Multi-Genre Literacy Autobiography

What are your earliest recollections of reading and writing?
I remember learning to write my name with my mom before Kindergarten. I remember I use to always wait until she wasn't paying attention and I would trace my name on my folders. I spent hours practicing this and consequently today our handwriting looks very similar. One other interesting thing I remember about writing is in first grade while in the process of learning to write words and letters in print, I would always scribble pretending I knew how to write in cursive. I always thought I would be more grown up if I knew how to write in cursive. As far as readying. My mother and I use to always read Goosebumps chapter books every night before bedtime. At first she would read a chapter to me and each night we would discuss what we had read the previous night. Eventually I became brave enough to try reading the chapters on my mom, in which my mother use positive encouragement. I honestly believe this is a major part of why I have a good standing academic history. After recalling all of that I do recall reading smaller books with my mother before hand as well.

What are your earliest recollections of watching television?
Berinstein Bears and Mighty Mouse and of course the Disney Collection Movies. The Berinstein Bears Movies taught valuable lessons - which in itself is literacy through media form - wow never thought of that before. Mighty Mouse was just one of my favorite cartoons. The Disney Collection Movies have many valuable lessons underlying the themes of the story which again is literacy through visual representation. I never looked at television that way before.

What are your earliest recollections of going to see a movie?
Honestly, I can not remember my first movie. As a child my parents struggled finically so we did not have tons of money to go see a movie, so mostly we borrowed VHS movies from my uncle and watched them as a family.

What are your earliest recollections of music?
NSYNC!! Woo Hoo!! I remember being obsessed with them. I had all of their cd's, posters, movies, and I even collected magazines that they were in. Throughout school I was involved in music from choir from elementary school to strings through middle school and choir clear through high school.

What are your earliest recollections of using a computer?
When I was like 10 or 11 my parents got their first computer and my mom got me a typing game, along with a few other games. I remember it being the old type of computer where you had to enter the dos code to get it started and it took only floppy disks! Wow I am truly not that old, but this question has made me feel really old.

Were you read to as a child?
My mother and I use to always read Goosebumps chapter books every night before bedtime. At first she would read a chapter to me and each night we would discuss what we had read the previous night. Eventually I became brave enough to try reading the chapters on my mom, in which my mother use positive encouragement. I honestly believe this is a major part of why I have a good standing academic history. After recalling all of that I do recall reading smaller books with my mother before hand as well.

Can you recall reading for pleasure in elementary school?
Yes! All the time I loved reading stories with my mother. I remember getting more pleasure out of reading with my mom because I received positive reinforcement; however as I got older I began to like to read books on my own more so.

Can you recall writing for pleasure in elementary school?
When I was in elementary school, I use to write poems, short stories, and songs. I use to like to explore and be creative with my writing. I had this little journal I use to always carry around, so I could write in it when I had a good idea. My parents and grandparents were great about being excited to read it and give me positive reinforcement.

What was the first book you loved (couldn't put it down)?
I would say it would have to be either little house on the prairie or the Goosebumps books. Although I remember reading a series of Mickey Mouse books an the Corduroy Bear. Wow, the more I think about it the more books I start to remember. It is hard to remember some of the firstbooks I read, but I would have to say that those were some of the most influential books of my first remembered readings.

Can you recall the first film or television show you watched over and over again?
This is a very hard question. I believe the Disney Movies are some of the most influential and the Whinnie the Pooh and Barney are the best examples of TV shows that I watched.

What pleasures or problems do you associate with early memories of reading and writing?
I do not really associate problems with reading, however I find it hard to read factual books. I prefer to read non-fiction books. I read very slow, but I play the story in my head like a movie. I enjoy reading very much. I own a kindle and read every chance that I get.

Is there a specific teacher (or several) who stands out in your memory as someone who had an impact (positivist/negative) on your reading and writing? Describe!
I remember my 8th grade writing teacher and my 8th grade reading teacher the most. My writing teacher really taught me the process of how to write and about the layout and structure of a paper. I remember feeling accomplished after leaving her class at the end of the year. We would get to choose topics we were interested in and write about them, she used a variety of teaching methods, and were given multiple chances for revision to receive a better grade. She made the possibility for success a reachable goal. As for my reading teacher, she had us create this script and video, that we had to present towards the end of the year. We spent class time and out of class time working as a group working together to develop and produce this video. It had to have a story line with a plot and climax. We were learning important aspects of stories and movies while having a blast creating a movie ourselves. All of the movies were shown at the end of the year, and then one group one. My 8th grade year in school was probably one of my best and most influential educationally.


What are you currently reading? Writing?
I am currently writing information for the new teaching position I got and this class; however I am not writing anything for pleasure. I am in the middle of a book by Nora Roberts: Scared Sins. I read about a book a month, for pleasure (if I have the time of course).

What are you currently watching on T.V?
My best friend has me watching this series called True Blood. I do not have cable so basically I just rent movies to watch when I have time.

What was the last great movie you saw?
There have been so many movies I have watched. I think the first one that comes to my mind is No Strings Attached

What is your favorite song right now?
Sugarland – Just Might

Double Entry Journal #1

Quotes

The era of physical print has had a lasting effect on human culture, but with the advent of digital text, some scholars believe the printed word is becoming obsolete

- Strongly Disagree. I do not think that the printed word will become obsolete, especially anytime soon. There are many people who refuse to read new forms of digital text and purchase or use only physical printed text. In time this statement might become more true, however I do not think we will ever make printed text obsolete. Technology is changing our lives and becoming a major part of our lives, but it appears to work parallel to our printed texts rather than against it. I believe we will find a way for both to coexist.

As David J. Gunkel states in his article "What's the Matter with Books?", society is currently in the late age of the text; the moment of transition from print to electronic culture where it is too late for printed books and yet too early for electronic texts.

- Strongly Agree Our society is ready for digital text, but we are not really prepared or equipped to live without printed text. We are excited and scared about the idea of digital text - Change scares many.

New forms of technology (new media) will be created which utilize features of old media, thus preventing old media's (aka print's) erasure.

- Agree We are Finding new ways of making old printed material to be obtained digitally and much of our printed materials are being printed digitally. The use of the Kindle is one of the best examples of how are traditional printed text is becoming digital text.


Reflection/Connection

As a Business Education Teacher, I use technology and printed text everyday. Schools are moving toward digital text books and online material rather than the traditional printed text book. This is an issue that I will face daily in my classroom; however I hope to be able to incorporate both digital text and physical print into my classroom instruction as to focus on the past methods of delivering information and the transition into our new methods of delivery of information. This will be a great first lesson and even research presentation for the first assignment in a technology course.


Related Links

Old, real book vs. Kindle alternative: Which wins?
by Scott Stein

Digital Text in the Classroom

Digital text reading nearly equal to time spent reading printed text

Welcome to My Blog

Hello and Welcome to my Blog.

This Blog is titled Technology is the Future of Our Students, because I strongly believe that as educators we must be prepared to effectively educate out students through the use of technology, as that will be what their future will consist of.

My name is Sarah Chenoweth and I am a recent graduate of Fairmont State University. I graduated with an Associates Degree in Administrative Office Management and a Bachelors Degree in Business Education. I am from a small town in West Virginia and I am currently be reviewed for a position at the High School as a Business Education Teacher, with emphasis on Technology. :)

From this class I hope to expand on my knowledge of technology methods that can be used to increase student motivation and improve student learning. I hope to find new methods of using technology in the classroom to better educate my students. My students success is my success. Technology is ever changing at a rapid speed, and it is hard to imagine the amount of Technology that will be used in our students' future, therefore we must do out best as educators to prepare our student for that future. One of the other important aspects of this class is the connection between literacy and technology and its importance. We might be able to make our student more literate through the use of technology, and that is a very exciting idea.

To define literate is a difficult task. At first thought I would say being literate means that you can read; however it is really so much more than just reading words. Being literate is the combination of reading words, interpreting visuals, and understanding the message behind the combination of the words and the visuals. Literacy seems to many to be easily defined, but I believe it is more complex than many are willing to admit. I also believe that the meaning of literacy changes as our use of technology increases. For example being able to understand texting slang.

Check out this Video about Literacy in the 21st Century!