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

I think that we all forget that our own literacy histories are important and have a direct impact on how we teach. I remember the absolute joy I found in reading. Every summer I read like CRAZY because I wanted to fall deeply into the world of a book. I just loved being a part of the lives of the characters in my books and while I wanted to know the ending, I also did not want it to end! Lately I have found myself missing reading for pleasure, as much of my reading, while pleasurable has an academic purpose. So, I have started a book and when I have a moment or when I need to take a moment I read it and I remember why I always wanted to teach others to read.

When you mentioned that "What you wore on the first day of school determined the rest of the school year" my mind instantly flashed to a picture my mother has of me on my first day of kindergarten. I was living in Florida then, the land of tank tops and shorts. I was the only child in a dress (an adorable one bought especially for this first day) with my hair done very neatly in two pigtail braids. I was holding my brand-new backpack and lunch box. I remember getting made fun of for dressing like this, but that was just how my mother was raised. You dressed nicely on the first day of school! And I guess in this area of Florida, it wasn't so important. My mother still talks about this as being a sort of "culture shock"--that we definitely weren't in the "South" anymore! It is a lesson to me now that what you deem as important may differ with the area you live, and teachers (and just everyone in general) need to be sensitive about this!

I love how this chapter has brought out everyone's childhood memories of reading. We all come from very different backgrounds. My favorite reading place was my mother's recliner. One of my earliest memories is me holding a thick hardcover book in my lap and "pretend reading" about the ice age. As I got older, I continued to crawl into that recliner and read. And now that I think about it, my father usually reads in his recliner. I wonder if I was trying to imitate him?

Su Su, I think its so great that you had your little "nook" in the barn to explore and travel through literacy. My older brother use to make fun of me and call me a bookworm for reading, so I too found my little nook. It was in my closet against a pillow. There, I could travel through the wardrobe to Narnia, or was in the annex with Ann Frank when the Nazis appear. These moments, these journeys really helped me develop as a reader. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed these private moments like I did.

Great description, I found my mind wondering of how it may have been to grow up the way you did. I always knew the importance of literature, and the idea that the "smart students" were those who were able to read and read for pleasure. I did not enjoy reading in middle school and high school, but I was always jealous of my sister and mother who could find that escape through books. I didn't give books a chance then, but I'm thankful that I have gotten back to reading for pleasure!

The "hidden rules" that you mention in your post are exactly what I was talking about in the podcast regarding "discourse." :) I think you'll see those hidden rules becoming even more salient in the Hicks book -- so I'm glad you made that connection!

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