Looking Back While Moving Forward

~ Becky Ross Michael
Becky as Mrs. Wishy-Washy,
Joy Cowley’s Delightful Character

I try not to dwell on the past, but I often enjoy thinking of my teaching years. I especially loved teaching reading, using books like Joy Cowley’s “Mrs. Wishy-Washy” stories. Many times, I’m able to effectively use my background in education to enrich both my writing and freelance editing work.

My editing projects sometimes involve non-fiction educational materials. And, of course, picture books provide an abundance of teachable scenarios. Blog articles I’ve written aimed at early childhood education have also been published, along with several decodable readers.

I’m happy to say that one of my fiction stories has recently been published, which combines reading instruction strategies with a fun fantasy setting. Click here to meet Mr. Zappo and his “buzzing letters.” He and Ms. Exeter are the early elementary teachers we each would have been lucky to meet while learning to read!

56 thoughts on “Looking Back While Moving Forward”

  5. A fun story. I remember not much liking my first teacher when I was four and a half. I do recall looking at words pinned round the wall and worrying that I would never be able to know the difference between to, too and two! I also thought our reading books very boring, but somehow I learnt to read quickly. My mother went to the school to complain because I had to do the same book over again as no one else was ready to go on to the next book! I can imagine Mr. Zappo floating round to various schools to help.

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      1. I learned with Dick and Jane, Liz:) I didn’t realize at the time how boring those stories were, but did think of “reading class” (like Dick and Jane) and reading “real books” as two separate things. They shouldn’t be, that’s for sure! I still do like the artwork from those vintage reading materials, though…they take me back.

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  8. What a fun post, Becky! Seeing you as Mrs. Wishy-Washy and then reading your story that contains the best sentiment ever: “when you can read, the whole world is yours!” I truly believe that reading saves lives and I applaud you for helping young readers on their journey. 🙂

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  14. I’m surprised by the negative comments about Dick and Jane. I grew up in with them, and phonics, but I had fabulous teachers, and those books weren’t the beginning and end of what we were exposed to. I’ve been away from education for such a long time it was a shock to me when I discovered that ‘sight words’ were a thing. The move back to phonics (‘sound families,’ if you will) is great. I certainly enjoyed your story.

    One thing that I do remember from early childhood is how many adults read to us. My mother began reading to me when she still was rocking me, and she paid no attention to content. It might have been poetry, or an article about holiday cookies from one of her magazines. I was reading by the time I started school at four, and in my grade school years, every teacher read aloud to us every day. In summer, the bookmobile kept us supplied with new books, and my parents allowed me to read anything I pulled from their extensive library. By the time I was in high school, “going to the library” was a favorite activity.

    I’m running on too long, but it’s just so wonderful to have people like you finding ways to encourage kids to read. Emojis are fine, but they never will replace a large and useful vocabulary!

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    1. Linda, thank you; I appreciate your kind words! I have fond memories of Dick and Jane because I was excited to learn how to read. But I realized later that the stories weren’t very interesting because of the highly controlled vocabulary. Probably my own teachers didn’t do enough to get beyond those books. I know my older sister had a teacher who read to the students each day. I don’t remember having that. BUT my sister sometimes read to me before bed, which was wonderful! And I loved going to our little city library.

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  15. Congratulations, Becky, on the publication of your story, which I loved. The opening line spoke to me straight away. I think I still live there! I wish every child the joy of a good teacher and of reading.

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  16. Fantastic, Becky!
    I went over and read your story.
    I tried to “like”, but it didn’t work. It’s a fabulous teaching tale.
    Congrats on the publication!
    I’ll make one last try to “like” over there!
    Happy New Year!

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  21. Hi Becky, Congratulations! Bear with me – I want to come back and read – been rather overwhelmed lately, but I most definitely will. I’m a fan of the quote at the top of TEBOK KAI – seen it before,and I’m interested in any site that would us it. Be back!!!

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