Not only is Karoline homeschooled, which affects the connection between her literacy habits and her home life, but she is a dyslexic student that struggles with reading speed and enjoying reading. However, I am inspired by Karoline’s ability to function maturely in an adult environment at her young age.
I hope that someday soon, I’ll return to my roots of living a life of natural literacy. I also hope that as a teacher, I won’t forsake my students’ existing literary agenda for one of my own making, and allow them to build and conquer that pile of “books-to-read,” outside of the demands from the cannon.
I want to give my students the same freedom to dive in and explore that I gained from Mrs. Mela’s TV Production class. I want them to discover new worlds and new stories, and to have space and resources to creatively respond to those experiences.