Part III B. Training Tutors

Benefits of Training

Training for tutors is crucial to a literacy program. No matter what the background or educational level of the tutor, literacy programs require specific training be provided. Usually a minimum of 16 hours training is required and must be provided by certified literacy trainers who gear the training to the adult population and tailor the training to meet the needs of the tutors. 32 hours as a 4 day workshop yealds better results, but this can be difficult to arrange.

Training for volunteer tutors includes all or some of the following topics depending on the focus of the literacy program:

• Introduction to the problem of literacy and orientation to the literacy efforts at the local, state, and national levels.
• Literacy volunteers rights, responsibilities, and role in the literacy program.
• Literacy student/client needs, possible goals, uniqueness. Methods to establish and build rapport; goal setting, learning barriers, and self-esteem building.
• Assessment techniques – ways to detect learning difficulties, possible hearing or vision difficulties.
• Frameworks and standards –ways to help students transition across programs and prepare for certifications.
• Instructional techniques – how to use the training manuals at all levels: beginning, middle and advanced.
• Materials and resources – introduction to materials available to tutors. How to incorporate use of newspapers, driving manuals, or other “real world” items in the training.

Continuing education through refresher courses and professional development opportunities are also important to maintaining and encouraging literacy tutors after the initial training. Find or create opportunities to provide special training meetings with the volunteers to build a cohesive, committed group.

Sources for Training

• The North Region GREAT (Getting Results Educating Adults in Texas) Center, http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/projectGreat/north/, provides training throughout the year. The New Teacher Academy in August is particularly noteworthy.
• The Tarrant Literacy Coalition, http://tarrantliteracycoalition.org/, provides continuing education for tutors.
• Texas LEARNS, http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/texaslearns/, does not provide training directly, but does maintain a calendar of state-wide training opportunities.
• Proliteracy, http://www.proliteracy.org/, offers extensive online instruction for programs who become members. They also provide free online classes through the Thinkfinity Literacy Network, http://literacynetwork.verizon.org/TLN/.
• Literacy Texas, http://www.literacytexas.org/, provides training for program directors and coordinators as well as tutors.
• The National Institute for Literacy, http://www.nifl.gov/pd/, offers educational material for tutors.