From the moment kids start school, they become well aware of where they stand in the overall scheme of things. Younger kids are the newbies. Older kids are the seasoned professionals who’ve been around the block a few times.
When you get into high school and college, they even have special names for the people in each year of school. For example, the newbies? They’re called freshmen. Why? We suppose it’s because they’re new and fresh on the scene.
The oldest kids? They’re the seniors. Just like senior citizens are the older members of our society, seniors in high school or college are in their fourth — and usually last — year of school. They’ve been around the block and seen it all.
But what about those kids in between freshmen and seniors? The kids in their third year of school are called juniors. They have quite a bit of experience, but not as much as the seniors. They still have someone one rung above them on the ladder, so they’re juniors, not seniors.
The kids in their second year of school are no longer freshmen and most of them are thankful for that fact. They have a little bit of experience, but they also have a long way to go. What do we call them? Sophomores!
There’s a bit of argument about where this term comes from. Some believe it comes from the Greek words meaning “wise” and “foolish.” Thus, sophomores are “wise fools” because they’ve gained some wisdom through their first year but are still foolish compared to juniors and seniors.
Others dispute this meaning and believe that the term comes from the Greek word “sophumer,” which referred to students — called “sophists” — who had attained a certain level of wisdom. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Cambridge University referred to the three highest class levels as “sophumers,” “junior sophumers” and “senior sophumers.” Many believe that, over time, these designations became what we know today as sophomores, juniors and seniors.
The term sophomore is often used generally to mean “second.” For example, a musical group’s second release will often be called their sophomore album. This has led to another common phrase: the “sophomore slump.”
A “sophomore slump” happens when someone’s second attempt at something doesn’t live up to the expectations set by their first efforts. For example, a musical group who has a fantastic first album will have high expectations for their next release. Often, that release doesn’t live up to those expectations, resulting in disappointment. The “sophomore slump” is sometimes referred to as the “sophomore jinx,” too.
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We think tomorrow’s wonder of the day will be about people with character traits.
Good morning to our Wonder Friends in Ms. Bayko’s Class! Thanks for visiting us today and sharing your awesome guess with us! We are puzzled by today’s Wonder guess and we look forward to finding out what tomorrow will bring! We hope you have a terrific Tuesday!
Thoughts: The video showed us some kids working on a project in class. (Isaiah) I noticed a kid that stacked all of the markers together. (Joaquin) I noticed the girl who didn’t look very excited to present her topic. (Maria)
Connection: This reminds me of when my little brother stacks markers the same way and then hits me with them. (Maria) This reminds me of my friend who is a sophomore who is often pranked. (Leslie) This reminds me of my basketball team because there is a team called the sophomores. (Cristian)
Predictions: Do you like split decisions? (Jaaron) What is a personality? (Joe) Have you ever been asked to give someone your undivided attention? (Joaquin) Do you have a twin? (Brandon) How do you make a banana split? (Maria)
Good morning, Wonder Friends in Mrs. Hess’ Class! We are thrilled to know that Isaiah, Joaquin, Maria, Leslie, Cristian, Jaaron, Joe and Brandon are WONDERing with us today!
We really enjoyed your comment today, and you did a great job:
-Noting how the students prepared their projects in class
-Observing the sophomores while they presented
-Connecting what you saw in the video to moments in your own lives
-Sharing your SUPER guesses!
Thanks for visiting us today, Wonder Friends!
I didn’t get the video… Plus what are sophomores?
Hey there, Crystal, great questions! Today’s Wonder video featured students in their second year of high school– they are called sophomores! When you get to high school, you will begin your first year, and you will be part of the freshmen class. The following year, in your second year, you’ll be a sophomore! As you go into your third year of high school, you’ll be a junior. Then, in your final year you will be a senior– the oldest class in the school! The same is true for college students — each class of students is known by a different name!
Today our class learned what sophomores are, and have we gained some knowledge that we can now share with others. Thanks for the video/information!
We’re so glad to hear that our Wonder Friends in Ms. Blanton’s 2nd grade class enjoyed WONDERing about sophomores with us! We Wonder if you have any siblings, family members or neighbors who are sophomores in high school or college!?
Thank you for sharing your comment with us, we’re so glad you’re here!
Hi wonderoppolis
I think it’s soooooooooo cool how many of our English word originate from Greek words!
I was born in England and I know that they start high school at the age of 11. Do you know if they name the divisions differently?
Thanks for the links.
Your ever wondering friend
Eiffie
Hey there, Wonder Friend Eiffie! Thanks for sharing your awesome comment with us! We bet you’ll enjoy this other wordy Wonder:
Wonder #737– What’s the Longest Word? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-the-longest-word/
We learned something new from you about the English school system– how cool! Thanks for telling us what you learned… perhaps you can do some research about the names used for high school and college students in England!
Dear Wonderopolis,
I think today’s wonder of the day was really cool. I think tomorrow’s wonder of the day will be about twins.
WOOHOO, we’re so glad you liked today’s Wonder, Karsen! Thanks for sharing your comment about sophomores– and we hope to Wonder with you again tomorrow! What a SUPER guess!
Dear wonderopolis
I think sophomores are really cool but I still don’t understand what they are.
Dear Wonderopolis
Sophomores is a hard word to pronounce and I will bet I won’t remember that word.
With some practice, you’ll be saying and remembering new words, like sophomore and scheme, in no time, Jakob! We bet you can do it! Keep up the WONDERing, and thanks for sharing your comment today!
Thanks for writing back. Well I think that it’s cool there is such thing called sophomores well anyways, I’m not a sophomore I’m a junior.
From Jayden L
You’ve got it, Wonder Friend Jayden! Thanks for sharing what you learned from today’s Wonder! We Wonder if you attend a junior high school? We hope you’re having a terrific Tuesday, Jayden and we look forward to WONDERing with you soon!
Hi about that karate wonder how can I make one because I would like to know thank you. I can’t wait to be a sophomore.
Hey there, Liam, we’re glad you’re thinking of what you already know about karate! We think you and Brady could find a cool video to share, and perhaps you can share the coolest thing you know about karate. You can share this Wonder with us by sending an email to hello@wonderopolis.org. We also have a SchoolTube Channel where you can share videos and Wonders of your very own: http://www.schooltube.com/channel/wonderopolis/
HI!
How do Liam and I make a wonder but do you mean nominate a wonder? I think tommorow’s wonder is going to be about splitting something or geting cut and injured.
Hey there, Brady! We think it would be great if you and Liam nominated your Wonder! In addition, you can You can share your own Wonder with us by sending an email to hello@wonderopolis.org. We also have a SchoolTube Channel where you can share videos and Wonders of your very own: http://www.schooltube.com/channel/wonderopolis/
Thanks for sharing your SUPER guesses for tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day®! We look forward to finding out what it is!
Dear wonderopolis,
I think today’s wonder of the day was great because I had no idea that newbies in high school and college were called freshmen. But I can’t think about what tommorow’s wonder of the day will be about.
WOOHOO, you learned something new about high school and college, Maddy! NICE WORK! We Wonder if you have any siblings, cousins or neighbors who are sophomores? Keep up the SUPER WONDERing! See you tomorrow!
Our school goes from Pre- Kindergarten to Grade 6. The Pre-K and Kinders would be freshman, the gr. 1-3 would be the sophmores, the gr. 4-5 would be juniors and the grade 6′s would be the SENIORS!
Good afternoon, Wonder Friends in Mrs. Janke’s Grade 5/6! We are glad to hear that you have been thinking your very own school and the age groups! We think it’s cool that you have thought of the freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior groups in your very own school! What a SUPER idea! It seems like we’re WONDERing with some juniors and seniors today! HOW COOL!
Many of us know 10 or more sophomores. This includes some siblings of ours. We thought that the sophomore slump seems like a very real “phenomenon”. It seems like during the school year the same things happen. Our 1st quarter is good and then we hit a little slump in the 2nd quarter before we improve for a strong finish at the end of the year.
WOW, we’re so glad to hear that our Wonder Friends in Mrs. Bussan’s 5th Grade know quite a few sophomores! We really enjoyed that you compared the sophomore slump and your experiences in school– what a great analogy! It’s great to know that you have a little break in the 2nd quarter so you can “recharge your batteries” and complete the year with a strong finish! Thanks for WONDERing with us today!
I knew it! What did I tell you. I told you it would be sophomore!!!!!!
Nice work, Hunter! You sure did guess correctly– we’re so proud of you! Great work, Wonder Friend! Do you know any sophomores?
I think you’d have to be as smart as a sophomore to figure out that hint.
You’ve got us smiling, Jusin! Thanks for sharing your comment with us today! We Wonder what your favorite part of today’s Wonder is?
Tomorrow’s is about multiple personalities.
That’s a SUPER guess, indeed, Hunter! Thanks for coming back to share your guess with us!
I did not know that sophomores meant two.
Hey there, Wonder Friend Alex! We are glad you’re WONDERing about sophomores with us today! The word sophomore refers to a student in his or her second year of high school or college. You are close– it doesn’t mean two, but it describes someone in their second year of school! Thanks for sharing your comment today, we’re glad you’re here!
WOW! I knew about that because my brother is a junior and my sister is a freshmen in college. Now I can’t wait to be a sophomore.
What a great connection, Matthew, your siblings are the topic of WONDER today! We think it’s cool that you could relate to today’s Wonder, and we’re glad you’re looking forward to becoming a sophomore in the future!
Why do they call them “sophomore sloth”? I learned a lot of stuff about sophomores.
Thank you.
Hey there, Tahnaria, it sounds like you’re WONDERing about the “sophomore slump” with us! Have you ever experienced something for a second time and it just wasn’t as great as the first? Perhaps it was a live show, a music group, or even a field trip. That is what we call the “sophomore slump”? Check out the excerpt below for more information:
A “sophomore slump” happens when someone’s second attempt at something doesn’t live up to the expectations set by their first efforts. For example, a musical group who has a fantastic first album will have high expectations for their next release. Often, that release doesn’t live up to those expectations, resulting in disappointment. The “sophomore slump” is sometimes referred to as the “sophomore jinx,” too.
I did not know that high schoolers had names for themselves. That is the wonder I want to know.
Well we sure are glad you’re WONDERing with us today, Josie! It sounds like you learned all about the different names for groups of students in high school and college! It’s another way to identify them! Thanks for sharing your comment with us today! We hope to Wonder with you soon!
I never knew a lot about sophomores but my cousin might. I can’t wait to be a sophomore.
We hope you and your cousin can Wonder together soon, Skler! It sounds like you’re ready to be a sophomore right now! Thanks for sharing your comment and visiting us today- we’re glad you’re here!
Wonderopolis has been awesome. It helps you learn a lot a of things. I can’t believe they are trouble!
I wonder if they have some hard times doing their work or other things. Wonderopolis you’re great people too.
Hey there, Wonder Friend Emma! We are so glad you enjoy your time here at Wonderopolis… we sure are happy you’re here! Sophomores are students in their second year of high school or college, so they have a lot of learning, studying and homework to do! We think the Wonder video showed a classroom full of students who were preparing a school project– they prepared and presented in many different ways!
Thanks for sharing your comment with us, Emma! See you soon!
I know a lot of sophomores. My sister, and she has a lot of friends and I know most of them. I also have a sister almost going on to her sophomore year of college. She went to SIUC for her first trimester of school, and now she goes to Saint Xavier. Pretty cool.
It sounds like you’re very familiar with what a sophomore is, Gina M! We bet your sister and her friends would be happy to know they are part of the connection you made to today’s Wonder! NICE WORK! Thanks for telling us all about your sister’s college journey! We Wonder if you’ve been able to visit her at school to get a look at college life?
Today’s wonder was very challenging, but we enjoyed learning about sophomores.
We are Wondering what life is like for sophomores in college?
We’re glad to hear that you are here today, Simone! Thanks for challenging yourself by WONDERing about sophomores– and you’re still WONDERing about college life! WAY TO GO! We Wonder if you know anyone who is in college or went to college… we bet they will have lots of different answers! Every college is different, but most students live on campus, go to class, meet lots of new people, and live in dormitories!
Cool!!! I bet you that there were some newbies in that classroom!!!
Hmm split personality hmm… oh I got it!!! 
It is about schizophrenia!!! 
We like your comment, Max, you did a great job using your inference skills with today’s sophomore Wonder! Thanks for guessing tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day®– we hope you have a terrific Tuesday!
Dear Wonderopolis,
We learned that sophomore is 10th grade and we used to think it was 11th grade. We like the idea that sophomore means wise and foolish or a wise fool. We like how when you get to high school and university the grades have names. We were wondering about the word “newbie”. We think tomorrow’s wonder may be about twins, or multiple personalities, or bananas.
We sure are glad you learned something new with us today, Mrs. Chevalier’s Class! It took some of us here at Wonderopolis awhile to get the order of students straight– freshmen, then sophomore, followed by junior and then senior!
It’s so WONDERful that you’ve been doing some thinking of your own about the word “newbie”– way to go! We look forward to WONDERing with you tomorrow… what a stellar group of guesses!
We think that tomorrow will be about multiple personalities disorder!
Great guess, Wonder Friends in Ms. O’Keefe’s 5th Grade Mixed! We are so glad you are using context clues to form your guess for tomorrow’s Wonder! We’ll see you then!
Dear Wonderopolis,
Our class will graduate from high school in the year 2022. This means we are sophomores during the 2019-2020 school year! That seems like a long ways away!
We don’t think we will have recess when we are sophomores. We will sit there and work all day! We want to stay in third grade!
Ms. Uppena’s Third Grade Super Sleuths
WOW, we’re so happy that the Super Sleuths have been WONDERing about graduation from high school! How cool– we think it’s awesome that you know when you’ll be sophomores and when you’ll be seniors! We think it is fun to imagine the future, but third grade sure is a cool place to be!
Hi wonderopolis, I liked your video today. I like wonderopolis.
Thanks for telling us what you enjoyed today, Jayden! We’re so glad this Wonder made you smile!
Hi wonderopolis!! Your video is awesome I learnd a lot about sophomores. I am new to this website… so far I love this website! I’m betting tomorrow it will be personalities disorders. Thank you.
Very cool, Jenna, we’re so glad you’re here! Welcome to Wonderopolis! We are glad you learned something new today and you’re guessing tomorrow’s Wonder, too! Nice work– keep it up!
This is an awesome video wonderopolis! There are lots of intelligent kids in that class.
Y’all rock!!!!!
Hey there, Grace! We are so glad you enjoyed our sophomore Wonder today! We Wonder if your class is similar to the class in the video? We bet you have a classroom full of intelligent and WONDERful students, too! Thanks for making us smile, Grace!
Hi wonderoplis, I love your website it is awesome! I loved your video today! I am one of the super sleuths!
We’re so glad you are WONDERing with us today, Jayd! It always makes us smile when the Super Sleuths share a WONDERful comment! We hope you’re having a WONDERful Wednesday and we hope to see you soon!
We sent a message earlier, but for some reason it did not go through. We enjoyed reading about sophomores. We learned things that we did not know about why sophomores became known to be sophomores. Some of us have relatives that are sophomores in high school. The seniors are like the 8th graders at our school that are the oldest students in the school.
We think that tomorrow’s question will be: How are banana splits made?
We enjoy learning new things.
We’re sorry we didn’t receive your Wonder comment until now, Mrs. Coleman’s Class! We’re so happy you liked WONDERing about sophomores with us today– it sounds like some of our Wonder Friends have a connection to sophomores already! We like how you compared the 8th graders in your school to the seniors in high school. We Wonder if consider yourselves to be a part of the freshmen, sophomore, or junior year class in your school?
Thanks for sharing your awesome Wonder guess with us– a banana split sounds delicious!
Actually, I know a lot of sophomores. For the most part, they’re all nice.
We’re happy to hear that you know some sophomore, Emily! We Wonder if you have older siblings, or perhaps you have some neighbors who are sophomores? It’s great to have an older friend to look up to and learn from!
We are some sophomores supporting 9 year old William! William will always be in heart of these sophomores.
From: Jessika,Nathan,Daniella,Paul,Alexis,Jeff,Ashley,Lucas,Sandy,and Jacky,Mallory,Lawrence,Amelia,and Cal.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Team William #45! We are thinking of William and hope he’s doing great!