language
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.
Best Limerick About Vegetables Ever
There once was a potato named Tom
And he went to the store for his mom.
He went to buy some squash
He’s got some veggies to wash
And something outside was damaged by a leafhopper-bomb.
— By Sam Wolfe (date unknown)
Confessions of a second-grader #9
May 2, 1996
My favorite balanced meal is cookies.
May 14, 1996
May favorite after-school snack is prunes. A healthy snack would be apples.
May 21, 1996
My favorite part of field day was water balloons. Next year at field day, I want to see lots of shade.
Confessions of a second-grader #8
April 10, 1996
When I have a test, I have a zero voice.
April 24, 1996
One thing that I’ve always wanted to do is ride a bike.
April 25, 1996
If I could go to work with my mom or dad, I would go with my mom because I like to go to school with my mom.
Confessions of a second-grader #7
February 27, 1996
I wish Michael’s clock was working! It needs a new battery.
March 12, 1996
Yesterday I got Michael’s clock working. I put in the new battery.
March 13, 1996
I like the mountains because they’re big and tall. I like the ones with the grass. I like the ones in Colorado.
Confessions of a second-grader #6
February 8, 1996
The best thing that has ever happened to me was I got to go to school.
February 9, 1996
This morning I came to school late because Mom lost her keys.
February 20, 1996
On my three-day weekend, I moved into the new house.
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.
Confessions of a second-grader #3
(In November, the teacher, Diane Beaver, writes in several places of Sam’s journal that he’s coming up with the sentences all on his own.)
October 25, 1995
Under my bed there are boys.
November 7, 1995
It wasn’t my fault when I flipped my pencil across the room.
November 17, 1995
I’m so thankful for my special friends. They help me play toys.