Late Bloomer

I remember being in a reading class in elementary school.  That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about being exposed to reading and writing.  I have to push my thoughts way back because I am an older returning student and it has been a very long time since I was in elementary school.  My teachers name was Mrs. Robin and she had us keep a journal.  We were allowed to write about anything we wanted to in our journals.  I can’t really remember anything specific that I wrote in my journal, but I do remember the feeling of freedom I had to say whatever I wanted when I was writing in that journal.

Reading at first did not give me that same joyous feeling.  I remember I wanted to see the movie Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in the worst way.  That was back in 1977 and I was nine years old.  My Father told me that he would not take me to see the movie unless I read the novel.  I remember this being horrible for me because I really struggled through the text.  As a nine year old I just wasn’t interested in reading what I thought was complicated science fiction.  I just wanted to see the cool images and characters on the big screen, but I did finish the book and got to see the movie.  Reading was a real struggle for me during my childhood.  I have always been a slow reader and my teachers held me back because of it.  They gave me the impression that I wasn’t a good reader and I guess I internalized what they told me.  It wasn’t until I read a book called The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis that I realized I could actually enjoy reading.  For the first time in my young life I couldn’t put down a book until I finished it.  From that moment on reading became more personal for me and I didn’t care what my teachers said.  I knew I could read.  Looking back on it now I see how being interested in what I was reading and being able to take the time to really delve into the text is what helped me become a better reader. 

I took a few community college classes after graduating high school, but always dropped out.  I really did not have the focus or interest back then.  It wasn’t until sixteen years after high school that I found myself back in community college again.  I went to Japan to visit a lady friend of mine and became enamored with her culture.  I went to my counselor and told her of my interest in earning the credits necessary to transfer to a four year university and major in Asian Studies.  All of a sudden I found myself reading and writing in school again.  Only this time the experience was different.  I was writing freely like I did in Mrs. Robins class and I was delving into the readings like I did with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe because I was truly interested in what I was doing. 

When I reflect on these past reading and writing experiences I think they will help me be a better teacher because I understand that every student learns differently.  Some students may read slower than others and I as an educator will be mindful of that fact.  I also realize it is important to give positive reinforcement to students so they can recognize their reading and writing abilities sooner.  And most important I will try to appeal to my students interests so they become passionate about reading and writing.