My name is Ruth Ann Timmons. I graduated from UNC-Wilmington in December of 2000. This is my tenth year teaching kindergarten in Forsyth County. Since beginning the master’s program this past fall, I have not only learned a great deal but have excitedly put that new knowledge to work in my classroom.
As a child I remember my mom always had a book in her hand. She was my first example of the passion a reader can have for books. I loved being read to and was amazed that she could sit for hours engrossed in the pages that looked like hieroglyphics to me. I remember watching “The Letter People” in kindergarten and round robin reading in groups during first grade. I struggled as a beginning reader and not until around fifth grade when my grandmother gave me “The Baby-sitters Club” series did I find myself looking to books/reading for enjoyment. Writing was also a struggle for me in the classroom but something I enjoyed doing in my free time. I kept a journal throughout high school and used poetry as a way of working through the loss of several family members.
I don’t think I ever really loved reading until I began teaching. It is powerful to see the effect my excitement about a book or for an author can have on my students. Watching them discover the joy of reading is magical and has to be one of my favorite things about teaching kindergarten! It is also rewarding to work closely with parents, helping them understanding the vital steps and essential at-home practice needed to develop into a successful reader/writer.
Although this is my first online class, I am excited about the challenge and opportunity to learn with and from others through this medium.
Ruth Ann Timmons
Comments (1)
Hi Ruth,
I am Candy Kee. I remember really loving reading in grade 3 but my love grew tremendously in grade 4 with the introduction of Trixie Belden Mysteries. I finally finished collecting the entire set and read them over so many times that many had to be taped up on the binding. I still have my original set.In grade 5 I had a teacher that read aloud to us right after lunch. She was so good at this that scenes she described in the book came alive in our minds as if we were watching a movie. We all hated for her to put the book down for a History lesson. Sometimes if we really begged she would read about an hour for us. That in itself was a wonderful school memory. I feel read a loud can really foster a love of reading in our students.
Posted by candace kee | June 6, 2011 11:55 AM
Posted on June 6, 2011 11:55