My Pursuit Of Literacy

When you hear the word literacy what comes to mind? Do you think of words or school or horrible comprehension tests? When I hear the word literacy none of the above is what comes to my mind. I think of when I was young, no more than five, and I would sit on my grandmother’s warm lap wrapped up in her arms that seemed to protect me from any and everything while she read to me. I think of the struggle and the many trials it took to spell and write my own name, but also relishing in the sense of accomplishment I felt. I think of the times I read along to books my mother would read to my sisters and me until I could read them on my own. Finally, I think of the smiles and proud looks on my parents’ and grandparents’ faces when ever I would show
If children are exposed to the notion that they shouldn’t be successful or that they aren’t capable of achieving success they sometimes grow up to meet those expectations. For instance Indians aren’t expected to be highly educated and successful people, “We were Indian children who were expected to be stupid (Superman and Me).” Indian children aren’t expected to be successful in the non-indian world. Meanwhile children who are expected and encouraged to overcome stereotypes and obstacles to become the very best that they can be are often able to accomplish success. For example if teachers encourage students to push themselves to advance their reading it may just be the motivation they need, “I very tentatively suggested that, since she was a skillful rider and loved horses, she might like to read National Velvet...She tried it, and though she must have found it quite a bit harder than what she had been reading, finished it and liked it very much ( How Teachers Make Children Hate Reading).” By encouraging his student to push her limits he became a role model and a source of motivation, and by doing so she was able to advance her reading and later was confident enough to attempt reading Moby-Dick. “My father loved books, and since I loved my father with an aching devotion, I decided to love books as well ( Superman and Me).”
Children need to be exposed to these strategies because “Knowledge, indeed...is also power; not only is it excellent in itself, but whatever such excellent may be, it has a result beyond itself (From The Idea of a University).” If children aren’t exposed to reading and writing strategies it will be hard for them to obtain useful and meaningful knowledge, which is needed to accomplish success. “ ...knowledge is not a mere extrinsic or accidental advantage… it is an acquired illumination, it is a habit, a personal possession…(From The Idea of a University). One important reading strategy is knowing how to mark a book as you read. “Marking a book won’t make understanding drop from the book’s tree, but it becomes a fruitful enterprise if the marks help one discover patterns. Patterns is the key to reading… (All books are coloring books).” Patterns are important in any writing because they help a reader identify style and main ideas. If a person is able to identify key points it makes it harder in adulthood,when they are faced with contracts and documents, to be tricked or deceived into signing or agreeing to unfair terms. Additionally it is important to know how to read and write between the lines, “Unless you do, you are not likely to do the most effective kind of reading ( How to Mark a Book).” Anyone striving to achieve literary success