When you ask Theodore Gaspard (Theo) about rollercoasters, his face lights up and he becomes very animated as he tells you that he doesn't just like rollercoasters, he loves everything about them. His love affair with rollercoasters started when he was a child and he can talk for hours about different rollercoasters all across the country, about their construction, their loops, twists, and drops, and what makes one different from the rest. That's why this 45-year old man's goal was to write a book about rollercoasters so that he could share his love for them with others. Talking to him about his book, you learn about a how a goal believed became a goal achieved. You see, Theo couldn't read and write very well.

Theo came to READ/Orange County for the express purpose of securing the necessary help so he could finish writing his book - his mother had told him that when he wrote his book he would become famous. After a couple of years of writing and rewriting, his work in progress consisted of three short pages but it was a start.

Marjorie Flitterman said that she became a volunteer tutor for READ/Orange County because, "I've always felt that you have to give back to the community." She was matched with Theo after she finished the training and was certified.

Marjorie knew the importance of relevance to adult learners and how important it was to structure the learning process around the goals of the learner using materials that relate to those goals.

"One of the first things I learned while I was studying to be a tutor is you find a common interest with your student. He came with one ready-made so we stuck with roller coasters. He brought in three pages [of the book he wanted to write], and I knew we had a lot of work to do," Marjorie said.

She is a published writer herself and knew the process involved and had a pretty good idea about how long it would take. Marjorie said, "Our progress was slow because my angle [approach] was to teach Theo to read and to absorb what he was reading... He increased his vocabulary enormously." The goal setting was broken down into three-month increments so that progress could be seen as they moved through their once per week two-hour tutoring sessions.

Marjorie, now his teacher and collaborator, coached Theo to do all the correct things as he pursued his research about specific rollercoasters at the Laguna Niguel Library and on the Internet. He learned what "plagiarism" meant and understood that he had to write letters to the sources asking for permission to use their words and photographs in his book. He also learned how to copyright his work. When asked how he felt while writing the book. Theo simply says, "Not nervous, but excited."

Marjorie, in turn, was impressed with Theo's dedication. She says, "He's really a very enthusiastic student. He never missed a class. Ever! And he was always on time. I never had to wait for him."

Theo's book about rollercoasters has now been published and it is truly a work of love. The dedication page in his book Roller Coasters states that it is "For roller coaster enthusiasts and kids of all ages." and his THANK YOU page says a lot about this man and his dreams and this remarkable tutor/learner pair:

"I would like to thank my mother, Whyuline Gaspard, for her encouragement. She told me that one day I would become famous.

From the bottom of my heart, I am thankful to the Laguna Niguel Library for telling me about the tutoring program, and providing a special room for study.

And, last but not least, thanks to READ/Orange County, California for introducing me to a tutor who helped me write and organize my thoughts."

Literacy does change lives, as it did for Theo, his family, and Marjorie.

READ/Orange County (READ/OC) is the literacy service of the Orange County Public Library. They train volunteers to teach adults and families to read, write, and speak English in small groups or one-to-one throughout Orange County. READ/OC offers a comprehensive training program to adults who want to be volunteer literacy tutors. Volunteer tutors give motivated adults and families the special gift of literacy when they teach them to read. No prior teaching experience is necessary and the only degree required is a degree of caring.

Get more information at the READ/OC website at www.readoc.org. Please contact Marcia Tungate, Literacy Program Administrator, at 714-566-3070 if you want additional information about the READ/Orange County literacy program.

Bob West, Outreach Coordinator for READ/OC, wrote the article with editing assistance by Kathrine Dela. Ms. Dela is majoring in Communications at Cal State - Fullerton and is serving as a public relations intern at READ/Orange County.

READ/OC has signed photo and publishing releases on file.