I enjoyed reading very much as a child. I remember my Kindergarten teacher taking my class to the city library every week. My favorite books were "The Three Billy Goats" and "The Little Red Hen." I loved when the librarian read to us it was magical because she was able to make the characters come alive. I enjoyed the voice changes and physical depiction of the different characters. I enjoyed reading because reading was presented

to me as fun instead of a punishment.  I never had a problem with reading I found learning new sounds to be exciting. When I learned something new I couldn't wait to go home and share it with my mom. For example, I was fascinated that the letter p and h made a f sound when put together. Reading was encouraged at home and at school. I remember when I was in third grade my class was given a reading challenge to see which student could read the most books. The challenge encouraged reading but it was also fun competing against my friends. I don't remember what the incentive was but the goal for the teacher was to get us to read more and it worked.   
      As a teenager reading wasn't as exciting for me as it had been in the past because it was more of a requirement. We weren't allowed to pick our own reading material instead it was already assigned for us. It's different when you have free will because you can read books that excite you. I found some of the books that I was required to read to be boring. I read because I had to and not for enjoyment. When I was younger I was excited to visit the local library but as a teenager I felt the total opposite because visits to the library meant I had to write a book report.
     As an adult I don't read as much as I would like because time doesn't always allow it. There are times when I still try to squeeze a good book in whether its on the weekend, a plane ride or a trip to the beach. I feel a little bit of excitement when I hear a book I already read is being turned it to a movie. I understand the importance of reading and I think we have to continue to encourage children to read read read. There are so many more distractions this day in age than there were when I was growing up. I think the approach that a parent or a teacher uses is very important because if children see reading as a punishment than they aren't going to be excited to read. If reading is made fun and exciting more children will want to read. I think I was given a great foundation because reading was encouraged at home and at school. My mom always reinforced what I learned at school and I think that was a great help.