Becoming a Language Arts Teacher
September 2013
My journey towards becoming a language arts teacher started at the moment I first began experimenting with spoken words. There have been several defining moments in my past that have led to my interest in language arts, and my decision to teach it in my future classroom. My passion to become a language arts teacher has been influenced by many different forces, from early language development, reading, journaling, as well as my interactions with family, friends, and in depth philosophical thinking.
When I was young, my parents explained to me that I first started to experiment with making sounds, and cooing, around 2 months. My first purposeful word, "da-da," came around the eight month mark, while the more difficult word, "ma-ma," came at around a year. Another cherished memory my parents have shared with me, while talking about my language development, was our time together looking at my "big picture book." We would sit in a big chair in the living room and my mom would point to specific pictures in the book. I was unable to name exactly what the pictures were, however, I was able to point to the picture that correlated with the word she said. My mom was fascinated with how I "could make those connections before I could speak them." My dad also specifically remembers how the moment he would put my food in front of me at dinner I would go on to talk nonstop. He told me that he once asked me if anyone had ever called me a "motor-mouth" before. The story goes that I simply responded, "Dad, I just have a lot to say!"
In my middle elementary years my dad also tells of me "singing in the shower," and showing my love of language in that "unique way." In late elementary school I also loved to journal. I still have journals I have kept from when we went on particular vacations as a family. I would journal on the plane, in the car, and each night before I went to bed. I also experimented with writing poems and songs, while on vacation and while at home. Later on in my high school career I also took accelerated English, which helped me gain a greater passion for expressing myself personally through writing.
Throughout my schooling I showed a greater interest in writing and speaking activities in my language arts and English classrooms, however I also remember specific times where I connected to written text. My interest in reading started with the time my parents designated to read my big picture book, before I could even speak the words. That time eventually became my parents reading me stories before I went to bed. I specifically remember "When You Give A Mouse A Cookie," "Frogs In Clogs," "The Three Little Pigs," and "Guess How Much I Love You." I also remember that my room, the bathroom, and the living room all had a specific drawer or place where my books could be stored. My mom also loved providing books for specific times, such as when I was being potty trained, or when I became a big sister with my younger brother being born. I also remember reading with my grandma when I visited her at our cabin, and reading bible stories while in Sunday school.
It is these past memories and experiences in reading and writing that have given me the passion to pursue a teaching degree in language arts. Writing and reading helped me express my creativity, became a way for me to keep memories, express myself, and experience stories of another time period. Therefore, when I found out three years ago that my grandpa is illiterate it blew me away! I wanted him, and everyone else, to experience the joys behind reading and writing that I experienced. Realizing some of the struggles this brought him made me passionate about making sure that all individuals have the ability to write, read, and speak in a way that helps them express themselves, be creative, be able to do daily tasks, and keep up with a demanding society. Anther incident that influenced me to teach language arts was, surprisingly, my vision problems I experienced in elementary school. I remember specific times where I had trouble seeing the white board and reading certain books. Realizing how important these skills were for excelling in all subjects made me come to understand the importance of providing a sound language arts curriculum.
Being someone who has been interested in language arts from birth, even being called a "motor mouth" at one point, has made me passionate about the importance of language. I find so much value in being able to communicate ideas, discuss my opinions, and being able to read essays, theological writings, or books by other authors that expand my viewpoints. I would be unable to voice my own opinions as well as I can now if I did not have the language arts education I was provided with growing up. I want to be a language arts teacher in order to help students express themselves, fully participate in society, thrive in all areas of the classroom, better formulate their opinions, be able to develop their imagination through stories, as well as several other factors that knowing language encourages. I hope to develop a teaching style that showcases this passion for language arts in my own future classroom.
My journey towards becoming a language arts teacher started at the moment I first began experimenting with spoken words. There have been several defining moments in my past that have led to my interest in language arts, and my decision to teach it in my future classroom. My passion to become a language arts teacher has been influenced by many different forces, from early language development, reading, journaling, as well as my interactions with family, friends, and in depth philosophical thinking.
When I was young, my parents explained to me that I first started to experiment with making sounds, and cooing, around 2 months. My first purposeful word, "da-da," came around the eight month mark, while the more difficult word, "ma-ma," came at around a year. Another cherished memory my parents have shared with me, while talking about my language development, was our time together looking at my "big picture book." We would sit in a big chair in the living room and my mom would point to specific pictures in the book. I was unable to name exactly what the pictures were, however, I was able to point to the picture that correlated with the word she said. My mom was fascinated with how I "could make those connections before I could speak them." My dad also specifically remembers how the moment he would put my food in front of me at dinner I would go on to talk nonstop. He told me that he once asked me if anyone had ever called me a "motor-mouth" before. The story goes that I simply responded, "Dad, I just have a lot to say!"
In my middle elementary years my dad also tells of me "singing in the shower," and showing my love of language in that "unique way." In late elementary school I also loved to journal. I still have journals I have kept from when we went on particular vacations as a family. I would journal on the plane, in the car, and each night before I went to bed. I also experimented with writing poems and songs, while on vacation and while at home. Later on in my high school career I also took accelerated English, which helped me gain a greater passion for expressing myself personally through writing.
Throughout my schooling I showed a greater interest in writing and speaking activities in my language arts and English classrooms, however I also remember specific times where I connected to written text. My interest in reading started with the time my parents designated to read my big picture book, before I could even speak the words. That time eventually became my parents reading me stories before I went to bed. I specifically remember "When You Give A Mouse A Cookie," "Frogs In Clogs," "The Three Little Pigs," and "Guess How Much I Love You." I also remember that my room, the bathroom, and the living room all had a specific drawer or place where my books could be stored. My mom also loved providing books for specific times, such as when I was being potty trained, or when I became a big sister with my younger brother being born. I also remember reading with my grandma when I visited her at our cabin, and reading bible stories while in Sunday school.
It is these past memories and experiences in reading and writing that have given me the passion to pursue a teaching degree in language arts. Writing and reading helped me express my creativity, became a way for me to keep memories, express myself, and experience stories of another time period. Therefore, when I found out three years ago that my grandpa is illiterate it blew me away! I wanted him, and everyone else, to experience the joys behind reading and writing that I experienced. Realizing some of the struggles this brought him made me passionate about making sure that all individuals have the ability to write, read, and speak in a way that helps them express themselves, be creative, be able to do daily tasks, and keep up with a demanding society. Anther incident that influenced me to teach language arts was, surprisingly, my vision problems I experienced in elementary school. I remember specific times where I had trouble seeing the white board and reading certain books. Realizing how important these skills were for excelling in all subjects made me come to understand the importance of providing a sound language arts curriculum.
Being someone who has been interested in language arts from birth, even being called a "motor mouth" at one point, has made me passionate about the importance of language. I find so much value in being able to communicate ideas, discuss my opinions, and being able to read essays, theological writings, or books by other authors that expand my viewpoints. I would be unable to voice my own opinions as well as I can now if I did not have the language arts education I was provided with growing up. I want to be a language arts teacher in order to help students express themselves, fully participate in society, thrive in all areas of the classroom, better formulate their opinions, be able to develop their imagination through stories, as well as several other factors that knowing language encourages. I hope to develop a teaching style that showcases this passion for language arts in my own future classroom.