Understanding what one is reading is crucial. The ability to master reading comprehension is necessary for junior high school pupils. When I was at my second-grade level, I could read fluently. Every class member would gladly choose me whenever asked to suggest a person who was to read any story. However, what I understood from my readings was minimal because I was like a kindergarten-level child who would read words without comprehending them. My inability to understand became sore when my parents and teachers determined that I needed to remain in the second grade to improve my comprehension skills. The challenges with understanding also negatively impacted my performance in math and science subjects. Repeating a grade when my classmates and other students were moving forward became a significant turning point in my literacy development because I improved academically, developed more interest in reading, and got the self-assurance necessary to assist others.
Retention has been debated over its implementation in schools for a long time. Studies have been done throughout the years, and it has been discovered that retention is not beneficial to a youngster and is likely to have numerous detrimental impacts. However, I can not entirely agree with this research. I was not pleased with my parents’ and instructor’s decision about retention because I did not comprehend what I was missing. At the time, I considered my instructor and parents to be evil characters from a John Lucas film. But at that time, I was unaware that understanding is, in a sense, a reading’s life partner. Since my father was a US Marine throughout my childhood, he was stationed at Sylvan Learning Centers in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where my instructor also worked part-time. My school instructor mentored me one-on-one at Sylvan to help me improve my academics.
The human mind is propelled to create, invent, and strive for new heights through imagination. I initially discovered how to form imaginations of scenes, characters, narratives, and other elements in my head. Imagination took me to places I never imagined possible since I initially believed that I needed to watch TV programs and movies to form such characters and narratives in my head. She also enlightened me on interpreting particular questions in other topics and subjects. For instance, a math word problem can need solutions that include terms like quotient, dividend, sum, product, difference, etc. Furthermore, if careless, one could interpret these phrases to indicate something quite different from what they mean. I became an excellent student and gained confidence in studying and life throughout the following years, even when we relocated to Virginia Beach, VA.
In essence, literature books are intriguing works of art. They offer a way out of the world. Observing how an author’s mind functions while reading a book is titillating because the mind works due to the novel’s narrative twists, characters, and storyline. That is very incredible. Having found a new fascination with reading, a habit I still enjoy up-to-date, became another strength to enhance my retention. I would read purely, without any parental or academic coercion. I just read what was in front of me. However, it was not until I understood what I was reading that I started to like it, particularly after connecting the genre of picking adventure books. As I grew older, it downed on me that I genuinely liked reading for fun, even when there was no reward.
Children who see reading as challenging may also lack interest in reading, leading to academic difficulties. Individuals who want to assist their children in reading should encourage healthy reading habits. The newfound confidence in my reading and comprehension skills that led me always to strive to assist those I noticed failing to grasp what they were reading was equally crucial to my literacy journey. And frequently, after I finished a session ahead of schedule, my professors would ask if I might quietly assist a few of the students. The issue with standardized tests was resolved entirely. Even the SAT/ACT examinations were straightforward to complete simply because I could crack the codes by understanding the questions. I am now a teacher for Language and Literacy Development at the Emory/Afterschool All Stars Summer Reading Program in Atlanta Public Schools, where I volunteer to teach literacy to our underprivileged youngsters.
In conclusion, although individuals read for various reasons, the fundamental objective is to comprehend what the author is attempting to communicate and use that knowledge to obtain information, learn a new skill, or enjoy. If I had thrown a total tantrum and struggled against being restrained, my life may have taken a different turn. The happiness I have in knowing that my instructor and family cared about me enough to give me the support and space I needed to make some changes for a brighter future is excellent. We traveled a lot when I was a kid, but no matter where we went, I could always take myself to a special place in my head. No words can truly capture how I feel every time I recall this period of my life. I trust individuals can see that retention of the second grade was the central defining moment in my literacy development.