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Literacy Vignette |
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Literacy Vignette |
| I do not remember reading much as a child. There was only one person in my family I can remember who read, all the time, and that person was my maternal grandmother. She always had a book in her hand and for the life of me I could not figure out why she loved it so much. As a student, I did my required reading assignments, but I never found the love for books that my grandmother always had. I often thought of how much time she spent reading and how she tried to get me to sit and read with her. Of course, I always declined; I had way too many other important things to do. However, I did eventually acquire a love for reading shortly after my first child was born. From the time my daughter was just a few months old, I would read to her every night before I put her to bed. It became our nighttime ritual. As time past she could not go to sleep with out me reading to her. I began to see how important this activity was to the both of us. The older she got the more we read and read. I saw my daughterÕs love for books blossom into something she not only cherished, but that would benefit her for the rest of her life. I began to truly see the advantages of being a reader and started to realize why my grandmother loved to read so much. I ask other about what books they enjoyed reading and what they liked about each book. After reading a few of my friends and families favorites, I was hooked. I could never have imaged that the simple act of reading to a child would develop my own love of reading. Now as a teacher, I want my students to experience the enjoy that reading can bring into their lives, no matter if it is reading a picture book to a child or reading a 600 page novel. Reading opens up the mind to so many possibilities and helps students expand their experience without having to leave the classroom. I want to convey to my students that reading does not have to be a chore, but it is a chance for them to take time for themselves and expand their minds and expose themselves to ideas, adventures and knowledge that they may not otherwise enjoy. Reading is a gateway to not only knowledge, but also excitement, entertainment, and fun. |