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Emergent
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Emergent
As immigrants from the island of Jamaica, growing up in a society that gave you two choices: work or pay for your education, they were left with the only option many poor families were given and that was to work. Growing up in a household of 12 other siblings, my mom stopped her formal education in the 8th grade in order to help her mother take care of the household. Once married, she migrated to New York while pregnant with me. -
Emergent
Like most us of us, my parents may not be able to name the theory behind their choices in making literacy a part of their children's lives from birth, however, it was very evident in their choices that they believed "learning to read, like all human learning, begins at home" (Schwanenflugel, & Knapp, 2016, p. 1) -
Emergent
Trying to think back to my emergent years is a difficult task. As I try to recall what little pieces I do remember, I realize just how much literacy was a part of my life from birth. My father, who was a minister, was very intentional on reading God's Word. If it wasn't the reading of the Bible, it was my mother reciting prayers and night and throughout the day. Literacy was all around. -
Emergent
My mother was very determined to make reading apart of my life from the time I was born. Whether it was reading to me at nights or ordering a monthly book subscription, she made intentional choices to try to nurture a love for reading. As I think back, I cannot help but wonder if it was the lack of opportunity my parents had in their home country that drove their passion for reading and education as a whole. -
Beginning
Early childhood memories in school are often filled with spelling tests and the dreaded red pen. Luckily, I did pretty well on my tests so I guess I looked forward to them. -
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Beginning
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Beginning
As I continued throughout my school years, my parents' understanding of the importance of good reading habits continued to grow and shape what our household looked like throughout the school week. Throughout the school week we could only watch 30 minutes to an hour of tv a day (of course only after homework was completed). -
Beginning
During the time that we did not spend watching tv, we had to fill with other activities. My mother recalls my love for reading during these formative years. I would often spend my "extra time" reading some of my favorite books. One book that I consistently remember is Amazing Grace. -
Beginning
I can't tell you exactly what it was about Amazing Grace, but I just absolutely loved this book. Maybe it was my ability to see myself in Grace. Maybe it was her boldness. Her brown skin. Her bright eyes. Whatever it was, that book left an imprint on me. I loved it so much that more than two decades later I made sure my daughter was able to read about that same bold, bright-eyed Grace that I loved so many years ago. -
Beginning
I think 5th grade was one of my most memorable years as it relates to my literacy journey. I recall having to do a black history project for class. We had the opportunity to choose any important figure in Black History. I, of course, wanted to do Martin Luther King Jr. My mother refused to let me take "the easy way out". She wanted to choose someone that I did not know and one that I had to do much reading on. -
Beginning
This was my first introduction to the brilliant surgeon named Ben Carson. At the age of 11 I read a thick book entitled Gifted Hands. I wasn't appreciative of my mother for forcing me to reach such a challenging text back then but today I applaud her for insisting that I go beyond what was expected of me. -
Transitional
This stage of life proved to be transitional for me in more ways than one. This is the time that my mother recalls my love for reading dwindle. We moved from the only home I knew in Yonkers, New York to Stone Mountain, Georgia. Nothing felt familiar any more. I recall losing interest in many things and never being able to quite find my way back. -
Transitional/Adolescent
There is not much that I can recall during these times. I was a fairly good student. I did not have to put forth much effort and was never quite challenged to go beyond what I really needed to. If I was reading it was because I had to. It was no longer out of the sheer enjoyment of doing so. -
Adolescent
As I began high school, that became another difficult transition due to moving to another city in Georgia. I found myself in unfamiliar territory yet again. I was able to earn and maintain A's and continue doing exactly what I needed to do and not much more. I still could not find my joy for reading again, it was just no longer there. -
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Adult
My years in college, like most of us, contained a lot of reading. I read, for the most part, because I had to. It wasn't until about 2008 that I recall picking up my Bible and reading it significantly more. Reading my Bible and other pieces of work that related to it, such as Systematic Theology, brought a sense fulfillment and joy that no other work can ever bring. -
Adult
As I entered the classroom to teach my first group of students I found teaching reading very difficult and honestly quite daunting. I told my students that developing a love for reading was one of the most important things for them to do. How was I going to convince them if I could not convince myself? -
Adult- Teaching Today
If I were to be honest teaching reading is still difficult for me. I have always enjoyed teaching and learning math, so, when I considered going back to school to obtain my Master's degree , becoming a math major seemed like a no brainer. However, I felt like I owed my students more. I felt like I owed it to them to not only become a better teacher, but also to be a better student. I am determined to find my joy for reading again. I owe part of that determination to one author. -
Adult- Teaching Today
The pandemic forced us to do a lot of things. It forced me to pick up a book, "just because". At the height of the pandemic I read Donalyn Miller's, The Book Whisperer. That was the first time in years that I completed an entire book. I was inspired to read again and also to help students love to read. While I haven't quite made it to where I would like to be, I do have hope that I will enjoy reading again and teach my students to do the same and hopefully never let it go. -
Personal Connection Today
I cannot recall a time where I learned what an r-controlled vowel was nor the sound el made in certain words. What I do recall are the Saturday mornings my parents would wake my brother and I up to pray and read the Bible as a family. I remember the moments of going to the library and checking out books with my family. -
Personal Connection Today (2)
Schwanenflugel and Knapp (2016) define the sociocultural perspective as children not being shaped primarily by the formal instruction received in school, but by the meaningful, daily interactions they have prior to entering any school setting. Not only does this connect with me as a teacher, but also as a mother. I have alway held on to the perspective that my child's learning will and should start from home.