RES 5530: Race, Class, and Gender in Literacy Research (Spring 2009)

I enjoyed hearing Hicks’ reflection of her literacy experience as well as the stories of other working class girls. It is interesting to hear how much family influenced the reading lives of each person. It certainly made me reflect on my own experience. It seems I learned to read despite my family.

Growing up in rural Maine, hard work and independence is what mattered. I quickly learned to stack cord wood faster than my brothers and never to complain about my frozen fingers and toes. At home, my mom read dirty novels and we watched TV.

I can remember getting my first book at the school book fair in the second grade. It was called Benjamin and the Big Woods. I bought it with my own money and I read it every night for a year. I guess it must have helped me become a decent reader though, because in third grade, I was placed in the Blue Bird reading group. I loved reading the stories in our anthology where I found a whole new world into which I could escape! I also made a friend from a “rich” neighborhood. I loved visiting her house and was amazed to see magazines on the coffee table and shelves filled with books. Her mom smelled good, dressed pretty, and read “real” books. My friend gave me her hand-me-down clothes and her Nancy Drew books and I knew that I wanted to be just like her.

Although my literacy experience came from friends and school, the values I learned from my family, hard work and independence definitely helped me to achieve my goals. Eventually I became the first person in my family to get a college education. Looking back, I’m thankful for the people and the books that helped shape my thinking.

I know it’s important for me to remember that my students come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have lots of experience with literacy while others are just now getting their first taste. How exciting that I get an opportunity to introduce them to a whole new world!

Jayne Thompson