Why I Became A Reading Specialist?

My name is Esther Stewart and I am a primary school teacher in the St. George East District. I have been teaching for over twenty years. I have been teaching Standard Four-Five for eight years. My passion for teaching Reading started when I was sent to an Infants' Reading Workshop and this passion has not abated. In fact it has continued to grow since most of the children I teach are at Level 1 based on the National Test. Reading is one of the main foundation subjects in education and it is important that all children learn to read. My philosophy is that any child that enters my class must leave it knowing how to read and to develop a thirst for reading which will therefore assist him or her to become a lifelong reader/learner. I am able to achieve this at least seventy-five percent of the time and I need to get 95% or more of my students to become lifelong readers.

When I saw Med Reading Program advertised I eagerly applied since I knew it would enable me to become a better teacher of Reading. I know it would enable me not only to help my students
but my colleagues as well. This program has exceeded my expectations especially in the Content Area Reading. I enjoyed teaching Social Studies and Science to my post S.E.A. students using the strategies some of my reading colleagues demonstrated during their group presentations. Most importantly my students love them. They wrote in their journals it was fun. I am eager to learn how to use technology in Reading since we are living in a technological world with children who are techno-savvy. There is no greater joy as a teacher in seeing children enjoy learning and I know this course will enable me to do just that. It will further enable my struggling readers to become engaged readers.