Throughout my lifetime I have read many books, my favorites being children's story books. Growing up in a household full of teachers there were always stacks of books lying around. Beginning at an early age my Mom and Dad would read books aloud to me, showing me the pictures and trying to get me to love reading. I remember making up songs to go along with the book, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" or acting out the scenes of the book, "King Bidgoods's in the Bathtub". 
Even though I was read to a lot as a child, did not necessarily put me
in the category of a "good reader". For years I struggled with sounding
out words, reading at a comprehensive speed, and to this day I still
can't spell to save my life.
Over the years and through lots and lots of practice I have become an adequate reader, but that is due to the fact that I persisted and did not give up. I had a lot of help from my family, friends, and teachers and it is because of those people that I am studying to become an Elementary Education Teacher. While researching a topic for this blog, I thought back to my childhood, and imagined my life without reading books. I attempted to envision where I would be if my parents did not emphasize the importance of reading, achievement in school, and the importance of getting a good education. What if my parents hadn't graduated from college or even high school. There is the probability that I wouldn't be the skilled reader or the educated individual that I am today.
