Jamie A Literacy Story Summary and Reflection
“Jamie A Literacy Story” is narrative written by Diane Parker, the teacher of Jamie Panui, who had spinal muscular atrophy. The story is a touching example of the power literacy can have on all of us and our ability to communicate, learn, and grow as individuals. Through the help of her teacher, family, classmates, and other members of the school community, Jamie began to excel in school and receive the proper services she needed (rather than the special education services she was previously receiving that were holding her back). One connection that was very clearly made throughout the book is literacy and social growth. As Jamie’s literacy skills increase, she begins to thrive socially and her social/emotional skills soar. This book is a perfect example of how with the right supports, (parents, teachers, school administration) literacy can change the lives of students.
This book was so incredibly moving. It highlighted so many issues that we see in education and the importance of having high expectations of our students. In the beginning of the book, we hear that Jamie was placed in a special education room due to her physical disability and isn’t receiving a whole lot of academic instruction. It is disturbing to think that the teachers and administration in the school had such low expectations of her, but wow was it powerful to see the shift that occurred once she entered Mrs. Parker’s room! With the support of her teacher and the inclusive environment of her classroom, Jamie thrived academically. Reflecting on this, it is wonderful to see the importance of not limiting or making assumptions about our students. Another part of the story that really impacted me was the speech Jamie’s Uncle Chris gave at her funeral. He stressed the importance of seeing one’s potential and how uplifting it was to see people in her life not limit her based on her physical disability.
In conclusion, this book made me and cry but most importantly, it made me really think about my actions when I am interacting with a student who has a physical disability. This book really drove home the point that lowering the expectations of your students is essentially telling them that you don’t believe they can do what their peers are doing. In the future, I plan on doing my best to push my students to achieve the top of their academic abilities while promoting the most inclusive classroom as possible.
This assignment was a summary and reflection of the book Jamie A Literacy Story. The book was a true story about a child named Jamie Panui living with spinal muscular atrophy. Throughout the story, we learn about her teacher Diane Parker and her efforts to help Jamie through the power of literacy.
I had a great time writing up this paper because I had so much to say about this story. It really goes to show you the power that literacy (or anything a student is passionate about) can have and the impact it can have in a student’s life. I LOVED how much effort Diane Parker put into ensuring that Jamie was supported in her classroom. Parker also did an amazing job at creating an inclusive environment in her classroom where ALL of her students felt engaged and comfortable. Completing this assignment allowed me to synthesize in my own words how this book supported my learning.
