Monday, November 28, 2011

Vocabulary, Spelling & Words

I love words.  Words for me are like jigsaw puzzle pieces for puzzle makers...put them together and they can make a masterpiece.   I've always liked words and started to read very early.  One of my favorite books when I was a little boy was A Color of His Own about a chameleon who doesn't like changing colors every time he's on something new so he starts on a small journey to find a stable color of his own.  My Grandma read that to me all the time when I was 3-5 years old.  The first words I ever read were squirrel, pie, mom, dad and Tori.  My mom used to write them on Magna-Doodles and I would write words on it when we drove in the car.  I love to read and I read all the time! I like fantasy books, educational, science fiction, historical fiction, useless information and series like The Hunger Games.  On this trip I usually have three books going at once.   Currently I am reading The World's Greatest Book of Useless information, The Usborne book of Religions where I just learned about Buddhism and How to Hug a Porcupine and Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers washed down with the book I just finished, Fablehaven.  I am now going to add the History of Art and Words that Lincoln Loved.

I really enjoy the weekly vocabulary lists we do where I have to write each word three times and then the definitions, take the test and verbally have to explain each and every word to my mom.  Last week's test I got 24 out of 26 correct for spelling missing one letter in two words.  Here's the list...see how you would do by giving yourself a test:  Many of these are from the Declaration of Independence or famous landmarks and parks by the way.

necessary        sovereignty       confederation      self-evident     grievances
colossal           intolerable        concession          parliament        delegate/ delegates
conquering      ambassador      strategies            federalist       republicans  
teeming           amendments      typifies              neoclassical      inherent
prosperous       inalienable        unanimous        inevitably         nationalism
tempest  (tempest-tost)      tranquility
Bonus word:    despotism

THIS WEEK's...way harder!    Try these words on...

adornment     ubiquitous     absterse    superfluous      Buddhism
zeitgeist         gumption      canoodle     enlightenment     flouting
flaunting        disdain          capital         capitol       stationary
stationery       nirvana         liberty          justice        pursuit
domestic        tranquility          ordain       union      affluent
indentured     flummoxed     archaeology     House of Burgesses
Bonus words: sagacious      vicissitude     vamoose     samatha
archaearium  (a museum was called that and we didn't think it was a word :-)  

1 comment:

  1. I love your thirst for knowledge Jack.. It's a rare gift you have, and it's one that will serve you well through life.

    I too love words and the pictures and stories they paint. I always used mine in song and felt it was a way to express, and become part of the subject I wrote about. You have a tremendous ability to weave your words and keep the audience captivated.

    I just finished the Hunger Games series.. Jimmy is about to embark on book two, Catching Fire. I was entranced within the first 50 pages and couldn't stop until I read all three. I'm not going to begin the Fablehaven series. I can understand your affection for The Hunger Games series and writings of the like. Very well thought out story and the drama and characters were full and endearing.

    As for your spelling words.... I don't think i had words that tough throughout my whole education. That's fantastic that you are getting to know them now at your age and continue to challenge yourself. Keep up the good work.

    I saw your photos of the forts and they look amazing. What a treat to get to see and explore through them..

    Miss you and look forward to more words and photos of the journey and wonderful experiences you are having.

    Love Aunt Judi

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