McLeod 1

Jessica McLeod
Malcolm
UWRT 1103
26 January 2015
Remembering What I Read
I remember meeting my sweet, young second grade teacher, Ms. Hoffman. I walked
from the bus down a long, winding sidewalk all the way behind the school to my
classroom. My classroom was a stuffy, windowless trailer set up on cement blocks in a
field under the hot Florida sun. As I walked up the three metal stairs leading to Ms.
Hoffman, she greeted me with a hug just as she would every day for the rest of that year.
She asked for my name and when I told her, she smiled and said, Nice to meet you
Jessica! Walk around our room until you find your name on your desk.
After a few days of second grade, our class was introduced to the librarian who walked
us around the library and talked about checking out books, how fun reading was, and about
the tests we were going to take on a computer. She told us that when we were looking for a
book, to make sure it had a red sticker on it. A red sticker meant that book was for second
graders, the ones we were supposed to read and test on. I remember thinking about all the
endless books I saw, how many were stacked on shelves lining the walls and in the rows
filling the whole library. Looking back now, Im assuming the library wasnt quite as vast
as my excited second grade mind remembered it. Before we left, we all checked out a
book. I checked out a red sticker book, just like the lady told us to.
About a week went by, I had read my book two times already. I liked it so much! I was
amazed that we got to pick any book we wanted and take it home! I didnt get to do that in

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first grade. I read it, my mom read it with me, and I read it at school. My teacher showed
my class how to take quick little tests on the computer called AR tests (accelerated
reader). She said they were to show her how much we learned, and at the end of the year,
we got ribbons for how many tests we took. To me, that was enough motivation to check
out as many books as I possibly could. That day, I went to the library to take a test and
check out another book. I failed the test. I didnt know what that meant and I didnt really
care, I mean... as long as I was checking out my own books and getting ribbons, I was
happy. I truly started to like reading. I went home that night with my new book, and read it
all day and was already ready to take another AR test the next day. I failed it. I went home
happy with a new book the same day.
After about a month of school went by, Ms. Hoffman sent a note home in my planner
for my parents. Naturally curious, I read the note. She told my parents about my love for
reading and visiting the library. She said she saw me reading after I finished classwork and
while I waited for my bus. She said she loved my desire to read new books. Then she said
something that made me wonder what I was doing wrong. She said that I failed my AR
tests. She said my reading comprehension wasnt as developed as it should be for second
grade. Of course I didnt know what reading comprehension was, but I knew I must have
done something bad when she said she wanted to move me to a kindergarten reading level,
and then a first grade reading level when I could show improvement on retaining
information. I was moved down to white sticker books.
I dont want to read the white sticker books, I told my mom as I walked off the bus
that day. Not knowing what I was talking about she said, What happened? What new
book do you have today? I gave her the note and said I didnt get a new book today.

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When we walked through the front door of our old, adorable home, I sat on a bar stool and
listened to my mom explain what I did wrong. You didnt do anything bad, she promised
me, its just that you didnt show how much you learned. Dont you remember the stories
from each book you read? I nodded my head yes. Well thats good, the teacher needs to
know that you understand the stories and can tell her what happened. You have to prove to
her that you are learning from all these books you love. I asked, What does fail mean?
My mom answered, It means you didnt answer enough questions right on your AR test.
Your teacher wants you to keep reading as much as you want, but start with white sticker
books, pass a few AR tests, move to green sticker books(first grade level), pass those tests,
then you can move up to red sticker books again. It isnt a bad thing, she wants to help you
learn.
The second I understood what my mom and my teacher were talking about, I felt
something different inside of me. I wanted to learn. I wanted to show them that I did love
reading and I could understand it and tell about the scenes that were shown to me through
writing.
I remember the white sticker books being so easy, I felt stupid. Two or three words
were on each page. Some pages were only pictures. I remember feeling as if I wasnt as
smart as the other kids, because I would watch them go to separate sides of the library
from me to find new books to check out. I desired to read and pass the tests as fast as I
possibly could so that I would be able to get back to red sticker books and hopefully all the
way up to the third grade level and beat the brats that were all ahead of me right then.
Half way through second grade, I was reading at a fourth grade reading level. I
worked my way up from the kindergarten books and eventually found a series of chapter

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books I truly enjoyed, The Magic Tree House Books. How do I know I really loved
reading them? I did it for the enjoyment of the story. I read all the time, I didnt even care
about the AR tests. I would read two or three Magic Tree house books before I realized I
hadnt tested and needed to get points. I would take up to three tests at a time, passing
them all with flying colors. I remembered the material because I actually comprehended
what I was reading. I would think about it and be anxious about what would happen next. I
would guess in my head how I thought the ending was going to turn out. I would tell my
mom all about each story, especially the setting. The setting of each book was entirely
different, and I remember feeling like I was in the story with the characters. I traveled with
them to ancient times when the dinosaurs roamed and ruled the Earth. I traveled with them
to pyramids, igloos, and rainforests. Everywhere they went, I went.
I believe discovering a love for reading and self-motivation for learning set me up to
succeed in school. By fourth grade I was on a 6th/7th grade reading level, and completed
reading the Series of Unfortunate Events (13 books) in one school year. I found enjoyment
in reading and it helped me develop in other areas of academics, math for example. I was
encouraged to learn new things in math and be the best in the class. It was almost like a
competition to prove to myself and others that I had the ability to be the smartest one
there.
Do I still read all the time and love it? Not at all. Is that shocking? I dont think so.
Through middle school and high school, teachers forced us to read books. I had to read
things that I didnt like, and it gave me a bad taste in my mouth for how I was supposed to
feel about reading. I can picture how it used to be, sitting at home, in my room, reading a
thick boring book. Set in the early 1900s, I wanted to throw it out the window. I struggled

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to finish each chapter, leaving no time for me to read for the enjoyment of reading. I
slowly realized that I got As in class even though I barely read anymore. I started using
online summaries as substitutes for reading, and discovered how much more painless it
became. Quickly, I finished my assignments and quizzes based off assigned books that I
read on spark notes. I still graduated high school at the top of my class. I had a 4.6 GPA,
and I am not proud to admit that I only read two books in all four years of high school; To
Kill a Mockingbird and The Glass Castle, both of which were mandatory for English class.
Although they were good books, I never found a joy and time for reading for pleasure
again. I still havent.