The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” is something that my family seems to live by. From since I remember, everything in my family has been a group effort. Mainly my aunt taught me how to read since she was home with me, but my mother also taught me. Everyone in my family used to read to me since I was born, my father, grandparents, my aunts and my cousins. My aunt used to read to me and teach me words from a young age, but I learned how to read at about 2 or 3. My aunt was and still is a very active reader. She used to read all the time and she still does. Then I was put into daycare where I further learned how to read by my teacher. I remember having a close bond with my teacher, Ms. Greene and the principal Mrs. Spencer. I truly believe that the bonds I held with these people helped me retain the information I needed to know.
When I was younger my aunt used to take me to the library every week. I used to read a lot and build my vocabulary. Due to this, I was advanced in my reading classes in elementary school. I remember when we used to get book baggies to borrow books from the school library. I used to be in the library so much that the librarian knew by name and eventually let me assist her in the library at lunch time and when I had a substitute teacher. I used to love reading, I would stay up past my bedtime reading books and get in trouble for that. The only person who used to understand was my aunt, but she still used to make me go to sleep so that I could wake up on time for school in the morning.
I used to read all the time by myself and with my aunt, so by the time I reached to the first grade my teacher recommended that I take the gifted and talented test. I passed it my first time and went straight through to eighth grade in the gifted and talented program. When taking the state test, I always got higher scores on my English exam and not the math. I always understood English more than math and that resulted in me having a vast vocabulary.
As I got older, I stopped reading in my free time as much as I used to. I only read books and texts that my teachers/school required. I still read now but I cannot remember that last time I picked up an actual book for my own personal benefit in this age of technology. All of my reading has been on a computer, phone or kindle. Now that I work with children, I guess you can say I read books all the time, since I am constantly reading to them and reading their worksheets to help them with their work. Without my family, I would not have made it this far with reading, so I thank them.
Ariel, there is so much I can say about this. It is delightful to read your experiences — the many people you mention, your aunt…
Yes, I think you are still “reading” now. You read to children and that is not to be discounted. I wonder: what books do you read to them? what authors write them and how do they like them? how do you like them? what is effective and what not? I even sort of want you to quote a bit from the books themselves.
overall I would say that this is a great start. It acknowledges people who have impacted your life.
One big suggestion: details.
Please tell us a little more beyond names of people where you can remaember them? nything of “texture” like where you were, location. The word “baggies” stood out to me, for instance. So specific.
Also, you might be more specific about what age you were…it seems you are organizing your story chronologically for now.