And, yes, neuroplasticity is a marvelous thing.
That said, we have to use our brains. Practice.
That's why I bought a new motorcycle at 73.;-) Neuroplasticity works with motor skills too.
Posted on 08/16/2022 7:05:29 PM PDT by simpson96
John Corcoran grew up in New Mexico in the US during the 1940s and 50s. One of six siblings, he graduated from high school, went on to university, and became a teacher in the 1960s - a job he held for 17 years. But, as he explains here, he hid an extraordinary secret.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
People, be serious. Let me tell you about my stroke 28 months ago and then draw some conclusions.
I knew I was having a stroke because I couldn’t type sense. I finally said to myself, “I will type, ‘The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.’ If I can’t I’m calling 911.”
I couldn’t. I called. That’s how I’m typing sense today.
...
Consider: I could READ what I typed ... and what the person I was messaging typed to me. I walked to the ambulance with a hospital bag I packed myself. The ambulance guys said, “Where’s the person with a stroke?” I said, “It’s me,” as I jumped into the back of their vehicle and lay down on the gurney.
[It DID get worse later, but, D00dz, I did total 129 pushups in 5 sets Monday ... and I’m 74. So back TF off.]
ALL that got messed up — at first — was the parts of the brain that “translates” words into letters and keystrokes. That’s pretty specific. (I didn’t try writing with a pencil. I wish I had.) Think about that. Then think about all the actions of the brain that make reading possible. Only one needs to be trashed and ... you’re gonna need extra help.
Here’s where there’s hope. We can redeploy brain cells. When I got out of the hospital it took me 10 minutes to button my trousers. I practiced. Now I’m working on putting my socks on while standing up ... a balance issue. But I told my physical therapist I will be standing on my head yoga style by Christmas ... and she’s going to help.
Almost 50 years ago I was a chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital. One day at chapel a woman said, in tears, that she wanted to thank God because the guys in neuro had assured her that her being unable to read did not mean she was stupid.
Your brain was “marvelously made.” A zillion different functions happen without your awareness of them. For God’s sake, for your children’s sake — especially the one nephew or grandchild who secretly hates himself because he can’t add 2 and 2 and come up with the same answer twice — get a clue.
Uh, yeah they do, they become phys. ed teachers and coaches. It’s super common. Probably the least demanding college degree on the planet.
He claims other students did his homework for him, and he cheated on tests.
FANTASTIC POST, SIR!
Glad for your recovery!
And kudos on the exercise, let us know how the head-standing goes.
Adult literacy programs still exist today. They’re always looking for volunteers.
Some people never learn to read until they’re much older. Yet, they managed to hold a job, raise children, etc., when they couldn’t read.
Read the story and you will find out how this guy made it, then learned to read finally at 48 years old.
Social promotions in government schools are not a recent invention. Looks like he was a jock, so there was probably some pressure to get him through classes and keep him eligible.
The most heated argument I ever saw in college (late 70s) came in political science class. The professor was a conservative who later became a senior official at the National Endowment for the Humanities. Somehow, class discussion drifted to the “easiest” college major. As a journalism major, I slid down in my seat and watched the fireworks begin when someone asked the professor. His answer? “If I have a student who really wants to stay in school, but can’t handle any other major, I send them to the education department. Haven’t met anyone yet who can’t earn an education degree.”
Naturally, there were lots of future teachers in the class, and they howled. But the professor held his ground, saying the easiest classes he ever took were those required for his teaching credential. After that, the ed majors in the classroom gave up their fight. They knew he was right.
In the mid 70s, Chicago teachers were on strike. I was watching an interview on tv with a picketing teacher, the interviewer asked her, “what do you do at the school?”
Her answer? She said, (word for word quote).
“I teaches English.”
Part of this story missed...he emerged out of school capable of handling second-grade reading/writing. His studies in college appear to be mostly mathematical in nature, and that was what he taught in high school later (pure mathematics).
This was also in a period where college entry was not tested as much, and you just ‘walked’ in. On getting hired to be a teacher, even today if you look around, there just aren’t that many math teachers who are qualified in the area.
You haven’t met my sister. Highly intelligent, outstanding math teacher, loves her kids, gets great results, hard working, and very conservative.
bump for later
Read the article.
That’s OK: Most teachers these days are unable to think, use logic or have moral values. So this illiterate teacher was probably better for his students than 80% of modern day teachers.
#33 I cat’n read : )
We have a Supreme Court Associate Justice who is unable to distinguish a man from a woman - which deficiency is, in my opinion, much graver than illiteracy (even Labrador Retrievers can make the distinction).
Regards,
Read the whole story. Suspended disbelief. Thought it was somewhat inspirational. Then I got to the end...WRITTEN BY SARAH McDERMOTT??? WHAT IS THAT? HOAX OR JOAX?
My reply would be to her “ so you’re not a biologist? Well I’m not a proctologist but I know an ahole when I see one 100 percent of the time.
I once worked for a firm where one salesman couldn’t spell well, didn’t have a very professional presence.
But he beat the polished sales reps every month.
And, yes, neuroplasticity is a marvelous thing.
That said, we have to use our brains. Practice.
That's why I bought a new motorcycle at 73.;-) Neuroplasticity works with motor skills too.
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