Joseph's Fifth Grade Year

So, as I mentioned in a previous post, Joseph started middle school this year. According to a short interview I just subjected him too, the best things about middle school are changing classes and choosing electives. His favorite class was band, and the worst thing was not feeling challenged by some teachers. I would say by any standards, but especially when compared to the middle school experience in general, he had a really great year. He was happy to go to school each day, and I think many of his teachers tried hard to make school a great place to be.

Here's a man he made completely out of junk to show different organ systems, one of the big projects of the year:



He started playing the clarinet this year in band and was really committed and learned well. I never had to remind him to practice. Actually, one of the most impressive things about the whole year was how Joseph totally took responsibility for all his stuff: practicing piano, practicing clarinet, reading homework, other homework. He just told me where to sign after he had it taken care of. And halfway through the year he and Caleb started setting their alarm clock for 6am to get most of his work done before school, which amazed and impressed us. Here he is at one of his band concerts with his clarinet:

He also chose to be in the choir and really loved it. Here are some of his choir concerts:

He also played basketball in the winter and took horseback riding lessons in the fall. Will you just look at how gorgeous the place is where I live?!

 

 

In the fall he took a field trip with other smartypants kids to an outdoor learning center, and in the spring he participated in a one day quiz bowl tournament and looks, luckily for him, to be taking after Nephi in that area. He was really good.

He was a Webelos in Cub Scouts, is very close to earning his Arrow of Light, and has started working on Boy Scouts badges.

His very favorite thing about the year was all the skiing he got to do in winter, which I'll save for another post, and he's taken some very good photos which I'll also put in another post. In general, he is a really, really great kid. He has so much energy, and is learning to channel it in lots of good directions. He is getting a real sense of who he is, and we like it.