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Javon Floyd

Learning English in elementary school

The days of elementary school at cedar fork. Times were rough, unbearable, and

destructive through all five years. I could not do anything. Every subject I was horrible at even if

I did try. The classes for extra help where they would pull you out in the middle of class with

thirty students looking did not help. Yes I was one of them. I felt embarrassed. The only thing

that I enjoyed and was good at had to be recess time or P.E class.

Throughout all my years of elementary school my grades were never good with ones and

twos on every report card. Months will pass with the same results every time with the ‘Ones'

being reading and writing, but I felt as if my teachers were giving me curves everytime. The twos

were the other subjects. I even remember this one time my English teacher said “I will get you

any restaurant of your choice if you score a seventy or higher on your test” , said ms. Bales. I

ended up picking wendys, but for some odd reason I thought she got the names wrong or

something was a mistake. I questioned myself “how could it be an exact seventy?”

Getting a grade higher than what I expected felt so amazing. I was eager to tell my

parents. I would even tell my brother when he would pick me up from school with a big grin on

my face. Telling my parents was the best part only until they asked me how my other grades were

doing. Always too nervous to say because of the consequences like the taking away of my

gaming system, but I had to. Surprises don't sit well with them and it could only be worse if i

didn't say anything. It was always two sides of my brain clashing it out. I took a deep breath in
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and let it out silently and with a big gulp, I told them. It sounded like an echo. My head starts to

pounce.

My mother and father were giving me hour long talks everytime it involved my grades. I

believe my parents were a big tool in the reason why my literacy skills have prospered. I recall

there being thirty minute daily reading logs. I used to cheat them by saying I read the thirty

minutes and asking my parents to sign but that was over. From about second till the fifth grade

my parents would either read the book to me, ask me what it's about or I read it and tell them

what it's about. Sometimes I would literally cry because I did not want to read and from

stuttering, mispronouncing, wanting to go faster but couldn't, and just getting distracted with

other things. Looking at the clock every second was my worst habit. These things made me want

to give up; I felt stupid.

My parents didn't just get fed up with me but actually helped by pronouncing the words

along with me, reading out loud, and comprehending (my biggest issue). Time goes by around

fall in the 4th grade. A big project is coming up that requires you to present to the class. I break

down in these situations because I know I cannot read and speak like my peers. My parents came

up with the idea to present to the family. I only have one sibling, so a total of four of us. The

Presentation was rough. I had to take a two minute breather and rub my eyes because water

started to form in the crevistsis, so I ran into the bathroom about 20 feet away and came back

having to start over. Through all the crying, mispronouncing, and me saying “I cant”. I presented

to my family. I manned up like my dad will always say. They told me some things I needed to go

over before my presentation. The day was here, around 1:00pm we transitioned into english.

“Are there any volunteers?” said Ms Bales. Nobody raised their hands. Luckley I was the third

person to go. As I'm walking up to plug in my usb card into the computer I could smell my
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armpits filled with sweat, my face turning red, and hands shaking. The last deep breath got to me

and I was able to calm down and presented my project with a few stutters but it was “well done”

said Ms. Bales. That's the only thing that punctured my brain that day. I couldn't think of

anything else.

As time went on in elementary school I'm thankful for its peaks and valleys. As I look

back, it was a learning curve for me. The only thing holding me back was myself. From reading

captain underpants trying to recite what I read was even difficult. I could only recite maybe two

pages, but reading out loud to myself really moved my literacy upwards. Later on I could read

about 10 pages and so on and so on. Reading everyday for about a month I could do chapters. To

further enhance my skills there was this one particular book I remembered reading over and over

to make sure I grasped it. It took months to find a book just right for me but I came to the

conclusion of The Hunger Games. This book was about people who would battle till the death in

an area till one is remaining. Reading this book at first was difficult. There were times where I

would just stop because it got too complex, but some parts would just pull me back in. I wanted

to learn this book so badly. I read about 10 pages and I would write down on a sheet of paper

what I just read even if the sequences did not line up. Reminds me of my freewriting that we do

in Professor Campbell class. Write down anything that comes to mind besides mine was anything

about the book. Anything and everything helped. Knowing that I wasn't good with reading just

yet, I even watched the movie chapter by chapter just to help with comprehension.

Despite the unwelcoming of English, I'm surprised and very happy I came this far. From

elementary school; not wanting to read, speak, nor write, and making papers damp in the books

from the tears I shed. To this day, I actually enjoy every part of English. My parents really
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boosted and influenced me to become better. I came to see that English is more than just words

on paper. Words that can make art, words that can heal, there's infinite meanings.