Blog #1 Entry

Ch. 1 Summary:

Literature is an experience that opens up the door to innovation. “These experiences are available at any time on the nearest bookshelf” ( Norton, 2007). Literature ultimately leads to expansion of the imagination. When one’s imagination broadens, creativity is unleashed and the impossible becomes more tangible; minds are stimulated and inspiration is birthed. In the movie “Matilda”, the young main actress, whom is alienated by her own family, finds comfort within the pages of books. The books became her “home” and the characters became her friends. Due to her adoration of reading, her mind was strengthened and her abilities became “supernatural”.

There are five elements of emotional intelligence in which literature assists in developing; self awareness, managing emotions, handling anxiety, motivating oneself, and gaining sensitivity towards others. When children are young in age they experience literature through picture books. Young children can identify with pictures, more so than a page with just text alone. It grabs their attention and pulls them into the story. Reading to young children daily is essential to their language development; it also encourages literacy development in early in life. It has been proven that children who were read books to at a young age were more advanced than children whom were not read to often. Parents, caretakers, and teachers all play a role in the development of a child; each has a responsibility to encourage reading and entice children to find pleasure in the discovery of reading. Furthermore, oral language development leads to reading and writing success. The more a child reads (or is exposed to literature) the better off they will be when it comes to organizing their ideas and when making complex generalizations.

Values:

According to me… A value is any word (or idea) that defines your character. It is more than what you believe in, it is part of your foundation; what you stand for. Values will in one way or another determine what actions you will possibly take in life. As a child I grew up believing that others’ values were all positive; however I know have discovered that some values can surprisingly be the quite opposite. I researched a infamous man who upheld the values of recognition, power and wealth ; all narcissistic- driven values. Eventually his values led him to his own destruction. “Pride comes before a fall”. This man was Adolf Hitler; a man possessed by the demand to empower, intimidate and destroy.
POWER, RECOGNITION, and WEALTH. .. There are other values I would rather hold close to my heart. Power is a form of dominance and wanting to be supreme; I have no desire to be powerful, after all there is only One who is supreme. Recognition is a form of pride; I could care less if Cindy Lou Who likes me or accepts me; I don’t live to please anyone but One. Wealth is a foolish thing to chase after; yes you may have plenty of possessions and money to buy more, but when you die, do you honestly think you will get to take your possessions with you? If being self- centered ends in gloom, wouldn’t you think being selfless would actually be fulfilling?

The value I consider most important is love. Love encompasses so many values within itself. When a child is taught by their parents what love is, that child will grow up loving themselves and others I was loved by my parents when I was growing up, but I didn’t know what true, unselfish devotional love was until I met the love of my life. Yes I am talking about a man; the most perfect man in the world. I was recently asked why I smiled all of the time and my response was that I was in love with the Lord. I may sound extreme… I’m glad if I do! Jesus taught me how to love because he first loved me… a screw up; someone who found it impossible to love others, even herself. Love will eventually have a “domino effect” on the other values. For example, through the love I was shown, I grew to respect, not only Him but others as well. I picked up the values of loyalty, wisdom, honesty, forgiveness, freedom, truth and health by being exposed to His value of love. This value (love) is talked about much but stories about love only go so far; love has to be experienced before it becomes instilled in one’s life. Although I am not perfect, I try my best to display my Father’s love everyday. There is only one way to teach this value; become love and display it in everything you say and do.