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Learning how to read and write are pivotal aspects in anyone's life. Literacy, which is the ability to read and write, is a stepping stone in education that is essential for students to have so they can progress in their schooling. I believe that all children can learn to read and write and should be provided with a teacher who believes this. Without this belief, a child could be left behind and suffer in their education.  I also believe that teachers should have high expectations for their students in regards to literary, as this can aid in setting the students up for success. Teachers who teach literacy should have a passion for it. As a future teacher, I want to have high expectations for my students and have a passion for teaching all of my students how to read and write. I want to be committed to my students and be passionate about teaching when it comes to literacy instruction.

I learned how to read from my mother and my grade school teachers. My mother was extremely involved in my education when I was growing up. She encouraged me to read independently at home and in the car while driving to and from school.  My teachers also had a massive impact on me when it comes to literacy. I can recall read alouds by my teachers and having time side aside to read alone and then having to share what I read with a peer. I also can remember having vocabulary lists and spelling tests to aid me in becoming literate. My early literacy instruction was effective and meaningful to me because it was focusing on me becoming a lifelong reader. I felt encouraged to read and write by teachers while growing up. I was never called “slow” or “dumb” when I did not pick up on reading right away. Instead, I was motivated by my teachers with praise by the progress I did make, although I did not learn to read as fast as others in my class. I worked with a reading coach during elementary school in a small group with other children so I could catch up to my peers in my grade. Moving on, I use to look forward classroom trips to the library to pick out books as I enjoyed reading and seeing the pictures in the books. In order to become literate, children must become readers. My teachers pushed me and my classmates to be active readers and taught us to love reading, no matter what level we were on. I have hopes to become a teacher who creates lifelong readers in the classroom.

In addition, I believe it is the teacher’s job to tap into the child with creative ways to teach them literacy and to try to have student develop an adoration of reading and writing. The teaching of literacy needs to include many pathways to literacy.  Literacy should be taught with numerous resources and in different ways depending on the child. Technology should be utilized in teaching literacy as there are many effective resources that can help children learn and progress. Every child is different and they come from different backgrounds so it should not be accepted or believed that there is only one way to achieve literacy.  It is also important to consider the child’s background when assessing literacy.

Students should be assessed in literacy by how much they are learning and at what rate. Literacy is a development process, and that needs to be taken in mind when it comes to assessments. I believe that there should be less testing in schools when it comes to literacy, so that time can be focused on reading and teaching.  Literacy does need to be assessed still so educators can see how to help children and how improve when it comes to teaching. I also believe literacy is something teachers should incorporate into other subjects and areas in the classroom.