extend (verb) to stretch out; to make longer

• Sample Sentence: You can extend your goldfish’s life by keeping its water clean.

• Turn and Talk: What are some steps you could take to extend a plant’s life?

radical (adjective) extreme

• Sample Sentence: The 1990s rap group Kris Kross had a radical style: They wore their clothes backwards!

• Turn and Talk: How would you feel if your teacher had a radical hairstyle, like an unusual color or a mohawk?

crucial (adjective) very important, essential

• Sample Sentence: Reading and writing are crucial skills for doing well in school.

• Turn and Talk: Is owning a cell phone crucial to having a good social life?

attain (verb) to achieve or reach a goal

• Sample Sentence: It took a year of hard work as class president for Vicky to attain the admiration and respect of her classmates.

• Turn and Talk: What are some goals that you would like to attain by the time you graduate from high school?

initiative (noun) a plan to solve a problem

• Sample Sentence: The late Senator Ted Kennedy proposed an initiative that included extending the school day.

• Turn and Talk: Propose an initiative to improve the health of middle school students.