Hello everyone. My name is Sara Joyce and I am a first grade teacher at Walnut Cove Elementary School in Stokes County. I graduated from Lees-McRae College and am currently doing graduate work for a Masters in Reading.
My earliest memories of literacy learning are my Kindergarten years. I remember learning the alphabet, songs and rhymes. I learned to read along with most first graders of that time through the Dick and Jane series. I do not remember being interested in reading until fourth grade. That year I was introduced to biographies. I couldn't get enough of them and read every one in our school library. I was most interested in famous women. That summer I received my first library card from the public l ibrary and my mother carted me back and forth so that I could read more.
Later in my middle and high school years became enamoured with words and drama. The meaning of words and where they orignated was very interesting to me. My parents were very supportive of my interests and took me to many of the Little Theatre productions in Winston-Salem.
During my high school years I developed a love for the arts and participated in our high school musical through chorus and drama in both my junior and senior years. I learned alot about different accents and language through this experience.
I am still an avid reader and read constantly although I do not have as much time to read my choice of material since returning to school. I enjoy books that provoke thinking. I also enjoy an occasional mindless or what I call vacation read.
As a first grade teacher I have noticed that many of my students have very little conversation skills. I assume this is due to lack of communication in the home. They also have very little life experiences to pull from when we discuss topics in our class. Because of this mine is not a quiet classroom but is usually buzzing with talk between myself and the students or student to student. I feel that this benefits them as they glean knowledge about different areas from each other.
I look forward to this class and the discussions that will result from our reading. I look forward to learning from all of you.