Volunteer Tutor Job Description and Guidelines
Source: Whatcom Literacy Council, Bellingham, Washington
Goal: To help the cause of literacy by providing one-to-one tutoring or small group tutoring of adults
who need help with reading and writing, or to new speakers of English.
Training: A BASIC LITERACY or ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 12-hour workshop
sponsored by Whatcom Literacy Council (WLC). Tutors must attend every session of one workshop
before being assigned a student.
Commitment: We ask that you tutor for one year. This allows you and your student to build a trusting
relationship and to see progress. Tutoring should be twice a week for two hours per session. Tutors
spend approximately one hour in preparation prior to tutoring sessions.
Responsibilities:
1. Complete a tutor training workshop. (You will be prepared for everything on this job description
after completing the training.)
2. The student-tutor coordinator will call you to assign your student, and set a time and place for
your meetings. You will call your student to confirm the first meeting. Students and tutors will
meet only in the place assigned by Whatcom Literacy Council. No tutoring should take place in
student or tutor homes. Whatcom Literacy Council must approve any change of location.
3. Have your first get-acquainted lesson. Confirm continued, regular meetings.
4. Call the student-tutor coordinator at once so he or she knows the first meeting was held and how
it went.
5. Call your student if you cannot attend a session; students have been instructed to do the same.
6. Prepare lessons according to your student’s needs and goals. Call the Literacy Council if you
have any questions or concerns.
7. If tutoring stops or resumes after stopping for a time, please call the student-tutor coordinator so
he or she can make other arrangements, if necessary, and keep accurate records.
8. Encourage your student to attend ABE or ESL classes at Bellingham Technical College,
Whatcom Community College, or Goodwill in addition to tutoring.
9. Every other month fill out and return your time sheet to Whatcom Literacy Council. This form is
important for several reasons: It helps us evaluate the effectiveness of our program, supplies
information on the progress of the students, and gives us important information necessary to
obtain and maintain funding.
10. Attend the Spring Tonic and/or the Winter Warmup in-service training workshop.
11. Tutoring is confidential. Tutors should not share their student’s name with anyone but WLC
staff. Please refer all inquiries from case managers, media, workplace, etc. to WLC.
12. A tutor’s job is teaching literacy skills. If your student has personal problems or needs a referral
for other services, please call the Whatcom Literacy Council rather than getting involved
yourself.
13. Tutors and students will avoid sexual harassment by following the Sexual Harassment Policy
included in your training packet. Tutors and students should report to the Literacy Council any
concerns in this area.
14. Please do not bring children or other guests to tutoring sessions; students have been given the
same instructions.
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15. Please do not drive your student in your car. If you choose to do so, it will be at your and the
student’s own risk.
Qualifications: 18 years or older; dependable; prompt; interested in helping others; sensitive to different
backgrounds and cultures; respectful of confidentiality; PATIENT; optimistic; can read, write, and speak
English comfortably.
Requirements: Tutors must be able to work with students in a safe and appropriate manner. Tutors
must be able to follow a learning plan based on the student’s needs. Tutors must be free of drugs and
alcohol during tutoring.
Benefits: Satisfaction of giving to others; helping to resolve a limiting factor in the life of your student;
learn new skills in teaching and tutoring techniques; deeper understanding of different lifestyles; fun.
Questions: Contact the Whatcom Literacy Council at 647-3264, PO Box 1292 Bellingham, WA 98227.
I have read and will abide by the volunteer tutor job description while working with the Whatcom
Literacy Council.
Name:___________________________ Date:______________
Board approved September 25, 2001
12-04.Volunteer Tutor Job Desc PP
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