Literacy History

    Thinking back to my earliest experiences of becoming literate, the first thing that comes to my mind is the poster that was hung in my elementary classroom, "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader." I was introduced to literacy before entering public school, but that is the first memory that I can recall feeling what the importance of becoming a reader can hold. Before that moment, books were stories about fictional places and characters. The written word didn't seem to carry much weight for me yet. I was read to from my parents and family members from picture books as a young child. I would get to hold the book, scan the text, admire the pictures, and turn the pages. I seemed to always have an interest and enjoyed being read to. I remember feeling proud the first time I completed reading a Dr. Seuss book from start to finish independently. My parents were on either side of me, encouraging me throughout the book, helping me to sound out the fictional words and phrases. That feeling of pride significantly impacted my literacy development. Once I saw I was capable of reading and comprehending the written word, I wanted more. 

    I began to feel literate when I was in the first grade, so about six years old. I liked to write and I used to keep diaries, where I would write what happened that day and things that I did. There was this game that I used to play with my grandmother when I was very young and we were traveling in the car. It was about the time when I was learning to read and spell and I would spell out the passing street signs and she would have to tell me the word that I spelled. That would keep me entertained for the duration of a long car ride! When I didn't have any more street signs to spell, my grandmother and I would make up stories. From characters, to settings, and complex plots, any time we got in the car together I would beg her to finish the story. I feel like that was a crucial moment to my literary development because not only was I beginning to value the written word, but I was also finding value in oral storytelling. 

    I would get frustrated with words that I couldn't pronounce or understand. My role models were my mother, my father, and my grandmother. They all supported and encouraged my emerging literacy. My father would let me read to him, my grandmother would purchase me chapter books, and my mother would play word and spelling games with me.  I feel that literacy is the cornerstone to society. I feel that it is crucial in every day life and that the ability of being literate is a fundamental human right. Literacy enriches an individual's life. 

    I use literacy in my personal life by being an avid reader. I can get lost in a book for hours and I think it is because I understood the importance of books and was always encouraged to read. I get fulfillment and enjoyment from being literate. I currently work in an educational setting so I get to share my love for literacy with the students I serve, and hopefully encourage them to find the same within their emerging skills. I am intrinsically motivated to further my literacy development. I like to challenge myself with reading new materials and exposing myself to new ideas and ways of thinking. I was interested in taking this class to expand my critical thinking skills, become a better reader and writer, and explore new literary works.