My Experience Of Reading

James Patterson perfectly sums up my lengthy, arduous, and ever-changing relationship with reading. "There is no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books." As I grow older, and come to appreciate the influence that words have over the human mind and soul, this quote resonates with me more deeply. The interpretation of words has had an immense impact over my life, and is something I will be forever indebted to.

‘The War to End All Wars’, commonly known as First World War, was one of the largest wars in history global conflict in Europe that commence on 1914 and lasted until 1918. Due to the aggression among the alliances, countries came to each other’s support and evolved in the six main powers of Europe uniting into two large groups: Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany compose the Triple Alliance, while France, Russia and Britain established the Triple Entente. By the outbreak of the Great War, Australian men hurried to enlist for the cause of supporting the ‘mother country’ as Australia had a deep affection and loyalty towards Britain. As war progressed, Australia became aware of the barbaric reality of war.

For some people reading can be a difficult experience. For me it became difficult at the age of five years old. I really wasn’t an educational kid I was more of a kid that like to play with my toys and four brothers, whenever they came home from school. As I grew up reading became a little more difficult for me to master, at times in my middle school my teacher Mr.G would test us on how well and skilled we were at reading. Every day when it was time for him to test me I would get nervous and started to stubble on words and fail my test. By the time I was in high school I learned how to take my time and read, which has help me to progress my reading skills over the years.

This year’s theme is reflected very well in the book United by Cory Booker. Booker himself is sending his readers a call to action on the social conflicts and racial issues in our society. He gives examples from his own life on how one can give back to the community. He also tells about different mentors that he has had throughout his life that molded him into the person he is today. There were many instances when Booker’s opinions on how a particular situation should be handled was challenged, and these challenges positively changed his ideals.

When you’re young school is all about popularity and friends, but with a lack of word knowledge reading in class, especially out loud can destroy your credibility. I came from a blue collar background and none of my family ever attempted college, so I figured college wasn’t that important. During school, if it wasn’t interesting I didn’t want to participate or take the time to improve myself. Reading and writing was just another uninteresting, check the block, fake it till you make it, subject for me. I was a slow reader and often times I had to ask the teacher what a particular word meant. What was even worse was having to read out loud in class. Again, the fact that I was a slow reader and I often times mispronounced words caused me to be the subject of reticule and embarrassment. I started to hate reading because I couldn’t do it as well as the other kids; this continued from elementary

Ever since I was in elementary school, I was never able to grasp what I was reading. It was always a chore and I would speed through it or avoid it entirely. The extra help I received was meant to help me provoke, my eventual, love for reading, but at the time only made me feel as though I wasn't smart enough to read what everyone else my age could. While most kids would push themselves to read books like Harry Potter, I was the kid who was still reading the Magic Treehouse series. It was through the assistance of my parents encouraging me to read 30 minutes every night that caused me to love reading and become the reader I am today.

It was with a teacher named Mrs. Cassie and a group of students who needed help with reading too. I read paper books that they gave me or I got to go to the library and pick out a book. At first, it started as read at your own pace out loud to the group and the teacher would help you with the words you didn’t know. Every time I started to read I would stutter and get nervous. If I knew that I was going to be the next reader, I would reread the paragraph silently over and over again to make sure I didn’t mess up. There were reading stages, the higher level you were at the harder the book was. I never was at a high level. After, a littler practicing with Mrs. Cassie reading got a little easier. I read in groups than would read one on one with the teacher. She timed me and marked every word I would mess up. I had to practice and write my times down every day. If the book wasn’t easy I stayed on that book until I was able to finish it. The times got shorter and the words went fast. I finally was able to read out

Reading is something that is taught to everyone in their early childhood, the time I learned to read I was very fond of books. I loved to read novels to myself and to read them out loud to my sister. I like reading action, thriller, historical fiction, and mystery. During my early childhood we would have challenges of reading such as wrapped up and reading, golden dragon. These were reading challenges for students to read 20-25 specific grade novels during the school year and at the end you got a party if you read at least 5-10. I used to love reading and at that time I would read at least 20 books because I wanted to go to the party and win something with the lottery tickets I got. My childhood was fulI of reading, even if I read because I was greedy and I read because of the party, it still improved my reading level. As I grew and grew my reading

When I was little, I would enjoy reading books such as, Henry and Mudge, and also Captain Underpants. These were some books that I was able to understand because of them being less rigorous. As a grade school student, I was never the strongest reader. It was hard for me to understand and comprehend the material I was learning. In class, we would read short chapter books together as a class and take brief quizzes on the chapter then after. I believe the turning point to becoming a substantial reader happened when my family and I moved. I attended a different school in a different school district going entering fourth grade. Switching schools I think has benefitted me, and I think it was good I was still little because I felt as if the new school district I was in, District 303 in Illinois, give students more assistance and one-on-one to help us become stronger readers. When my class would start reading in class, I would step out of class and meet a

Two years ago, during the second semester of grade nine, I met one of the most influential people in my life. Her name is Mme. Robalino and she is the head of the moderns department at R.H King Academy and therefore teaches French and Spanish. She taught me French in grade 9 second semester and one of my favorite memories of that class was when she made us read a book and then do a presentation on it, I thought that this was a waste of time, as I did not think that this would improve my French. On the day that the class received the assignment I went to her and asked her why we had to do this assignment, she explained to me that it was necessary to test our reading skills, she also told me about how she use to question things that she had to

As a reader and writer I always faced given assignments with the intent of doing exceptional jobs and take a sense of pride in my work to complete my tasks. As a reader, I will bore myself through out an entire book and realize I didn 't understand a single thing. Although as a writer, I can go on for so long losing myself on a topic because it feels more interactive. Reflecting on my experiences as a reader and writer have been very bold, I never really found a joy or an interest to become the exceptional student who stands out amongst others because, I always felt ok with myself and my results with the way I did things.

I’ve never been one to read much outside of school without being assigned to do so. After looking back at my childhood I think I finally understand why. When you’re a student in elementary school teachers want you to be interested in reading and they tell you that it will make you smarter. Their approach to this is to assign you many readings during your early school years, have your parents sign that you actually did it, and make you write book reports about what you read. I remember when I was a kid I absolutely hated some of these exercises and absolutely loved some of these as well. I distinctly remember being in kindergarten and having to read a book to a high school student. The five year old version of me was more than embarrassed when my reading skills were not up to par and I was having to do it in front of a teenage boy. I also remember being in fifth grade and having to read one book every two weeks and write and draw a report on it. I loved this. Probably because for once I got to choose my own books and they were never assigned for me. I thought of it as a

I remember some of the first books I read as a child, before being introduced to the massive variety of literature that can be found everywhere. I remember focusing on the images and drawings that the illustrators made which brought these stories to life. I remember most significantly the author, Kevin Henkes, and his different interpretations on dealing with solitude as a child. I remember relating to the mice which he created within the stories. I remember imagining myself within the books, hoping to join in on the endless adventures that the characters went on. I remember discovering my growing interest in reading.

This course has expanded my knowledge and view of reading and writing vastly. Following each paper, reading, and class discussion I learned more about myself as a student, and the world as a whole. I have found the books Rules for Writers and Ways of Reading thoroughly helpful throughout the course. This class entails a variety of aspects of the problem-posing concept of education; it truly involves the students and teaches them to think, read, and write individualistically, analytically, and clearly.

I’ve been reading as long as I can remember. The person who taught me how to read was my mother, I remember her making sure I knew how to read and write my name before I started preschool. After that point, I would read anything I could get my hands on that was my level. I also wrote, but not as much as I read. Magazines, the backs of cereal boxes, even the little books my mom would buy me. I remember my mom telling me “stop writing in your books, you’ll ruin them,” after that, I made sure to keep a pencil and paper with me in case I felt like I wanted to write.