Advanced Essay #2: Troubles with literacy

Intro:   

In this paper I focus on how kids that have disabilities are affected in the way they view literacy. I focused more on a personal disability to better express what I know and inform everyone real life issues children are going through. I am proud that I got to talk about an issues that I have struggled with personally. A plan to continuing growth as a writer is writing more about personal experiences.

“You read slow, read faster. Fix your grammar. You can’t write.” Words that taunt one’s way of seeing English class. Words that make you not participate because everything you say you will just get judged for it anyway. Getting judged on issues in english class that kids everyday are suffering with the same problem, so, at least, I am not the only one. I have a comprehension problem where I have issues comprehending what I read as well as others. The comprehension problem was worse in middle school because I would have to read a book maybe three times to fully understand what the story was about. I would read slower so I can understand what I am reading at the first try and not have to keep reading it over and over. People always told me to “read faster” but what good would that do me. Getting put in “special classes” just because kids like me don’t read or write like the rest of them shows us that we are not like everyone. Sherman Alexie once said in the essay Superman “I refuse to fail” was something we always followed. We didn’t want people thinking they have a right to say hurtful things to us just because we have disabilities. Especially me  I was not going to let them get to me, I will show them I am just as good as anyone of them. Everyone is their own person and we are not always going to know to same as other people. I thought we were suppose to do everything at the best of our abilities not do something and if you are not on the level than they label you as being slow or needs extra help. That’s the problem especially in english class kids always point out the “slow readers” and criticize them. There is a reason for these kids reading slow and not being able to comprehend.

Today many kids suffer with reading disabilities, reading rockets states the abilities such as  phonological deficit, processing speed/orthographic processing deficit, and comprehension deficit are common . Phonological deficit is an explanation for the cause of reading difficulties and dyslexia. Processing speed/orthographic processing deficit is a disability that kids that don’t have good grammar. Comprehension deficit is “an active problem solving process in which readers relate the ideas in the text to own knowledge and experiences which allows the reader to create a mental construct in memory” (National Reading Panel, 2000, p. 23). A lot of young children feel alienated from reading and literacy because they suffer from these disorders. Often the classroom setting doesn’t allow kids that are slower at reading to fully enjoy the subject.  

“I want everyone to remake the story little red riding hood.” My teacher, Mrs. Goodnow, said. I remember I was in the third grade I didn’t really know much about how to write a story  because I was never a good writer. So, when she told us to write a whole short story.  I panicked the room started spinning and all I kept thinking how this could not be real. The spinning stopped “You have until tomorrow to turn in a draft,” Mrs. Goodnow said. The only good thing  that came out of this was we had to remake my favorite story little red riding hood. When school was over at 3:05, I rushed home to get started on my draft. 5 o'clock hit and  it was dinner time I still had nothing written down on my draft.  I had no clue how to start this story and I also need to draw pictures to match. After I was done dinner, I went to my room because it was the quietest place in my house. I stared at the blank piece of loose leaf paper admiring its perfectly straight lines.” “Lilly snap out of it,” the little voice in my head told me. Only a few hours left to write this before I had to go to bed. I finally started..with the title little green riding hood. Since I wanted to make it funny I started doing the original red riding hood but with funny twist. It took me about a hundred balled up papers on the floor to finally get a good start. After the start more and more ideas kept popping up  in my head.  

The next day I had to read my draft out loud before the teacher told everyone to pick their partners, me and my best friend Natalia gave each other that I choose you look. After we sat with our partners it was time to share out. I was not even nervous because I was partners with my bestfriend. I read mine first just to get it over with so I started with my title and author  “Little green riding hood by Liliana Guercio” then I started the story I wrote. Once..upon..a..tim-- before I could finish she cut me off saying “you read slow, read faster.” I sat there and gave her the death glare. “What?” she questioned. I responded with “that is how I read.” My own best friend criticizing me on how I read. She made me feel like I was dumb and I couldn’t do anything. That is when I became distant in english class. I stopped raising my hand because if I said anything I would feel like everyone would just think I am stupid.

The environment that an english class can present often can alienate children that struggle with learning disabilities.