Words in Action Vocabulary
Throughout the year, we will use the Words in Action curriculum to study vocabulary words. We read a mentor text and learn about the vocabulary words inside. We practice the words for about a week, and then we quiz on our knowledge/application of the words!
Not yet learned:
Week 1: Miss Nelson is Missing!
- whiz - "move very fast." Some things that whiz make a buzzing or hissing sound.
- squirm - "wiggle or twist your body from side to side, usually because you are bored or uncomfortable"
- rap - "tap or hit something sharply (forcefully) and quickly." Rap is also a type of music in which the words are spoken in time to music with a steady beat
- snap - "speak sharply or angrily." Snap also means bite or grab suddenly, break with a loud cracking sound, and close with a clicking sound
- discouraged - "lose hope or confidence." You feel like giving up.
- encouraged - "gain hope or confidence." You want to keep trying
Week 2: The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock
- flutter - "wave or flap rapidly."
- heartbreaking - "very sad or upsetting."
- clutch - "grab or hold onto something tightly
- fury - "great anger."
- dodge - "move quickly to avoid someone or something"
- bewildered - "confused or puzzled."
Week 3: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
- plummet - "fall suddenly and very quickly from a high place."
- secure - "fasten or tie firmly." Secure also means "safe and protected."
- frantic - "wildly excited with worry or fear."
- gasp - "breathe in suddenly because you are surprised, in pain, or out of breath."
- terrifying - "very frightening."
- satisfied - when you are satisfied, you are pleased because you have done something well or something has turned out the way you wanted it to.
Week 4: Brave Harriet
- flimsy - "thin and weak." If something is flimsy, it is not sturdy.
- long/longing - "want something very much."
- gruff - "unpleasant or rude." If someone is gruff, he or she may seem unfriendly or mean.
- persist - "keep trying to do something, even though it is difficult." If you persist, you refuse to give up.
- strain - "work hard to push, pull, or lift something."
- adjust - "move or change something slightly to improve it or make it fit more comfortably."
Week 5: Review
Week 6: Julius, the Baby of the World
- doubtful - "uncertain or unsure." When you are doubtful, you are full of doubt.
- nifty - "very good, clever, or useful."
- dazzle - "amaze."
- ghastly - "horrible."
- quiver - "tremble or shake."
- command - "order someone to do something"
Week 7: Brave Irene
- coax - "persuade someone to do something by talking to the person gently and kindly."
- snug - "comfortable, warm, and cozy."
- advise - "tell someone what you think he or she should do."
- delirious - "very happy and excited."
- fret - "worry or get upset about something."
- cherish - "care for something deeply." If you cherish something, you treat it with great care because it is very important to you.
Week 8: Keepers
- ease - "move slowly and carefully."
- clench - "hold or squeeze something tightly."
- display - "show something or put something in a place where people can easily see it."
- caretaker - "a person whose job is to take care of a property (building or land) for the owner."
- aroma - "a pleasant smell."
- slump - "fall or sit down suddenly and heavily."
Week 9: A Day's Work
- shuffle - "slide the feet along the ground or floor while walking." When people shuffle, they barely lift their feet. Shuffle also means "mix playing cards to change their order."
- swarm - "a large group of people or insects that gather or move together."
- urgent - "very important."
- motion - "tell someone something through a movement of the hand, head, or other part of the body."
- prowl - "move quietly or secretly, trying not to be seen or heard."
- blow your top - "get very angry"
Week 10: Review
Week 11: Mailing May
- commence - "begin or start."
- flabbergasted - "very surprised, or shocked and astonished."
- permissible - "allowed or permitted." If something is permissible, you may do it.
- impermissible - "not allowed or permitted." If something is impermissible, you may not do it.
- slog - "walk slowly and heavily, as if you are walking through deep snow or mud."
- adventuresome - if you are feeling adventuresome, you are feeling bold and ready for an adventure.
Week 12: Grandfather's Journey
- immense - "enormous, or very large."
- marvel - if you marvel at something, it fills you with surprise and amazement.
- yearn - "wish or long for something very strongly, especially something difficult to get."
- prefer - "like one thing more than another."
- exchange - "trade, or give something in return for something else."
- devastate - "destroy or badly change."
Week 13: "The Ray" and "The Anglerfish"
- grand - if something is grand, you admire it because of its great size or beauty.
- retreat - "move back and forth from a difficult or dangerous situation."
- lurk - "stay hidden, ready to spring out and attack."
- crafty - "sly, or skillful at fooling or tricking others."
- dangle - "swing or hang loosely."
- entrap - "catch something in a trap."
Week 14: "I'm a Fierce and Fearless Dragon"
- fierce - "dangerous or violent."
- fiercest - "most fierce, or most dangerous or most violent."
- fearless - "brave, or feeling no feel."
- fearful - "filled with fear, or afraid."
- precise - "exactly right, or correct in every detail."
- imprecise - "not exactly right, or incorrect in some way."
Week 15: Review