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Dear Diary: My First Day

3rd Grade Common Core RL.3.1 Diary 143 words ⏱ 20 minESL A1–A2

A diary entry by Nora, who moved house and started at a new school: her fear, her embarrassment and a nice surprise.

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Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

Dear Diary,

Today was my first day at my new school in Phoenix. We moved here from Santa Cruz last week because of Dad's new job. Last night I couldn't sleep. What if nobody talks to me? What if I get lost?

In the morning I did get lost! I was looking for room 12, and I walked into the teachers' room by mistake. Everybody looked at me. I wanted to disappear. But one teacher smiled and took me to my class.

At lunch I sat alone. Then a girl with curly hair sat down next to me. Her name is Addie, and she moved here two years ago, so she knows how I feel. She showed me the library and the best place to sit in the yard.

I still miss my old friends, but tomorrow doesn't seem so scary anymore.

Nora

📘 Word bank
moved
changed the place where you live
lost
not knowing where you are
by mistake
without meaning to
disappear
to go away so no one can see you
curly
with hair that goes in small circles
scary
making you afraid

✏️ Questions

  1. Key details

    Why did Nora's family move to Phoenix?

  2. Key details

    Write ONE thing Nora was afraid of the night before.

  3. Key details

    Where did Nora go by mistake?

  4. Inference

    "I wanted to disappear" shows that Nora felt…

  5. Inference

    Why does Addie understand how Nora feels?

  6. Key details

    What did Addie show Nora?

  7. Main idea

    How does Nora feel at the end of the day?

Questions

  1. Why did Nora's family move to Phoenix?

    1. Because of Dad's new job.
    2. Because Nora wanted a new school.
    3. Because they missed their family.
    4. Because Santa Cruz was too noisy.

  2. Write ONE thing Nora was afraid of the night before.

    ______________________________________________________________

  3. Where did Nora go by mistake?

    1. The library.
    2. Room 12.
    3. The teachers' room.
    4. The yard.

  4. "I wanted to disappear" shows that Nora felt…

    1. proud.
    2. bored.
    3. hungry.
    4. embarrassed.

  5. Why does Addie understand how Nora feels?

    1. She is Nora's cousin.
    2. She also moved to the city, two years ago.
    3. She is a teacher.
    4. She has curly hair.

  6. What did Addie show Nora?

    ______________________________________________________________

  7. How does Nora feel at the end of the day?

    1. Better and less afraid of tomorrow.
    2. She wants to go back to Santa Cruz at once.
    3. Angry with her father.
    4. Sure that she will get lost again.

Answer key

  1. a) Because of Dad's new job.
  2. That nobody would talk to her / that she would get lost.
  3. c) The teachers' room.
  4. d) embarrassed.
  5. b) She also moved to the city, two years ago.
  6. The library and the best place to sit in the yard.
  7. a) Better and less afraid of tomorrow.

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