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I was Born - Signing Before Reading
I have no reading experience! I began to learn signs before I learn how to write. -
Toddler - Listening to Parents Read
My parents read picture books to me. Some books had textures I could touch. I remember loving Go, Dog, Go! Books like these had charming visuals and simple sentences. -
Pre-K - Learning the Basics
Pre-reading stage. I learned the Alphabet, but I couldn't quite read. Books like A House for Hermit Crab were my favorite. Again, I was mostly fascinated with the art style and simple story. I still reference these books to this day. -
Kindergarten - Simple Sentences
During Kindergarten, I began to learn the structure of basic sentences. This is the beginning of the early reading stage, where I began to write letters and combine words on paper. I also remember practicing lots of handwriting work, which I enjoyed. -
1st-2nd Grade - Pamphlets
I consider this era to be novice reading; I started to read short stories while also writing my own paragraphs. I also made paper pamphlets in class which sparked my imagination for telling stories with illustrations. -
3rd Grade - Decoding Excerpts
3rd grade is the first time I had to read complex excerpts from novels, while decoding their meanings and structure. I was largely intimidated with the prospect of reading from non-picture books. -
4th-5th Grade - Reading Novels
These years began my comprehensive reading. I remember greatly enjoying the Wayside School books. I cannot remember the names of the other novels I read, but it was a jump in difficulty. -
Middle School - Struggle with Shakespeare
Reading fluency. I began to struggle with reading during middle school, as we begin to read at a much higher level. I had to read Shakespeare, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was difficult having to decipher Shakespeare's writings. I believe I began to fall behind during these grade levels. -
High School - Fluency
Reading fluency, continued. I had a very nice English teacher during these years, who inspired me to read more. I began to read books on my own time. My classes focused on novels such as Things Fall Apart, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men, and many others. -
Current Era - Reading for Fun
I'm still improving my reading and writing skills. I began to read science fiction novels consistently, starting in high school. I love the Horus Heresy series, although I certainly can't recommend it for everyone.