It starts with reading

The single biggest block to achievement by English learners is not that hard to figure out.

I am a retired FUSD elementary school teacher. Poverty we cannot overcome, but here is what no one else may have said.

At FUSD, we teach English language learner students how to read in grades kindergarten through second.

At those ages, they are learning basic English and they do not understand the reading instruction.

Then, in third grade, when they speak basic English, we find they cannot read.

Third grade and up, teachers and schools do not have the time in the school day nor resources to reteach reading to so many kids.

And we just cannot understand why they cannot read. How to solve this is for others to decide, but mandatory summer reading courses might seem in order. Funding can be found somewhere.

This story was originally published July 25, 2015 at 8:28 AM with the headline "It starts with reading."