Early Literacy

During elementary school, I remember reading Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin, Goosebumps by R.L. Stine, Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy, and non-fiction and fiction books about animals. I know I have was read children’s literature when I was younger, but unfortunately I don’t remember. I did not really know much about children’s literature when I was in school. I would not pick a book up to read on my own. I just remember reading books that I had to read. Throughout elementary school I was a below-average reader between third through fifth grade. During these grade levels there was a low reading level, two normal reading levels, and a high reading level group. In all three grades, I was in the lowest reading group. This had a negative affect on me and I feel I did not benefit from this. Throughout middle school and high school I absolutely hated to read. Until this day I continue to struggle with reading. As a result of my negative experience, I had a low self-esteem from being in the low reading group and felt ashamed that all of my friends were in higher levels of reading than I was. After taking this course I enjoy reading more. I appreciate children’s literature more now, then I did when I was younger. I remember reading only a handful of books during my childhood. I feel that if I was exposed to more literature I would have had a better vocabulary then I do now.