Hot dogs and hamburgers book

Critical Essay

In Hot dogs and hamburgers, it tells a warm story which builds up confidence and hope by learning to read. author Rob Shindler tells how he provides his time, energy and unconventional teaching skills to help a boy with serious learning differences and a low literate adult people. One father who wanted to help his son solve dyslexia, Rob found volunteer service to Chicago's literacy center. There he learned first-hand how ridiculous it was of common misconceptions about learning disabilities and adult illiteracy. The group of students he teaches is who were eloquent, driven, clever, and so funny they made him laugh out loud. Here, Rob shares the pain and humiliation, frustration and hope of his students. Hot dogs and burgers show that literacy issues exist in all communities and that victims are dedicated to finding dignity and life by learning to read. Rob's teaching experience is very inspiring and worth reading, and once you read his story, you are likely to start your journey as a reading and writing tutors.

Hot Dogs and Hamburgers does relate to the author--- Rob Shindler. Therefore, he wrote this book in first person. He was also the narrator in the story. The narrator is not simply an observer. It is obvious narrator knows more than can be physically observed.

Chapter one is the beginning of his journey. The author set off his psychological activities many times. In other words, this is author’s psychological activities before his first time went to the literacy center as a tutor. Such as, “I wonder if this man is wondering why I hadn’t held the door for him.” The author describes everything in detailed. For instance, “I’m waiting for the elevator to arrive. Even though it’s the middle of the day, the lobby of this busy metropolitan building is completely empty. Finally, the bell dings, the doors open, and I step inside. After pressing number nine, I notice my shoelace is undone, so I kneel down to tie it.” This is a detailed description of movement. The author utilizes the description of movement in the beginning to exaggerates atmosphere. Elevator is a symbol in this chapter. Basically, this chapter pave the way for later Melvin comes out. This chapter is telling us: Don’t judging people solely by their appearance. In the chapter, when author met Melvin as a stranger in the elevator. The author compere Melvin to a grizzly bear (even bigger than a grizzly bear). And that an elevator is an enclosed space. The author judges his personalization by telling the businesses in the building to see where he goes to. But they ride together. During this elevator trip, the author kept repeating: “He can finish me just for lunch.” I can feel he is scared, because he just a man who is 45, but just reach the pocket of his jacket. And the author has mentioned: “I can’t stop looking at my traveling companion’s nails.” He recalled his memories which are in the elevator. All of those elevator memories were happy. No one like this time feel dangerous. I think he also feel nervous, because this is his first time being a tutor to teach. That is why he decide to go to restroom when he just open his tutor handbook. When Melvin smile to him and say hi. Then, he doesn’t feel dangerous anymore. When he looked to Melvin’s eyes, he just felt this “grizzly bear” just a guy who wants to learn how to read. In this book, the author used many adverbs to give readers more tableau sense. But I don’t think it was right grammar to use two prepositions together, like “she’s his”.

Rob knew Oliver is “learning disability” from Jennifer. “it can be hard for parents to know whether things are normal or not.” What does learning disability mean? “Learning disabilities are neurologically-based processing problems. These processing problems can interfere with learning basic skills such as reading, writing and/or math. They can also interfere with higher level skills such as organization, time planning, abstract reasoning, long or short term memory and attention. It is important to realize that learning disabilities can affect an individual’s life beyond academics and can impact relationships with family, friends and in the workplace.”

Rob didn’t give up his son. He wants to help his son out by a professional way. Therefore, he went to Chicago Literacy Center. He decided to become a certified tutor. He took Oliver to the bookstore to pick up book. He encouraged Oliver to read the book by giving penny for every word Oliver read. Rob must had a tough time with teaching Oliver. It is hard to be patient. Rob tried to find out what does Oliver interested in and his strengths. Therefore, he can find an easier way for Oliver to study. In the book, once Rob and Oliver were tackle on alphabet, Oliver can’t concentrate on what was Rob teaching. The television attracted Oliver’s attention. That is not weird on a lazy boy, but Rob brought an apple to attract Oliver’s attention. However, Oliver only can make pronunciation like “aaa” and he knew the name of the fruit without spelling of this word. “One of the biggest confusions and challenges parents face is the large hiatus between what the children can do and what they cannot do” by Parenting Children with Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and Related Disorders

Finally, Rob’s mom past away and Rob’s father did a surgery in a hospital, so his children had to help him to teach the adults in the Chicago Literacy Center. Oliver already solved his reading problem. These adults heard about Oliver from Rob, but they were never meet him before. But then they were finally met.

It is hard to be a grownup, difficult to be a parent, even more challenging to be a parent of a child with special needs when the parent must become the analyst, the interpreter, the problem solver, the cheerleader, the lawyer, the psychiatrist, the spiritual advisor, the organizer, the notetaker, the friend, companion, advocate, and disciplinarian. Most parents use every resource they have to help their child flourish, and yet, they worry they are not doing enough or a good enough job. Chances are parents are doing an incredibly fine job under difficult circumstances. Professionals need to realize and appreciate the heavy load carried by parents of children with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other related disorders.