Hello, everyone. My name is Jeanna McIntyre. I teach first grade at Walkertown Elementary n Forsyth County. This is my fifth year in the classroom with first grade being the only grade I've ever taught. I just received my National Board Certification. (Yay!) My brain will be a bit exhausted for several years to come, I believe.
My earliest memories of literacy learning are based in kindergarten. I remember reading from the basal reader various Dick and Jane stories. I remember thinking that the children in the illustrations looked very much like my mom in pictures from when she was a little girl. "Round robin reading" was the practice used in all of my classes from kindergarten through elementary school. Reading, in the early years, was more like a job. I remember being very intimidated by the process and worrying that I would never learn to read. My love of reading came in third grade when my teacher read "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and "Fudge," both by Judy Blume, to our class. Until those books I never realized that reading could be fun. She is responsible for igniting my love of reading.
To be honest, I don't remember HOW I learned to write. Isn't that strange? Writing is one of the things I love the most in the classroom, but I couldn't tell you how I learned the process if writing. I recall participating in journal writing, which I LOVED, when I was in fourth grade. And I remember learning how to do research and write a term paper in junior high, but that is the only time I can recall being taught HOW to write.
I am a total bookworm. I would rather read a good book than watch a movie. Historical fiction is my favorite genre. I love to get lost in the story and feel like I'm watching it unfold. firsthand. (Right now I'm really interested in Tudor England. This is a total shock to me because English history has never really interested me. It's all in how the author weaves the story.) I've taken part in a few plays as an adult. I enjoyed participating, but felt a bit self-conscious trying to "get into character."
I'm most conformtable in my literacy expression through writing. I've always enjoyed writing. It's my favorite subject to teach to my first graders. This presents a challenge with young learners because I find myself wanting to take them so far in the writing process. This works really well with children who are performing on and above grade level, but presents a challenge to those who are struggling with grasping the writing process.
I look forward to reading about each of you. This class looks like it will be challenging, yet fun.