heuristic

(adj.) A heuristic learning experience is one that allows you question, search, and discover until you learn.

(n.) - A heuristic is a framework or experience that helps someone to learn and discover things for himself.

• Synonyms: examining, probing, questioning, searching, inquiring, investigative
• Examples: inquiry project, science experiment
• Antonyms: uninterested, skeptical
• Non-examples: lecture, "take my word for it"
• Etymology: 1821, from Greek heuretikos, meaning "serving to discover or find out," or "inventive." This word is related to heuriskein meaning "to find" (from PIE were- meaning "to find;" related to Old Irish fuar meaning "I have found") + the noun-forming suffix -ist and the adjective-forming suffix -ic. This word was first recorded as a noun in 1860. 

Heuristic education is based on discovering and experiencing things for yourself.

How can using a heuristic approach to learning make you a better learner?

ample

(adj) – If you have an ample amount of something (time, money, etc), you have more than plenty of it for what you need.

• Synonyms: plenty, more than enough, abundant, extensive, substantial
• Antonyms: insufficient, meager, not enough
• Etymology: Mid-15th Century Latin, from amplus meaning "large, spacious," which comes from ampla meaning "handle, grip"
• Morphology: amplify - v
• Example: I hope you had ample rest over our last 3-day weekend!

ominous

(adj) - If something is ominous, it makes you feel like something bad is going to happen.

• Synonyms: dangerous, doomed, haunting, threatening
• Antonyms: happy, lucky, promising
• Etymology: 1589, from Latin ominis meaning "warning"
• Morphology: omen - n
• Example: My car is making an ominous rattling noise, so it’s time to take it into the shop.

Math:

Probability Fair

Reading:

Click to play

substantial

(adj) - Something that is substantial is either large in amount or number, or is large and strongly made.

• Synonyms: abundant, bulky, heavy, large, massive, sizeable, significant, vast
• Antonyms: insignificant, little, minor, unimportant, unsubstantial
• Etymology: Mid 14th Century Latin, from sub meaning "up to, under" + stare meaning "to stand”
• Morphology: substance - n
• Example: Even though we are nearing the end of 4th quarter, we still have a substantial amount of work to do this year!

The Heritage Project was a substantial amount of work, and I'm both glad and sad that it's over. I think that CR Smith's visit yesterday was a great way to celebrate the conclusion of our trek across the USA:

Exploring the West to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean was a substantial journey that took over two years to complete. Click on the image or the link below to help Lewis and Clark on their trek:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west/main.html

feasible

(adj) - A plan, idea, or method that is feasible is possible and is likely to work.

• Synonyms: possible, doable, achievable, practical, reasonable
• Antonyms: impossible, unlikely, unreasonable
• Etymology: Mid 15th Century Old French... and Latin, from faisable meaning "possible, easy, convenient," which comes from faire meaning "do, make," which comes from Latin facere meaning "do, perform"
• Morphology: feasibility - n
• Example: Since we already live in Montana, a trip to some locale in the West is very feasible for us!

Click here to view the Virtual Field Trip

jubilant

(adj) - If you are jubilant, you are extremely happy and pleased because of a success.

• Synonyms: elated, excited, overjoyed, pleased, thrilled, triumphant
• Antonyms: depressed, sad, sorrowful, blue
• Etymology: 1660s Latin, from jubilare meaning "to call to someone," which comes from jubilum meaning "wild shout."
• Morphology: jubilee - n, jubilation - n
• Example: Tonight's Vocademy Awards event will be a jubilant celebration!

Let's get ready for tonight's event by looking at some photos of last year's jubilation:

precocious

(adj) – Someone who is precocious is exceptionally smart. A precocious child shows intelligence or skill at a very young age, or behaves in an adult way.

• Synonyms: advanced, bright, intelligent, mature (but maybe a little sassy!)
• Antonyms: dull, dim-witted
• Etymology: 1640s Latin, from pre meaning “before” + coquere meaning "to ripen, or to cook"
• Example: Beware: using our words of the day may make you sound precocious.

spontaneous

(adj) - When something is spontaneous, it happens without a plan or all on its own.

• Synonyms: out-of-the-blue, automatic, impulsive, instinctive, random, unplanned
• Antonyms: planned
• Etymology: 1650s Latin, from sponte meaning "of one's own accord, willingly"

Have you ever heard of a flash mob? It is a spontaneous performance by a group of people, like this:

redundant

(n) - If something is redundant, it is not necessary because something else already means or does the same thing.

• Synonyms: repetitious, extra, duplicated
• Antonyms: concise, essential, important
• Etymology: 1590s Latin, from re- meaning "again" + undare meaning "rise in waves," which comes from unda meaning "a wave"
• Example: As an added bonus, I will tell you about the basic fundamentals of the word redundant... consider it your free gift!

futile

(adj.) - Actions that are futile are useless because they have no chance of being successful.

• Synonyms: pointless, useless, unimportant
• Antonyms: productive, useful, beneficial
• Etymology: 1550 Latin, from futilis meaning "pouring out easily" (like from a vessel), which led to "easily emptied, leaky, unreliable." This came from the word fundere meaning "pour, melt."
• Morphology: futility - n
• Example: The idea of my family trying to plan a trip where everyone agrees is futile...

inquisitive

(adj) – Someone who is inquisitive is interested in a lot of different things and wanting to find out more about them

• Synonyms: interested, nosy, questioning, searching
• Antonyms: uninterested, indifferent, unconcerned, nonchalant
• Etymology: Late 14th Century Latin, from in- meaning “into” + quaerere (query) meaning "to seek, gain, ask,"
• Morphology: quiz - n, v
• Example: I am excited to have so many inquisitive students in my class this year!

sheepish

(adj) - If you are feeling sheepish, you feel slightly b-a-a-a-a-a-a-d, uncomfortable, or embarrassed because you know that you have done something silly or wrong.

• Synonyms: shy, embarassed, self-conscious, ashamed, timid
• Antonyms: aggressive, bold, unashamed, unembarassed
• Etymology: 1690s Old English, sceap meaning "sheep"
• Example: If you see someone with a sheepish grin, you might wonder what they're up to or what they've done.

invasive

(adj) - Something that is invasive has made its way into a place where it doesn't belong.

• Synonyms: meddlesome, nosy, "in your face," prying, intrusive, interfering, trespassing
• Antonyms: out-of-the-way, private, solitary
• Etymology: Mid 15th Century Latin, from in- "in" + vadere meaning "go, walk"
• Morphology: invade - v, invasion - n
• Example: The Burmese Python is an invasive species that made its way into the Florida Everglades.

savvy

(n) - If you have savvy, you have practical knowledge and ability.
(adj) - Someone who is savvy is clever and knows how to deal with situations successfully.

• Synonyms: brainy, clever, deft, experienced, intelligent, keen, sensible, wise
• Antonyms: clumsy, ignorant, incompetent, stupid, daft
• Etymology: 1785 (noun), 1905 (adjective) Latin, from sapere "be wise, be knowing." The French people borrowed this word to create savez vous? meaning "do you know?" and in Spanish it became sabe usted meaning "you know"
• Example:  Some people are very nature savvy, and they work hard to sustain our earth.

arbitrary

(adj) - Something that is arbitrary is decided or arranged without any reason or plan (often this comes across as unfair).

• Synonyms: random, offhand, inconsistent, for no reason
• Antonyms: rational, reasonable
• Etymology: 1500 Latin, from ad- "to" + baetere meaning "come and go."
• Morphology: arbitrate - v, arbitrator - n
• Example: I always plan words that I know are going to come up during our day, week or year... but every once in a while, I like to choose an arbitrary word just because it's fun to know!

overt

(adj) - Overt actions are those that are done for all to see, without trying to hide anything.

• Synonyms: public, apparent, clear, observable
• Antonyms: covert,  concealed, hidden, private, secret
• Etymology: Early 14th Century PIE, from *ap- "off, away" + base *wer- "to cover"
• Example: The placement of your cars on the Heritage board is an overt display of progress toward the finish line.

relentless

(adj) - Someone who is relentless continues in a persistent way. Something bad that is relentless continues without ever stopping or getting less severe.

• Word Family: relent
• Synonyms: merciless, persistent, ongoing, determined, strict, fierce, nonstop
• Antonyms: easy, merciful, understanding, ending
• Origin: Late 14th Century, from Latin re- meaning “again” + lentus meaning "slow, flowing thickly”
• Example: You have been relentless when it comes to learning as much as you can this year.

Ok... now's your chance to show your stuff. We've done this quiz before, but do you remember?

Click here to give it a try!

emergent

(adj) - Something that is emergent is in the early stages of existence or development.

• Synonyms: resulting, developing, rising, up-and-coming
• Antonyms: declining, decreasing
• Etymology: 1560s Latin, from ex- meaning "out" + mergere meaning "to dip, sink"
• Morphology: emerge - v, merge - v
• Example: The emergent layer of a rain forest is the fourth layer, where the tallest trees are.

Click here for the Virtual Field Trip!

retroactive

(adj) - Something that is retroactive is effective as of a particular date in the past.

• Synonyms: after the fact, done afterward, subsequent, in the past, postdated
• Antonyms: before, previous, prior
• Etymology: 1610s Latin, from retro- meaning"back" + agere meaning "to drive, set in motion" (which is also where we get the word act)
• Example: Even though we already had the word debacle, I decided to make this video retroactive because... how could anyone pass up an opportunity to make "The Pachl Debacle?!"

Click here or on the image for today's Tech Corner game.

copacetic

(adj) - If something is copacetic, it's just fine or simply satisfactory.

• Synonyms: fine, satisfactory, ok, adequate, alright, cool, dandy, pleasant, tolerable, sufficient
• Antonyms: frusterating, unsatisfactory, great, fantastic, insufficient, unwelcome
• Etymology: 1919 American, from a term used by African Americans in the Southern US. Linguists believe this word may have taken root in Latin, Hebrew (kol b'seder), Italian, Louisiana French (coupe-sétique), or maybe Native American.
• Example: Mrs. Gaskill may have her share of trouble, but fortunately for her, everything's copacetic here in room 1.

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