Reading Rant

I am a 10th Grade English teacher.

I am helping one of my students read Frog and Toad Together in the first 10 minutes of class while other students work on the warm-up activity.

In case it's been a while since you ventured into this section of the bookstore, here is a page of the book:

We read it twice in class if there's time, and then she takes it home to read to her little sister twice that night. The next day, we read the next two pages. Although we have trouble with "then" and "them" and "there," she hasn't complained once.  Oh, and "he."  H's are difficult, it seems.

10th grade and reading a level-two picture book?  It may sound like she is a special-needs student.

On the contrary, there is absolutely nothing wrong with her. She is extremely bright; she just can't read. And English is her second language. She's been here since kindergarten.

So my question is:  WHAT was her kindergarten teacher doing?

Okay, fine, she had 24 other students all learning to read, most of whom actually understood English vowels, etc, and this girl might have been completely lost.

If that's the case, WHAT was her 1st grade teacher doing?  By 1st grade, half the students have advanced to basic levels of reading, and only half - or fewer - are still struggling.  Fewer demanding immediate and undivided attention.

May I remind you, this student still mixes up 'm' and 'n' sounds?

WHERE WAS HER 2ND GRADE TEACHER?  A 2nd grade student struggling with sounds should be a red flag to every single person who comes in contact with her during the school day.

This might be an appropriate time to mention that a child's 3rd grade reading level is the single most important predictor of his/her future success in school and in the rest of life.

How did this child make it through 9 years of school without someone intervening?  Why didn't someone shake Mom's hand (who, by the way, IS one of the few parents who comes to parent-teacher conferences) and explain that her daughter needs to stay after school for 15 minutes every day so she can, like, oh yeah, LEARN HOW TO READ?  Language barrier?  Get a translator.  There is at least one person in the building who can explain.

And finally, lest you be reading this and feeling smug about the flaws in our education system:

When was the last time YOU darkened the door of a school building to read a few minutes once a week with one student?  Or did you forget that 1 in 10 high school dropouts is enjoying your tax dollars in the state penal system, and the rest are most likely on some form of welfare?

Can you afford to ignore these kids?

Okay, yes, you're right.  It IS the teachers' job to teach kids to read.

And, yes, that's what I'm doing, so you're off the hook... this time.

But if I don't take the time, and you don't take the time, who will?  Honestly, who will?

I teach 10th grade.  I'm not even certified to teach reading; nor was it part of my coursework.

Would I be justified if I just passed her on?  At this point, yes I would.  I'd just be another of the approximately 26 teachers who already had her in one of their classes.  If she's passing the test with at least a 60% (which, magically, she does), why hold her?  Would she magically learn to read in that extra year?  Doubtful.

For whatever reason, nine years of teachers failed my student.

Her future is at stake.

Can you ignore it?