Thorson 1

Josh Thorson 1/17/14 ENC 1102 Literacy Narrative When I was heading into my third grade year at Forest Lakes Elementary School I was very nervous for the dreaded FCAT. For those who dont know what the FCAT is its a Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test given near the end of a school year to test you on your basic reading, writing, and math skills. I wasnt a much focused student back in elementary school. I just wanted to do typical kid things like play sports, make friends, and run outside. I knew going into third grade that I was neither the smartest kid in the room, nor even average. I was terrible at writing, reading, and spelling which my grades proved. My mom realized that I need some help. So near the beginning of my third grade year my mom got me into the 504 plan. The 504 plan basically gives accommodations to those who have certain learning, or physical disabilities. The accommodations that I received while I was under the 504 plan were that I got to take standardized tests, such as the FCAT, in a room with others who had the same kind of plan as I did. We also did not have a time requirement for each section like those who were taking the test in a normal environment. We, as in the others who were in the 504 plan, also got taken out of class twice each week to meet in a small class room where we worked on our reading comprehension skills, and writing skills. I found this to be helpful, but I hated feeling different. I didnt like that I had to leave class to go practice on what other kids where already good at. I felt like this feeling helped drive me to success and pushed me to improve my literacy.

Thorson 2

Along with the 504 plan my mom also helped me increase my reading and writing skills. Every night I would sit down with my mom and she would read a book from one of my favorite book series (Goosebumps) to me. These books were so fascinating to me, how they had some scary or mysterious theme to them. My mom would read these to me chapter by chapter while teaching me how to read along the way. Once I started reading on my own, I wanted all of the Goosebumps books. I am pretty sure I read about 10-15 of these books while I was in elementary school. Not only did my mom read to me but she also helped me with my writing, after I would read a chapter she would have me write a short summary about what went on in that chapter. So my mom was a big sponsor of my literacy while I was in elementary school. By the fifth grade I was doing alright, I felt like I was an average student. I was still on the 504 plan but I was doing better on the FCATs. My 504 plan instructor, which I could call my sponsor based on Brandts definition, nominated me for the Comeback Kid Award which was very surprising to me. At first I thought to myself there was no way I was going to win this award I havent even improved that much. So I didnt really get my hopes up by thinking I was going to win the award. When the results came back and they announced my name over the intercom that I had won the Comeback Kid Award I was so shocked. Overall I was really proud of myself, and all the hard work I did while going to those 504 plan meetings where we learned to read and write had paid off. I have definitely come a long way from where I was in third grade, even though I was said to have a learning disability I kept pushing and challenging myself. While in high school I got off the 504 plan and I took on some harder classes and in my senior year gathered up the courage to take on three AP classes and the rest honors. I ended up getting straight As twice out of the six semesters during my senior year and graduated with a 3.9. I contribute this success to

Thorson 3

the time when I was struggling with reading and writing and had to motivate and push myself to my full potential. To this day I still dislike reading and writing, when it is forced, but I have learned to be more accepting of what reading and writing have to offer in terms of literacy. I see the 504 plan that I had helped me as a writer/ reader as an intuitional sponsor and the instructor of the program as a sponsor by herself because she helped motivate me to work harder on my reading and writing skills. I think the accommodations that the 504 plan had provided where great materials that aided my success in literacy, such as the extra time on test since I was such a slow reader at the time. Even though I may have not enjoyed the special attention I got from being a part of the 504 plan, I dont think my literacy would have improved as much as it had if it wasnt for the 504 plan or my mom.

Works Cited Brandt, Deborah. Sponsors of literacy. College Composition and Communication 49.2 (1998): 165-85. Print.