Teacher Wants Poor Reader to Be Retained

My daughter's second-grade teacher and the reading teacher want to hold her back because of reading and writing. Last year, I said "no," and they passed her. She is now reading where she should have been upon entering second grade.
My daughter does not want to be held back. Both the teacher and reading teacher say to give her the summer off, and she will be fine. They don't recommend my getting a reading tutor. What should I do? - Heartbroken
Answer: No child ever wants to be held back, and few ever profit from repeating a grade. There is no guarantee that repeating second grade will give your daughter the help she needs. Since the reading teacher is involved, we hope that your daughter's specific reading problems have been pinpointed through a series of evaluations, and that her vision has been carefully checked.
Your daughter cannot take the summer off. Nothing will happen but for her skills to slip further. Instead, she should work with a tutor several times a week. Or she could participate in a reading clinic if your local college has one. A learning center is another possibility.
You also need to be involved in improving your daughter's reading skills. Read to her every day, have her read easy stories to you, talk about what you have read, and be sure to read aloud together. Make reading fun by playing reading games together.
A very concentrated effort can begin to turn things around. Do keep it up until your child is reading at grade level.