However, just because I love reading doesn't mean I was a very good at English classes, even though I did quite well on novel studies I lacked the great grades of Comprehension. I have struggled In ELA since I was in grade school. I would be pulled out of class to work with EAs or attend a special class with a few other students. But it was so important to my parents for me to have the comprehension or reading skills necessary my mother took it upon herself to read out loud with us. She would attend book fairs and buy 4-5 books, and then as a family we would take turn reading the book out loud. It may not have increased my comprehension greatly but it gave me confidence to read out loud. and fluency.
So why Literature? I believe to be fluent in reading is a reflection also of speaking. In many aspects of life, it is necessary for us to stand up and speak what thoughts we wish to convey about certain subjects. Literature helps make that possible. As we have begun to study the importance of Literature I can see how it threads and maneuvers its way into so much other Curriculum then just ELA.
This really hit me when I was living in California and met a women who was illiterate. Her children could read better than her and was responsible to help her in reading. Some daily tasks were hard for her because of this illiteracy. From cooking to reading prescriptions for her children. This helped me realize the importance of Literature in all aspects of Life.