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Childhood Memories
When I was very young, just 3 or 4, I remember my mom reading to me every night when I would go to bed. She would pretend to be the character, using different voices and acting out parts. I loved reading with her. Sometimes we would read 10 books before I would finally fall asleep. I would dream of all the wonderful and fanciful places we read about. It started my love of reading. -
Reading with My Dad
My family had a cabin in Ruidoso, right on the river. One of my favorite times at the cabin was reading with my dad on the back porch. Our back parch was very large and covered. We would sit on the porch while it was raining, and read our books, feeling calm and happy listening to wonderful sound of the rain. My dad and I would also pack a book while hiking. We would sit at the top of what I thought was a very high mountain, and read our books together. -
Impactful Book
We read Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls in my fifth grade class. This book deeply impacted me. I really connected with the characters. This might have been the first sad book I ever read. I was devastated at the ending, but could not keep from rereading it. I read this book over and over. The only present I wanted for Christmas was a dog because of this book. My mom drew the line when I wanted to plant red ferns all over our back yard. -
Jurassic Discovery
As a 7th grader, we had an assignment to read a book and tell the summary as one of the main characters. I picked Jurassic Park because I loved the movie. This was the first book that I read that was also a movie. The book was so different than the movie. I could not believe it. Weren't they titled the same? I learned that movies are always different than the book, and the books are always better than movies. -
Teacher Trouble
I did not care for my high school english teacher. She was a very mean and unhappy person. Instead of encouraging and empowering students, she berated and belittled. I did not like one year of my high school english classes, because she taught all of them. I stopped reading at home during this time, unless I had to for her class. I found all reading much like punishment. -
High School Writing Horror
I have been an "A" student all my life. School up until High School was very easy. And most of High School was too, except reading and writing. Every paper I had to write my reading teacher, who was previously mentioned, was a C or a failing grade. My research paper final grade was a 72, even after many people proofing it. I was told I was a terrible writer, and I still to this day believe it. I hate to write anything, even emails, because I think I sound unintelligent. -
The Name Books
For our high school english class, we were required to read 1,000 pages a 6 weeks. My friend's and I started reading what we called the "Name Books." They were all books with girls names and with predictable plots and outcomes. But then I picked up Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. This book was very different. It had a dark plot line and a surprise and somewhat tragic ending. I loved it. I discovered it is better to read quality books that might take a little longer, than easy sub-par reads. -
Time Before Laptops
I made 3 "Bs" in college, and two of them were in my english classes. We had to write papers in class. This was a time before laptops, where you could not grammar or spell check. My professor repeatedly told me that my concepts and ideas were very good, however I could not spell and I had bad grammar, such as missing commas or changing tenses during the writing. I just squeaked by with a low B. It only confirmed that I am not a good writer. -
Fantasy Obsession
I became bedridden with my first son and had to stay with my grandmother. I was extremely disinterested in her TV shows, so my dad brought me the Lord of the Rings series. Even though I liked watching fantasy movies, I had never read a fantasy book. After about 50 pages, I was hooked; not just with Lord of the Rings series, but with all fantasy. From that moment on, I only read fantasy books for pleasure. If it doesn't have elves, dragons, or magic, I am probably not going to read it. -
Writing in Math
My first teaching job was in a third grade self-contained class. I did not do much writing in my class, because I hated it, and because I did not see the importance. I reluctantly attended a writing in math workshop and came to see my ignorance. Students need to write about what they have learned, steps they took to solve a problem, and reflect on mistakes or progress. They better internalize their learning this way. From that day on writing was an everyday occurrence in my class.
