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Although I don’t personally remember it, my mom shared with me that in late 2001, when I was about one year old, my dad would write the alphabet and numbers on construction paper to teach me. He would have me repeat them after him, giving me some of my earliest experiences with literacy and learning.

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In kindergarten, I remember being tested on my reading skills with a book called Biscuit and the Cat. That was one of my earliest school experiences of reading on my own, and it gave me a sense of accomplishment to show what I had learned.

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Around the age of five or six, when I was in kindergarten, I remember receiving a LeapPad (by LeapFrog) as a Christmas gift. It came with books and an electronic pen that would read along with me as I followed the words on the page. My favorite book to use was Winnie the Pooh. This made reading feel fun and exciting, and it helped me connect stories with both sound and text. Of course that’s not me in the photo but it’s the same exact leap pad I had.

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By third grade, my literacy learning also expanded through technology. During specials, we had computer lab right before lunch, which quickly became my favorite part of the day. We were allowed to use programs like Starfall for phonics practice and PBS Kids, which made reading and word games both educational and entertaining.

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Having younger siblings we always ended up watching tv together. I remember watching tv with my younger brother an animated education cartoon called super why! Would come on. It focused on early literacy and reading skills. Introduces children to alphabets, spelling and vocabulary. It was interesting

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In third grade, I also discovered my love for independent reading when I got hooked on Judy Blume’s Freckle Juice. It was one of the first chapter books that really captured my attention, and it made me realize that reading could be both fun and engaging outside of school assignments.

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In fourth grade, I had a teacher named Ms. Joseph who placed a strong emphasis on spelling and sentence writing. She would have us write each of our spelling words four times, and every Wednesday we had to create sentences using those words. Looking back, I realize how much this routine strengthened my literacy skills and deepened my understanding of how to place words in meaningful sentences. We also had to become familiar with using the dictionary. My dad taught me how to use a dictionary

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At some point in school, I also remember reading the book Night, which is about the Holocaust. I don’t recall exactly what grade I was in, but I do remember being deeply interested because the events in the book were not just stories — they were real things that had happened in history. This was one of the first times I realized how powerful books could be in teaching about the world beyond my own experiences. History is also my favorite subject I fell in love in 9th grade

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Later on, I also read The Handmaid’s Tale. This book stood out to me because of its powerful themes about society, control, and resilience. It showed me how literature can raise questions about the world we live in and spark critical thinking, not just storytelling.

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In 12th grade, I read The Great Gatsby and also watched the film adaptation. I really enjoyed the theme of the story, and seeing it on screen helped me connect the book’s ideas about wealth, love, and the American Dream in a deeper way. This experience showed me how literature and film can complement one another in bringing themes to life.

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At my old job I did a lesson on “if you give a mouse a cookie” the kids loved it. We spoke about how the story mimics a cause and effect tale. I really loved this book because it teach that actions have consequences which is a really good thing to learn in kindergarten and maybe a little before. It also helped my students learn sequencing.

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In my adult years, I read The Let Them Theory , and it was the first book I truly enjoyed in a long time. It reignited my love for reading and inspired me to buy several more books to binge-read. This experience reminded me that a passion for literature can continue to grow, no matter your age. It also really challenged my thoughts and values as a adult when it comes to relationships, family and success

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This book Owl moon was the first book I used to discuss literacy. In class we would discuss how the book was written , the illustration and how it helps the reader understand what’s going on in the book. It was one of the many that really stood out to me because while reading i never really payed attention to specific details in the illustration and comparing it to how my interpretation would be different if no illustration existed.

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In my kindergarten class the students do phonics on a iPad using a system called I ready. Really engaging I help my student pronounce letter sounds. Super interesting to see all over again because I don’t recall any of my earliest memories on me doing phonics

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I recently joined a book club for fun and also because i recently got into reading again. I purchased the book “zip it: keep it shut 40 day challenge”