The Missouri Reader Vol. 35, Issue 1 | Page 41

Figure 1: Overall Categories Developed for Study One and also used in Study Two Reading Reading Literacy Constructed or Learning Liberation Yin Yang Existential Action Concrete Flower: Reading as portal to the world: Lit dev in each individual is an ever blooming flower that needs soil, water, and fresh air to grow. Literacy is like opening a portal to another dimension because reading opens up a whole new world that didn’t exist Reading presents to the child before. choice between life stories: Reading is like a rock; it either anchors you or drowns you Reading as Fulfillment: Reading is a spark that lights a wildflower of imagination Reading takes practice: Reading and playing basketball go hand-in-hand. The more you practice the better you get. Reading as Gift: A book is the one gift that no one ever returns. Teacher's Teaching Teaching Directed Selfhood Teacher as Teacher as Gardener: Harriet Tubman: A teacher is the sun that rises everyday in the lives of her students. Teachers are the map makers and guides who lead children to greater depths of discovery. Teacher as Director The Teacher is the Director of Chaos. Reading is the bond that ties. Teaching literacy to children is like making a large quilt. Each individual child is sewn together once they have the proper means to communicate with one another Teacher as skill builder towards success: Teaching as Fulfillment: Teaching students to read is finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Teaching as Journey: Teaching is like riding a roller coaster Teacher as builder of structures: Teaching lit is like showing a person how to fish. If you give a man a fish he eats for a day. If you teach a man to fish he can eat for a lifetime. Reading is a building project. We start with a solid foundation and build upon that foundation. 41