Study the word REPLACE:
To place something is to put it somewhere, and to replace something can mean to put it back where it goes, as in, "After we finished our game of checkers, we replaced the pieces so that other folks could play."
(Source) Here's another common meaning of the word "replace." When something is broken, or missing, or all used up, or you just don't like it anymore, you might replace it: get a new one, or get a different one, to use instead. When your light bulbs burn out, it's time to replace them: put in new ones in their place. If your lamp breaks, and it can't be fixed, it's time to replace it: get a different one.
(Source) Has your backpack fallen apart? It's time to replace it! You'll need to buy a new one as a replacement. Did you borrow a book from a friend, then accidentally lose it? It's time to replace it! You'll need to buy a replacement: a new copy of the same book to give back to your friend.
In some situations, you can replace people, too. If you play on your local basketball team, but then you have to move to a different state, then your coach will replace you: get another person to join the team in your place. If a worker quits her job, her boss will probably have to replace her: get another person to do her job after she's gone. And if a worker's job is easy enough to be done by a robot, then the robot might replace the worker.
Things that you can easily buy (if you have to money for them) are replaceable: they can be replaced. If a windstorm destroys your fence, well, look on the bright side: your fence is replaceable, so you can get a new one. But things, people, and pets that can't be replaced—because they're unique, one of a kind, or really special to you—those are irreplaceable. If they break, or get lost, or die, they're gone forever, and nothing will ever replace them. A good friend is irreplaceable, and a beloved pet is irreplaceable. And, of course, your family members are irreplaceable.
Study the word CHORE:
A chore is some kind of work you have to do again and again, week after week. Chores are usually boring and sometimes hard. Your chores might include making your bed every morning, washing the dishes every night after dinner, putting away your clean laundry every few days, and scrubbing your tub and toilet every week. Chores are dull. Plus, they can drive us crazy because they never end: even if you do a great job cleaning your room, you'll still have to do it again next week. Ugh!
When it's time to do your chores, you might groan and say, "I don't want to!" But doing your chores helps keep things clean and organized. Imagine what would happen if you never did chores! All your clothes would be dirty and stinky.
Study the word MOTIVATE:
When you motivate people to do something, you make them want to do it, usually by giving them a good reason to do it. To motivate someone is to help them feel ready and able and excited to do something.
A coach might motivate a team by saying, "You guys are strong! You're so fast! Let's get out there and play hard!"
(Source)
When you're motivated, there's something you really want, and you are going for it—working hard, trying hard, and not giving up. You might be motivated to read an entire chapter book because you really want to see what happens at the end. You might be motivated to study hard for a test because you want to earn an A and make your parents proud. You might be motivated to get dressed and packed up quickly in the mornings, because the sooner you're done, the more free time you get to enjoy before school.
It's always motivating when you see that you've gotten better at something, or that you've already learned a lot. That motivates you to keep going and do even better. Whatever motivates you is your motivation: your reason to keep on doing what you're doing!
Study the word EFFORT:
When you're trying hard, or working hard, you're putting in effort, and you're making an effort to do something. Effort is the hard work that it takes to get something done.
It takes a lot of effort to learn a new language, but your effort pays off when you get to talk with new friends in your new language. It takes a lot of effort to plant a garden and take care of it—but when your flowers bloom and your vegetables mature, it's wonderful to see your effort pay off.
It takes a lot of effort to bake beautiful cupcakes. Baking cupcakes is effortful. But it takes very little effort to eat a cupcake! Eating a cupcake is effortless.
You might make an effort to do something: "I'm making an effort to eat more fruits and veggies." Here's Gimli making an effort to keep up with his friends as they run.
Study the word EXPENSIVE:
When you spend money, or expend money, you're using money to buy things, and an expense is something that you buy, or something you have to pay money for. And something expensivecosts a lot of money.
We call things expensive when they cost more money than we think they should. If you buy a small bottle of water from a vending machine, and it costs $5, you might think, "Eek! That's so expensive!" If you go to a restaurant, hoping to spend just $10 on lunch, but then every lunch at the restaurant costs at least $50, you'll probably think, "Sheesh! These lunches are so expensive!"
Expensive furniture is fancy and costs a lot of money. Expensive shoes are fashionable and cost a lot of money. And expensive cars? You guessed it: they're flashy, and they cost a lot of money.
5. The word that means "to make someone feel ready and excited to do something, even if it'll be hard work," is...
...
motivate.
Just Saving My Money
Day 2: Understand
Let's understand how these words connect to our book!
Listen to each question, and decide which answer choice is correct. You can check your answer by clicking "Show Answer." If you make a mistake, don't worry! Just listen to the question again, then try again.
1. Remember: when something is empty, broken, or gone, replacing it is getting rid of it—and getting a new one or getting a different one.
(Source) In our book, the narrator wants to replace his skateboard. What does this mean?
A) It means that the narrator's skateboard is worn out, with the wheels falling off; he wants to buy another one.
2. Remember: chores are the work you do at home, day after day, like cleaning, making your bed, and putting away your clean laundry.
(Source) In our book, the narrator earns money by doing lots of extra chores. What does this mean?
B) It means that the narrator's parents pay him to do extra work, like feeding the dog and cleaning up the yard.
3. Remember: when you're motivated, you work hard because you really want something.
(Source) In our book, even when his chores are difficult, the narrator keeps trying because he's motivated. What does this mean?
A) It means that the narrator is eager and hopeful for that new skateboard, so he keeps trying to earn the money for it.
4. Remember: to make an effort is to put in your time and your energy to try to do something.
(Source)
In our book, the narrator makes an ongoing effort to earn enough money. What does this mean?
B) It means that the narrator keeps working hard day after day, watering those plants, picking up those sticks, and taking out that heavy garbage.
5. Remember: expensive things cost a great deal of money, sometimes more money than they should cost.
(Source)
A new skateboard would be expensive! And in our book, the new Robot Dinosaur is expensive, too. What does this mean?
A) It means that it will take a lot of saving up to buy the skateboard—or the Robot Dinosaur!
Finally, let's understand how these words can connect to other situations!
Listen as I describe each situation, and shout out the vocabulary word that comes to mind. You can check your answer by clicking "Show Answer." Remember, if you make a mistake, don't worry! Just listen again, then try again.
1. Every day when you get home from school, you just want to bolt straight outside to run around and play all wild and crazy in the back yard. But your parents always stop you. "First, put away your coat! Put away your lunch box! Unpack your backpack!" Ugh, so much work! But you do it before you play. There's a word that starts with CH that describes this annoying daily work. What's the word?
chores
2. You realize you've just lost your favorite pencil. For a moment you feel sad, but then you realize it'll be pretty easy to get another one that's exactly the same as the one you lost. There's a word that starts with R that describes your pencil. What's the word?
replaceable
3. You've seen lots of cool ads for a new video game, and you really want to download it and try it. But it costs $100 right now, and that's a lot of money for just one game. In fact, $100 is even more money than you have right now. There's a word that starts with E that describes this new game. What's the word?
expensive
4. When you first learned to ride a bicycle, it was hard work. You really had to focus. You had to think carefully, and work hard to control your body, keep your balance, and pump your legs. But now, you've been bicycling for so long that it's easy for you. You don't even have to think! You just mount your bike and go. Your body knows exactly what to do, and it's a breeze. There's a word that starts with E that describes bicycling for you, now that you're so good at it. What's the word?
effortless
5. You're watching a movie, and you notice that, no matter what the movie is, the main character always has some really important reason for doing what they're doing. They always want something really badly, and that's why they go on an adventure. Right now, you're watching Frozen, and you notice that Anna wanders out into the icy wilderness because she desperately wants to find her sister and save their kingdom. That's why she's traveling out in the icy woods instead of chilling at home by a cozy fire. She wants something, so she's working for it. There's a word that starts with M that describes this kind of wanting. What's the word?
motivation
Just Saving My Money
Day 3: Illustrate
Grab some index cards, or open Quizlet.com. It's time to illustrate some flash cards!
If you're using index cards, write your word on the front, and on the back, write the definition and draw a picture: something that'll help you understand what the word means. If you're using Quizlet, simply add your words and definitions to your set, and choose any picture you like.
You can copy my definitions below, or you can write your own. And, you can use the pictures I've suggested, or pick your own.
When you're done illustrating your words, be sure to scroll down and tell me about the pictures you picked!
Term
Definition
Picture
replace
to swap something out with something else
chore
a task that you have to take care of at home, not just once but over and over
motivate
to make someone feel ready and excited to do something, even if it'll be hard work
effort
the act of trying hard and doing your best
expensive
having a high price, or costing too much money
Tell me about your pictures!
Take your pictures one at a time, and tell me: what's in the picture, and how does it connect to the word? For example, let's say I just studied the word "frantic." I could write: "Mickey is throwing clothes into his suitcase as fast as he can. He's frantic because he's worried he'll be late."
For another example, let's say I just studied the word "triumphant." I could write: "The girl just won a contest, and she's holding a big trophy. That's why she's triumphant."
Let's see one more example! Let's say I just studied the word "dumbfounded." I could write: "This girl is dumbfounded because she sees a gigantic birthday cake that's taller than she is; now, she's so shocked that she doesn't know what to say." Maybe that's not REALLY what's happening, but it's okay to use your imagination!
Just Saving My Money
Day 4: Apply
Today, you'll apply the vocabulary words to your own life! I'll help you write a sentence using each word that expresses your own thoughts, ideas, wishes, and experiences.
For each word below, write your own sentence. You can use either of the two ideas I'll suggest, or you can invent your own. Include as much detail as you can!
(Source) 1. Write a sentence with the word REPLACE:
Remember: when something is empty, broken, or gone, replacing it is getting rid of it—and getting a new one or getting a different one.
Idea 1: "In my room, I decided to replace (something old) with (something new)."
Idea 2: "(Someone) is so special to me because (of a reason); (he or she) is irreplaceable."
(Source) 2. Write a sentence with the word CHORE:
Remember: chores are the work you do at home, day after day, like cleaning, making your bed, and putting away your clean laundry.
Idea 1: "My least favorite chore is (doing something) because (some part of it is difficult or boring)."
Idea 2: "It's such a boring chore when you have to (do something), but you can make it better by (whistling, singing, listening to music, or doing something else at the same time)."
(Source) 3. Write a sentence with the word MOTIVATE:
Remember: when you're motivated, you work hard because you really want something.
Idea 1: "Motivated by hunger, (an animal) leaps onto (some piece of food, or some other animal)."
Idea 2: "I'm motivated to learn how to (do something), so I keep trying even when (something makes it hard or annoying)."
(Source) 4. Write a sentence with the word EFFORT:
Remember: to make an effort is to put in your time and your energy to try to do something.
Idea 1: "I've decided to make more of an effort to (do something); it's important to me."
Idea 2: "In (some game or sport), effort is really important, because you have to work hard before you can (do something)."
(Source) 5. Write a sentence with the word EXPENSIVE:
Remember: expensive things cost so much money. Sometimes, expensive things cost more money than they should cost.
Idea 1: "I don't really need expensive (food or clothes); I just like to (eat or wear) simple things, like (something)."
Idea 2: "(Something) is so expensive: it costs (a certain amount of money), but I think it should cost (a certain smaller amount of money)."
When you're ready, paste your sentences into the form below. Now is a good time to read your sentences out loud, and think, "Do I like my sentence? Does it sound good? Do I need to fix anything? Could I add any more details?"
Just Saving My Money
Day 5: Free-Write
You've studied hard! Today, before you write, please take a few minutes to play with your flash cards.
Try looking at your pictures and recalling your words. Be sure to say them out loud! If your flash cards are in Quizlet, play the Match game.
When you feel comfortable with all your words, you're ready to write!
Pick one topic below:
Look through your flash card deck of all the words you’ve studied recently. First, which word in your deck best connects to the book Just Saving My Money? How does it connect? Next, which word connects second-best, and how? Finally, which word totally does NOT connect to Just Saving My Money, and why?
In our book, the narrator works hard on his chores. But sometimes, he makes a mess! He spills the dog food, he drops the dishes, and he breaks open the trash bag. Tell me about a time you accidentally made a mess. How did it happen? What were you trying to do? Did you feel bad or feel embarrassed, or did you laugh it off?
When you’re done with your draft, look through your flash card deck of all the words you’ve studied recently, and pick one word that could fit into your paragraph. Add it in.
Look through your flash card deck of all the words you’ve studied recently, and pick three words that seem fun or exciting. Use these three words to tell me a story about how you save up to buy something cool or expensive. How do you earn the money? Your story can be as realistic or magical as you like.
When you're all done, it's a good idea to take a little break! Come back later, and paste your first draft (above) into the box below.
Read your work out loud, and think, "Do I like this? Does it sound good? Do I need to fix anything? Could I add any more details?" Please try for three or more sentences.
When you're happy with your second draft below, click the Submit button.
Enroll in "Make Your Point, Jr." for one-on-one tutoring.
