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Textual lineage is “a reading and writing autobiography which shows that who you are is in part developed through the stories and information you’ve experienced”. Textual lineage is important because these books connect to our lives, helps us understand ourselves and others, and creates a roadmap for where we want to go.

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Growing up, I loved reading. Every summer throughout elementary school I would read every book on the summer reading list. Reading was a way to escape and enter a magical world where fantasy and all things fiction became real. But, as the books soon became more of the teachers choice rather than the students, reading became more of a chore than an enjoyable activity. Accelerated Reader (AR) was pushed so hard at my elementary/middle school by the teachers that it all became about who had the most points. If you were friends with the students who read the Twilight or Harry Potter series, often times a student would login to their own AR profile and their friend who read the longer books would take the tests for them. Reading soon became more of something we just wanted to be done with.
When eventually I did like reading again, I had no time for it. The only time I had to read was during the summers when I had no school work. And that is where I am today. I like reading when it is my choice of book, but I hate reading when it is an article or textbook for class. Most of the time they're not interesting and I end up skimming them rather than actually reading it. Also, being in college, I literally have no extra time to read for fun. Juggling classes, work, personal life and free time is tough and as of late, reading for fun has been the least of my priorities.

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What sticks out to you about your reading experiences in school?

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What sticks out to you about your reading experiences in school?

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I was always looked at as a good reader in school. I was able to read grade level books much higher than my own and always excelled in the Reading EOG's. Although I liked reading and was considered good at it, when it came to reading passages and answering questions, I always felt that was my weakness because I wasn't the fastest reader. Even to this day, when I read, if I rush through it, it's hard for me to recall what I read. Especially if I have something on my mind other than the book or article I'm reading, if my minds not in it, I can read for hours and not know a thing about what I read. I have always struggled with this and keeping my mind interested in what I have to read. Because of this, it sometimes takes me multiple times reading a section of a book just to understand it.

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I read for school every day. Wether it be a small amount or a large amount, I am always reading something for school; most of the time it being a chore. Outside of me reading my Bible as often and as much as I can, I haven't read a book for fun since junior or senior year of high school; 5-4 years ago.

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Do you only read for school or do you also enjoy reading for fun?

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Do you only read for school or do you also enjoy reading for fun?

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Nowadays, I only have enough time to read for school. If I did have time though, I'm sure I would pick reading back up and start reading for fun again but in the meantime, it's all about school.

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I have very fond memories of reading as a child. I loved reading because it was always an except for me. A place where anything was possible. Some of my favorite books to read in elementary school was the Magic Tree House Series. I read every book and was upset when I finished them all. I also recall reading to my mother as a child. Not only did reading aloud 20 minutes a night help my reading, but I also loved the family bonding that it provided.

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Books that impacted your life (taught you something important, made you love reading)

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Books that impacted your life (taught you something important, made you love reading)

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Throughout late middle school and high school, I had a friend who was facing depression and serious obstacles in their life. Because of this, I really go into the Ellen Hopkins books. I read every book that she wrote all of which dealt with the serious topics of mental illness, depression, drugs and so fourth. These books really made me love reading and impacted my life in the aspect of wanting to help whose who go through these situations in which she wrote about. After I finished reading the Ellen Hopkins books, I continued with the genre of young adult fiction dealing with the themes of mental illness, depression, drugs and alcohol, love and sadness. This sparked an interest in me to study psychology and become a psychologist in order to help others. I started out with psychology in college but ultimately found out that my calling was elementary education. All in all, reading the Ellen Hopkins book sparked something in me for caring for others. Psychology and mental illness is still something that I have an interest in and I believe that is because of reading.

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How have all of your experiences with reading helped you get to where you are today?

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How have all of your experiences with reading helped you get to where you are today?

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I think that my experience with reading has really helped shape who I am. Reading has helped me both academically and personally. As stated above, personally, reading really helped me identify interests in my life and academically, I would never be in the Elementary Ed Program at Appalachian State without it.