Because of Mr. Terupt: April–June

by Rob Buyea
A new teacher inspires a class of fifth graders — but when Mr. Terupt suffers a devastating injury, his students struggle to come to terms with their responsibility for the accident.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: September–October, November–January, February–March, April–June
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. vast
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
    Mr. Terupt still lay motionless inside the vast whiteness and beeping of that building.
  2. predicament
    an unpleasant or difficult situation
    And what are the reasons for Mr. Terupt’s predicament?
  3. persist
    refuse to stop
    The classroom persisted in secreting (dollar word) unbroken (dollar word) quietness.
  4. secrete
    generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
    The classroom persisted in secreting (dollar word) unbroken (dollar word) quietness.
  5. harsh
    severe
    There’s nothin’ like a New England spring, Danielle,” she said. “You endure the harsh winter, and because of that you learn how to really appreciate the new season.”
  6. frisky
    playful like a lively kitten
    Flowers popped up and buds appeared. The animals on the farm acted frisky.
  7. slumber
    an inactive or dormant state
    I felt like I was still in my winter slumber.
  8. momentum
    an impelling force or strength
    I pumped my legs back and forth on the swings. I needed to get some momentum going so that I wasn’t just sitting with my feet dangling in the puddle below me.
  9. predator
    any animal that lives by preying on other animals
    Invasive species are organisms that are introduced into a new environment. Since they have no natural predators there, they thrive.
  10. thrive
    grow vigorously
    Invasive species are organisms that are introduced into a new environment. Since they have no natural predators there, they thrive.
  11. antidote
    a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
    Going down to the Collaborative Classroom, I was afraid that our whole class would act as the invasive species, sucking up all the happiness with our sour attitudes. Lucky for us, the antidote was present at the party.
  12. nemesis
    a personal foe or rival that cannot be easily defeated
    I hugged Peter. Right there on the spot. I walked over and hugged my Elmer’s sneakers nemesis.
  13. intention
    a wish or design that you plan to carry out
    I also wondered what Charlie’s intentions were toward her mother, so I asked him.
  14. absolute
    perfect or complete or pure
    The silence in our classroom wasn’t the worst. There was always someone you could turn to and whisper. It contained tons of sadness and guilt, but it wasn’t absolute.
  15. testament
    strong evidence for something
    Everyone at school liked Mr. Terupt. That was just another testament to him.
  16. technically
    according to the exact meaning; according to the facts
    Technically today was a school day, but Mrs. Williams helped us make arrangements to be here.
  17. maximize
    make the most of
    The room had a nice layout. The architects had found a way to maximize (dollar word) the area while keeping a large perimeter.
  18. represent
    form or compose
    The room represented a rectangle, with little sections of the wall jutting into the interior here and there.
  19. jut
    extend out or project in space
    The room represented a rectangle, with little sections of the wall jutting into the interior here and there.
  20. hunch
    an impression that something might be the case
    How did he know to bring it?
    “Just a hunch,” he said.
  21. practically
    almost; nearly
    Then I noticed Jeffrey. He was practically hyperventilating.
  22. hyperventilate
    breathe excessively hard and fast
    Then I noticed Jeffrey. He was practically hyperventilating.
  23. relief
    the condition of being comfortable or alleviated of distress
    Our faces broke into mini-smiles and we let out breaths of relief.
  24. accustomed
    in the habit of or adapted to
    Some of the adults left first, probably because they’re more accustomed to being patient.
  25. rally
    gather or bring together
    Only a few people were still sitting—Anna and Terri, and Danielle and her mother—when Mom and I rallied ourselves to leave.
  26. devastating
    wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
    Jeffrey’s words startled me. I did feel guilty. I’d roped Danielle and Anna into my wicked plan, which led to Peter’s devastating snowball.
  27. reluctantly
    with a certain degree of unwillingness
    Slowly, reluctantly, I looked at her. I didn’t want her to be right. “Thank you,” she said. “I told you it wasn’t going to be easy.”
  28. mischief
    reckless or malicious behavior causing annoyance in others
    “All those instances with Peter earlier on this year, and with Luke’s plant concoction, and all the other mischief.” Mom paused. “I think Mr. Terupt handled them the way he did because he was trying to teach you guys some personal responsibility.”
  29. intervene
    get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action
    “But that’s what cost him in the end. He let you play rough that day in the snow and hoped you wouldn’t cross the line—but he made it your responsibility not to cross that line because he didn’t intervene.”
  30. swerve
    turn sharply; change direction abruptly
    Our car swerved. Mom was in shock.
  31. necessarily
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
    “So now if Mr. Terupt gets better, he’s going to get in trouble. Is that right, too?”
    “Not necessarily,” Mom said.
  32. redundant
    repeating the same sense in different words
    “And watch your language. Besides, to say airheaded and bimbo is a bit redundant....”
  33. encompass
    include in scope
    Welcome to the last day of school, where there’s music and movies and games, singing and laughing and smiles all around, cakes and cookies and fun for everyone. At least, this is what the last day of school is supposed to encompass.
  34. perky
    characterized by liveliness and lightheartedness
    Mrs. Williams and Ms. Newberry are definitely acting strange. Like, Mrs. Williams is way too perky—humming to herself and talking with silent nods to Ms. Newberry, who’s been poking her head into our room one too many times today.
  35. drastic
    forceful and extreme and rigorous
    No Mr. Terupt. Suddenly things changed drastically for me. I’d kept believing that he was badly hurt and would recover, but now that the year is over, the thought of him not making it seems very real.
Created on Thu Apr 11 13:39:50 EDT 2019 (updated Thu Apr 11 13:57:05 EDT 2019)

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