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Started kindergarten
When I was 4, I started kindergarten. I didn't turn 5 until a month in to school, therefore, I grew up as "the young one". I knew how to read when I entered kindergarten but it was not required. I liked to read books over and over until I memorized them. -
I read the whole book...but what was it about?
Soon into kindergarten, it was brought to my attention that although I could read wonderfully, I wasn't comprehending what I was reading. My sister used to sit me down with Dick and Jane workbooks. We'd read the stories together and then answer the questions in the back. My comprehnesion skills inproved tremndously. Looking back, I find it odd I wasn't getting help at school with this, but then remember reading wasn't required back then in kindergarten. -
Sweet Pickles
I recieved the Sweet Pickles reading set. I LOVED these books and even have some of them still. The series focused on 26 animals (each one with a corresponding letter to the alphabet) who lived in the same town. The book endpapers would show all the animals on the front and the town map on the back. These books presented each animal in a "pickle" based on human like character traits. -
I'm the littlest sister...
I am the youngest of three girls and since my older sisters were reading chapter books like The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High, I wanted to also. Instead, my mom got me Babysitter's Little Sister. I was hesitant at first but ended up loving reading about Karen's adventures in each book. I still have books 1-87 to share with my daughter. -
The Westing Game
In fifth grade. our teachewr started a whole unit based on the book The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This book brings 16 unlikely people together after a rich man dies. They all have to play the "game" in order to find out who inherits his millions. This book remains one of my favorite reads today. -
The blurry years...
Looking back, I can't really remember what books we read in middle school. Obviously they didn't impact me too much or I'd remember. I know outside of school I still enjoyed reading RL Stine books (before they were Goosebumps). I remember reading The Cay sometime in middle school, but I can't remember if it was 7th or 8th grade. -
3.5 years of High School
I graduated high school a semster early from Cimarron Memorial High School in Vegas. My graduating class was over 900 students. Throughout high school, I remember reading classics like Shakespeare, Animal Farm, The Old Man and the Sea, The Outsiders, and The Scarlet Letter. I am glad I was required to read these books because I probably otherwise wouldn't have. It does make me consider if my classroom will have required books or choose your own or both? -
UNLV Cohort Program
Seedfolks was required for me to read from one of my insturctors at UNLV when I first was trying to obtain my teaching degree over 10 years ago. Seedfolks follows various people, all from different cutural/ethnic backgrounds, who all live on the same street in Ohio. Even though it is a children's novel, the book teaches leesons many adults can benfit from today. -
Gavin Monroe Olson
When my son was born, I fell in love with children's picture books all over again. I currently house a small library of picture books that I still read to my kids. I made reading a very big part of my kids' lives and it shows in them today. Some of our favorite authors included Mercer Mayer, Stan & Jan Berenstain, Kevin Henkes, Eric Carle, Doreen Cronin...I could go on forever! -
Emily Marie Olson
The first thing my 3 year old did when he brought his little baby sister home from the hospital was read her a story. I told him she was going to lay down to sleep for a bit and he grabbed a book and made sure she was sent off to dreamland with a story. Reading is not only important in leanring, but reading brings people together. -
And here I am...
Most of the reading I do currently is from books required for school. Between the text book readings, the professional articles, research, and required novels, I am not left with a lot of free reading time. I do, however, really enjoy the stacks of picture books I borrow weekly from the library for my Children's Lit class. I still read to and /or with my children and look forward to tackling the stack of "fun" reads waiting for me this summer.
