Hot Dogs and Hamburgers: Unlocking Life's Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age (Volume 1)

An expected dad plans on his wife delivering the perfect baby. To his surprise, his beautiful son is wired a little differently than the other kids. Scared daddy runs and hides in the closet. Literally. For almost four years he watches from the sidelines as Oliver struggles and by the end of fourth grade, he's barely reading at a kindergarden level. Eventually, Daddy Dearest decides to jump in the deep end and starts taking a course on how to become a reading tutor. His students are all adult African Americans in their 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's. These grown-ups no longer see life through rose-colored glasses and aren't looking for Cinderella endings. They're realistic about their goals and their futures. They no longer want to be President or CEO's of Fortune 500 Companies. They now dream these things for their grandchildren. Instead, they simply want to be able to enjoy People Magazine. Read a menu. Fill out a job application. Understand the instructions on medicine bottles. Help their sons and daughters with their homework. Using unusual and unorthodox methods like the Bible, fortune cookies, horoscopes and Motown song lyrics, the adults miraculously start reading. Soon, he's ready to attack the very reason that brought him to the Literacy Center in the first place. On a diving board at a park pool on a boiling July morning, it finally sticks. In the end, an unplanned event causes the unexpected connection between this twelve year old little boy and a classroom filled with these grown-up strangers. Together, they complete something incredible. Learning To Read Builds Confidence And Hope In This Heartwarming Story, Author Rob Shindler Tells How He Offered His Time, Unflagging Energy, And Unconventional Teaching Techniques To Help A Boy With Serious Learning Differences And Adults Suffering From Low Literacy Levels. A Father Who Wanted To Help His Son With His Reading Deficiencies, Rob Discovered The Way To That Goal Was Through Volunteering At The Literacy Center Of Chicago. There, He Learned Firsthand How Ridiculous The Common Misconceptions Are About Learning Disabilities And Adult Illiteracy. The Assortment Of Students He Taught Were Ambitious People Who Were Eloquent, Driven, Clever, And So Funny They Made Him Laugh Out Loud. Here, Rob Shares His Students' Pain And Humiliations, Frustrations And Hopes. Hot Dogs & Hamburgers Demonstrates That Literacy Issues Reside In All Neighborhoods And That Its Victims Are Committed To Finding Dignity And Life's Possibilities Through Learning To Read. Rob's Teaching Experiences Are So Motivating And Rewarding That Once You've Read His Story, You're Likely To Begin Your Own Journey As A Literacy Tutor. The story of how the author offered his time, energy, and unconventional teaching technquies to help a young boy with learning difficulties and adults suffering from low literacy levels and what it taught him.