Fundamental Review Comp
11 June 2013
Literacy Narrative
Has your teacher ever asked your what you first book you read was? What about when you first started writing? Well, it took a few minutes to jog back those old memories. However looking back now reading and writing have had a major impact on my life and the choices I have made. Here is the inside details of my reading and writing history.
Most elementary schools these days may not be teaching the things I learned when I attended school. For an example, I can remember when I was in first and second grade, we had to go on the computers and listen to Phoenix. We even had workbooks to complete! Phoenix is a great program that teaches you how to pronounce and sound out words, vowels, and to spell. (If you wasn’t an ornery kid like me), you probably would have learned to write as well. There were other ways of learning to read also, we would compete to see who could read the most books and get the highest lexile level. I remember the first book I read was the Junie B. Jones series. That series was about a second grader and her freinds and the day to day problems she faced like, picture day, she hated it because she had to wear a dress and the boys made fun of her for it. I enjoyed reading about her wacky days as a second grader.
Another great program that was in my elementary school was our summer reading program, the more books you read, the more candy and prizes you got on the first day back at school! It was very exciting to see who had read the most books. In fourth grade I read the entire Box Car Children series, and loved every bit of it. I really envied the technique level of mystery in their books. I think in the second and third grade is when I learned to write, I would practice all the time by writing my mom notes on this awesome Rocky and Bullwinkle notepad I had. “Aahhh”, memories, aren’t they great? When you reached a higher level in your Scholastics Reading Inventory, (this test you could take to reach more point after you read a book), you could get more points to buy things at the Book Fair. That’s where I had bought my Rocky and Bullwinkle notepad and writing set.
When I hit middle school, life changed for me. Mostly because it was the end of Rinky Dink Sports for me, I was now in the grade level that had try outs, eliminations, and greater competition. With my first year as a middle schooler, I tried out for cheerleading and volleyball, I loved playing sports. The bad thing about that is, I lost interest in reading. Only when it came time to the summer reading program did I pick up a book, and it was only because it was for a grade when school started again. My seventh grade year, I started track, and I absolutely loved it. I started reading more on the rides we took to meets and after practice. I enjoyed going to the library and reading Harry Potter series, Twilight Saga, any books on the Holocaust. I remember I wrote a book report on the Holocaust doctor, Joseph Mengele. Harry Potter was a great action packed book where he basically has to choose to be a good wizard and not fall into the dark side. It was the best series i have ever read, im a nerd for it. I even went to the Harry Potter Festivles! When i read Holocaust books i always get really sad because it reminds me of everything bad that happend to all the kids, babies, old people, and mostly twins. I did like the movie Shindlers List though, it was very moving and i can see why it was an award winning movie!
Another book I started reading was the Bible. The language was extremely hard to understand and it confused me. I eventually stopped reading it because I couldn’t understand what on earth they were saying. It wasn’t until I was a freshmen did I learn that the "old language", was a hard language to speak and understand without breaking the words down and finding the meanings. A site that really helped my ability to speak, write, and say new words was FreeRice.com. The website helps you learn, while donating rice to people in third world countries that really need food. There are 60 levels so far, I can only make it to level 32 before I either get tired of playing or just don’t know the word. They get really tough, so it makes you use your noggin'.
Now the next chapter in my life, High school! I was a freshman, new and nervous. I didn’t want to spend my time with my head in the books; I would rather cheer and run track with my friends. However, i did make time for reading, I really liked mystery books. The library was where i liked to spend my time. I really liked Romeo and Juliet, orignally it was just a project i had to do but then it turned into me actually liking it! I watched the movie, play, and read the book. Not only did i find Romeo admirable and determined, i thought Juliet was very couragous for giving her life for a Montague, even though it was forbbidin. Someting about forbbiden love and fueding families was just a great novel to read, william shakespear did a tremendous job. Even though i loved the books we read in high school, i didnt like my teacher, he was my brothers football coach and he was always expecting me to outshine him. We also read The Great Gatsby, i didnt actually read it but i watched the movie and read a summary of it and it was really good, i may just read it someday.
Finally now im in college, and i dont read that often. Unless its math notes, text messages, facebook posts, baby magazines or subtitles on the tv, i dont read. I do however read instructions for cooking, they never turn out right though. I havnt had to read books yet in class but i assume we will be writing and reading different things threwout our five weeks of school.
This is my reading history and to sum it all up: The books i mostly enjoy are fiction and mystery books. I cant descibe enough how much i love Harry Potter. Romance and scientific books turn me right into snooze-ville, i dont like reading them at all. Ways of learning that helped me progress was Phoneix, Free Rice, and Study Island. I do believe writing came easier for me, i always wrote notes to my freinds and mom. I think im a combination as a good writer and reader, if i dont know the material i might be a little hesataint on reading but im a really good writer i think. If i had to pick id chose to write rather then read because i can get my emotions and feeling out.