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A baby was born in July on a hot summer day. Both of her parents knew the importance of education...her mother- a teacher and her father- a rocket scientist. They named her Jill so she would be able to spell her name at an early age. She spent almost every moment with a mother who talked to her like she was a 'big girl' and a father who loved to read her stories. Her room was filled with books and her life was filled with adventures. This is her reading story. -
One of my earliest memories is my father reading Dr. Seuss to me before bedtime. We would laugh with about hopping on Pop, he would teach me the alphabet with Seuss' ABCs, and he would read stories aloud in dialect. I loved listening to the voices of different characters and the repetition of Seuss. My father showed me that reading was an important part of life. -
The first book I read all by myself was a book my dad had read to me multiple times. I started 'reading' at the age of 3. I remember my dad telling me that my grandfather loved to put me on his lap to read to him. He would tell everyone that he knew that I could read. I still have this book in my office to remind me the importance of lap reading and reading a book to kindergartners over and over again! -
My mother enrolled me in the Dr. Seuss Book Club when I was four. I still remember the excitement of getting a new book every month! I still have many of my favorites. I believe my early exposure to books turned me into the educator I am today. -
The time spent watching Mr. Rogers, Captain Kangaroo, Sesame Street, and Schoolhouse Rock all influenced me as a reader when I was young. Sesame Street started when I was 2, and I am still enamored with many of its characters. All of these shows made me want to learn more and more. As an educator I often tell people that I am heavily influenced by Mr. Rogers, Jim Henson, Capt. Kangaroo, Mary Poppins, and Maria Von Trapp- all heroes to me as I was growing up. -
My dad would make up stories and tell us about a cookie monster that lived on an island and stole cookies, Kathy & Donald and their adventures with ghosts, and a little cuckoo bird who flew off on a journey only to miss the clockmaker and return to find out he had passed on. These stories molded my character as well as made me love the spoken word! They also helped me understand the importance of imagination! -
I remember my mother always saying she never denied us a book or a marker even though we may not have had a lot of money. I told her before she passed away how much I truly appreciated that! I remember bringing home the Scholastic Book Club orders. My mother never said no. To this day I have a children's library in my house filled with over 1500 books. -
My mother took my sisters and I to the Braswell library every few weeks. I remember checking out 20+ books and wishing I could check out more! I loved Frances Hogden Burnett books and read through the entire Frank Baum Oz collection. I remember going to Fiction A and choosing books shelf by shelf. I am not sure I made it to Fiction Z, but I know I went through rows and rows of shelves. My mother said my late fees built the new wing. -
I remember being in 4th/5th grade listening to my teacher reading aloud. It was powerful and emotional and helped shape me as an educator. Not only did this teacher model reading for us, but she also helped expand my interests introducing me to genres I might not have explored. I am an advocate for reading aloud to ALL students and LOVE reading aloud now to anyone who will listen. -
As a teenager I was very involved in church and also loved to read. I remember reading the Chronicles of Narnia the first time and loving the fantasy plots when I was about 11. I re-read them as an older teenager after learning that the books are actually allegories. This was the first time I realized that books can be different experiences at different ages. It made me appreciate books even more! -
In high school I became totally obsessed with S. E. Hinton and read The Outsiders 20+ times. I loved the time period, the plot, and of course the heartthrob characterization of the stars in the book. I also remember in middle and high school being introduced to the classics. In eighth grade I was obsessed with Romeo & Juliet and became a Dickens fan in 9th. Rebecca by Daphne de Maurier was a favorite read aloud by my 8th grade teacher Glinda Cook. She called the main character Toodles. -
After high school I was still a reader, but time changed the amount I read. I do not remember reading much in college, but what was required until I found sci-fi. I was a Star Wars baby in 1977, so when the series of books hit the shelves, I was hooked. I read from Cloud City to Dathomir to the lower levels of Coruscant. My favorite book was the journey of Princess Leia and Han Solo's courtship and how they overcame all of their obstacles and finally got married. -
In 1991 I knew there were others who understood. I remember the moment the Beast opened up the library to Belle. "No peeking...no peeking...NOW!" At this point I had collected hundreds of books. Picture books were my favorites! I remember telling my dad that the person with the most books wins when they get to heaven. I was becoming a teacher on the 13 year plan, so I read EVERYTHING! I was a Book Whisperer. (Title by Donalyn Miller) -
In 1997 I became a teacher! My talents came together in the classroom, and I decided that I must teach students to love reading as much as I did. Read alouds were daily along with S.T.A.R. reading time- Students' Time for All to Read! One of my favorite memories is reading Edward Tulane aloud, and my students begging for more. Dim the lights, allow students to get comfortable, and they went away on a magical journey with me. I LOVED it! -
I LOVE bookstores! My mother loved to go shopping with me, but she refused to go to the bookstore with me. I get lost. So I happened upon several teacher friends who were readers and our bookstore visits began. We started a 'book club' and gave recommendations, shared books, and challenged each other to read. It was fabulous while it lasted. I found so many classroom titles to love. I talked to one of those friends the other day and recommended a series. She loved it! -
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I loved teaching, and it showed to my principal! I never thought I would move out of the classroom, but she had other plans. I became the IB/RTI Coordinator and eventually the Drama teacher. I used reading to teach confidence, expression, and voice along with character traits like being caring, principled, and a risk taker. This new role helped me find more books to love and gave me the ability to share my love & knowledge of books with teachers. -
I started directing shows for students right after I started teaching. When I moved to help open SRE in 2005, I started a drama program for 2nd & 3rd graders. I had been writing some songs and modifying plays when I needed more characters, didn't like lines, etc. (These plays were not copyrighted. :) I love the story about Virginia and her newspaper question. When I didn't find a play about the subject, I decided to write one. Now most of our plays are based on books! -
In a case of interesting circumstances my educator's journey led me to the library. I should not be surprised as the librarian at the time had been telling me for years that the library is where I belong. I decided right away that my job was simple...to awake the magic of reading in every student at Sawyer Road. Story Time even in COVID times was filled with new characters, favorite books, and finding ourselves as readers. My favorite quote- "Miss Baker, you are the best reader ever!" -
I read picture books, chapter books, book reviews, & encourage students to give me recommendations. I love buying books! I love the squeals of the little red headed girl as she realizes I ordered the series she recommended or the young men gathered around the new Pokemon series they requested in awe that it is actually here. I love reading the graphic novel to make sure it is appropriate. And I still love Story Time- giving the love of reading to others! I think I will do this forever!