I can honestly say that I had never really given much thought to my own literacy journey. Going back in time to find out what that journey looked like was very complicated. I am taking some of my mother’s memories, mixing them with some of my own, and connecting the dots. To do that, I felt that I needed to share more than just my discoveries about my literacy journey, I also need to share some background information.
My mother and father were in a car accident when I was five years old. That accident ended my father’s life, and substantial injuries hospitalized my mother for somewhere around six months. During that time, my siblings and I lived with our grandparents in Sheboygan and that is where I began kindergarten. I have scattered memories …show more content…
I wouldn’t have known who she was, but she approached me and introduced herself. During that chance meeting, she told me that I still stood out in her memory because I was her first student that was unable to read, and she couldn’t figure out what my problem was. She said none of her methods worked with me (Pfeiffer, personal communication, date unknown). I evidently challenged her tried and true teaching styles, and it was the first time she had had to look for advice and different strategies. I remember her talking about how much ‘trouble’ I gave her, but I also remember her determined attitude. She was not willing to just say it was impossible. Unfortunately, I don’t remember all of what she did, but she talked about how difficult it had been for her to find time to work with me one on one. Based on what she said, I believe she had to focus on phonics instruction. Thanks to that meeting, I know I struggled in the early stages of literacy development.
So, at this point I can only speculate about what appears to be my initial struggle to read and most likely, to write. My family’s lifestyle was focused on outdoor activities, not reading and writing. I would have to say that it was a lack of encountering writing materials that lead to difficulties in reading, spelling, and writing. I believe that my grandparents second language also played a part in that difficulty. Hearing people talking with words and sounds that you don’t understand would be confusing to young
My mother and father were in a car accident when I was five years old. That accident ended my father’s life, and substantial injuries hospitalized my mother for somewhere around six months. During that time, my siblings and I lived with our grandparents in Sheboygan and that is where I began kindergarten. I have scattered memories …show more content…
I wouldn’t have known who she was, but she approached me and introduced herself. During that chance meeting, she told me that I still stood out in her memory because I was her first student that was unable to read, and she couldn’t figure out what my problem was. She said none of her methods worked with me (Pfeiffer, personal communication, date unknown). I evidently challenged her tried and true teaching styles, and it was the first time she had had to look for advice and different strategies. I remember her talking about how much ‘trouble’ I gave her, but I also remember her determined attitude. She was not willing to just say it was impossible. Unfortunately, I don’t remember all of what she did, but she talked about how difficult it had been for her to find time to work with me one on one. Based on what she said, I believe she had to focus on phonics instruction. Thanks to that meeting, I know I struggled in the early stages of literacy development.
So, at this point I can only speculate about what appears to be my initial struggle to read and most likely, to write. My family’s lifestyle was focused on outdoor activities, not reading and writing. I would have to say that it was a lack of encountering writing materials that lead to difficulties in reading, spelling, and writing. I believe that my grandparents second language also played a part in that difficulty. Hearing people talking with words and sounds that you don’t understand would be confusing to young