Walking into Mrs. Jones first grade class was exciting and fun. I thought to myself this would be the year I would learn how to read. Now that I was going to learn to read I could open that book that sits on my bookshelf and read it to myself no more mommy coming to read it to me anymore. This book was The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. My mom would come into my room and we would read the book. Every time she opened it I had the same amount of joy and happiness it was like I had never read the book before. This book was full of colors. The caterpillars himself was very colorful. First the caterpillar ate through one apple then two pears and so on until it ate too much. Since I would read this book every night I had the words memorized so I would be mumbling the words while my mother read it. I would follow along the words with my finger. When my mom said a word I would trace over that word or what I thought was the word. Sometimes she would stop reading to hear me mumble the words after a while I would too stop because I needed her to guide me with her voice. But now that I was learning to read she would no longer need to be my guide. This book taught me many things not only how to memorize words but counting as well. On the first day the caterpillar ate one thing the second day two and the third three. So before I turned the page (turning the page was my job) I already knew how many things the caterpillar was going to eat because he ate in the order of numbers. Every day in Mrs. Jones’ class we would learn more and more words. We would get into small groups and read to each other. Each night we were allowed to take home and read other books to our parents. These new books made me forget my old one, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Until one night I happened to glance over at the bookshelf after I had read my class book to my mom, and asked if I could read her one more before bed time. I went over to the bookshelf grabbed the book and began to read it. This time when I read it I still traced the words but this time my own voice was the guidance for my fingers. When I finished I looked at my mom and smiled. I had finally achieved my goal I was able to read this book that mom used to read to me alone. After I finished reading the book I put it back on the shelf and went to bed knowing I could now read The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar was one of my favorite books when I was younger. Now because of the words, but because of the colorful pictures. I used to sit in class when we had to read and just flip through the pages of this book. Growing up, my mom was not one to really read to me before bed. Therefore, I had not have much of a drive to want to read. I think it important that you are able to incorporate the reading you learn at school in your home. I think your mom influenced you greatly in your ability to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Indeed, our reading ability comes from how hard we work, but with the positive influence of your mother, it brought more meaning then just being able to read a book.
ReplyDeleteI think your story is very interesting. The Very Hungry Caterpillar was one of my favorite books, and I don't think I'll ever forget it. Just like Brown Bear Brown Bear. I would always sit down with my mom in bed before bed and we would always read a book together and she too would help me pronounce the words. I loved doing this and would often bring books from school home and couldn't wait for bed time just to read the book. I think it is very interesting how as you learn how to read more and want to read more. It shows how books can have such a powerful influence on us.
ReplyDeleteBooks by Eric Carle were always my favorites when I was growing up. I like how you mentioned that you learned about counting while reading the book. I think that's very reflective of our reading experiences now... we learn the story and new vocabulary, but in most cases we also learn about other things such as culture, history, etc. I read with my mom too when I was little, and even now my mom and I share stories that we have read in newspapers or on the internet. By including how your mom was part of your experience when learning how to read, you remind us how literacy can be a shared event, not just something we experience on our own.
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