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In pre-k, we would read tons of stories, and it was my first introduction to libraries. After we would read these stories, we would have some kind of activity attached, such as drawing or painting. Some days, we would even have dress-up days associated with the book or show-and-tell days. -
In Kindergarten, I began checking out picture books from libraries and reading classics like No David, Dr. Seuss books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. My teacher would have story times with us with a puppet called Leo the lion, and he would read to us and ask us questions about the books we were reading. -
My teacher had a reading challenge for the class to participate in, and the reader who was the highest in reading books and proficiency got to have lunch with the teacher and talk about books. I won and had a really great conversation with her over lunch. She was my most supportive teacher, pushing me to pursue even higher by reading advanced books. At the end of the year, she gave me a Magic School Bus book that I have kept with me through the years. -
At this grade, I began reading chapter books. Junie B. Jones was my favorite, and I was introduced to new reading activities like popcorn reading and acting out plays. -
Third grade focused on class reading. We would pick out books individually at the library, but we also had a class book that we would read every day, with different ones each month. After each chapter, we would briefly discuss our thoughts and opinions. My favorite one was Holes by Louis Sachar. -
I was required to read a chapter book every month and write a book report on it. We also had a class reading that we read weekly and discussed. The class enjoyed the book Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. It was the first book with several preteen themes that was different from what we were used to reading. -
Reading was all about the classic young adult novels such as The Outsiders, The Lightning Thief, The Giver, and Everest. These books all shaped my love for reading about adventure and drama fiction. With each book, there was always a guided reading and a project to follow as a class. Sometimes we would collaborate with peers for activities.