My name is Susan Hines and I am currently an Exceptional Children’s Program Specialist. I graduated from ASU in 1983 with a BS in Special Education. As a child, I do not remember being read to by my parents, but I have vivid memories of several books that I read over and over….and over. I grew up in the day’s way before computers. We had a set of World Book encyclopedias that had a volume of nursery rhymes. Even though I don’t remember being read to, I do remember knowing and “reading” the nursery rhymes. I attended kindergarten (which was optional) when I was five years old. My memories of kindergarten were of making clay handprints, churning butter, and doing a butterfly dance. We did not learn our letters or sounds. This started in first grade (which was a half-day for the first nine-weeks). I remember learning each letter, one-by-one with an emphasis on letter formation. One of my favorite memories of first grade was when my reading group was circled around the teacher reading our “Dick and Jane” books. (Yes, I know that dates me). We were beginning a new story and there was a new name, that my teacher said only I would know. The new name was “Susan.” I was the star student that day!
I did have books at home. Dr. Seuss’ Go, Dog Go! was an early favorite. (I had that one memorized.) I still love that book! But, the one that I first read was Blaze, (a book about a horse). That book was the turning point for me. Thinking back, that must have been when the light bulb went on for me with reading. I was one of the lucky students who did not have difficulty learning to read, although I didn’t love reading.
I recall my older sister always having her nose in a book while I preferred my coloring books. As a young teen, reading still held no draw for me. My sister would loose herself in a book, and I thought I was missing something, but I just did not enjoy sitting alone with a book for hours. When I got in high school and was assigned books for English class, I finally found books that I read that made me think and made an impression on me. Reading has grown into a pastime that I love. I just can’t find enough time to read for pleasure.
Literacy has become a focus of my job as an educator. Part of my job is to be an instructional coach for the special education teachers in my schools for our literacy programs. I have served in this capacity for two years. Prior to that, I taught reading and writing to exceptional children, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade.
I began teaching with no knowledge of how to teach reading, children’s literature, or of reading development. I relied on grabbing materials and trying to pull together information, with some semblance of rhyme and reason. In the beginning of my career, there were not many materials for special education teachers. You often got discards and “left-overs” from regular education,… if you knew where to look. I was unprepared to teach reading and language arts to the students who needed the most effective instruction.
When I moved to an elementary school setting, I knew that I had to become skilled in literacy instruction or do my children a great disservice. I began to seek opportunities to educate myself. I began with participating in a training that was brought to our county through ASU. At that time it was called “First Steps.” After that, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be trained in the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching phonics, spelling, and phonemic awareness. This was the springboard for my understanding of reading instruction.
I continued to teach students with reading and language difficulties using the OG plan and strategies. I also began to explore various programs that taught phonics, spelling and phonemic awareness. Over the course of several years I used and was trained in the following programs: Sonday Phonics, Wilson Reading, Letterland, and. Language! I have also participated in Reading Foundations training (National Reading Panel). I have been a member of and attended state and national conferences for the International Dyslexia Association. Even with these trainings, I still feel I need a better understanding of how children learn to read and the factors that help or hinder their ability to learn to read, write and communicate. I began this Master’s Program last summer. I am truly enjoying my classes and now describe myself as a “reading nerd.”
Susan Hines