Smart as a 5th grader #4

11-13-98

I saw Mrs. Newland’s puppy today! She’s eight weeks old. She has a short tail. She’s brown and white. She’s little. She has fur. She has sharp teeth! The puppy is soft. She’s not big, and she’s cute.

11-18-98

I am doing a president report on James Monroe. Right now he’s dead. He once died on a July 4. He’s famous. But he died a long time ago, a long time before I was born.

11-19-98

I am thankful for my own room. I am also thankful for my dogs. And I am thankful for Jon Greene, all the rest of my friends, and the 5th grade teachers.

12-2-98

On my vacation, I took my van trip to San Francisco and then I flew two airplanes. One airplane was from San Francisco to Maui. The other one was from Maui to Hawaii. In Hawaii, I rented a car and stayed in someone’s house named Nita. In Hawaii, I also swam in the Pacific Ocean. I also went to a wedding and I was in it. My Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins were there.

12-4-98

I am 11 years old! Today’s my birthday! I have 11-year-old behavior. I have 11-year-old reading. And I do 11-year-old work!

Smart as a 5th grader #2

9-9-98

I get mad when something bad happens. I get mad whenever somebody gets mad at me. Sometimes I get mad whenever my dad or mom gets mad.

9-11-98

At recess time, I played with Sami, Jamie, Kyle, Steve and Jake. I played Twister with all those friends. Twister is about exercises. It’s also about a person that tells you to put one hand or foot on a color.

10-1-98

In the fish tank in this classroom has no fish! The tarantula does not do anything to people when in their cage. If he’s out, he might bite. The tarantula in this classroom is black. The tarantula eats crickets. I never pet tarantulas.

 

Smart as a 5th grader #1

Sam’s journal from 5th grade doesn’t have the charm and pithiness of his earlier journals, but re-reading his entries, it’s clear that he was ready for middle school. The teachers worked hard to plan his transition, and Mark and I really sweated it, but looking back — you’ll see, too — we didn’t need to worry.

Aug. 14, 1998

My goal is the A-B honor roll all year. The thing I know how is to work hard.

8-19-98

We did our Diamante today. This tells all about me, as a person.

8-24-98

This weekend, I was working on my house. It was upstairs. I’m building a bedroom and a bathroom upstairs. It will be the guest bedroom.

9-4-98

The weather outside at recess is hot. I played with Carly and Maria. We played tag. And I got so hot that I had to go inside and watch a movie. The name of the movie was The Fox and The Hound. I only had to watch a little bit of it because Mrs. Boren came by and she needed me.

Confessions of a second-grader #5

January 24, 1996

I love Texas because people are nice. 

January 25, 1996

I liked the laser light show because the lights went round and round very fast. 

January 29, 1996

This weekend my family and I watched the Superbowl! I went to my new house and saw the fans. 

February 1, 1996

Friendship is like Sam D. 

Confessions of a second-grader #4

December 14, 1995

My favorite Christmas song is Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. It’s because I like the words.

January 3, 1996

On my Christmas vacation, I went to Colorado to see Grandma and Grandpa. My favorite Christmas gift was a home planetarium.

January 10, 1996

Today I feel happy because I like soap.