1. TINA’S TRY-OUT DAY
VOCABULARY

2. chuckled
chuckled ( chuck – led ) verb Laughed in a quiet way. I chuckled to myself when my secret plan worked.

3. downstairs
downstairs ( down – stairs ) noun A lower or main floor or floors. Meet me downstairs when you are ready to go.

4. fumbled
fumbled ( fum – bled ) verb Tried to get hold of or handled in a clumsy way. I fumbled around in my bookbag trying to find my homework.

5. nervous
nervous ( nerv – ous ) adjective Not able to relax. Barking dogs make me very nervous.

6. nonsense
Nonsense ( non – sense ) noun Words or actions that are silly and make no sense. The talk about a monster hiding in the closet was pure nonsense.

7. trudged
trudged ( trudged ) verb Walked slowly and with effort. The children trudged up the snow covered hill to go to school.

8. Compound words
Compound words are words that are made up of two small words that have been put together to make a new word. lunch + box = lunchbox A box that you put your lunch in is a lunchbox. base + ball = baseball A game with a ball and bases is baseball. side + walk = sidewalk The walk along the side of the road is a sidewalk.

10. Tina woke up to her buzzing alarm clock
Tina woke up to her buzzing alarm clock. She rubbed her eyes and wondered why she was up so early. Then she remembered: it was try-out day! A few weeks ago, Tina decided she would try out for the Comets, her school’s softball team. Tina ran downstairs to the kitchen. “Mom!” she shouted. “It’s try-out day!”

11. “I know,: answered Mom. “I made you breakfast
“I know,: answered Mom. “I made you breakfast.” Tina rubbed her stomach. “I think I’m too nervous to eat.” “You’ll have more energy if you do.” said Mom. Tina still felt a bit sick, but she ate some breakfast anyway. Then she ran up to her room and fumbled into her clothes. “Slow down!” Mom chuckled. “You’ll use up all your energy before you get there.”

12. Tina got to the field early, but it seemed like everyone else did too
Tina got to the field early, but it seemed like everyone else did too. “What am I doing here?” Tina asked herself. “I’ll never make the team. Her mom gave her a hug. “That’s nonsense,” she said. “Get out there and do your best. You will be great!”

13. The girls had to run, field, bat, catch, and throe balls
The girls had to run, field, bat, catch, and throe balls. Even though Tina stumbled while fielding, she thought she did well. Afterward, Tina was really tired and trudged off the field. One of the coaches called her name. “What do you think, Tina?” she asked. “Would you like to join the Comets?”

14. Tina forgot how tired she was and jumped high into the air
Tina forgot how tired she was and jumped high into the air. “Oh, boy” she shouted. “Would I ever!”

15. THINK!
Who are the main CHRACTERS in this story? ________________________________________________________________
What is the SETTING of this story? ________________________________
What happened at the BEGINNING? _______________________________
What happened in the MIDDLE? __________________________________
What happened at the END? _____________________________________
What did you like best about the story? _______________________