This is an invitation to recall and record the experiences that have shaped your relationship with, and attitudes and feelings toward, reading. This is also an opportunity to share any information about yourself as a reader that would help me support you. Beyond that, I want to you to think about your relationship about reading, and where this history comes from. This paper is fairly informal, so feel free to explore your feelings toward reading and literature in a way that does not have to provide all the answers. Below are some sample questions you can use as jumping off points. Feel free to use all or none of them. This narrative format essay should be 3-5 pages long.

Literacy History

What are your memorable (positive/negative) school experiences with reading?

What are your memorable (positive/negative) home experiences with reading?

Current Literacy Attitudes and Interests

3. Do you read for pleasure (outside of assigned school reading)? Why or why not?

4. If so, what are your favorite genres and/or authors to read?

5. What counts as reading to you?

Future Literacy Goals

6. What do you hope to get out of this class, both personally and professionally, in terms of your relationship with reading? Do you have any reading goals?

Each person’s relationship with reading is unique. Perhaps you absolutely hate to read. Perhaps you are a voracious reader. I will make no judgments on your reading life. Your experiences, attitudes, feelings and thoughts are all welcome. Your reflection will be kept strictly private. I hope the process of recalling and recording your literacy experiences will give you insight into your life as a reader.