Personal experiences help shape an individual’s values, perspectives, and life decisions. As a
reflective practitioner, it is important to reflect upon the experiences that have helped shape you
into who you are today. You will examine your personal experiences with literacy and discuss
how these experiences have shaped your goals for teaching literacy in your own classroom.
INSTRUCTIONS
In this paper, you will be reflecting on your personal experiences with literacy and the
perspectives you have formed because of those experiences. Your paper should be a minimum of
750 words and be formatted using current APA format. Include support from the textbook, Bible,
AND two additional scholarly sources to support your ideas and experiences. Include a minimum
of one in-text citation per source. Use the outline below and address the following prompts as
you write your paper.
I. Introduction
a. Introduce yourself. Include your reasons for becoming an educator.
b. Define literacy and explain its importance.
c. Include a strong thesis statement that describes the overall perspective you have
of reading.
II. Personal Experiences with Literacy
a. What does literacy mean to you
Is it more than reading a book
b. Discuss the personal experiences that have shaped your view of reading.
c. What is your history/past interaction like with reading
Reflect back all the way
to your first memories and experiences with reading. Have you had positive or
negative experiences
d. What memories do you have from school concerning literacy and reading
e. Reflect on your relationship and view of reading, and discuss how it may have
changed over time.
f. What are your attitudes and feelings about reading today
Why do you think this
is
g. Describe your experience with literacy as it pertains to studying the Bible.
III. Goals for Literacy Instruction –
a. Define the teacher’s role in developing readers.
b. Explain how you envision teaching literacy in your future classroom. Include
specific strategies and best practices.
c. Include specific goals you have for all students in your classroom.
d. Describe how you will engage reluctant or struggling readers. How will you
challenge advanced readers
e. Explain your views on the impact that literacy has in the world today from a
Biblical worldview.
IV. Conclusion
a. Summarize how your experiences have shaped your goals for teaching literacy in
your own classroom.
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b. Wrap up your paper and restate your thesis statement in other words.
Complete this assignment using the provided Literacy and Me Template. A biblical/Christian
worldview should be evident throughout. The content of your paper should be 750 words and
formatted according to current APA guidelines with a title and reference page. You must include
at least two references from scholarly sources in addition to the course textbook and the Bible.
Include a minimum of one in-text citation per source. Each section, including the introduction
and conclusion, should be a minimum of one full paragraph (five sentences) or more