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illiteracy in america

It is never too late to learn how to read.

"I'm a university graduate," I began, "with a bachelor's degree in education and business administration and over 90 additional graduate units. I attended school for 35 years, half of them as a professional educator. In acquiring these experiences, I could not read a textbook or write the answer to an essay question. This is the first public acknowledgment that I have ever made, that I have been a functional illiterate for almost 50 years.”

– John Corcoran, October 1987

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the techer who could't read

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the bridge to literacy
 

News & Events

JCF Annual Report Now Available

Download a copy of the John Corcoran Foundation Annual Report

Upcoming Appearances

A chance to hear John speak in your area! Click on an event below for more information.

Learning Lab Idaho
Boise, ID
Friday February 5th, 2010

Corona Library
Corona, CA
Thursday February 11, 2010

2010 Scientific Learning Southern Region Brain Summit
Nashville, Tennessee
Tuesday February 23, 2010

Gang of Hope Screening of "Broken Promises - Where is the Love?"
Los Angeles, California
Saturday February 27, 2010

Placentia Library - Author Luncheon
Placentia, California
Saturday March 6, 2010

International Dyslexia Association
University of San Diego
Saturday May 8, 2009

News Articles

Member Spotlight: John Corcoran
By Alison Werner, Senior Writer
The Literacy Tribune, July 6th, 2009

The Pain of Illiteracy
Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast
U.S. Air Date: February 6, 2009

"Teacher who couldn't read" speaks
By ALEJANDRA MOLINA
The Orange County Register - February 27, 2009

"Tavis Smiley TV Interview"
Tavis Smiley
PBS Television - December 18, 2008

"GET IT RIGHT ON READING, BAM"
by John Corcoran
New York Post - December 4, 2008

"Corcoran Builds a 'Bridge to Literacy'"
by Greg Toppo
USA TODAY - December 2, 2008

"Overcoming Illiteracy"
Radio interview with Dr. Robin Smith on Oprah and Friends
October 2008

"From Non-Reader to Acclaimed Author, John Corcoran Keeps Turning Pages"
by B. Denise Hawkins
Catalyst - October 2008
Read John's interview by B. Denise Hawkins in the National Institute for Literacy newsletter, Catalyst.

"Toppling Adult Illiteracy"
Radio interview with Michel Martin
NPR, October 2008

"The Importance of Literacy"
Podcast interview with Krys Boyd
KERA Radio, North Texas - Sept 17th 2008

"When words fail: How Rotary is helping Johnny (and Jenny) read"
by Jeff Cade
The Rotarian - March 2008

"My Johnny Can't Read"
by Anonymous
December 2008

"The Man Who Couldn't Read"
by Gary Smith
Esquire Magazine - August 1990

Videos

     

Oprah Interviews John
See the video...

 

Fox 6 News
See the video...

 

Literacy in Media - Lifetime Achievement Award
See the video...

 

Literacy BC's Breakfast of Champions
See the video...

The Foundation

The John Corcoran Foundation was created to promote literacy through John's advocacy efforts, through support of special literacy projects, and through the development of tutoring programs which provide the highest quality research-based instruction. The Foundation has trained 300 tutors and tutored over 2000 students. Come into our website to learn about illiteracy in America, John's amazing story, and how to teach every child and adult to learn to read and write.

Our vision is to help create a society in which each individual has the basic skills necessary to become a success in all aspects of life including education, work and community. The Foundation is actively working to make that vision a reality through its many activities and programs. Most notably, the Foundation is an approved Supplemental Service Provider for literacy in the states of Colorado and California and to date has achieved significant success providing tutoring programs to students of all ages in need of specialized assistance to improve reading skills.

 

Books

the bridge to literacy

The Bridge to Literacy

National literacy advocate John Corcoran, who helped to bring illiteracy out of the shadows with his autobiography, goes back into the "subculture of illiteracy" in, Bridge to Literacy: No Child - or Adult Left Behind.

Read more...

teacher who couldn't read

The Teacher Who Couldn't Read

This is the true story of a high school instructor who triumphed over his illiteracy. This book will give you a profound new appreciation for being able to decipher the words on this or any other page, and will deepen your understanding of the disease of our educational system: illiteracy.

Read more...

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