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ISBN: 9780864925473

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Breaking the Word Barrier

Stories of Adults Learning to Read

In this compelling collection of first-person stories, adults who have made outstanding achievements in adult literacy were paired with writers to tell of their transition to reading. These are people who have had the courage to overcome the barrier of words to break into a broader sense of themselves, to feel more empowered in the world. Courageous, too, is the very sharing of these stories, in which private moments are opened wide with the hope that others will take the same steps. Whether confronting undiagnosed dyslexia, a Canadian Tire store manager to ensure Christmas for a child, written tests for the military, certification exams, or jumping from an airplane, these people are heroes.

Contributors

Marilyn Lerch

Marilyn Lerch who lives in Sackville, New Brunswick, has one cycle of poems and two collections of poetry published. She enters her seventh decade still asking the big questions, still wondering what our species is turning into, as excited by mourning doves nesting in the kiwi as she is by Hubble’s farthest reach.

Angela Ranson

Angela Ranson is a high-school English teacher and a Master of Arts student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her short stories have appeared in Canadian Stories magazine and Angels on Earth magazine, and her non-fiction articles have appeared in several newspapers in the province, including the Moncton Times and Transcript. She is also writing scripts and recently wrote and directed a sold-out dinner theatre in Sackville, New Brunswick, entitled Spice of Life.
Chapter Title Contents Contributors Pages Year Price

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Forward from Lieutenant-Governor Herménégilde Chiasson. 4 $0.40

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Preface by authors Marilyn Lerch and Peter Sawyer. 2 $0.20

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Beth Powning recounts the story of Linda. The story discusses disability, adult literacy, and the Read Saint John program. 6 $0.60

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Marilyn Lerch recounts the story of Joe. The story discusses dropping out of high school, helplessness, shame, abuse, self-doubt, and his journey to receiving his GED (General Educational Development). 5 $0.50

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Carol Knepper recounts the story of Jason. The story discusses dyslexia, the school system and disability, helplessness, hiding his condition, living with dyslexia, and finding motivation to … 5 $0.50

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Evelyn Butcher recounts the story of Allan. The story discuss his time as an athlete, experience in the special Olympics, special needs classes and programs in schools, and wanting to go to college. 4 $0.40

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Laura Wells recounts the story of Elaine. The story discusses the desire to read to your children, anxiety, the impacts of poor experiences from the school system, her children, work aspirations, … 4 $0.40

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June Horsman recounts the story of James. The story discusses his experiences with special education, his working years, and his desire to upgrade his education later in life. 4 $0.40

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Richard Toth recounts the story of Maurice. The story discusses his success in business, his motivations to learn as an adult learner, tractors, and the importance of writing letters in business. 5 $0.50

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Judy Bowman recounts the story of Patricia. The story discusses surviving an abusive marriage, freedom, education, and her passion for helping others. 5 $0.50

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Noeline Bridge recounts the story of Dennis. The story discusses his working life, challenges, unions, and more. 4 $0.40

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Kathie Goggin recounts the story of Bev. The story discusses his family’s illiteracy, challenges in school, being experienced for jobs but not qualified as he could not past tests, his … 5 $0.50

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Angela Ranson recounts the story of Roger. The chapter discusses his early childhood, struggles with school, his mother, foster care, his foster mother Jean, cadets, the death of his father, and … 8 $0.80

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Wendy Kitts recounts the story of Karen. The chapter discusses her focus on working, her daughter Emma, moving to New Brunswick, getting her GED, her struggles with learning math, and hopes to … 6 $0.60

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Richard Doiron recounts the story of Ralph. The chapter discusses his functional illiteracy, difficulties in school, foster care, the Moncton Boys & Girls Club, and his active journey to literacy. 5 $0.50

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Afiena Kamminga recounts the story of Cathy. The chapter discusses her difficulty learning, her dyslexia, her time learning with CALP, and more. 3 $0.30

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Dawn Watson recounts the story of Raymond. The chapter discusses his frustrations with being unable to help his daughter with her schoolwork, being unable to reproduce his signature, Polly … 4 $0.40

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Laurie Glenn Norris recounts the story of Myrtle. The chapter discusses her upbringing, foster care, her Indigenous identity, being a mother, family, being illiterate and navigating a city, … 6 $0.60

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Janet Hammock imagines the future story of Teena, someone currently learning how to read and write. The chapter is different discusses reaching ones literary goals, motivations afterwards, … 8 $0.80

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Greg Cook concludes the book with the afterword: Adventures in Literacy. The chapter reflects on the topics and stories discussed throughout the book including the empowerment of literacy, … 3 $0.30

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The appendix includes Canada’s Adult Literacy Statistics, a list of Educational Programs in New Brunswick, and a list of Literacy Service Providers Across Canada. ; 10 $1.00