Nashville students who speak English as a second language have many needs — especially tutors

When Becca Ingle first started tutoring in an English-learning class at Stratford Middle School, she met a dark-haired, dark-eyed girl who would forever leave a mark on her heart.

The student, a sixth grader reading at a second-grade level, swore she couldn't read. She didn't even want to try.

She was born in Africa, and traveled through refugee camp after refugee camp to get to America with her family. As the daughter of a single mother who speaks only Swahili, it was the girl's job to care for her three younger brothers — getting them up and ready for school each day so her mother could be at work at 5 a.m.

With responsibilities at home and her focus always on the needs of others, she lacked time to build confidence in her own reading and writing.

But Ingle would not be deterred. The retired hematology nurse practitioner volunteered one hour each week to sit with the struggling middle school student and help her read.

"I felt particularly called to the refugee population," Ingle said, "because of my own personal conviction. We should be welcoming and supportive of refugees and immigrants, and we fall short of that in many ways, I believe.

"These children have been through a lot of hardship and, often, trauma of different kinds. And they deserve the best that we can give them."

RELATED:All the ways to become a tutor for Nashville public schools students

The bond they formed and the difference it made has been remarkable, Stratford ESL teacher Jeanne Rowan said. But one tutor is not enough.

Many, many more like Ingle are needed.

Twenty two percent of elementary through high school students in the city's public schools are learning English, the highest percentage in Tennessee, according to Nashville education-focused nonprofit PENCIL. 

Vulnerable student groups in Tennessee also face challenges with 75% of low-income students not reading on grade level, PENCIL reports.

As economic and social inequities perpetuate education disparities, these students need the Nashville community to provide extra love and support to succeed.

"All you need to do is show up," Rowan said.

Basic needs: Food, clothing, reading tutors

All of the children in Jessica Glover's fourth grade class at Tusculum Elementary have had either a two-plus-year gap in schooling or never attended school in their home countries.

Her students' greatest needs are often basic: Food and clothing — particularly during the winter months.

Equally important: They need help with translating.

Very few of her students' parents read or write English. Most are poor, humble families, whose parents came to America so their children could get an education. And they have often gone to astounding lengths to provide that opportunity.

The moms and dads may depend on their kids to be translators, and the language barrier means these parents simply can't help their children with homework.

As a result, many of Glover's students rely on volunteer tutors to help them read at grade level.

There are many programs across the city connecting those interested in becoming a tutor or reading partner with students and classrooms in need. Those include Book'em; Communities in Schools; Friends Learning in Pairs; PENCIL and the YMCA's Youth Development programs.

All these organizations need is for interested volunteers to reach out and sign up.

Changing kids lives in just one hour a week

There are also some schools that don't get support from these pipelines and are left with needs they can't fill. Ingle is the only tutor in Rowan's class — and that connection wouldn't have happened had Ingle not taken the initiative to find a teacher to help.

There have been days when Ingle has arrived to volunteer and Rowan has five new students in her class — none of whom speak English.

"It's an impossible situation," Ingle said.

But Ingle didn't need to be fluent in another language or specially trained as an educator to be effective. She simply read with the students and is a consistent presence, one hour in the classroom, one day a week.

"It doesn't have to be eight hours a week or 12 hours a week," Ingle said. "These kids need so much attention. It's the one-on-one that lets them know that it's safe and OK to get the help they need."

Ingle does something different with the girl she tutors every week. One week, they may choose books from the library. Another, Ingle may encourage her to write a story about her life.

"Ms. Becca was giving her the space to feel a sense of self and to understand she has the right to be here and she has a story to tell," Rowan said. "And that we care."

Not all the moments are golden. Even now, reading some texts can be a struggle. There are days when the girl is sad about something and can't focus. Those are the days Ingle just sits and reads to her.

In Rowan's class hangs a painting of the girl — one a friend created based on one of the stories tutor and student wrote together. 

She's a seventh grader now, and thriving, but every once in a while she will come by to visit that portrait. One that represents all that she was and all she has become.

With Ingle's help.

Reach Jessica Bliss at 615-259-8253 and jbliss@tennessean.com or on Twitter @jlbliss and please support local journalism.

How to become a tutor in Nashville public schools

From PENCIL to Friends Learning in Pairs, there are many ways to volunteer as a tutor or reading partner and help Nashville school kids excel.

Here are all the ways you can get engaged.

Book’em

Book’em has more than 200 volunteers who serve as reading role models in local elementary schools. Background checks are required for all volunteers reading to or working with children and teens.

Those interested in volunteering can learn more at bookem-kids.org/volunteer

Friends Learning in Pairs

This school-based literacy program pairs volunteer adult tutors age 55 and older with students in partner elementary schools in Davidson and Williamson counties. Volunteers are matched with three to four students for 30-minute individual sessions during the school day throughout the school year.

To learn how to get involved visit fiftyforward.org/volunteer/rsvp

Martha O'Bryan Center

This poverty-focused nonprofit offers paid, after-school tutor positions to help elementary, middle and high school students. Tutors are responsible for providing hands-on support and assistance to students, including homework help and tutoring support in math, reading and writing. Tutors also provide opportunities for students to express themselves through dance, STEP, art, athletics, science, and more.

To learn more visit: www.marthaobryan.org/careers

PENCIL

Through PENCIL's reading partners program, volunteers help children grow in their reading skills to be on grade level with their peers. There is a background check component that prospective volunteers must fill out.

For more information visit: www.pencilforschools.org/reading

YMCA's Youth Development programs

The YMCA's outreach programs have a significant need for volunteer literacy tutors, specifically in the North Nashville and East Nashville areas. Volunteers work one-on-one with kindergarten through fourth graders who are behind in their reading scores. They are paired together one hour per week for eight to 13 weeks in a semester.  

For more information in volunteering or serving as a mentor visit: www.ymcamidtn.org/y-cap/nashville

Contact the school directly

Not all Nashville Public Schools are connected to a volunteer reading program. Some teachers recommend reaching out directly to a specific school's principal to inquire about volunteer tutor opportunities and needs. Through Metro Nashville Public Schools Community Achieves program, some of the schools have completed needs assessments and developed plans for partnerships to help the most vulnerable students. Interested volunteers can contact a schools' site manager for more information.

To see the needs assessments and find contact info visit www.mnps.org/communityachieves

About Season to Give: Supporting Nashville's neediest students

The Tennessean's annual Season to Give series traditionally engages in helping local nonprofits. This year, our focus is on Nashville's poorest students and classrooms in hopes of inspiring the community to support education in this city and kids who need extra love and support Nashville school teachers. 

Here's how to create your Adopt-a-Teacher wish lists

What: The Tennessean's Adopt-a-Teacher program allows the community to help refill teachers' classroom supplies or buy necessary extras to make the second half of the year as successful as the first.

Teachers, for example, may ask for supplies for a science experiment, flash cards for math practice or soft pillows for a reading center. They may also mention the need for classroom tutors or reading volunteers.

Individuals and local businesses are then encouraged to adopt those teachers and fulfill their wishes.

When: Nashville public school teachers can register for the Adopt-a-Teacher initiative and create their wish lists from now through Nov. 29.

The community will be able to adopt teachers Dec. 1-31. 

Why: By sharing the stories of Nashville’s neediest students and classrooms, we hope to inspire the community to give back and help support education in this city.  

Teachers can register here and get started on your wish list: adoptateacher.tennessean.com