At home, my family was also helping me learn. I remember my Nana taught my cousin and I how to spell our names using a song. Mine was "J-O-E-L-L-A, Joella, Joella" and my cousin's was the same except with her name.

At home, I began to use my writing skills with my family. I remember writing my mom notes saying things like "I love you," and leaving them for her to find around the house.

I used to love writing on the small chalkboard that I had in my playroom. Above is a message I wrote on that chalkboard!

Still, I loved when my family members read to me. My grandpa always had the best books!

In this grade my school also started a reading program called Lexia. I loved to read but I disliked this program so much. I used to dread doing it during the week and for homework.

In school, I loved studying for spelling tests throughout the week and doing them each Friday. I always tried my best on them and was ecstatic when I got the bonus words correct!

This is also when I started going back to my local library and checking out books. I could have spent hours looking through each aisle to find what I wanted. I remember picking out a book from the Smile Series and going back for the next book right after finishing one.

I started to really enjoy doing projects and using platforms like Google Slides to write about what I was learning.

During this time, my little sister was learning to read. This is where I started to love teaching because I was able to help her learn literacy skills.

However, the pandemic gave me a lot of time at home, so I had time to really get into reading and analyzing my Bible. I got a brand new pink one that I still use to this day. I used special highlighters made for the Bible and kept a notebook for writing what I learned, and my prayers.

At home, I began to keep a journal that I wrote in each day. This was my favorite way to write, and it allowed me to reflect on my emotions. From this point, I started making a journal for each year of my life and keeping them stored in my closet.

In English 100, we had to write essays in MLA format, in American History, we had to write essays in APA format. Being in these classes helped familiarize me with college writing and reading. I remember analyzing Macbeth for my English 100 class and a few people in the class each reading a part in the play.

At home, I started to read using my Amazon Kindle app. It introduced me to a ton of novels, and I began to love the mystery/thriller category. My favorite author was, and still is, Frieda McFadden. I also loved "The Summer I Turned Pretty" by Jenny Han, especially because of the show.

I was not taking any English classes, so I read a lot using my Kindle app. I went through a different book every few days, sometimes in a single day. The thriller category continues to be my favorite because I love to find out who the culprit was and being on the edge of my seat as I read. The books filled with twists and turns are my favorites.

In that class, I am placed in a 3rd grade classroom. Many of the students are below-grade level, and I get to help that group of students during phonics groups. I really enjoy teaching literacy and helping those students develop those skills. I am seeing improvement with each week, so it is a very rewarding experience.

Since I am in 3 English classes, I do not read much outside of school, but I really enjoy the books I am reading and what I am writing about it each class.