One of the first defining moments of literacy that I can remember is reading to my children. What comes to mind is reading The Night Before Christmas from the Golden Book collection. It was the first time I can remember when reading went way beyond words, punctuation and comprehension. It was not a one dimensional experience, it became a multi dimensional experience. Instead of the act of reading it became the art of reading encompassing social, humanistic, nurturing and family values. Reading this story to my young children for the first time was not just the communication a story, but communicating love, bonding, nurturing, values, storytelling and feelings at an intimate or literacy primate level. It was one of the first tme words became 3 dimensional, sentences became thoughts and paragraphs became dreams and visions of a unique exereince that my children (and myself) would acquire for Christmas for their first time. Literacy became a way of communicating a value system. The choice of the book became the way Christmas values was introduced to my children and the experiences and wonderment they would hold, much the same way as I held the wonderment and experiences of Christmas in my life. This was one of my first experience of the richness of the “circle of life” that literacy discourse can perpetuate.
Hi, Mike.
ReplyDeleteYou've selected a poignant moment to illustrate these ideas you describe. I'd like to be alongside you a bit more as I read. For example, I'd love to actually see or hear how this reading communicated a value system, or words became 3 dimensional. To risk being cliche, I'd love you to show me what you're telling me.
Looking forward to future updates,
Dr. Johnson
It easy. They are my children. I read with love. A lot of eye and facial expression. Watching their faces and looking to get that expression from them that I am looking for: amazement, wonder and actually "seeing" them imagining. Letting them interject their questions. Letting them challenge me with the answers. The values come from the book. I dont necessarily agree with all the values the Golden Book series promotes. But, the basic values are there that children need to begin to formulate; being good (rewards), the joy of giving (gifts), diligence (santa making his rounds), imagination (flying sleighs and reindeers, climbing down chimneys), even a strong sense of work ethic (making all those toys on time for xmas). Even the setting that the reading takes place, in the home, warmth, wearing their favorite jammies, cuddling, maybe a hot chocolate, xmas lights, the tree.... as corny as it seems it gives them a basis of security and love. A place that when they feel overwhelmed later in life they have positive and socially rewarding experiences to work from to give them those feelings to feel secure and confident. This simple stuff goes a long way children. It makes them embrace reading. It makes reading an experience that promotes comfort, relaxation and satisfaction.... when it comes to kids I can go on and on and on.
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