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Motivation
for Reading and Writing
The Stories of Our Lives
Presented
by:
Missy Corbett, Literacy Specialist
Vision
Literacy - Corrections
Santa Clara Public Library California
The
song that launched SIBL as a nonprofit was founder Deborah
Pardes' "7th STEP", inspired by Frank McCourt's memoir,
Angela's Ashes. Missy Corbett wrote to SIBL about her experience
using this song in her work. This account underlines the power of
storytelling. Beyond functional literacy skills (important as those
are), literature can open the doors of our minds.
Missy
Corbett writes:
I recently had the opportunity to use your song, "7th STEP",
in a learner support class I facilitate at a correctional facility.
The men in my class are between 19 and 42 years old, and their literacy
levels vary greatly. One man is just beginning to write the alphabet.
Another reads and writes quite well, but struggles with basic math.
When the class began, most of them were strangers.
It
was my intention to use "7th STEP" not only as a springboard
for an informal discussion on reading, but also as a way for them
to become comfortable sharing their opinions with each other in
a safe environment. I was very pleased with the results. Everyone
around the table participated, often revealing very personal information
with the group.
For
many, the song touched upon a familiar circumstance in their childhood�poverty,
hunger, parental alcoholism, and abandonment. I believe it is their
ability to intimately relate to the main character that will entice
my students to read Angela's Ashes. One student has already
begun to read it, with a tutor and dictionary by his side.
At
the end of the class, one man asked me, "You mean, people really
want to read about a life like that?" I told him how the book
was on the New York Times Best Seller list for weeks, and that there
are shelves of books with similar stories, just waiting to be opened.
He said that he has a story, too. Perhaps the SIBL Project will
inspire new writers as well.
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