able to be touched or grasped

reveal – to bring to view; to show

impress – to implant firmly in the mind

persist – to continue stubbornly

sentiment - emotion

vainly – without success

repentance – a regret for past behavior

confounding - confusing

plummet – metal weight tied to the end of a rope

tussle – a struggle

imagery – language that appeals to the senses

February 22 – 26

corps – 1: a section or special branch of the armed forces 2: a group of people working together under a leader

dignified – 1: worthy; noble; proper 2: high ranking

ease – as a noun 1: calm or relaxed condition 2: the state of being without worry, pain or trouble; comfort; luxury as a verb 1: to make less painful 2: to move slowly and carefully to avoid strain or injury

exhibit – as a noun 1: something shown as evidence in court 2:a public display, an article or collection of articles shown to the public as a verb to show or display in public

inferior – as an adjective 1: of less importance; not very good; below average 2: lower in position or rank as a noun a person or thing thought to be of lower quality

liberate – as a verb to free as a noun (liberator) a person who frees others

merciful – kind, forgiving; having or showing mercy

mirth – joyfulness; fun; laughter

petty – as an adjective 1: of little importance; small; minor 2: having or showing a mean or spiteful character as a noun (petty cash) a small sum of money kept on hand in a business

tarry – to wait around

twine – as a noun strong string or cord as a verb 1: to twist together 2: to wind or grow in a winding way

unearth – 1: to dig up from the earth 2: to discover or to find

venture – as a noun an activity or undertaking in which there is a danger of losing something as a verb 1: to dare to do, say or undertake 2: to risk; to place in danger

 March 1 – 5 “The Circuit”

braceros – Hispanic farm workers

circuit – a regular route of travel that follows the harvest season in different places

drone – constant buzz

galvanized – a coat of zinc that protects metal

hesitantly – with pauses or uncertainty

imagery – use of figures of speech or vivid descriptions in writing

instinct – a natural or automatic way of behaving

jalopy – shabby, old car

migrant – laborer who travels from one area to another in search of work

personification – providing inanimate / nonhuman objects with human qualities

populated – having a large # of inhabitants

savoring – enjoying heartily; relishing

surplus – extra materials or supplies

vineyard – an area where grapevines are planted

 March 8 – 12

capitol – n. 1:the building in which the U.S. Congress meets 2: the building in which a state legislature meets

envious – adj. jealous of what others have; wanting what isn’t yours

extravagant – adj. 1:spending more that one can afford or more than is necessary; wasteful 2: going beyond what is proper:

lithe – adj. bending easily; limber, graceful; quick

persist – v. 1: to refuse to give up; to keep trying 2: to last for a long time; to go on and on 3: to say or do over and over again

persuade – v. to talk someone into believing or doing something; to convince; to plead with; to urge

query – n. a question v. 1: to ask a questions 2:to question the truth or correctness

rapt – adj. 1:completely interested; absorbed 2: showing pleasure; happy

rebuke – v. to blame or scold in a sharp way; to reprimand n. a sharp scolding

reserve – v. 1:to keep back or set apart for later use 2:to have set aside for oneself n. 1:something kept back or stored up 2:the habit of keeping one’s thoughts to oneself 3:land set apart for a special purpose

sultry – adj. 1:hot and damp 2:very hot, fiery

surmise – n. an idea or an opinion that is only a guess v. to guess

wiry – adj. 1:lean and strong 2:like wire