Volunteer
- Details
- Category: Language Literacy General Pages
- Published on Friday, 12 March 2010 15:46
- Written by Tami Jackson
- Hits: 1973
Become a tutor-
Please consider this wonderful opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. The Literacy Center of Milford offers two five week TUTOR TRAINING class in ESL (English as a Second Language) each year in March and September, 6:00 - 8:30. Classes will be held at the Literacy Center, 16 Dixon Street in Milford. There will be a $25 fee for course materials. Knowledge of a foreign language is not necessary. All prospective tutors must have an interview.
Other Volunteering Opportunities include...
- Become a GED or basic literacy tutor
- Read to preschoolers in our story hour program
- Read to a senior at a local health care center
- Work on a fundraising project
- Be a contributer
- Volunteer in the office
- Be a book coordinator
- Coordinate a book drive
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need to have a background in education to become a tutor?
No! We welcome people from all backgrounds. Please refer to the Standards For Tutors for specific requirements.
What if I can't attend all the Tutor Training sessions?
When you register, let the DIrector and/or Tutor Trainer know of your conflict. We will schedule a make-up session when it is convenient.
Where and when do I meet with my student?
The Director will help you find a public location that is convenient for you and your student. Our tutors and students meet at the public library, a local café, or a local church. She will help you and your student set your own time and days of the week to meet. That way work schedules, babysitting problems, and the like will be accommodated.
What if I am sick or going on vacation and need to cancel a session?
Contact your student directly as soon as you know.
Suppose I want to volunteer in both programs?
If you have the time and interest we'll be happy to have you serve in more than one program. Just let our Director know.
How do you pair me with my student?
After a student has contacted our office, our DIrector will conduct an interview to obtain personal information as well as to determine the literacy needs of the new student. Then she will contact a tutor she thinks will be a good match. Interests, location, and schedule preferences will all be considered when choosing a match.
Is there any additional training I can take after I've tutored for a while?
Yes, we have occasional in-service training sessions for active tutors. ProLiteracy offers regular online courses in literacy for tutors. We also encourage tutors to attend outside courses.
Can I receive mentoring?
At your request, we will assign you a senior tutor to shadow. You will observe this experienced tutor during an actual teaching session with their student. The senior tutor will be able to answer questions for you, give you some tips if you hit a rough spot, and suggest various ways of attacking a problem. We want to do everything we can to help you feel prepared before you receive your first student.
Suppose I find that my personal situation changes and I need to stop tutoring for a few months?
First, talk it over with your student. Explain that you'll need to stop tutoring for a while and determine if the student wants to wait for you to return or would prefer to be re-assigned to another tutor. Then let the DIrector know so that she can make appropriate arrangements. When you're ready to resume tutoring, give us a call.
Can I get some help selecting appropriate texts and workbooks for my student?
Yes. Our Director and tutor trainers are always available to assist you to determine appropriate reading texts and workbooks.
I support your program but don't have an interest in tutoring right now. How else can I help?
We have other opportunities to support LCOM that do not involve direct tutoring of students. Just call the office at (203) 878-4800 and let her know of your interest.
What if I find that my student and I don't make good partners?
We hope this won't happen, of course. If it does, let our Director know and she will find a new tutor for your student and work on finding you another student.