Joshua’s Blog

 

1. Think about your earliest experience of becoming literate. This can even include things like holding a book correctly or scanning text left to right, etc.Who helped you? Who inspired you? Who supported you? How? 

While it was perhaps too long ago to be certain of in terms of when I had become literate, it was without a doubt around the time memory was able to be retained, for I have always loved reading, poking at images and drawings, etc. One major factor was starting Hebrew school at an early age, learning religious stories, Hebrew literature, as well as how to read Hebrew. I do recall in kindergarten, learning how to write letters, read and write from left to write, as well as what type of books, and how to determine difficulty. My family would also gift me various assisting materials for reading and writing.

1. Were you encouraged or discouraged?

I was definitely encouraged to read,write and think as much as possible, to constant excercise my mind and to engage in deep thought.

1. What are your earliest experiences with literacy? Which of these experiences significantly impacted my development? What occurred inside/outside the school setting?

My earliest experiences with literacy was likely in preschool, learning both regular english, as well as how to read Hebrew and look at stories from a religious, yet ambiguous mindset. As I mentioned before, being helped my my teachers and family throughout my early childhood, especially as a former special ed student, growing mentally and overall academically was a challenge, yet one that I never fought alone.

1. As you continue planning think about your earliest experiences as a learner.When did you begin to feel literate?

Though it is hard to determine, I feel as though first grade was where I started to fully grasp the practices of English literature, being more comfortable and making solid and constant practice and progress in literacy, all in terms of reading, writing, and comprehension.

1. What kind of writing, reading, speaking, listening, viewing activities did you tend to enjoy?

Being a music theatre enthusiast- and now major- I have always loved various sorts of media. Sheet music, books/scripts, audio, video of al sorts. Despite not always being a top-tier student in enlightened class, I usually anojyed reading, analyzing, annotating and discussing media and their themes.

1. What frustrated you?

In terms of my frustrations, mainly articles or books with topics that I find uninteresting, and having to thus force an opinion, as well as other comprehensive thoughts. It is difficult to do when the media and/or its topic(s)/theme(s) are not interesting, however it is an important challenge to help grow the mind.

1. Who was a role model?

I have had various role models in my life. My father had definitely encouraged me to push myself, as well as my sophomore English teacher from high school, and my high school drama/music teacher. All three had shown me media and helped me be able to better compose thoughts and arguments as well as opinions on whatever was given. Relating media to y interests in terms of media-to-media connections, as well as it being related to the world of theatre, is what truly made and makes such processes and results easier to achieve.

1. Think about how you feel as a literate person today.How do you feel about literacy? Why?

Being literate is always an essential skill in life. In is needed to understand the world around us. Language barriers can truly hide our understandings of the world, as well as how we are able to perceive it, for without that tool of understanding what is seen, an opinion cannot be formed, and we lose the ability to interact with the world in a beneficial way.

1. In what ways do you continue to use literacy in your personal life? 

In studying theatre, I have grown up and continue to read and analyze texts, whether for class, or for a show I’m in. Having to have an understanding and interpretation is needed to be able to tell the story at hand. The same applies towards music. Understanding why something ins written the way it is, why that sound or melody was chosen to be used both help create an understanding of the story, how the character(s) feel(s), as well as coming up with our own interpretation of the story, including what made a ahcaracter do or feel what they did and do.

1. What or who continues to sponsor/inspire your literacy development?

My professors especially those in the music majors, continue to motivate and help me put into practice the ideas of understanding media, and how to form my own thoughts and interpretations. It is needed in my line of study and work, and therefore is a constantly used and vital skill.