John Corcoran - Teacher Who Couldn't Read

An Open Book
High school teacher who couldn't read shares his story as an advocate of education
San Diego Union Tribune: January 26, 2008 by Stephanie K. Parry

OCEANSIDE - John Corcoran taught in the Oceanside Unified School District for 17 years and didn't know how to read.

(By the time) I was 48 years old, I had already graduated from college, taught school for 17 years in California, and I couldn't read or write or spell my native language of English," Corcoran said. This spring, Corcoran, 70, will publish his second book, "Bridge to Literacy: No Child or Adult Left Behind."

"This book really is a call for action. It's a call for gathering all the tribes on both sides of the bridge," Corcoran said. "We, as a society, cannot leave all of this to the teachers."

Corcoran's first book, "The Teacher Who Couldn't Read," told his story of struggling through elementary and high school and then college, and his subsequent experiences as an illiterate educator.

He said he wanted the world to know he didn't beat the system by faking his way through life.

"The system beats people who can't read every single day," Corcoran said.

He explained how he cheated his way through school by stealing copies of tests to memorize and having friends complete his assignments.

"I knew how to read the system, and I knew how to read people," Corcoran said.

He hid his secret from everyone except his wife, Kathleen.

"My wife was the person who did my reading and writing for me. She was my translator in a sense," Corcoran said.

Then he heard about a program at Carlsbad City Library that taught adults to read. He said he decided to try it in 1986, even though he doubted his ability to learn.

"As an adult who doesn't know how to read, we usually think something is wrong with our brain and we can't learn," Corcoran said. "So we give up on the system early, and we give up on ourselves and we carry this with us, this insecurity and fear of the written word."

He recalled lying in bed every night and thinking he wouldn't go back to his tutoring sessions because he didn't think they would do any good.

"I was going because I almost felt sorry for this 65-year-old woman (Eleanor Condit) who thought she could teach me how to read," Corcoran said.

Some days the pair would hold their classes in a room at the fire station next door to the library. The firefighter who opened the door for them was one of Corcoran's former students, so Corcoran asked his tutor to pretend he was teaching her how to read so his secret wouldn't be revealed.

Corcoran said he participated in the program for 13 months and was able to improve his reading comprehension.

"When I went from the second-grade level to the sixth-grade level, I thought I'd died and went to heaven. It whetted my appetite (to learn more)," Corcoran said.

"What we do is help people participate in their life by helping them improve their literacy skills," said Carrie Scott, literacy coordinator at the Carlsbad City Library.
. . . . .
His experiences led Cocoran to become an advocate for education, and he served under former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton on the board for the National Institute for Literacy. He also served on the San Diego Council on Literacy and the executive board of the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles.

He has spread his message on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Larry King Live" and "20/20."

"I just went to the library to learn how to read," Cocoran said.

"I didn't think I would learn how to read ... and here I am writing a second book." READ ON

Literacy facts:
~ More than 20 percent of adults read at or below a fifth-grade level.
~ Forty-three percent of people with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty.
~ Workers who lack a high school diploma earn an average of $452 a month. Source: National Institute for Literacy

Learn more:
For more information on learning to read, contact the San Diego Council on Literacy at (888) 850-READ (7323) or visit literacysandiego.org.

Local adult reading programs
Palomar College (760) 744-1150
Oceanside Public Library (760) 435-5680
MiraCosta College (760) 795-8710
Escondido Public Library (760) 747-2233
Carlsbad City Library (760) 434-2998

2008 SCLLN Tutor-Learner Conference - Guest Speaker: Jonathan Mooney

Southern California Library Literacy Network

Tutor - Learner Literacy Conference

February 23, 2008

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

DoubleTree Hotel, Anaheim

Guest Speaker: Jonathan Mooney

author: The Short Bus

Labeled "dyslexic and profoundly learning disable with attention & behavior problems," Jonathan Mooney was a short bus rider. He graduated with honors from Brown University. Unable to escape his past, he bought his own short bus and criss-crossed the country looking for kids who had dreamed up magical, beautiful ways to overcome the obstacles that separated them from the so-called normal world.

Some of the Sessions:
~ Research Based Fluency & Comprehension
~ Creating Writers
~ Fluent Oral Reading
~ Storytelling as a Literacy Tool
~ Mechanics of Sound
~ Intro to Blogs & Wikis
~ What is Dyslexia
~ Using Picture Books w/ Adult Learners
~ Pronunciation Workshop

$50.00: Members
$75.00: Non-members
$10.00: Adult Learners

For More Information: 714 . 566 . 3070

Escondido Library - Scrabble - Thon: February 2

Scrabble - Thon: February 2

Escondido Public Library's Literacy Services will host its fourth annual Scrabble-thon competition from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 2 at Emmanuel Faith Community Church, 639 E. Felicita Ave.

Scrabble-thon is open to the public -- high school-age students and adults. The entry fee for teams of four is $100; individual entries cost $30. Entry registration will close Jan. 28.

Proceeds will go toward providing literacy services in the community, benefiting adult learning communities, family literacy programming, mobile library services and early-learning labs. There also will be a multi-item raffle and a silent auction, featuring autographed items from Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. Trophies will be given to first- and second-place winning teams, and first- and second-place individuals.

Scrabble-thon is sponsored by the Altrusa of Escondido Foundation, the Bank of Escondido, North County Times and the San Diego Council on Literacy. Registration and information: 760 . 747 .2233.

San Luis Obispo Library - Speaking A Language of Caring

SPEAKING A LANGUAGE OF CARING

Unsung Heroes a Tribune Special SeriesMarita Gifford Teaches English to Her Fellow Employees in the Paso Robles Inn Laundry Room
Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA): December 23, 2007

You won't find any of the usual schoolroom items -- computers, desks, bookshelves -- in Marita Gifford's classroom.

But make no mistake, she's transformed the laundry room at the Paso Robles Inn into a center for learning.

Gifford, 72, is executive housekeeper at the Paso Robles Inn, but her second title is teacher.

Just six months after starting her job at the inn a few years ago, she organized a program to teach English language skills to Spanish-speaking staff members.

. . . . . . .

Eager to help her students even more, Gifford went through a tutoring program for volunteers offered by the San Luis Obispo Literacy Council. The literacy council provided training and materials that helped her broaden the classes. READ ON

SCLLN Tutor Workshop Calendar - January 2008

Southern California Library Literacy Network
Event Calendar: January 2008
- visit SCLLN for more events -

Jan 7: Tutor Orientation - READ / OC
You must attend a Tutor Training Orientation and complete all sessions of the workshop. 714 . 566 . 3070. Ticket Phone: 714.566.3070. Monday, January 7, 2008, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Brea Community Center 695 Madison Way, Brea, CA 92821.

Jan 9: Advance To Literacy: Open House - Colton Public LibraryPresenter: Colton Public Library. Ticket Phone: 909.370.5182. Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Colton Public Library, Main Library 656 N. Ninth St. Colton, CA 92403.

Jan 9: Tutor Orientation - READ / OC
You must attend a Tutor Training Orientation and complete all sessions of the workshop. 714 . 566 . 3070. Ticket Phone: 714.566.3070. Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Heritage Park Regional Library 14361 Yale Ave, Irvine, CA 92604.

Jan 10: Tutor Training - Burbank Public Library
Register for the first session of a 15-hour workshop: also Jan 12 & 26. Adult Literay & Youth Literacy programs: improve reading, spelling and writing skills. Learn how to use Discover Intensive Phonics. 818 . 238 . 5577. Presenter: Burbank Public Library. Ticket Phone: (818)238-5577. Contact: Literacy Office. Thursday, January 10, 2008, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Burbank Public Library Auditorium 110 N Glenoaks Burbank CA 91502.

Jan 12: Tutor Training - Los Angeles Public LibraryAll volunteers must be interviewed First ! Contact: 213 . 228 . 7037. Presenter: Los Angeles Public Library. Ticket Phone: 213.228.7037. Saturday, January 12, 2008, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Pacoima Library Pacoima CA.
Jan 12: Tutor Training - San Luis Obispo City-County Library
A two-session workshop designed for certification as a volunteer tutor. Previous teaching experience is not necessary. All that is needed is the desire to help others. You will learn strategies to teach basic speaking, reading and writing skills in Learning Centers located throughout the county. Also Jan 26. Presenter: San Luis Obispo Literacy Council. Ticket Phone: 800.549.4219. Saturday, January 12, 2008, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM. 1264 Higuera S: 102 San Luis Obispo CA 93401.

Jan 17: SCLLN General MeetingThursday, January 17, 2008, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Heritage Park Regional Branch, OCPL 14361 Yale Irvine CA 92604. For more info visit

Jan 26: Tutor Training - San Diego County LibraryVolunteer ! Help adults improve reading & writing skills. 888 . 466 . 0668. Presenter: LEARN - San Diego County Library. Ticket Phone: 888.466.0668. Saturday, January 26, 2008, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. El Cajon Library El Cajon CA.
http://www.sdcl.org/

Feb 2: Scrabble-Thon - Escondido Public LibrarySupport Literacy Services ! 760 . 747 . 2233. Ticket Phone: 760.747.2233. Saturday, February 2, 2008. Escondido Public Library

Feb 2: Tutor Training - San Luis Obispo City-County LibraryA two-session workshop designed for certification as a volunteer tutor. Previous teaching experience is not necessary. All that is needed is the desire to help others. You will learn strategies to teach basic speaking, reading and writing skills in Learning Centers located throughout the county. Also Jan 26. Presenter: San Luis Obispo Literacy Council. Ticket Phone: 800.549.4219. Saturday, January 12, 2008, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM. 1264 Higuera S: 102 San Luis Obispo CA 93401.

Escondido Library - Library offers labs to help with reading, writing skills

Library offers labs to help with reading, writing skills
Union Tribrune: December 26, 2007 by Pat Sherman

Anita Ornelas concentrated on the image before her, chin resting in her palm as she considered a single letter on the computer screen: B.

“This word has a 'bah' sound,” a computerized voice chimed.

Although she was born in the United States and speaks fluent English, Ornelas never learned to read or write, for decades relying on her husband to convey directions and instructions.

The longtime Escondido resident dropped out of high school in her junior year to raise her first child. When her husband died three years ago, routine tasks became exceedingly difficult.

“Now, here I am all by myself,” Ornelas, 54, said. “Everything was on him.”

Ornelas is one of many North County residents taking advantage of the Escondido Public Library's literacy services program, which expanded last month to include three computer-based literacy labs at its East Valley branch. The labs are designed to encourage adults and families to work independently on literacy-based activities.

The adult lab is equipped with software that assists with keyboarding, reading and writing skills. Two children's labs are geared to help preschool-age children prepare for school; they have worksheets and exercises to study at home.

Ornelas discovered the program this year out of frustration. Unable to read bus schedules to get around town, she walked into the Escondido Public Library's main branch, pleading for help.

. . . . . . .

The skills that Rodriguez is learning in the lab and through the ESL course also allow her to help her second-grader with her homework, she said. Rodriguez hopes to use her newfound skills to study nursing. She plans to start a certified nursing assistant training program next month.

Robin Parker, the library's Families for Literacy coordinator, said the labs allow people who can't take adult education courses because of work schedules or parenting obligations to squeeze in study time when it is convenient.

“Learners come to us from very different backgrounds,” Parker said. “(Some) can have a very good conversation with you in English, but they would have a hard time with job applications or writing a résumé.

The labs include a section where textbooks and study guides can be checked out for up to two months.

Tutors and staff members also are trying to dispel misconceptions about the way children grasp language concepts.

“Parents get a lot of mixed messages,” Parker said. “Some of them think that reading to your child is literally sitting there and reading the book and then that's it. They don't really know how to engage the children. Some parents (who) . . . can't read in English don't read to their children because they don't want to mess up their ability to learn English.”

However, reading to children in any language is valuable, Parker said.

“They're instilling a love for reading and reading books in any language,” she said. READ ON

Escondido library literacy labs

11 a.m. to 8 p.m.Tuesdays and Thursdays
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
East Valley Community Center, 2245 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido
Information: (760) 839-4272

Orange Co Library - Reading, writing and bonding

Reading, writing and bonding
Two Aliso Viejo residents volunteer as literacy tutors for READ Orange County.
Orange Co. Register: Dec 20, 07 by Amanda Pazornik

Jennifer Wood knows the difficulties of learning a second language.

Five years ago, she flew more than 5,000 miles to attend University of Aix-en-Provence in France to immerse herself in French culture and master a language she had been studying since her days at Aliso Niguel High School.

Now the 24-year-old has the opportunity to teach others how to read, write and understand English as a volunteer literacy tutor with READ of Orange County.

Wood and fellow Aliso Viejo resident Sandra Leone recently completed a 23-hour training course as part of their tutor certification and are working with ESL (English as a Second Language) "learners." Their commitment is 50 hours of tutoring over a one-year period.

Learners must be at least 16 years old and be able to speak with and understand English-speaking staff and tutors.

Leone, 51, meets once a week with her learner, a mother of two from Korea, at the Aliso Viejo Library. The match is ideal for Leone who has a 13-year-old daughter and tutors while she is in school.

Leone is helping her learner, who speaks Korean with her husband, to better understand her English-speaking children.

"As her kids get older, it's harder for her to communicate with them," Leone said. "She writes well, reads OK but her confidence when speaking was low. After three meetings, her confidence is building. It's truly amazing."

Nationwide one in five adults is "functionally illiterate," a term used to define adults who have not mastered basic reading, writing and speaking skills, according to Bob West, outreach coordinator for READ Orange County.

That equates to roughly 400,000 adults in Orange County alone, he added.

Wood, now finishing up her French degree at UC Irvine, was matched with another student. The two can be found at the Laguna Niguel Library working on word patterns, phonics and spelling.

"Tutoring is such a positive experience for me," Wood said. "I've only been tutoring for three or four weeks, and I would totally recommend it to anyone."

Watch READ/OC's Video @