The staff of the Milford Public Schools is dedicated to improving MCAS scores for all students. All Words of the Week are typical of the vocabulary found on the state mandated assessments that students begin taking in Grade 3 and continue through Grade 10.   Families, please join this effort by reviewing the Words of the Week with your children several times each week.  Clip the words for this week, review the definitions and the synonyms.  Then read and discuss the sentences.  Finally, post them on the refrigerator and try to use them in your daily family conversations.  Note:  The information below is a compilation of a variety of web resources. 

Explain:  to make clear; to make known in detail;

     Synonyms:  clarify, define, or demonstrate;

Sentences: 

• Elementary:  The third grade students compared samples of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and then explained their similarities and differences. 

• Middle School:  The sixth graders completed poster projects that explained the properties of the different forms of matter.
• High School: In biologyy class, the students were required to explain the energy transformations that occur in a chloroplast as light energy is converted to the chemical bond energy of carbohydrate.

Example:  an item that is typical of a class or group; something that represents others of the same kind;

Synonyms:   sample; illustration; model;

Sentences:

• Elementary:  During a unit on the weather, the students were asked to draw examples of different types of precipitation.
• Middle School:   Each eighth grade student  selected two examples of whales, one baleen and one toothed whale, to compare in terms of length, weight, body shape, tail flukes, and feeding habits.
• High School: After studying complexity of coral reefs in marine biology class, the students reported on threats the reefs are facing, and gave examples of possible solutions to those threats. 

As the holiday shopping season is upon many of us, keep in mind that a good book is always a great gift.  Perhaps a title from the Children's Choices for 2008 list will appeal to you.  Children's Choices, a project of a joint committee supported by International Reading Association and The Children's Book Council, is the result of 12,500 school children from different regions of the United States who read and vote on the newly published children's and young adults' trade books that they like best.  This list is designed for use not only by teachers, librarians, administrators, and booksellers, but also by parents, grandparents, caregivers, and everyone who wishes to encourage young people to read for pleasure.  Three books for each age group will be highlighted.  For the complete list, log on to www.reading.org and search “Children’s Book Choices.”

Beginning Readers - “Big Bug Surprise: by Julie Gran: Prunella's unending knowledge of insects saves her class from disaster. As her class celebrates, Prunella presents her show-and-tell surprise, much to the delight of her classmates.  “Deep in the Swamp” by Donna M. Bateman:  Young readers engage with poetry, information, and counting practice as they learn combined facts about swamps and the animals that live there.  “Grumpy Bird” by Jeremy Tankard:  This story is about a bird that wakes up grumpy. It takes some animal friends to help brighten his day by joining him on a walk.

Young Readers – “Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World's Best-Kept Secrets” by John Farndon:  The name of the book alone gets readers to pick it up. Once open, the reader finds it packed with weird and interesting facts. This book contains much more than just trivia.  “The Painted Circus” by Wallace Edwards:  Each page reveals an intriguing optical illusion or visual puzzle for the reader to solve, from spotting pirates to counting ducks.  “Real-Life Sea Monsters” by Judith Jango-Cohen:  This book asks, Are sea monsters fact or fiction? Vivid illustrations grab the reader's attention from the first page. Deep-sea tall tales are contrasted with current research.

Advanced Readers – “Ghosts” by Stephen Krensky:  This informational book examines topics such as why people have been intrigued by ghosts for centuries, famous ghosts from the past, modern ghosts, haunted places, how to contact ghosts, and movies and television shows that feature ghosts.  “Girl Wonders” by Karen Salmansohn:  This book contains a series of wonderings by Alexandra, who isn't quite sure what being a teen is all about. Readers will laugh out loud at her bizarre family and friends and will identify with her as she experiences her first crush.  “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick:  The combination of graphics, black and white photographs, and absorbing, unique text make this a must-read book. Readers feel a kinship with the main character and enjoy his fantastic adventure.

Garrison Keillor, American author, storyteller, and humorist said it the best, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.”

Are you aware of the difficulty levels on the Math MCAS?  Below are three examples of specific vocabulary used in questions from the 2008 assessments.

Computation:  calculation;

Synonyms:  figuring; totaling;

Sentences:  

• Elementary:  Students in Grade 3 were required to perform computations after reading a table showing the number of different colored balloons sold at a parade.
• Middle School: When answering open response questions, students are required to show all work, including diagrams, tables, and computations in order to receive full credit.

• High School:  Student in Grade 10 were required to complete computations for a reading problem involving clothing, the original prices, and sales with a certain percentage off of the original price.

Grid:  a network of horizontal and vertical lines, uniformly spaced, for locating points on a map, chart, or aerial photograph by means of a system of coordinates.

Synonyms:   matrix; latticework;

Sentences:

·    High School:  After being shown a line is shown on a coordinate grid, students were asked to determine which multiple choice answer best represented the equation of the line.

Is math a problem for your child?  You may want to try this book, “Math Power: How To Help Your Child Love Math, Even If You Don't” by Patricia C. Kenschaft.  The author shares her strategies for understanding and teaching math concepts, explaining what math is and how it works. Her lively techniques for understanding math—through games, questions, and conversations, as well as specific math activities—can help preschoolers to ten-year-olds develop math ability.  Middle and high school students may want to log on to the Ask Dr. Math website for help with specific math disciplines.  Log on to http://mathforum.org/dr.math/ for a vast array of topics.

Games are a great way to increase mathematical skills.  Some personal favorites include Battleship, Monopoly, Yahtzee, Bingo, Rummikub, and Dominoes.  Any board game that involves rolling dice, counting moves, or planning strategies will help increase math skills.  Also, don’t forget card games.  A deck of cards is very inexpensive and can provide hours of family fun.  So turn off the television, shut down the computer, and gather the family around the kitchen table for a few hours of education and fun.

                                                                                                                                                   Apparently the importance of games is not a new concept as indicated in this quote from Michael de Montaigne (1533-1592), one of the most influential writers of the French Renaissance:  “It should be noted  that the games of children are not games, and must be considered their most serious actions.”     

Environment:  the external factors that surround or affect something;  social and cultural forces that shape lives; 

Synonyms:  setting, surroundings, locale;

Sentences: 

• Elementary: During science class the second grade students learned about animals that live in an ocean environment.
• Middle School:   The middle school students learned about the Amazon rainforest and the effects of human interaction with that environment.
• High School: In biology class, the students completed a series of experiments to demonstrate the effects of acid rain on soil/stone, plant, and animal materials in our environment.  

Pollution:  the introduction of harmful substances into the environment;

Synonyms:   contamination, infestation;

Sentences:

• Elementary:  The second grade students learned about the importance of recycling and how to reduce pollution as part of their unit of study on the environment. 
• Middle School:   During a unit of study on pollution, students collected and classified the sources of litter found on school grounds to determine the average volume of paper waste that their class generated on a daily basis.   
• High School: In health class, the students learned that of the six most common air pollutants, particle pollution and ground-level ozone are the most widespread health threats.

Parents, you can create a positive learning environment at home by showing interest in your child/children’s school day.  Being reasonable and realistic regarding your child's school performance may be critical to each child's academic success.  It is important to develop a climate where effort is applauded and accomplishments are recognized.  “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”  Rachel Carson  (1907-1964).

Later this month many of us will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday that had its beginnings here in Massachusetts.   You can teach your children about the Pilgrims by taking a family field trip to Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  You can observe life as it was for the Native Wampanoag and Colonial English men and women in the 1620s.  It is living off the land and cooking over the fire.   It is managing conflict and navigating political relations in an uncertain time.  You can see it, smell it, hear it, and experience it.  For more information about the many opportunities for this day trip, log on to www.plimoth.org.  

Synonyms:  colony; village;

Sentences: 

• Elementary:  The third grade students visited the 1627 English settlement, the Wampanoag homesite, and the Mayflower II during their field trip to Plimoth Plantation.      
• Middle School:  The seventh grade social studies classes compared the culture and economy of small settlements in the Nile River Valley to determine the impact of the river on the region. 
• High School:  Students in U.S. History I traced the roles of exploration and expansion in the development of the United States by summarizing the major events of the European settlement of North America.

Voyage:  a long journey, either by land, air, or water;

Synonyms:   trip; cruise; expedition;

Sentences:

• Elementary:  During their field trip, the students learned that a baby was born during the Mayflower’s voyage to America.
• Middle School:   The students also learned that voyages on the Nile River provided a natural and simple transportation system that became a key element in the development of a united civilization.  

·          High School: The students learned that the principal goal of the Lewis and Clark’s Voyage of Discovery was to locate an east-to-west water route and survey its potential as a waterway for westward expansion.  

Perhaps a trip to Plymouth isn’t possible at this time.  Much can be learned about the Pilgrims through books.  For young children you may want to try, “Pilgrims of Plymouth” by Susan E. Goodman.  What was it like to be a pilgrim child in 17th-century Massachusetts?  This picture book with its dramatic photos of historical reenactments, combined with lively text to give a vivid sense of daily life in Plymouth colony.   It’s a great book for fostering an early interest in history!  “The Mayflower and the Pilgrims' New World,” by Nathaniel Philbrick, is the perfect introduction to an epic story.  Adapted specially for middle-grade readers, this book features a wealth of supplemental materials such as new maps and photographs, a time line, and a list of characters.   

“William Bradford:  Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim” is filled with maps, paintings, and historical illustrations.  This fascinating biography by Gary Schmidt introduces middle school readers to the dramatic story of the founder of Plymouth Colony.  High school students and adults have much to learn by reading, “Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War: by Nathaniel Philbrick. From the perilous ocean crossing to the shared bounty of the first Thanksgiving, the true story of the Pilgrims is much more than the well-known tale of piety and sacrifice; it is a fifty-five-year epic that is at once tragic, heroic, exhilarating, and profound.

The fourth Thursday in November was set as the official Thanksgiving Day holiday by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941).  President John Fitzgerald Kennedy had his own thoughts on the subject… “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  

Simple:             most common meanings:  easy to understand, deal with or use; not complicated;

                        in English/language arts:  an independent clause containing only one subject and verb;

                        in chemistry:  composed of only one substance;

                        in botany:  not divided into parts;

                        in music:  without overtones;

Synonyms:  clear, unembellished, understandable;

Sentences: 

• Elementary:  In science class, the students completed simple tasks to identify rocks and minerals based on their color, hardness, and also to determine if they contained a carbonate compound.   
• Middle School:  Students learned to separate simple and compound leaves based on the number of lamina (the flat portion of a leaf, also called the leaf blade).
• High School:  Students in chemistry class learned how to predict the shapes of simple molecules and their polarity from Lewis dot structures.

Complex:      most common meanings:  composed of many parts; complicated or intricate;

                        in English/language arts:  consisting of an independent clause and at least one other

independent or dependent clause.

                        in mathematics:  an arbitrary set of elements of a group;

                        in psychology:  a system of interrelated, emotion-charged ideas, feelings, and memories;   

                     in chemistry:  the relatively stable combination of two or more ions or compounds into a larger

structure without covalent binding;

Synonyms:   involved or tangled; interconnected;

Sentences:

• Elementary:  The students had to take two simple sentences and combine them to make one complex sentence.
• Middle School:   In pre-algebra class, the students learned that complex numbers were first discovered by the Italian mathematician Girolamo Cardano.  
• High School:  Psychology students learned that complex emotions like jealousy, love, and pride are different from basic emotions, as they comprehend awareness of one self in relation to other people.

In addition to a dictionary, a thesaurus is a great reference book to have on hand.  For young children, try “The Kingfisher Children's Illustrated Dictionary and Thesaurus” by George Marshall.  This illustrated children's dictionary is designed to teach young children new language skills and the use of alphabetical reference books.  Middle school students will want to try, “Scholastic Student Thesaurus” by Bollard.  Each entry features the term, part of speech, definition, and synonyms (in bold type).  A great reference book for High School students is the “ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus.”  Alphabetical lists include more than 340,000 synonyms, antonyms, related and contrasted words, and idioms. Brief definitions describe the meanings shared by synonyms.

It takes a thesaurus to make sure you write the correct word, with the meaning that was intended.  But, according to Maya Angelou, American poet, you need more than that… “Words mean more than what is set down on paper.  It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.”

Tuesday November 4, 2008, will be the 56th consecutive United States presidential election.  Voters will select the President and the Vice President of the United States.  The words for this week will focus on political vocabulary since this election has such huge historical implications.  To learn about all of the “firsts” in this election, log on to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_2008.

Polls:  samplings or collections of opinions; or…the place where votes are cast;                                         Synonyms:  opinion, survey; ballot, returns;

Sentences: 

• Elementary:  The student council held a mock election in the gym so each student could go to the “polls” to vote for his or her favorite candidate.
• Middle School:  The social studies classes were polled as to their opinions on three campaign issues, environment, energy, and education.
• High School: In English class, the students analyzed questions that were used in polls to see if the phrasing impacted the results of the poll.

Precinct:  a district, as of a city, marked out for governmental or administrative purposes such as an election;

Synonyms:   ward, district, neighborhood;

Sentences:

• Elementary:  During social studies class, the fourth grade students placed pins in a wall map of Milford to determine how many of them lived in the same precinct.
• Middle School:   The day after the election, the eighth graders will make graphs to display the presidential voting in Milford for each precinct.
• High School: In English class, the students discussed an on-line article, “My Day as an Election Warden in Boston,” The article, posted in 2006, describes the work at one precinct.  To read this article, log on to http://benlog.com/articles/2006/11/08/my-day-as-an-election-warden-in-boston/,

This is a great time to get your children interested in our Presidents.  There are many books that will arouse their curiosity.  Young children will enjoy “Smart About the Presidents,” in the Smart About History Series.  This book includes a floor plan of the White House, a list of presidential perks, and interesting information about the presidents, from George Washington to George W.  Middle school students may want to read, “Presidents,” by Wyatt Blassingame.   Our first 43 presidents are arranged chronologically, with short biographical sketches, exciting you-are-there action photos, cartoons, and campaign memorabilia. It's American history in a nutshell! 

There’s more to the White House than just the presidents.  One book to consider is “First Kids : The True Stories of All the Presidents' Children” by Noah McCullough.  Children will connect with the information in “First Kids” because they'll see that kids are a lot alike no matter who their parents are.   (Do you know which Roosevelt kids dropped water balloons from the roof of the White House onto the guards below?)

One recommended book for high school students and adults is “White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters” by Robert Schlesinger.  This book opens a revealing window on the modern presidency from FDR to George W. Bush. It examines the often hidden role played by the men and women who help presidents find the words they hope will define their places in history.  To learn about the presidents’ wives, read,  “The First Ladies Fact Book : The Stories of the Women of the White House from Martha Washington to Laura Bush” by Bill Harris.  This book includes more than 700 photographs of first-lady fashion, making it a wonderful combination of solid reference and eye-catching visual history.

Voting is our right and our obligation.  If you think your vote doesn’t really count, consider this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good: 'Tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm.”

identify:  to recognize, verify, or establish;

Sentences: 

• Elementary:  Second graders must be able to identify the various coins and bill, plus understand their values.
• Middle School:  In earth science, the students learned to identify clouds by their shape and their height.
• High School: Students in advanced biology learned how to identify dominant and recessive traits in order to make predictions about the physical characteristics of a chosen subject.

attribute:   a quality, character, characteristic, or property;    

Synonyms:   symbol, trait, or particularity of an object;

Sentences:

• Elementary:  In kindergarten, the students play sorting games, where they classify objects by attributes of either color, shape, size, or number.
• Middle School:   In earth science, the students created graphs to compare two attributes (time spent playing sports and time spent texting friends) of the same group of middle school classmates.
• High School: Biology students learned that the common attributes for all living things are movement, 
  respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, and nutrition.

Children love using big words and can be motivated to expand their vocabularies.  This week’s book recommendations are related to vocabulary.  “Fancy Nancy's Favorite Fancy Words: From Accessories to Zany,” by Jane O'Connor, is a great book to interest young children in vocabulary words.  In the words of the author, "When you use a fancy word in a sentence, it's like adding sprinkles to vanilla ice cream!"  For older elementary students, “100 Vocabulary Words Kids Need To Know By 4th Grade,” by Gail Herman is an option.  According to the editorial review, colorful art and photographs illustrate 256 pages of lively activities, including reading and writing practice, comprehension, critical thinking exercises, and word puzzles. The book also includes special dictionary pages and dictionary skill tips, plus colorful bookmarks with vocabulary-building tips.   One of my personal favorites is “Miss Alaineus : A Vocabulary Disaster,” by Debra Frasier.  When 5^th grade student, Sage, reveals her misunderstanding of a word to her classmates, she is at first embarrassed but then uses her mistake as inspiration to improve her vocabulary.  The endnote scrapbook section in this book offers suggestions for having your own Vocabulary Parade.

For older middle and high school students, “Smart Novels” may appeal.  This is a series of young adult fiction that make studying SAT vocabulary and U.S. History a breeze. The fun, edgy themes take the boredom out of studying while they prepare students for the tests they need to ace. Students can learn and review 1000 vocabulary words frequently included on the SATs. Vocabulary words and brief definitions appear on the same page so that readers can quickly comprehend the meanings as they read along.  Each book highlights approximately 500 historical facts about the period in which the book is set.     

                                                                                                                                                           We must inspire our students to want to learn.  Robert Schuller. American minister and author, said it well. “Yes, you can be a dreamer and a doer too, if you will remove one word from your vocabulary:  IMPOSSIBLE.”                       

Graph:  A pictorial device, used to illustrate quantities and relationships;

Sentences: 

• Elementary:  After learning about Johnny Appleseed, the students in second grade made graphs showing their favorite kinds of apples.
• Middle School:  During a math lesson about collecting and displaying data, the fifth graders made graphs to show their classmates' physical characteristics such as hair color, eye color, height, etc.
• High School: In algebra class, the students learned how to create a scatterplot using a graphing calculator. 

Value:  magnitude; quantity; number represented by a figure, symbol, or the like: the value of an angle; the value of x; the value of a sum.  

Synonyms:  &nbs