1. Literacy Autobiography
NAZIMA ALLY

2. Why This Artifact?
This PowerPoint is an essential aspect of my portfolio because it illustrates my growth in literacy as an individual. This is a reminder to me that literacy is a process that can take various paths, and as a literacy educator this should always be present in my instructional planning. This artifact demonstrates what I have come to discover as a literacy professional: literacy development rests on many socio-economic factors, and opportunity and access are crucial to literacy success.

3. BACKGROUND Country of birth
Born to Guyanese parents of East Indian descent.
The first of five children
Grew up in a large, extended family
Mostly traditional and culturally conservative
Country of birth

4. Components of my Literacy Autobiography
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

5. Listening Jumble of voices Mother sang old love songs
Father sang old Hindi songs
Observed the nuances of other people’s language and expressions
Father spoke “differently” when speaking to strangers
Stories and music on the radio
Learned greatly from listening closely

6. Speaking Cultural Influences Development Always the “quiet” one
First words: mama
Spoke fluently: 2 years old
“Speak when you are spoken to”
“Children should be seen and not heard”
First public presentation – fear and embarrassment
Found my “voice” in late teens
Though confidence came with motherhood, remain the “quiet” one
Cultural Influences
East Indian, African, and British
Words for foods, clothing, and rituals
Resulted in a form of “pidgin” English
Code switching: Informal “English” at home with family and friends, and standard English at school and with strangers

7. Reading Learning the English alphabet.
Images made letter-sound coordination easy to remember.
Books with images and sentences
Ex. Dick and Jane Readers
Then ………..

8. Favorites

9. Reading Became a Passion
Materials
Newspapers
Mysteries
Westerns
adventure
Romance
Murder Mystery

10. Limitations After Marriage Social (no library services)
Economic (couldn’t afford)
Social (no library services)
School (no library)
After Marriage
Informational texts, such as health magazines
Religion based texts
Newspapers dominated reading
Internet reading
College required reading

11. Writing Early writing Letters of the alphabet Simple sentences
Special moments or events
Letters to family members
Reflections
I hated writing
It seemed like too much work
Handwriting was atrocious
Just couldn’t get it right

12. Later Writing Reflections
Failed entrance writing first time
First English course
Writing about literature
Graduating seminar writing
Reflections
Still hated writing
Anxiety about college writing
Amazement at my own writing
Realizations about my own writing
Confidence in my own writing