Sunday, September 27, 2009

Calvert School: Guest Starring my Youngest

One of the things I really like about Calvert School is that it drills composition skills into children. Second grade starts with fill in the blanks compositions, and it gets successively harder every year thereafter. With that increase in difficulty come some more interesting assignments. One of the ones at the end of fourth grade was, "If you could have dinner with a famous person, who would it be, and what would you do?" Here is the answer from my youngest, written when he was 9-1/2 years old.

If I invited someone famous to my house, ti would be Thomas Jefferson because I think he's a good president.

When he came to the door I'd say improtant things like "Nice outfit," and "After you Mr. Jefferson."

When we went to the living room, he would say "This isn't as nice as Monticello." Then he'd see the picture of him signing the Declaration of Independence and say "NO NO NO, I WAS IN THE CHAIR NOT JOHN HANCOCK!!!" After a moment of silence I'd say "Pardon me."

At dinner, I'd have a 50 course buffet, and he'd say, "Where is the cornbread?" "Cornbread? I know nothing of this mythical cornbread." "THEN WHAT TYPE OF FOOD DO YOU EAT?!?!?!?" "Turkey," I'd say. "When I was a boy, I had to wrestle a grizzly bear for food." "We do it different nowadays," I'd say.

When it was time to leave, I'd say, "Well, I guess this is it." "Yeah," he'd say.

If you could meet a famous person, who would it be?

I typed all of his punctuation and spelling exactly as he wrote it. While his paragraphing of the dialogue was wrong, I did enjoy his conversation. And I was proud that my kid wouldn't want to meet an athlete, musician or movie star.

So, answer Mark's question: If you could meet a famous person, who would it be?

15 comments:

Paula said...

Well, I'd love to invite Mark to dinner and introduce him to my youngest daughter who just happens to be his age. hint hint. I'm just putting it out there ....

Christo Gonzales said...

you did say 'famous person' and I have to say that my choices have probably changed through the years all the way from Neil Armstrong to Little Richard so if it is any one in history I would have to go with a pot luck dinner and invite Thomas Edison and Leonardo DaVinci and they can invite whomever they want.

Dexter said...

I can't believe it! Another mastiff! Wow!

How big is he? How old is he? Does he dance?

Mango is 4 1/2 and weighs about 230. I work on dance moves with him in our yard.

He has given me mastiff vision for sure. I always buy things too small for my lab because I think of him as Pee-Wee but he is actually considered a large dog in most circles (poor little guy).

Mango Momma

Robynn's Ravings said...

I LOVE that!! Thanks for including his punctuation and spelling, too. It made it so DEAR! What a cutie!

Tee said...

LOL, I gave you the Creativ Blog award...check out my blog
dressed2atee.blogspot.com take care

monica said...

as my head is filled with dogs and dogs stuff.. maybe Cesar Milan ? is he famous enough ??

apart from that: great post. I love it when the kids write essays like that, and when the head line is My Family you can really discover some truths.. making you both laugh and sob...:o)

SissySees said...

I'm with Mark. I'd want to sit down with Mr. Jefferson, whose influence is still stamped all over this place. You really do need to head south and take the guy through Monticello, and then sup at Michie Tavern, on pewter plates. Cornbread and stewed tomatoes are always on the menu.

Patricia said...

I don't know which famous perdon I would invite, but I had to comment that I love the essay, esp. the line about doing things differently these days.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Really toss up and opposite ends of the spectrum...Elton John and Ronald Reagan.

buffalodick said...

Too many to name, but I guess it was a man who influenced many children to learn about physics, chemistry, and science- Mr. Wizard!

Pam said...

Too cute.

I think meeting Abe Lincoln would be fun and interesting.

Anonymous said...

Your son sounds like a hoot. I have too many on my list to pick just one and it would depend on what day it is. Today maybe I'd like to talk to the famous Marjie!

pam said...

Marjie, that is wonderful! It is so creative!

Noodlegirl said...

Ohh I want to make this some night!

Ohhh I have no idea which famous person I want to invite I don't think I really want to ruin what my vision of them are lol

Jennifer Bowen said...

I love your son's originality, Marjie. I tried to find an email for you as well, but there wasn't one available. Here's mine: jenn.bow1@hotmail.com. Thank you so much for taking the time to give me some great tips. My son is a great speller, so your idea for spelling work was fabulous. Today's our box day. We're patiently waiting. ;) Was it wrong for me to have let him started some of his online activities? He was just too eager.