Most people can recall their early literacy experiences.  The following vignettes are some of my favorite stories from my childhood.

        I remember hearing a joke about a young girl and her early reading experiences.  Growing up in church, Brooke became accustomed to the traditional hymns that were often sung.  Because she was too young to read, she learned the words by listening and did her best to sing along.  One of her favorite songs was "In the Garden."  Throughout her early childhood, she thought God's name was Andy.  "And he walks with me, and he talks with me…"

        I remember my first experience with making my writing public.  I suppose I was proud that I was able to write my name and wanted everyone to know it. During gym class one day, I found a rock and candidly scratched my name into the bleachers.  The bleachers in the gymnasium, however, are not an appropriate place to publish one's writings.  I learned that quickly, and while it did not diminish my desire to write, it encouraged me to choose my methods of publication more carefully.

        A few years later, I was asked to write a miniature research paper in a gifted and talented class.  We were required to use index cards for notes, use footnotes within the paper, and do the majority of our research outside of class.  My father was appalled, and I remember him saying that he didn't write a paper like that until he was in college.  At the time, it gave me great pride in myself to think that I was writing a "grown-up" paper.  A few hours into the researching process, I remember being frustrated with the entire ordeal.  I was proud again by the time I finished, but it made me question whether being "gifted and talented" was a good thing or not.