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Being read to by Mother
Mom always read to me before bed or Dad would tell me a story that he made up and I would have to make one up too. Funny thing was that I always ended up making up stories that were exactly like my Dad's story with the names changed. Silly little girl. -
Reading Babysitters Club... Or Not
I remember being in competition with my friends in elementary school about reading the books to the babysitters club. I had so many of them, and I was telling my mother that I was reading them, but I really wasn't. I felt terrible once she found out. Like I was not smart and it made me very sad. -
Reading Mermaids Singing
This was the first novel that I read all the way through in one sitting. Before this book, I wasn't doing very much reading. I thought it wasn't fun, plus I was always slower than other kids at it. This book moved me. It was beautiful and inspirational and all that a novel should be. -
Being in 9th grade English
This was the year in school I realized that my reading had improved and that I was above most of the kids in my class. My need for more complex texts and writing was evident and I was given honor level classes the following year. -
11th grade English
Boy was this a time of change for me. I wasn't developed in my writing as much as I should have been to be in the class, but it was something I could work on. Reading on the other hand became something I was interested in doing more of. I loved the american literature I was reading and it made me fall in love with it. -
12th grade English
This was the all wonderful lovely Mrs. Tringali's class. She was cool, and open, and well read, and super smart. She made my last year of high school something to be on time for 1st period. I loved reading Shakespeare and old English. It was amazing. It was what eventually made me become an English major in college. -
Argumentative Writing 101
I can't recall the teacher's name... but this teacher taught me alllllll that I know about argumentative writing. This woman took a lost student and worked with her after class. She tore apart my papers, but explained to me where I was going wrong. She took the time to actually teach me. It was beautiful. And a huge part of my literacy today. -
Old English and Irish Literature
This is when I fell in love with my major. I was in the writing section of majors, but the literature classes were amazing. The teachers at Towson University didn't just help you understand the reading, but they helped you develop your own views on life and the world and love. It was something I would give a whole lot to experience again. -
Reading to Students
After college I was a waitress for a long time until I decided to go back to school to become a teacher. I got a job as a paraeducator and was placed with all kinds of students. My fondest of memories was reading Macbeth to students who had no interest in the play before I read to them. They really started loving it and getting into it as I did all the voices and explained all the text. It was wonderful to see studnets reading something that complex and actually enjoying thmeselves. -
Literacy in the Classroom: Science
When I got the chance to be a teacher, I wasn't going to let a little thing like not knowing anything about the topic take me down! It's funny how a girl with an English degree is now teaching Biology and Intro to Chem and Physics. But here I am. ANyway, my school's mission in to add literacy into our classes no matter the content. I have to say that this has made a huge difference. No longer do I hear... "I'm never going to use this!"