My Literucy Narrative

By: William Brody Thomas

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September 13,2014

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Everyone's literacy began at different times in their lives and in different ways. My
literacy started at avery young age. My mom said that when I was in utero she would read every
night and also play music to me. After I was bom, she would read to me multiple times every
day. This continued throughout my childhood from infancy through my toddler years. My mom
also taught me to read and write at a very young age. Around the age of three or four, she started

to use the Riggs Institute Phonics Program. The Riggs program used the principles of Sight,
Sound, Voice, and Writing to teach reading and writing skills. (Riggs Institute) Along

with

Riggs, I was also taught with A Beka, a Christian homeschool curriculum, and Sonlight, another

curriculum that focuses toward the learning of young children.

Along with these programs, my mom also had me read many books like Froe and Toad
and Little Bear. These books were my favorites as a child. In addition to these books,

I also read

many "Trade Books." I kept a daily journal when I was homeschooled which helped improve my

writing skills. With the daily journal I also drew many pictures. I can remember after I finished a
drawing my mom would have me explain and describe what was happening in my pictures. This
continued my expansion of literacy because it required me to use my words and describe
something to the best I could. When it comes to the foundation of my literacy, I know I was

given a good one. My mom was and still is a Certified Virginia teacher for Kindergarten through
Eighth Grade. Knowing this and knowing how seriously she took me having a good education,I
know she helped me start my literacy off right.
In 2003, I entered into the second grade at Fuqua School, one ofthe local independent
schools. The curriculum at Fuqua School o'reflects the 21't Century skills of critical thinking,

collaboration, writing, and infoniration literacy." Students are also encouraged to work past
traditional expectations beginning in lower school. (Fuqua School) These are just a few of the

reasons I was enrolled into Fuqua School. Since

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I had been home schooled, I was already

accelerated in all of my subjects. Fuqua was the right choice because

it allowed me to pick up

where I left offfrom being homeschooled. Another great thing about Fuqua was that it put me

with kids that had been brought up similar to me. This helped all of the students at the school
because they already had a similar background as others, thus the teachers could continue a more

advanced learning and improvement of our literacy.

As I stated, early writing and literacy are a big part of Fuqua's curriculum. In lower
school we were all taught writing skills by journaling every day and learning paragraph

formation. We were required to write daily and to always answer in complete sentences or restate
questions. I also remember our vocabulary books, Wordly Wise 3000, we used. They required
the spelling and memorization of the word and definition, as well as the knowledge to use it

correctly in context. This continued on through middle school except the workbook became more
advanced. Overall, the three years in lower school, Fuqua added even more of a foundation to

my literacy and really prepared me for Middle School and High School.
Once I was in middle school, there really wasn't much of a big change regarding my

literacy besides the intense grarnmar instruction and some literary studies. One nice benefit was
that I was now able to use the library at the high school. Having access to the large library only
fueled me wanting to continue reading for pleasure. I was also able to go to the Scholastic Book
Fairs when they were held. I enjoyed the book fairs because I always was allowed to get a few
book to read and if they ended up not interesting me, my mom would always put them in her
classroom.
When I entered High School I had three very great English teachers who taught me a lot

of what I know today. In my composition class freshman year, I leamed a lot about writing and

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gammar. I was required to write multiple essays for that class along with doing extensive
grammar exercises. These two things hand in hand really helped me become a better versed

writer than I was before the class. Junior year I had an English class where we leamed to write a
proper research paper the first semester, and then studied the many years of American Literature.
The one assignment that I benefited the most from was the research paper. I was able to choose
the topic to research and then put the paper together and present for my final grade.

I was able to

do my research paper on Henry Ford and The Ford Motor Company. Because I was able to do a

topic about something I have a greatpassion for, it made the time on the paper very enjoyable.

was leaming nevrthings about Ford Motors and some of the first automobiles, and while I was

leaming I was also learning the proper way to write a research paper. The second part of the
class was on American literature where

I learned more about American Literature than I could

ever remember. This part of the class really broadened my literacy by exposing me to literature

probably would have never picked up if it wasn't for that class. My last high school English class
was all British Literature. tn this class I studied everything from Beowulf to Macbeth. Like my
other English class consisting of Literature, I read many pieces of literature that I would've never
read

if it wasn't for that class. When it

came to the literature that was covered in high school

enjoyed the majority of it for the most part.

When it comes to my literacy, I can say that it is one of a kind. It is hard to find someone

who has read, written, or experienced the same thing with schooling as I or anyone else has.

was lucky enough to be brought up in a family that gave me many opportunities and experiences.

Without these, my literacy would not be what it is today. Whether it be being home schooled

until the second grade or going to an independent school, the opportunities my parents gave me
helped me when it came to schooling which entails literacy. Homeschooling helped because

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was able to work at the pace I needed which was much faster than that if I went into the local

public school. It also helped my mom to teach me more effectively and for me to also learn more
effectively. The One on One was something else I and others have benefited from. (Sonlight) My
time at Fuqua also gave me the opportunities to broaden my literacy even more with the options
to work ahead because I was advanced. When it comes to my literacy, I believe it had a pretty
strong start, and I plan on adding and building it more over my years at UNC Charlotte.

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Fuqua School. WlU Choase

Riggs Institut. Wlnwe

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Sonlight. The Bentfits of Homeschooling. 2014. I 4 Septemb

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