Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Due October 29 (EssayContest & FI #10)

ESSAY CONTEST http://hslda.org/Contests/Essay/2014/2014rules.asp
You should use our regular indications in the essay that you submit to me.

The essay that you submit to the contest should NOT have any bolding, underlining, or highlighting.

Please check out the website for all details. This contest is for students ages 7–19. You will write a short essay (700 words max) based on the theme prompts at the website, corresponding to your age category. Each student may submit two (2) different essays. Your entry must be postmarked no later than November 1, 2014.

Prizes

Cash congratulations, plus a wonderful transcript booster!

Age Category	1	2	3
First	$100	$150	$200
Second	$75	$100	$150
Third	$50	$50	$100
Honorable Mentions (2)	$25	$25	$50

Themes

Our world has been shaped by the inventions of the past; with inventors improving and building on those of previous generations. Every item we use—from the toothbrush to the smartphone—was invented by someone using his or her God-given creativity and intellect to do something! Our themes for this year’s contest focus on inventing or inventions.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reminders about upcoming assignments:
November 5:
Portfolios

November 12:
Make sure have read The Magician's Nephew

GENERAL REMINDERS:
• Essays should be typed. Be sure to follow all essay format requirements
• KWOs, vocabulary words, Fix Its should be handwritten.
• Staple your KWO, your checklist, & @ least 1 RD to your final copy essay.

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (vss)
3) Fix It #9
4) Vocabulary assignment
no banned words & no contractions

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (5), (vss)
3) No DEC requirements:
4) Fix It & Vocab #9
no banned words & no contractions

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (4), (5), (vss)
3) No DEC requirements:
4) Fix It & Vocab #9
no banned words & no contractions

Fix Its:

Review comma rules after certain openers. See Comma Rules 3-6 in the Appendix page A-10. Also discuss that commas are needed after long introductory elements.

Week 10

You didnt tell me it was solid gold he wheezed. Princess Dorinda didnt hear him, she had all ready skipped back to the palace, tickled with the return of her treasure.

That evening while the royal family dined sumptuously they heard a faint tapping at the castle door, moments later, the footman appeared, with a message for Princess

Dorinda.

“Princess” he began. You have a visitor at the door excusing herself from the table Dorinda hastened away. When she opened the door however blood drained from her

face, their squatted the forbearing frog.

“You forgot you’re pledge to treat me hospitably at the palace” he croaked she slammed the door in his face. Dorinda who was at the door, King Morton inquired when she returned to the table.

wheezed:
sumptuously:
forbearing:
hospitably:

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Due October 22 (NR & FI #9)

October 22:
Retold Nursery Rhyme & Vocab Test Weeks 1-8 (see bottom of this post)

October 29:
ESSAY CONTEST http://hslda.org/Contests/Essay/2014/2014rules.asp

November 5:
Portfolios

November 12:
Make sure have read The Magician's Nephew

GENERAL REMINDERS:
• Essays should be typed. Be sure to follow all essay format requirements
• KWOs, vocabulary words, Fix Its should be handwritten.
• Staple your KWO, your checklist, & @ least 1 RD to your final copy essay.

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (vss)
3) Fix It #9
4) Vocabulary assignment
no banned words & no contractions

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (5), (vss)
3) DEC requirements:
(ALLIT), (Q?), (SIM)
4) Fix It & Vocab #9
no banned words & no contractions

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (4), (5), (vss)
3) DEC requirements:
(ALLIT), ("Q"), (Q?), (SIM)
4) Fix It & Vocab #9
no banned words & no contractions

Fix Its:

Note how em dashes (—) can be used to create a break in thought.

Use commas to set off interrupters. See the Comma Rule #11 Appendix page A-11. Interrupters, such as “you know,” are nonessential.
Use a colon after a main clause to introduce a list.
Students no longer need to mark #1 subject sentence openers.

Week 9

“Oh yes benevolent frog!” (Notice that in fairy tales, character’s don’t have great curiosity about such oddities as talking frogs—or, maybe Dorinda was to self-centered to think about any one other than her.

“I’ll gladly do so, with one stipulation the frog responded. “Anything! My dad’ll kill me if I loose that ball, which cost him a Royal Fortune. Its gold you know.

“Well I didn’t know anything of the sort but I do think I could dexterously retrieve it. Here are my terms I’ll bring you the ball if you’ll treat me at your table in the castle let me dine from your very own plate and allow me to dwell one night in the palace”.

Sure thing Dorinda responds hastily perhaps a little to curtly. With that, the frog hops back into the water disappears four a few moments then returns, panting as only frogs can pant with the ball.

benevolent:
stipulation:
dexterously:
curtly:

REMINDERS FROM THE BOARD:
Here are @ least 8 ways to support the ideas in your essay (or facts in your report).

Examples
Personal Experiences
Statistics, Numbers, Percentages
Research, Testimonies, Quotes
Observation
Description
Anecdotes
Analogies

VARSITY & JV, memorize all 8 -- this WILL be on the vocabulary test.
1st Year Students memorize @ least 3 ways to support ideas in your essays.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Due October 15 (Letter & FI #8)

Essay Assignment:
Write a letter to a loved one, preferably to someone you care about greatly.
Choose someone who would especially appreciate a letter from you.
Suggestions in class included:
1) Brother or sister in college
2) Grandparent
3) Aunt fighting cancer
4) Pen-pal
5) Retired Priest or Nun
6) A sponser child
7) A shut-in, Meals-on-Wheels

If you need someone to write to, I personally know: a jet fighter named Clancy who is overseas & could always use a letter from home. I also know a cloistered nun who would love to hear from a young person. I also know certain young man (14) who is discerning the priesthood and is at school 1000 miles away from home.

WHERE TO START:
• Brainstorm subjects you might want to write about.
• Create your KWO next! Jot down reminders of what you want to share. See the list of ideas at the end of this post.
• Staple RD, Checklist and KWO to finished letter
• Minimum 3 paragraphs.
Note:
1^st Year: @ least 4 sentences per paragraph.
JV & V: @ least 5 sentences per paragraph.

THIS ASSIGNMENT ONLY!
Include at least one of each dress-up and each opener and each DEC in your whole letter. I AM NOT REQUIRING 1 per paragraph as usual. Soooooooo, start a new paragraph when you switch topics. Make sure each paragraph has at least 5 to 6 sentences minimum (JV & V).
4 sentences minimum for 1^st Years.
No T/C required.

REPEAT: INDICATE ONLY ONE OF EACH DRESS UP AND REQUIRED OPENERS & DECs IN THE WHOLE LETTER.
Keep a copy without the bolding, underlining, etc., so that you can mail to your loved one.

Examples of the kinds of subjects that your KWOs could include:

Weather
Sweaters here Sunday
Rain on Mon
Roses happy 7Bloomed!
Dogs loving it
Fido outside lots
TY 4 sweater (still use!)
liked zigzag embroidery
People compliment
Never want 2 outgrow
I like class
Kisses 4 Kate bk.
Writing getting better
A's on papers

        Read w/ microphone
   Share w/ U soon
Sister's school picture
   Silly smile
Blinked eyes
Teacher laughed
Re-taking next week
Football game w/ neighbors
Parents against kids
P' better than expected!
I caught pass
Sister made touchdown
   kids won
Thanksgiving plans
Can U come?
Miss you
@ least Skype
Homily @ Mass good 1!
   Priest told joke
   Gospel from Matthew
   I understood & liked b/c
   Had 2 explain 2 brother
         Included fav Bible verse
         Reading next Sun.'s B4 Mass
         Easier to follow
Learning to kayak
   Fell in twice
   Water not deep
   Dad took picture
   Will post on FB
   Practiced again yesterday
   River pretty & clam
   Heron, Fish, Dragonflies

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (vss)
3) Fix It #8
4) Vocabulary assignment

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (5), (vss)
3) DEC requirements:
(ALLIT), (Q?), (SIM)
4) Fix It & Vocab #8

1) DRESS UP requirements:
ly, ww, bc, asia, QA, SV
2) OPENER requirements:
(2), (3), (4), (5), (vss)
3) DEC requirements:
(ALLIT), ("Q"), (Q?), (SIM)
4) Fix It & Vocab #8

Fix Its:

Remember that periods and commas go inside the closing quotation marks.

Correctly use like or as. Like is a preposition and should be followed by an object to create a prepositional phrase (she sings like a bird). As is a conjunction and should be followed by a clause with a subject and a verb (she sings as a bird does).
A predicate nominative is the noun following a linking verb such as “is.” Example: She is the queen. Queen is the predicate nominative. Use I instead of me if it is a predicate nominative. Do not say, “It is me.” Instead say, “It is I.”

Week 8

If you would permit me madam I should be honored to rescue your plaything”, a throaty voice offered. And Dorindas tears dried instantly as she looked around for the person belonging to the voice.

A little flustered when sighting no one, she inquired “pray tell, who has tendered such a thoughtful offer Groomed in courtly speech Dorinda could talk as a princess when convenient.

When a slimy putrid green amphibian hopped toward her on the rim of the well, croaking, “It was me Dorinda let lose a spine tingling shriek and nearly ran away, her inquisitiveness got the better of her however.

“How is it you can talk Mr Frog” “Its a dull story but maybe I’ll tell it to you one day, for the present, would you like me to salvage your ball?”

throaty:
tendered:
inquisitiveness:
salvage:

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OPENERS

(1) Because (bc)

(2) Prepositional (prep)

(3) ly adverb (ly)

(4) ing

(5) www asia

(6) very short sentence (vss)

(7) ed

Examples

(1) Because the forecast called for rain, I took my umbrella.

(2) Under the leafy branches of an old oak tree, we found the perfect place for our picnic.

(3) Silently, the cat stalked its prey.

(4) Embracing his mom, the boy told her he was happy she was home.

(5) When the clock struck twelve, the carriage turned back into a pumpkin.

(5) While the teacher taught the lesson, the students remained attentive.

(5) Where there is smoke, there is fire.

(5) As the campfire was lit, the children ran to find the marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers.

(5) Since the last rehearsal, the understudy has been perfecting his lines just in case he has to take the stage.

(5) If anyone knocks on the door, be sure to call a parent to answer it.

(5) Although the Bible was the more difficult King James version, the little boy read it every day.

(6) Never swim alone.

(7) Excited about attending Mass, the child bounded out of bed on Sunday morning.

M3 EXAMPLES

(M3-adj) The rolling, tumbling, cascading river took him, and he worked hard to stay afloat. (This could also be indicated as M3-ing)

(M3-adj) The sky was a beautiful, bright, blue dome dotted with fluffy white clouds.

(This could also be indicated as an ALLIT)

(M3-ing) Standing, balancing, and grinning, my ten month old brother gleefully reached for my outstretched hands.

(M3-ly) My dance teacher told me to move gracefully, confidently, and joyfully.

(M3-vb) He walked across the bridge, looked out over the edge, and smiled with happiness.

(M3-n) The boys visited shelters, orphanages, and retirement homes in their mission to bring Christmas joy to those who might be lonely.

(M3-n) She won the accolades of her peers, the admiration of her siblings, and the approval of her parents when her book hit the bestseller list. (noun phrases)

(M3 intj) And just like that . . . pow, zap, bang, she disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

(M3 vss) Rain pounded on the windows. Thunder violently boomed and crashed. Lightning streaked the sky.

OWLs

• Anaphora: Repeats a word or phrase at the start of every line or passage. (I Have a Dream - MLK)

• Anthimeria: Uses one part of speech in place of another. BEWARE! It can easily become silly and is often overused.

• Antiphrasis: uses a word with an opposite meaning for ironic or humorous effect. "We named our chihuahua Goliath."

• Appositive: places a noun or noun phrase next to another noun for descriptive purposes.

• Chiasmus: reverses of the order of words in the second of two parallel phrases or sentences. A chiasmus reverses grammatical structure, not necessarily w/ the exact same words.

* Antimetabole: reverses the EXACT SAME words in the sentence

• Epanalepsis: repeats a similar grouping of words at the beginning of a sentence and at the end. The repeated words act as "bookends.

• Epistrophe (AKA: Epiphora): repeats ending words (Gettysburg Address)

• Epizeuxis: repeats one word for emphasis

• Hyperbole: greatly exaggerates something for emphasis

• Metanoia: corrects or qualifies a statement to strengthen it or soften it in some way.

• Personification: is figurative.

It projects characteristics that normally belong only to humans onto inanimate objects, animals, deities, or forces of nature. Personification is figurative.

• Anthropomorphism is literal.

With anthropomorphism the non-human entities actually do human things. (Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit)

Thomas Pain - Common Man Quote

“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated”

https://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/

What is IEW's Excellence in Writing?

Excellence in Writing successfully equips students with tools to significantly improve their writing skills. Its methods not only build written and oral communication skills, but also improve critical thinking.

Excellence in Writing methods can also be used across the curriculum to reinforce content area. Students learn to write as they write to learn. With diligent and consistent effort there is a wonderful transformation from immature or even reluctant writers to competent, confident communicators. It is possible to teach students with very high writing aptitude alongside those with undeveloped writing aptitude, and the system works magnificently at both ends of that spectrum.

Lessons in our class are carefully planned to be steps toward more sophisticated writing. Lessons build from week to week and each lesson is prepared with differing levels of challenge in order to accommodate expertise levels.

The Story Sequence Chart

This outline format is different from the ones you have learned so far. In Units I & II you took notes for each sentence in the source text, and in Unit IV you took notes from facts. In Unit III, you will use The Story Sequence Chart to ask yourself questions about the story. Put the answers in a three paragraph outline format.

Section I introduces the reader to the main characters and setting. Stories usually begin by introducing their readers to the time and place of the story. This is called the setting. Also at their beginnings, stories must introduce their readers to the main people (or animals) of the story- the characters.

Section II contains the conflict and plot. For a story to be interesting, it must move into the next crucial element – theconflict. This is the problem, want or need of the main character(s). Stories without some sort of problem to overcome, or need to be met, are not very interesting. Most of the action of the story is simply how the conflict is dealt with- what the characters do, say, think or feel with respect to the conflict. This is the plot.

Section III concludes with the climax, resolution and theme and this is usually the most interesting part of the story. If there is a conflict or a problem, there must be a way to solve it! We call the event that leads to the problem being solved the climax. Then come the results. The resolution shows what happens after the climax. By the end of the story, the characters and the reader have learned a lesson. What is the last line of a fable always named? Yes, the moral. Another word for moral is the theme of the story.

Here is the chart about the sequence of stories:

The Story Sequence Chart

Who is in the story?

What are they like?

Where did they live, go?

When did they live?

What was their situation?

II.

What was the problem?

-happened?

-did they think?

-did they say?

-did they do?
III.

Climax

How was the problem solved?

What was the moral or message?
*Title Repeats Key Words of Last Sentence

A parent review from Curriculum Choice

Writing with Their Own Voice

It has always been important to me to have my children develop their own voice in their writing, to have the paper sound like it is from their own thoughts and reasoning. IEW has helped my boys use the IEW tools in a way that makes writing in their own words easier. At first the checklists provided with the lessons seemed cumbersome and awkward. They did not enjoy all the “box checking.” For instance, as the sentence openers are introduced they had to go back and rewrite a lot of their sentences to make sure they had used each sentence opener tool. At first, the editing process was tedious and we all loathed that time of the week when we would review the writing and the checklist together. Progressively, each time we used the sentence opener tools in our writing, it became more natural. Now as the boys write an essay they can easily insert the sentence openers as they go along, they are on their mind. By incorporating the various style tools taught in the program, they have found their writing voice.

Literature Component of Class

Books We Have Read Through the Years:

The Incredible Journey, by Sheila Burnford

The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck (short story)

Kisses from Kate (excerpts), by Katie Davis

The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt

Snow Treasure, by Marie McSwigan

The Ransom of Red Chief, by O. Henry (short story)

The Secret Garden, by Francis Hodgeson Burnett

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

The Cask of Amontillado, by Edgar Allan Poe

The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynne Reid Banks

The Magician's Nephew, By C.S. Lewis

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Holes, by Louis Sachar

Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle (4-14)

~~~> Qs for Wrinkle in Time

~~~> Lagniappe for A Wrinkle in Time

The Sign of the Beaver, by Elizabeth George Speare

Alex O'Donnell and the 40 Cyberthieves, by Regina Doman

Caldecott Winners

2018: Wolf in the Snow, by Matthew Cordell (Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan)
2017: Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe (Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.)
2016: Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, written by Lindsay Mattick (Little, Brown/Hachette)
2015: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat (Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.)
2014: Locomotive by Brian Floca (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing)
2013: This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press)
2012: A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka (Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc.)
2011: A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead (Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
2010: The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown and Company)
2009: The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes, written by Susan Marie Swanson (Houghton Mifflin Company)
2008: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic)
2007: Flotsam by David Wiesner (Clarion)
2006: The Hello, Goodbye Window, illustrated by Chris Raschka, written by Norton Juster (Michael di Capua/Hyperion)
2005: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books/HarperCollinsPublishers)
2004: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein (Roaring Brook Press/Millbrook Press)
2003: My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann (Roaring Brook Press/Millbrook Press)
2002: The Three Pigs by David Wiesner (Clarion/Houghton Mifflin)
2001: So You Want to Be President?, illustrated by David Small, written by Judith St. George (Philomel Books)
2000: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback (Viking)
1999: Snowflake Bentley, illustrated by Mary Azarian, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (Houghton)
1998: Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky (Dutton)
1997: Golem by David Wisniewski (Clarion)
1996: Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann (Putnam)
1995: Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz; text: Eve Bunting (Harcourt)
1994: Grandfather's Journey, illustrated by Allen Say; text: edited by Walter Lorraine (Houghton)
1993: Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully (Putnam)
1992: Tuesday by David Wiesner (Clarion Books)
1991: Black and White by David Macaulay (Houghton)
1990: Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young (Philomel)
1989: Song and Dance Man, illustrated by Stephen Gammell; text: Karen Ackerman (Knopf)
1988: Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr; text: Jane Yolen (Philomel)
1987: Hey, Al, illustrated by Richard Egielski; text: Arthur Yorinks (Farrar)
1986: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton)
1985: Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; text: retold by Margaret Hodges (Little, Brown)
1984: The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot by Alice & Martin Provensen (Viking)
1983: Shadow, translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown; original text in French: Blaise Cendrars (Scribner)
1982: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton)
1981: Fables by Arnold Lobel (Harper)
1980: Ox-Cart Man, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: Donald Hall (Viking)
1979: The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble (Bradbury)
1978: Noah's Ark by Peter Spier (Doubleday)
1977: Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: Margaret Musgrove (Dial)
1976: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon; text: retold by Verna Aardema (Dial)
1975: Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott (Viking)
1974: Duffy and the Devil, illustrated by Margot Zemach; retold by Harve Zemach (Farrar)
1973: The Funny Little Woman, illustrated by Blair Lent; text: retold by Arlene Mosel (Dutton)
1972: One Fine Day, retold and illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian (Macmillan)
1971: A Story A Story, retold and illustrated by Gail E. Haley (Atheneum)
1970: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig (Windmill Books)
1969: The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz; text: retold by Arthur Ransome (Farrar)
1968: Drummer Hoff, illustrated by Ed Emberley; text: adapted by Barbara Emberley (Prentice-Hall)
1967: Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness (Holt)

1966: Always Room for One More, illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian; text: Sorche Nic Leodhas, pseud. [Leclair Alger] (Holt)
1965: May I Bring a Friend?, illustrated by Beni Montresor; text: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers (Atheneum)
1964: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (Harper)
1963: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking)
1962: Once a Mouse, retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown (Scribner)
1961: Baboushka and the Three Kings, illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov; text: Ruth Robbins (Parnassus)
1960: Nine Days to Christmas, illustrated by Marie Hall Ets; text: Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida (Viking)
1959: Chanticleer and the Fox, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; text: adapted from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Barbara Cooney (Crowell)
1958: Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey (Viking)
1957: A Tree Is Nice, illustrated by Marc Simont; text: Janice Udry (Harper)
1956: Frog Went A-Courtin', illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky; text: retold by John Langstaff) (Harcourt)
1955: Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper, illustrated by Marcia Brown; text: translated from Charles Perrault by Marcia Brown (Scribner)
1954: Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans (Viking)
1953: The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward (Houghton)
1952: Finders Keepers, illustrated by Nicolas, pseud. (Nicholas Mordvinoff); text: Will, pseud. [William Lipkind] (Harcourt)
1951: The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous (Scribner)
1950: Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi (Scribner)
1949: The Big Snow by Berta & Elmer Hader (Macmillan)
1948: White Snow, Bright Snow, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin; text: Alvin Tresselt (Lothrop)
1947: The Little Island, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard; text: Golden MacDonald, pseud. [Margaret Wise Brown] (Doubleday)
1946: The Rooster Crows by Maud & Miska Petersham (Macmillan)
1945: Prayer for a Child, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones; text: Rachel Field (Macmillan)
1944: Many Moons, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin; text: James Thurber (Harcourt)
1943: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (Houghton)
1942: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (Viking)
1941: They Were Strong and Good , by Robert Lawson (Viking)
1940: Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire (Doubleday)
1939: Mei Li by Thomas Handforth (Doubleday)
1938: Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop; text: selected by Helen Dean Fish (Lippincott)

Vocabulary List 2018-19

accosted - boldly addressed or confronted

accounts - reasons

adroitly - skillfully and nimbly

affronted - offended, embarrassed

blithely - in a joyous, merry manner

buck - a male deer

capital - serious, punishable by death

carefree - without anxiety or worry

champion - first among contestants

composedly - calmly

convivial - fond of feasting and merry company

dauntless - without fear

despoiled -

displaced - lacking a home; removed from proper place

earnestly -

expertise - expert skill or knowledge

famished - extremely hungry

fanciful - led by imagination & feeling not reason

glades - open spaces in a forest

hastened - hurried; moved with haste

hot-blooded - excitable and quick to act

impulsively - quickly and rashly

insatiable -

lavishly - lavishly

narrowly - with little room to spare

opponent - person on the opposing side

oppression -

plundered -

rambled - wandered in a leisurely manner

readily - quickly and easily

reigned - ruled with sole authority

reserved - saved for future use

retorted - replied in similar manner

seethed - burned with anger

shoddy - of poor quality

succor -

taunted - ridiculed, made fun of

top-notch - outstanding; superior

toppled - fell or tumbled down

vendetta - a vengeful blood feud

vowed -

wager - bet

wrath - fierce anger

yeomen -

2016-17 Vocabulary List

2016 (set of 15 words)

peculiar

irrepressible

adjacent

somber

famished

idly

vigorously

bewildered

derision

malicious

engrossed

wistfully

fastidiously

debonair

briskly

2017 (second set of 15 words)

jovial

disparaging

rambunctious

colander

gnarled

rebuked (verb)

nonchalant

docile

conscientious

unprecedented

prestige

arrogant

ominous

judicious

currycomb

2017 (third set of 15 words)

chiasmus

personification

anthropomorphism

metaphor

simile

analogy

alliteration

assonance

hyperbole

oxymoron

poetic justice

bildungsroman

ad hominem

foreshadowing

haiku

March 2017 (fourth set of words) in progress

fathom

aquatic

pliant

amber

diadem

nurturance

comely

palatial

bequeathed

singular

rendering

venerable

sanction

luminous

impending

yearned

2015-16 Vocabulary List

ad hominem

ambiguity

anagram

anecdote

anthropomorphism

antithesis

assonance

bildungsroman

cacophony

cadence

caricature

catharsis

cliche

colloquialism

conflict

corroborate

disparate

doppelganger

ellipsis

epilogue

epiphany

extrapolate

fallacy

flashback

foreshadowing

genre

homophone

hyperbole

idiom

innuendo

juxtaposition

laconic

mood

motif

nemesis

non sequitur

onomatopoeia

oxymoron

parody

pedantic

plot

poetic justice

point of view

pragmatic

protagonist

quintessential

refutation

rhetorical question

salient

sarcasm

satire

self fulfilling prophecy

spurious

symbolism

syntax