Reading Response #11 (Brandt)

Pre-reading:
-TV commercials
-Radio commercials
-Local library reading programs
I haven't really seen many programs that sponsor writing, but growing up I saw/heard a lot of commercials that emphasized the importance of reading, usually with some celebrity telling me why I should read more, and my local library always had reading programs to encourage kids to read more.

Summary:
In her article "Sponsors of Literacy," Deborah Brandt explains the concept of literacy sponsors, who are the people that inspire (or sponsor) others to read and write more. She puts this into three different categories, Sponsorship and Access, Sponsorship and Appropriation in Literacy Learning, and Sponsorship in the Rise of Literacy Standards.

Compare/Contrast:
It was hard for me to compare this to other articles we've read, but it did remind me of the various articles I've read in magazines and newspapers about the decline of literacy in the country.

AED
1. My literacy sponsors were probably my parents and various teachers that I had, especially in elementary school. They didn't specifically try to steer me in any direction, but their guidance was very helpful and has helped me immensely.

Thoughts:
I liked this article a lot, if only because I have always been fairly interested in literacy. It is very hard for me to imagine not being able to read, because reading is such a big part of my life. I like the idea of literacy sponsors, but it makes me sad to know that certain people didn't have them.