I CAN READ!!!!!

When it comes to school everyone has something that they have struggled with. For me this obstacle was reading. Boy, did I want to be a good reader. I was in the first grade and I was determined to read fluently by the end. My brother, who is 11 1/2 months older, read before kindergarten, and my twin sister read BEFORE he did! Obviously, at home I felt dumb! I could not read so I concluded that I must be stupid! My first grade teacher sensed my insecurity and understood it, as she already knew of my "brilliant" siblings. It was not only her extra patience that made an impact on me, but mostly her small indirect actions. Any free time I had I would be in the book corner with my little nose in a book, eager to teach myself to read better. It was her silent approval of these actions that helped me. Her little glance over to me that took the form of a smile and her thumbs up are the things that truly motivated me.When she saw that I was struggling, she would unobtrusively come over to me and guide my reading. Additionally, she would let me finish a
book even if a new activity had started. She knew that finishing a book was all that I needed to slowly boost my confidence and eliminate my "I am stupid" theory. As it turns out she was right on the money, as that is exactly what was slowly happening.By the end of first grade, I was reading at grade level. I will be eternally grateful to my first grade teacher. I believe that she knows how she helped me, but what she is not aware of is how much I understand how supportive she was. I will never forget her and will take her spirit with me as I teach. It is because of her that I aspire to be a first grade teacher and, hopefully, impact others as she has to me.

-Suzi Rosen