The Literacy Council sees rise in Volunteer Tutors

From press release

Because of an overwhelming response by the general public to the call for Volunteer Tutors, The Literacy Council reports a drop in the waiting list of learners waiting to be paired with a tutor for one-on-one instruction.

However, there are still more than 40,000 adults in the Rockford region who read below the fifth-grade level and struggle daily with many tasks, and The Literacy Council still has a waiting list of adult learners.

As a result, The Literacy Council has scheduled more workshops to accommodate training for new volunteer tutors. The next free workshop series will begin Tuesday, May 11, from 6-9 p.m. at The Literacy Council’s office on North Main Street.

In the workshop series, volunteers will learn techniques for teaching reading or English as a Second Language to adults. After attendance at five 3-hour workshop sessions, tutors will then be matched with a learner for one-on-one instruction for two hours each week over a period of one year.

Requirements to become a tutor include: must be over the age of 18, have a high school diploma or GED, possess good communication skills, a caring personality, and a willingness to make and keep a commitment to the learner for one year.

The Literacy Council encourages individuals interested in sharing the joy of reading with an adult to call Stephanie, Literacy Coordinator, at (815) 963-READ to sign up for the training, or go to www.theliteracycouncil.org.