The children have come to the narrator because all the dictionaries are missing and they need help understanding some difficult words in a book they are reading. The narrator has searched for clues about the missing dictionaries but found nothing. They will need to find another way to help the children understand the meanings of the words without the dictionaries.

1. Defining words3.1 and 3.2

2. I was approached by a group of children last night who were concerned that all the dictionaries have gone missing. Their names are being withheld for security reasons. Now, on an ordinary day these kids would not be concerned about the dictionaries, but it turns out that they are trying to read a book with some pretty hard words. I have searched for clues, but they lead nowhere. I am going to need to find another way to help these kids discover the meaning of the words so that their story makes sense. Are there any Jr. Detectives in the room? Well, let’s get started!

3. RetrospectWhat does it mean?

4. Is this helpful?Last week, in retrospect, was the most fun I have ever had.

5. Context CluesWhat do you already know?

6. Context clues are words in a sentence around a difficult word that might help the reader discover the meaning of the word. Will we always be correct?

7. Types of context cluesExamplesDefinitionWords with opposite meaningsWhen you think you know the meaning, substitute the word with the meaning and see if it sounds right.

8. Last week, in retrospect, was the most fun I have ever had.Last week, in _________, was the most fun I have ever had.

9. My record for the number of backflips in a row is 20. People are always trying to beat my record, but their attempts are futile. They should just accept that fact that they will not be able to do it. I don’t want to sound like I am bragging, but when you are this good, it’s best to let it be known.

10. The Faraday Inn opened last week in the Adirondacks. My family and I decided to go and check it out. There was a beautiful bear pelt hanging on the wall in the front lobby. Never have I seen such brown fur in my life. If it was closer to the ground, I would have run my fingers threw it.

11. The country club is having a dance contest. It has been going on sense last night. After staying up all night dancing, Mr. Richards seems to have lost his energy and become languish. Maybe after he rests he will gain some strength back. I was so sure that he would be the winner this year.

12. 3.2

13. Dictionary WorkHave you used one before?

14. Thinking Back

15. blab (blab) vt., vi. blabbed, blab’bing[[MEblabben]] 1 to reveal (a secret) 2 to chatter; prattle Also blab’ber—n. gossip

16. How do we use a dictionary?

17. One step at a time Y C A L L AF

18. ElectronicsHow do you spell that?HaarlemmermeerHarlemmermerHarlemermeerHarlemermer

19. It will behoove you to listen to your parents.The queen was brazen when she spoke to her servants.My daughter played the carillon for the first time last week.He was able to construe the legal documents before signing them.That animal is defunct, according to Jim’s brother.If my teacher did not tell me what a diphthong was, I never would have guessed.

20. Group Work

21. Sherry received the most beautiful eglantine the other day.We found a farthing in my attic when we cleaned it out.The garcon approached us with a smile on his face.My father will interdict my sister if she tells him her plans.You can always tell who the neophyte is.Finding the shoal helped him get his footing.