The Teacher Who Couldn’t Read
When I read this headline I was very curious, as I’m sure you are too, as to how this was possible. The teacher shares their story so as to encourage anyone who is having difficulty learning to read, write and spell, that they can learn given the right help. Here is a summary of his story.
The teacher’s name is John Corcoran. Until he was 48, he had a reading age of a 6 year old. He managed to graduate from an American high school and college, and to work as a high school teacher and real estate developer without it ever being discovered that he couldn’t read or write very well. He has since then learnt to read, written a book called ‘The Teacher Who Couldn’t Read’, and now shares his story to help others learn the joy that being able to read can bring into their lives.
Christine Hawkins
Owner KMEC Hunter
In an interview with TeachHUB, John explains how he became a teacher. He doesn’t go into the details but he was certainly not proud of how he achieved this goal. We can only guess at the amount of lying and cheating he would have had to have done and wonder at the amount of energy and intelligence it would have taken to fool those around him for all that time.
He goes on to say: “When I could read, the whole world of learning opened up to me. No matter how smart or clever a person is, there’s no way to maximize his or her fullest potential without knowing how to read. We learn to read so that we can read to learn. Teaching a child to read is the most important skill necessary for equal opportunity in the classroom and the workplace.”
Here is the link TeachHUB Interview, if you would like to read more.
This story highlights to me that our children have a human right to an Education system that ensures they receive the help they need to be able to read and write well.
In our next newsletter I will list ‘Popular Chapter Books for Young Readers’. Keep a look out for it.
NEW CENTRE UPDATE
We have found a location for our new centre. It will be at 31 St Andrews Street, Maitland. This location was chosen because it is easy to get to from places west of Maitland.
The place is also in a quiet part of town and has lots of off street parking. All going well; we hope to have the centre ready to open for the first week of next Term (Monday 9th October).
Initially, I will be the centre manager and do all of the teaching in the new centre.
Help your child choose a suitable Reading Book
Teach them to use the FIVE FINGER TEST…
1. Choose a page in the middle of the book with lots of words.
2. Read silently. If you come to a word you don’t know put down your thumb.
3. If you find another word you don’t know put down one finger. Keep doing this as you read.
If you use up all your fingers in one page, the book is too hard.
Monthly Joke
Q: What is the difference between illegal and unlawful?
A: One is against the law (unlawful) and the other is a sick bird (ill eagle).
One cow says to the other: “Aren’t you worried about catching mad cow disease?”
The other answers: “Why should I worry? I’m not a cow, I’m a helicopter!”
To help you get started the third one is “Fat Chance”
Daily from next Monday, we will post the answers at
Award for Outstanding Improvement in Maths
Student of the Month
Banana Sushi
Spread nut spread onto flat bread.
Roll a banana in the bread.
Slice and arrange on a plate.
Simple, healthy and delicious!
