Reflection as a young reader..

I really can't remember how good/bad of a reader I was in elementary school. I do vividly remember trying to get my parents attention on my reading skills and asking them to read stories to me. I always wanted to know what everything meant. My parents would always give me the immigrant version of a certain topic and my teacher would tell me something totally different. I don't remember reading out loud either. I was always embarrassed that I would mess a word up. I loved books with pictures to assume what the story was about. I loved using my imagination.
I remember when we had DEAR time (drop everything and read) I would open a book and place it in front of my face and make believe I was reading. Now as I sub I see students do the same. It's so important to read and make sure they understand what their reading bc its fun.
Another important aspect of my 3rd grade subbing experience that really caught my eye was when the students were reading their journal entrees and one girl said pezza (pizza) and she spoke fluent English. But since her parents were from another country they taught her to pronounce words how they do. The kids were laughing at her. I felt so bad.
Now all I do is emphasize on how reading is important and how it's makes ppl more intelligent. I really wish I was a better reader so I can be brighter and knowledgeable on various topics.

How can we create a community in our classroom?

In Walking Trees, Ralph Fletcher emphasizes the importance of writing to create an imagination for the young students. In the readings assigned for this week you can see and personally feel with the students life's as most openly write about their real life stories. Some were pleasant others not so much. For example, Tanya who was phsically abused by her mother than moved with her father who rapped her and was eventually sent to a home at such a young age. Or the other young girl who was literally afraid to write because her mother was so overpowering that if she found out she was writting about personal problems, her mother would some how find out and abuse her. Many of these young girls had several responsibilities and held chores that an adult would have. Cleaning, cooking, taking care of siblings. How about school? When would they ever have time to do homework or even class work when all these duties are running through their minds.
Ralph makes sure that the students feel comfortable writing about themselves by sharing thoughts and feelings with the rest of the class. By using this method several classmates gave advice to the students in need. This created a community within the classroom. This helps one realize that every child comes from a different home which causes their behavior in the classroom. Being in school is the only time to reflect and be in an atmosphere that is either relieving and fun or miserable depending on their experiences.
Writing is a form of communication which helps the student reflect on their experiences. This technique is essential to create a community within the classroom amongst all the students. Being left out makes one feel unwanted or unliked. Ralph truely knows how to put the broken peices together to create a happy community within the schools.