WALT: Write a piece of writing to describe what reading means to us.
I used to think reading was just something teachers made us do. Sit down, be quiet, and turn the page. It didn’t feel like it had anything to do with me until one book changed that.
I remember picking up a story about a kid who felt like they didn’t quite fit in. They were nervous speaking in class, always second guessing themselves. Honestly, it felt like reading about my own life. But as the story went on, that character started trying new things, even when they were scared. They messed up sometimes, but they kept going.
Somehow, that stuck with me. It took me back to the bullies, who pulled my long braids, and those who called me names, but reading took me away from all of that outside noise. Here was my turning point.
After that, reading didn’t feel like a chore anymore. It felt like a place where I could learn things without anyone watching me or judging me. Every time I understood a tricky word or finished a chapter, I felt a little bit prouder. Like, “Hey, I can actually do this.”
And then something weird happened; I started putting my hand up in class more. Not all the time, but more than before. I wasn’t as scared of getting things wrong, because in books, characters get things wrong all the time and still turn out okay.
Reading didn’t suddenly make me super confident overnight. But it helped, bit by bit. It gave me ideas, words, and courage I didn’t have before.
Now I think reading isn’t just about stories. It’s kind of like practice for real life, but helping you believe in yourself, one page at a time. – Whaea Lorraine