We share the following script, taken from a teacher’s real experience, as a discussion starter about high school students who see themselves as non-readers. As you and your professional colleagues read “I Can’t Read” (or maybe ask some colleagues to act it out) , consider the following questions:

What information about T most informed the narrator’s choices?

How did the narrator approach her first meeting with T?

How did T respond?

What feedback did the narrator give to T?

What did T learn?

What did the narrator continue to learn?

What’s the next step?

To follow up on the teacher’s final sentence, “The more you read and the more you learn about reading, the better reader you’ll be.” What support does T need? What support does the teacher need?

I Can’t Read!

Narrator: After my workshop presentation to a group of high school teachers, I thanked my hosts, tidied my papers, and prepared to leave. A participant from the audience approached the dais.

Participant: That was a good presentation and I get what you’re saying. I agree in theory, but what about the students who are finishing high school and simply can’t read? We’ve tried everything and some kids just can’t read. Are you willing to visit our school and show us how to put your words into action?

Narrator (thinking): Okay . . . this is where the rubber hits the road. If teachers are willing to listen to me talk the talk, surely I can respect their time by walking the walk.

Narrator: One week later, I met with the principal, teacher and resource teacher to chat about a student we’ll refer to as T. The conversation began with a list of T’s problems – he skipped school, he was disruptive, he had many suspensions, he’d been tested and was known to be a non-reader, his siblings were non-readers, he never completed his work, etc. etc. Since the list only provided information about what T couldn’t do and included no information about T as a person or what he could do, I asked, “What is T interested in?”

School principal: Kirk Johnson! T lives and breathes Kirk Johnson! (for those unfamiliar with the boxing scene, Kirk Johnson established himself as a notable Canadian boxer.)

Narrator: That’s the information I need. I’ll be back in two days.

Over the next 2 days, the narrator collected information about Kirk Johnson and wrote a series of paragraphs about him. She rewrote each paragraph at a different level of difficulty. Each paragraph was printed on 81/2 x 11 paper in Times New Roman font, size 14. Regardless of the level of difficulty, each paragraph looked identical. Then the narrator went to the school to meet T.

T entered the room with his hoody-covered head down. He slumped in the chair across from the narrator.

T: This sucks! I can’t read and I’m sick of these tests. I’ve had a hundred tests and I know I can’t read. I can’t wait to get out of this place!

Narrator: Okay, but right now, let’s just talk. I heard you know a lot about Kirk Johnson, so I looked him up. Here’s what I know.

The narrator shared what she knew about Kirk Johnson, and T proceeded to fill in the many gaps in my knowledge. T told the narrator about Kirk Johnson’s training, his latest fight and the unfair treatment he got from the press. He also had strong ideas about the press’s bias and fairness.

Narrator: I have some information about Kirk Johnson. Some of these are easier to read than others. We’re going to find one you can read.

T: I TOLD YOU I CAN’T READ! MY TEACHERS KNOW THIS, I KNOW IT . . . WHY DON’T YOU LISTEN!

Narrator: Because many people who say they can’t read or who have been told they can’t read actually can read.

T. Yeah, yeah . . .

Narrator: Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll give you some paragraphs about Kirk Johnson, and you take a few minutes to look through them. Some might seem hard and some might seem easy.

T: Easy! Right! I can’t read, so that won’t happen.

Narrator: After you look over the paragraphs, I’ll ask you to choose one to read to me. I’m going to listen for how your reading sounds . . . I’ll listen to hear if the words you read are correct, if your reading flows fluently, if you notice a mistake, if you fix up a mistake and how you fix up a mistake. I won’t mess around – if it’s too hard, I’ll tell you; if it’s too easy, I’ll tell you.

T: Yeah, yeah.

During this conversation, T’s continued to be slumped in the chair, his hoody still covering his face. 

Narrator: Please choose one of the paragraphs and read it aloud to me.

T: Out loud???!!! No way! That sucks!!!

Narrator: I know, but right now, I need to hear you read, so I can get information about how you read.

T started to read. He was reading at approximately 50% accuracy and in a very halting way. At unfamiliar words, he mumbled. He quickly became frustrated.

T: See! I can’t read! I told you!

Narrator: Then try this one.

T grabbed the next paragraph and started to read. His accuracy improved. It was clear that T noticed this improvement, because his “presence” changed. His back straightened a bit and the lower half of his face became visible.

Narrator: You’re getting more words right, but you’re mumbling some of the tricky words and it still sounds choppy, so it’s too hard. Try this one.

T started read the new paragraph. His accuracy was above 90% and he read fluently. His postured changed again. Now  the narrator could see his face. As he read, the narrator saw the hint of a smile emerge – but just a hint. The narrator had the feeling T was surprised by his reading and was trying to suppress the urge to truly smile.

Narrator: So, you can read.

T: Yeah, I guess, but it’s about Kirk and I know this stuff.

T seemed intrigued with the paragraph and read it again silently. His posture straightened even more.

T: Can I keep this?

Narrator: Yes. It’s yours to keep.

T: So, yeah, I read it, but this isn’t as hard as what we’re supposed to read in class.

Narrator: You’re right. It’s easier.

T: So I can only read easy stuff?

Narrator: No, this is just the start point. You now know that you can read because you heard yourself reading. You can start by reading text like this and then you’ll learn how move on to more difficult text on a wider range of topics. The more you read and the more you learn about reading, the better reader you’ll be.

T: When can we start?

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As a professional conversation, discuss the questions posed above and link this story to your own classroom experiences. What are your next steps?

For more conversations about education, please visit:Beyond the Apple . . . Reframing Conversations in Education or contact us at Beyondtheapplecontact@gmail.com