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First Trip to the Public Library
I cannot remember being read to as a child. However, I do remember a babysitter taking me to the public library for the first time. My little brother and I were amazed at all of the books. The librarian got onto us several times as our voices rose in our excitement. This is the first time I remember actually being interested in books and reading -
Placed in the "top" reading group
My second-grade teacher, Mrs. Ladd had a giant bookcase full of leveled readers. I remember being immensely proud of the fact that I was immediately put in the "top reader" group. Top readers had to read the books in order but could do so at their own pace. I quickly devoured books and worked my way quickly through the entire set. Her encouragement definitely set me on the path to being the reader I am today. -
The 100 Girl
All of my reading life I was a huge bookworm. My early mastery of the written word definitely helped me academically as I moved through harder and harder material. However, it wasn't until I was in high school that math really made sense. I was incredibly successful in Geometry, earning the title "the 100 girl" from my classmates. My success in Geometry turned my approach to math on its head. No longer was mathematics as an obstacle, but rather an interesting challenge. -
Won a (real) poetry scholarship contest
Encouraged by my boss (and former Bible as Lit Professor) I entered a scholarship contest with poetry I had written about the difficulties of reconciling the white half and the Mexican half of my families in San Antonio. The scholarship was given by Dr. Norma Cantu, a poet and professor at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. I loved to write as a child but was discouraged by my mother. Having my work validated by a poet and professor was amazing, but I have always had doubts. -
Started working at the English Language Lab
Working with ESL students and helping my peers edit their papers was essential to my development as a writer and educator. My friend and mentor, Tracy, was vital to my learning how best to truly help students learn for themselves. Her hands-off, simple, guiding method of editing and teaching other to write is something I've adopted and use to this day. -
My first attempt at teaching
I was excited about literature when I left college and took on way more than I was ready for as the sole high school and junior high English teacher at a small Catholic school near Dallas. Despite the short four years between us, I loved my students and learned so much about using literature to reach out to students (instead of dragging them kicking and screaming to where I was.) I had to stretch past the cannon and looked for modern literature that would draw them in. -
Beaten down by the NSA
I joined the Army after two years of teaching English to high school students. As far as I was concerned I was an expert in reading and writing. I was one hundred percent certain that my new job as an Intel Analyst for the NSA would be a piece of cake. Little did I know the pain that awaited me as I endured six months of on the job training. Every day I would write reports. Every day my trainer would rip them to shreds. I learned very quickly that there is no single approach to writing. -
Having a child
I did not grow up in a household that encouraged reading. So I was determined to make bookworms out of my own children. They have all had libraries long before they were born. But despite conventional wisdom, I am 1 for 3. I will never stop trying. Even if they never love reading as I do, I can definitely see the benefits reading to them has had in their school work and in our relationship. -
Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
Due to the fact that I loved reading so much, school came very naturally to me. I assumed genetics had played a part, as "nurture" did not. As such, I totally believed my kids would follow in my footsteps. It was quite a shock when, at two, my son was given a diagnosis of cerebral palsy followed, at eleven, by an Autism diagnosis. Watching him struggle and advocating for the supports he needs has forced me to understand we don't all exist or keep to the same literacy timetable. -
Teaching Reading
Helping my own children become readers did not prepare me at all for the challenges of helping to teach a class to read. This past spring I had one of the best mentor teachers, Becky Wilcox. Becky really worked with me, explaining things, answering all of my questions, and really pushing past my comfort zone. Working with her second-grade class, I learned that the magic of developing readers isn't really magic, but is in the consistent every day practices that lead to good reading habits.
