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Growing up in a house with 5 siblings there was never any room for extras. I never had a book of my own my entire childhood. My parents only spoke Spanish and there was never time or money for reading books. Sadly, I was never read to by anyone growing up. I learned to speak English watching Sesame Street.  Learning to read was another story.

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Check out our born in 1977 selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our party supplies shops.

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I went to a Catholic School in Kinsley, Kansas for my early elementary years and my teachers were Sister Mary Ann and Sister Francis, and boy did they run a tight ship. The most I remember from being at St. Nicholas was having to walk a block to a building where I worked on learning to read, I was in the 2nd grade. I do not remember a particular book that I read or even visiting a library until I got to the 5th grade. The first books I really remember loving were Judy Blume books. I learned a lot about adolescence and just a joy I had of reading. We did not visit the library when we were at Catholic school, instead we had a library area in the classroom. I was the kid who hung their head low when reading was being discussed. Once I learned how to read I could not stop. This was probably not until the 5th grade. I remember reading at night with a flashlight Most the books I read were books my sister had bought at garage sales and sneaking away to read discreetly to reach and visit ALL THE FAR AWAY LANDS.

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These next years really added to my experiences with reading.   My sister is 8 years older than me and I relied on her finding books that may or may NOT have been appropriate for me to read. I read in the dark so much I ended up with glasses my 6th-grade year. Reading books was my escape from my life. It was windows into other worlds about kids and families that were more normal than mine. I desperately wanted to be like others and go on family vacations to places other than going to Mexico to visit family. This is when I knew that reading would give me experiences that I was never able to have. I read mostly realistic fiction, but most of the time it would depend on what books we would find at garage sales. Flowers in the Attic, Steven King Novels, and Judy Blume were a few of my favorite. I also remember my sister-in-law in the 5th grade had Reader's Digest Magazines that I LOVED to read.

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The college years brought a ton of COLLEGE BOOKS. There was no time to read for pleasure aside from the subscriptions to magazines. I watched a TON of television shows and movies to help get through homework and a new lifestyle. Keeping up with the sitcom conversations was the main reason for watching sitcoms, especially 90210 and Melrose Place. Educational reading was a love/hate relationship.

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Professional Teaching Career to Present: 2000- 2021

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Professional Teaching Career to Present: 2000- 2021

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As I have traveled into the world of education and creating lessons for students, I immediately fell in love with picture books. Every time I read a book I add a costume or prop to dramatize the book. A few of my favorites were the Diary of a Fly, or Diary of a Worm, I dressed up as those characters and even middle school students love to see your excitement with costumes. Even though my professional career deals more with picture books, I still love to read any genre. My all-time favorite is YA books because they are easy and quick reads that I can share with my students. One way I plan on sharing the books I have read will be to create book trailers or tastings to get students excited about reading.  Next rewind to 6 years ago, I became an ESL because I wanted to advocate for kids like me. Students who never saw themselves in books or shared the same issues and family dynamics. Diversity is a very dear subject in my core and what lead me to begin my journey as a librarian!

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Do NOT Bring Your Dragon to the Library by Julie Gassman is a picture book I read this week to my student as an intro to our library orientation. I am in my 1st year as a librarian and nothing prepares you more than just being baptized by fire! My first classes with kids was beyond what I had imagine. My plan is to read MANGA books because my kids have devoured them. I am almost afraid I will not have enough books for them. I know my new position was meant to be and I strive to be like Dr. Lesesne and her ability to remember books by memory, inspire others to read and be a reading ladder for kiddos.