Ms. Sorenson's Classroom Blog

Balmy (adjective) – pleasantly warm (of the weather)

Banter (verb) – the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks

Barter (verb) to exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services without using money

Benign (adjective) – gentle, kindly; not harmful

Bizarre (adjective) – very strange or unusual, especially so as to cause interest or amusement

Blasé (adjective) – unimpressed or uninterested by something because one has experienced it or seen it so many times before

Bonanza (noun) – a situation or event that creates a sudden increase in wealth or profits

Bountiful (adjective) – large in quantity; abundant

Glut (noun) – an excessive amount of something; plethora

Grapple (verb) – to engage in a close fight without weapons

Grope (verb) – to feel about or search blindly for something with your hands; fumble

Gullible (adjective) – easily persuaded to believe something

Jurisdiction (noun) the official power to make legal decisions and judgments

Ungainly (adjective) – awkward or clumsy

Wrangle (verb/noun) – to have a long or complicated dispute

Bellow (verb) – to let out a loud roar, typically in pain or anger.

Beseech (verb) – to ask someone urgently to do something; to beg.

Bestow (verb) – to grant or present an honor, award or gift.

Bewilder (verb) – cause someone to become confused.

Bigot (noun) – a person who is intolerant of those holding different opinions.

Blatant (adjective) – lacking subtlety; very obvious.

Bleak (adjective) – bare or empty; charmless or dreary.

Braggart (noun) – a person who brags about possessions or achievements.

Brawl (noun) – a rough or noisy fight.

Browse (verb) – to look around.

Bystander (noun) – a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.

The test over the story “Seventh Grade” for seventh graders will be 10/4. The test over “The Hitchhiker” for eighth graders will be on 10/4. The tests will assess students’ understanding of the story they read, include vocabulary from the story, and a written component.

Abet (verb) – Assisting someone into doing something wrong

Accord (verb) – To be in agreement

Adept (adjective) – Skilled or well-trained

Advocate (noun) – A person who argues for the cause of another

Agile (adjective) – Able to move quickly or easily

Allot (verb) – To assign

Aloof (adjective) – Not friendly

Amiss (adjective/adverb) – In the wrong way; out of place

Analogy (noun) – A similarity between two things, usually two unlike things for clarification or explanation

Anarchy (noun) – Disorder due to lack of government or recognition of authority

Antics (noun) – Foolish behavior

Apprehend (verb) – To understand

Ardent (adjective) – Showing enthusiasm or passion

Articulate (verb) – Express something clearly

Assail (verb) – To come up on someone strongly

Assimilate (verb) – To take something in and make it a part of something it joined

Atrocity (noun) – Wicked or cruel act

Attribute (noun) – A feature or characteristic

Audacious (adjective) – Bold or daring

Augment (verb) – To increase in size

Authority (noun) – A person in power to give orders or make decisions

Avail (verb) – To take advantage of available resources

Avid (adjective) – Enthusiastic or eager 

Awry (adjective/adverb) – Away from what was planned or away from the normal place

Abate (verb) – cause to become smaller or less intense

Abnormal (adjective) – not normal

Abode (noun) – Where one stays or lives/place of residence

Abrupt (adjective) – Sudden or unexpected

Accelerate (verb) – Increasing amount/speed up

Acclaim (verb) – To praise publicly

Acknowledge (verb) – To recognize

Acquire (verb) – To obtain for oneself/gain

Aspire (verb) – To desire or hope for something

Acrid (adjective) – Irritating/pungent smell

Addict (noun) – Someone who has a dependency on something

Adjacent (adjective) – Next to, neighboring

Admonish (verb) – To firmly warn

Affliction (noun) – Something that causes pain or suffering

Agitate (verb) – To annoy

Ajar (adjective/adverb) – Slightly open

Akin (adjective) – Of similar character

Allege (verb) – To claim someone has done something wrong

Annihilate (verb) – To destroy

Anonymous (adjective) – Unknown

Antagonize (verb) – To cause to become hostile

Apathy (noun) – A lack of interest

Arbitrate (verb) – To reach an authoritative judgment or settlement

Astute (adjective) – Sharp or clever

Authentic (adjective) – Original or unique

Avert (verb) – To turn away

Welcome back to what I know will be a wonderful school year! I sent home with students a syllabus which includes an outline of my 7th and 8th grade ELA classes. School supplies and the signed syllabus are due on 9/3. Also, students will have half of the class period to finish their heart-shaped collage on 9/3, and it will be due at the end of the hour. Please email me if any of you have any questions or concerns. My email is sorenss@dearbornschools.org.

The following are the links to view my syllabuses:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QBkjPb_ANIdck92g1BXrA5hMsbyeeEczYO-JwzQN02w/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uHlGZ3QynLZXNAxfRrGkdFshaOle39BTZq8gqC5cBZ4/edit?usp=sharing

PLEASE complete this survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DShineParentSurvey2

Below are the rubrics for the district required summer learning program. All current 6th and 7th graders are expected to complete a non-fiction book report and fiction book report (following the rubric guidelines) by the beginning of next school year.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ilolnBlNx-CIFi5hqwA8XVJGI36HMh0sifvtRYQVi8A/edit

Here is the link for the practice test you will take in class today with the answer key, so please review your test and study tonight!

https://cdn.kastatic.org/KA-share/sat/psat-nmsqt-practice-test-2.pdf

Pang (noun) – a sudden sharp pain or painful emotion

Panorama (noun) – an unbroken view of the whole region surrounding an observer

Perspective (noun) – a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view

Phenomenon (noun) – a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question; a remarkable person, thing, or event

Pioneer (noun) – a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area

Pithy (adjective) – (of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive

Pivotal (adjective) – of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else

Plausible (adjective) – (of an argument or statement) seeming reasonable or probable

Plunder (verb) – steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder

Porous (adjective) – (of a rock or other material) having minute spaces or holes through which liquid or air may pass

Preposterous (adjective) – contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous

Principal (adjective) – first in order of importance; main

Prodigy (noun) – a person, especially a young one, endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities

Proficient (adjective) – competent or skilled in doing or using something

Profound (adjective) – (of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense; (of a person or statement) having or showing great knowledge or insight

Pseudonym (noun) – a fictitious name, especially one used by an author

Pungent (adjective) – having a sharply strong taste or smell