Literacy Events from K-12

There are a few events that I have experienced in my life that have influenced how I view literacy. One of these events was in the first grade. I had a teacher that I adored and looked up to immensely. She was someone who showed me how much fun literacy and reading could be, and I decided in the first grade that I wanted to be a teacher just like her when I grew up. We always did a lot of free writing in our journals in her class and she would read everything we wrote and comment on it. I loved being able to write about anything I wanted and looked forward to seeing what my teacher had to say about it. She always encouraged us and told us that any kind of reading or writing was beneficial and meaningful.

Another event that sticks out in my mind was in the 9th grade in my English class. I had a teacher that was pretty tough and expected a lot from us. When we read the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, it was the first time I had ever critically analyzed a book. I realized how engaging literature could be and that there are so many underlying meanings and factors that affect the way you can read a book. My knowledge of literacy has grown so much throughout the years, and I think it is very important to remember how much these teachers directly influenced me. I will strive as a teacher to create an environment in which my students will come to enjoy reading in the same way I did in the first grade. Although I know it is unlikely every one of my students will love to read, I hope to show my students that their own interests can be incorporated into reading and writing and hopefully they will realize how important literacy is in their lives.