This post was inspired by Kevin, who was inspired by Franki. (I found myself nodding, “me, too!” as I read Franki’s list.) I was inspired so much, that I actually began this post in the morning. With my coffee. When I should have been getting ready for work! (My friend, Tracy, did the same thing!) I decided not to put a number in my title, because I didn’t know how far I’d get.
- I don’t remember learning to read, I just remember reading. (I seem to always put this first whenever I do any sort of “Me as a Reader” activity.)
- I do remember Dick and Jane, Sally, Spot and Puff.
- I remember my mom telling me I taught my sister to read; I don’t know if that is true.
- I remember losing myself in books, and in my mind, I was usually the protagonist.
- I remember my mom taking us to the library. A lot. Wherever we lived. (We moved several times during my elementary years.)
- Round robin reading was painful for me. I had no patience for word-by-word readers and I would always read ahead. And then get in trouble for not knowing where to read when it was my turn.
- I was always in the highest reading group. Until 6th grade. And I remember being so disappointed, trying so hard, and wanting so badly to get in the top group. I hated 6th grade.
- As an adolescent, I lived a few blocks from the Mt. Clemens Public Library, and would spend many hot summer days reading the day away in the cool AC of the children’s room.
- I went on reading binges. When I found an author or series I liked, I wanted to read ALL of the books.
- I loved Nancy Drew.
- I read the entire Little House series in 2 weeks. When I was 11.
- In high school, I often had a book inside of my textbook.
- When I went to college, there was so much I had to read, that reading was one of the last things I chose for recreation. 🙁
- But, I did read the entire Chronicles of Narnia the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college.
- When I became a teacher, my recreational reading was children’s books.
- My all-time favorite book is The Secret Garden.
- It wasn’t until I became a teacher and started studying the teaching of writing that I understood why I loved the book–the craft of the author, Frances Hodgson Burnett.
- I have wonderful memories of my mother reading aloud to us, and doing all the voices.
- Reading aloud to students was one of my favorite things to do as a teacher.
- When I became a media center teacher, I loved being surrounded by books.
- It took me a whole summer to automate my library, because I kept reading all the books!
- I loved sharing my childhood favorites with students, helping them find “the book” that might hook them.
- When I came across a poster of all the Newberry Medal winners, I set a goal to read them all. I didn’t. 🙁
- The Breadwinner is a book that troubled me greatly. I had a chance to talk to a woman who left Afghanistan, and asked her how accurate the story was. She said real life was much worse. At that moment I recognized the power of story, and how important it is for certain stories to be told.
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is another book that moved, troubled, and angered me.
- The Harry Potter books brought back the thrill of “just one more chapter” and not being able to stop.
- I was in a book club, and loved having an excuse to read for fun.
- I need to find another book club. AFTER my dissertation is done and defended.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Great list, Linda! I saw Kevin’s list the other day too, and started my own on my blog. I haven’t posted it yet though! I’m going to have to steal a couple of yours!!
LeeAnn, I love how these lists are further connecting us as readers, writers, colleagues, & friends. Can’t wait to read yours!
Glad to see the list idea moving around. It’s fascinating to read other people’s reflections on them as readers.
Kevin
Great list, Linda 🙂 I can definitely identify with your number 6! Are all teachers readers, do you think?
Tracy, not all teachers, but most. I think many of us who became teachers were good at “school.” But you did give me an idea for a new post, maybe a new one to send around the edublogosphere: “Why I Became a Teacher.”
That’s a great idea! I wrote a similar post back in July but never got off the ground… maybe a during the school year one will fare better 🙂
http://leadingfromtheheart.org/2010/07/30/on-becoming-a-teacher/
I’ll have to take it up AD: After Defense (12/9/2010).
Here’s mine Linda! http://tiny.cc/4yalx