-
I was born into an educated family that placed top priority on education. My grandmother was an English Literature Lecturer in India and my mother had a masters in English Literature as well.
-
I have very early memories of sitting in the grocery cart and my mother buying story books for me (instead of candy) during our weekly grocery trips. I read those books for years, and I think my mom still has them at home for her grandchildren.
-
I remember being a fluent reader in kindergarten. In class, we were learning to write the alphabet (one letter a week). I remember the teacher getting annoyed that I would only write my name in all capital letters. But I didn't know how to write the lowercase letters.
-
I remember learning phonics in first grade in Georgia. We actually would learn terms like diphthongs, how to divide words into syllables, and mark the words with phonics symbols. I never did it any other grades, but I know that's how I learned to interpret the pronunciation of words in dictionary entries. I learned it in first grade.
-
I also began enjoying writing stories, and I remember the teacher enjoying reading them. I wrote a story using a writing prompt and used the phrase "the teacher snapped" and my teacher got such a kick out me using saying. I didn't realize that maybe that's not a common word for a second grader to use in writing, but maybe because I read a lot it came naturally to me.
-
In second grade, I remember my teacher evaluating my reading level and she told me I was reading on a fourth grade level. I was so proud of that.
-
At my elementary school, we had reading groups based on reading levels. I was always in the highest reading level. Everyone always knew who the smartest kids in the class were based on this. In fourth grade, I got moved to the middle group. I never understood why that happened, but I always felt like it was not right.
-
We had a course in middle school called "Applied Research" where they taught us study, research, and writing skills. They taught us the "keyhole" strategy for organizing our essay writing. I used that strategy throughout middle and high school, undergraduate school, and graduate school. It has not failed me yet. I teach it to my students now.
-
In high school, I took a couple of creative writing classes. The teacher was so kind and encouraging and believed that everyone had a writer in them. I have still held on to all of the writing I did in that class.
-
I didn't get into Harry Potter until after I was married. I think it was the first series that I actually kept track of when the next book would come out and go straight to store the day of its release. I bonded with one of my husband's cousins over this series. I found this series to be a great way to relate to my students (fourth/fifth grade) because they all have either read the books and/or watched the movies. I can connect so many reading standards to it.
