Hi, I’m Kristie!  I live in Redding, and I’ve been an online student since I transferred from Shasta College.  This is my first semester on campus at Chico, and I really like it so far!  I love studying languages–particularly sign languages–and I’m fluent in ASL.  I started working with Deaf and hard of hearing students two years ago, and I quickly realized I wanted to go into Deaf Education instead of general ed.   I’ve interpreted for most grades from preschool through high school, and it’s been a great opportunity to experience different grade levels and teaching styles.  I love interpreting, but I’m eager to have a classroom of my own to teach in.  I’m planning to enter a credential program this summer or fall, and I’m really excited about it.

I think good readers know what they like to read and whether or not a text is a good fit for them.  I believe they read at their own pace, and they visualize what they’re reading.  They ask themselves if what they’ve just read makes sense, and when they don’t comprehend something, they go back and reread sections, think about what they’re reading, and ask questions.  They recognize that words can have multiple meanings, and they use context to figure out meanings of new words.  They also connect what they’re reading to their own experiences and to other things they’ve read.

 

I have vivid memories of going with my family to our county library often.  Looking back, we must’ve spent ages there, because I always ended up checking out tall stacks of books, most of which were Baby-Sitters Club books.  A couple years ago, my college librarian scanned my library card, saw my name,  and said, “I knew it was you!” She had worked at my childhood library, and she went on to describe what my mother and siblings looked like 15 years ago!

 

In school, I enjoy reading for my classes that are related to my major and interests.  When I’m interested in a subject I’m studying, the required reading often leads me into reading related, unassigned content more geared towards my specific interests. I like to read articles and books related to my job, such as articles on education and sign language.  I also read a lot of school storybooks and textbooks as prep for interpreting.  I’ve always enjoyed reading fictional books, language, and travel books for fun.  I like that when I read outside of school, I don’t worry about deadlines or remembering information for later.  I prefer to choose what to read, and I like that I can stop reading and find another book if I so choose.

Williams says that teachers and students tend to have very different understandings of what a “reader” is.  Students are likely to be family with the negative connotations.  For me, the take-away is that it’s important to share with students the different ways in which we can be readers, and to help them to realize that we are all readers in some way, often in ways they might not yet realize.  I also like her point that “what may seem obvious is often the basis for significant misunderstandings,” which is something I try to keep in mind when working with students.