ABSTRACT
Literacy skills have always been a precursor to success. Those who can read and write well become powerful communicators; such people are the movers and shakers of society in many cases. Many educators categorize certain struggling readers as disabled —those whose skills do not allow them to comprehend text. The traditional curriculum places little to no emphasis on the value of reading from an aesthetic perspective. Meanwhile, a larger and larger percentage of students haven’t had enough positive experiences with literature in school to foster a desire to spend any time with books. In both cases, the words evolved and changed as the language evolved and changed and people needed new meanings. Over the years, the author was blessed with lots of great teachers who guided toward loving books and becoming a writer.
