February Is the Hardest Month
Posted February 24, 2020
by Linda Diamond, President, CORE and author of Teaching Reading Sourcebook
When I was seven years old, my mother and father brought home my newly adopted baby brother, Larry. Right from the start, I thought that he was mine and that it was my job to protect him and love him. And I tried. But he was not an easy child, and as he grew older he was always in trouble and sometimes violent, even breaking car windows on the neighbor’s car and hitting another neighbor with a baseball bat. He was angry all the time, but I didn’t know why. However, when he was in seventh grade I realized that he couldn’t read and that every day at school was another day of rage and embarrassment. He brought those feelings home with him. Not one of his teachers tried to help and my parents were at a loss, so I, a high school student and knowing very little, tried to help him. I taught him letters and then I did flash cards, and we would laboriously sound out easy words. Often after a really bad day at school he would crawl into my bed and let me read to him. And during those quiet times, he would ask, “Why am I like this?” I had no answer.During high school he was in and out of jail and Juvenile Hall. It came to the point where when the police called, I would go pick him up and bring him home. One day I got a call while I was teaching my high school students (yes, I became a teacher). The principal handed me the phone, and an officer gave me the news that my brother had been found dead of what was deemed an intentional drug overdose. He was in the morgue and I was called to identify him. That last loving act fell to me, and that is why I cannot rest or be quiet until every student gets teachers who are committed to teach reading effectively, so we don’t continue to have reading casualties like my brother. It was February 1975.
4 responses to “February Is the Hardest Month”
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© 2020 Consortium on Reaching Excellence in Education®
When I was seven years old, my mother and father brought home my newly adopted baby brother, Larry. Right from the start, I thought that he was mine and that it was my job to protect him and love him. And I tried. But he was not an easy child, and as he grew older he was always in trouble and sometimes violent, even breaking car windows on the neighbor’s car and hitting another neighbor with a baseball bat. He was angry all the time, but I didn’t know why. However, when he was in seventh grade I realized that he couldn’t read and that every day at school was another day of rage and embarrassment. He brought those feelings home with him. Not one of his teachers tried to help and my parents were at a loss, so I, a high school student and knowing very little, tried to help him. I taught him letters and then I did flash cards, and we would laboriously sound out easy words. Often after a really bad day at school he would crawl into my bed and let me read to him. And during those quiet times, he would ask, “Why am I like this?” I had no answer.
Aye. The things we learn about each other. Thanks for this sharing. I feel lucky pretty much every day my parents moved when I was young and learned how to read. Actually graduated from HS. College. And more.
At one time, I taught 2nd grade during the day and ELD in the evenings at the California Youth Authority (jail). I did so for (3) years and was amazed how much wards could grow in their reading skills with just (2) things, explicit/systematic instruction and daily heartfelt encouragement. There is a way out for these kids, but it is a race to inspire them into believing they can make much better choices – with their new found skills. Thank you for sharing.
I’m so sorry. There are real casualties from illiteracy. Thank you for your work. I’m sure you see your brother in those you work to help.
I am so sorry this really hit me hard. My work is with “those” kids and my intention is that they have the skills to believe in themselves and have the opportunity to live life to its full potential. Your brother was lucky to have you as a support. If only all teachers could understand the importance of early intervention for all of our readers. The stakes are so high.