Welcome to The Literacy Project’s Volunteer Training.
We offer a self-paced training, to allow you to explore the topics that are most important for you
and your work with our students. If you are working with beginning readers, you can focus a
substantial part of your time on the reading process. If you are working with students on math
skills, focus your energy there.
We ask that you complete at least 8 hours within the first 6 weeks of service.
Here’s how it works:
 Work through one section at a time, choosing the activities that are most relevant to you.
 Keep track of the time you spend on each section.
 Complete the written reflection at the end of the section. Use the reflection questions on
the checklist to spark your thoughts, but feel free to explore other topics as well.
 As you complete a section, send your reflections and the time you spent to
margaret@literacyproject.org. I will write back to you about the topic.
 I encourage you to complete at least one activity and the written reflection for each
section, although you may skip a section if you find that it is not relevant to you at all.
 After your first month of training, meet with me or your supervisor to discuss the training
and your experience so far.
Have fun exploring adult literacy!
- Margaret
Margaret Anderson, Volunteer Coordinator, The Literacy Project
Updated October 13, 2009
15 Bank Row, Suite C, Greenfield, MA 01301, 413-774-3934, 413-774-3946 fax, www.literacyproject.org
This project is supported by a grant from the Department of Education.
This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Massachusetts Department of Education or the federal government.
Self-Paced Tutor Training Checklist
About The Literacy Project
 Meet with Margaret Anderson, Volunteer Coordinator, for an orientation
 Meet all site staff and understand their role at the learning center
 Tour the office and become familiar with
o where supplies are kept
o what books are in the student library
o how to use the photocopier
o housekeeping and cleaning procedures
o phone procedures
o other offices within the building
 Written reflection:
o What thoughts do you have after touring the site and meeting the staff?
o What questions do you have at this point?
Working with Adult Learners
 Complete one of the following Thinkfinity courses at
http://literacynetwork.verizon.org/tln/courses
o Working with Adult Learners
o Principles of Adult Learning
 Read Oral Histories of students at The Literacy Project, available at
www.literacyproject.org
 View the student-produced video “Learning Is Power,”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PI2pFw5avc
 Written reflection:
o What thoughts do you have after hearing the stories of our students?
o How does your own educational history compare with the student histories?
o What questions do you have?
Reading Process
 Complete one of the following Thinkfinity Courses at
http://literacynetwork.verizon.org/tln/courses
o Understanding the Reading Process
o Phonemic Awareness for Adult Literacy Learners
o Before, During, and After - A Reading Comprehension Technique
o Developing Reading Fluency
 Explore the Tutoring Tips on the Literacy Connections website:
http://www.literacyconnections.com/AdviceForReadingTutors.php
15 Bank Row, Suite C, Greenfield, MA 01301, 413-774-3934, 413-774-3946 fax, www.literacyproject.org
This project is supported by a grant from the Department of Education.
This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Massachusetts Department of Education or the federal government.
 Explore the website, “Reading 101: What You Should Know About…” available at
http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/reading101
 Written reflection:
o What do you remember about learning to read?
o What strategies did your teachers use?
o How does your process of learning to read relate to the adult students you are
working with or have read about?
o What strategies do you expect to use with students in your class?
o What challenges do you expect to face?
o What questions do you have?
Writing Process
 Complete the on-line course on the Writing Test on the GED:
http://www.ket.org/ged2002/writing/
 Complete the Thinkfinity Course at http://literacynetwork.verizon.org/tln/courses
o Graphic Organizers: Tools for Instructors and Students
 Complete the on-line training on Plain Language, to practice writing clearly and
effectively, available at the Plain Train website,
http://www.web.net/~plain/PlainTrain/index.html
 Written reflection:
o What thoughts do you have after completing the Writing section of the training?
o What strategies do you want to use with the students you are working with?
o What challenges do you expect to face?
o What questions do you have?
Teaching ESOL
 Complete one of the following Thinkfinity Courses at
http://literacynetwork.verizon.org/tln/courses
o Volunteering in English Language Learner Literacy Classes
o Culture and English Language Learners
 Explore the ESOL Resources Page on the Literacy Connections website, at
http://www.literacyconnections.com/SecondLanguage.php
 Review common English idioms that new speakers need to learn:
http://teacherjoe.us/Idioms01.html
 Read the following paper on teaching ESOL student beginning literacy:
http://minnetesol.org/journal/pdfs/5_Vinogradov.pdf
15 Bank Row, Suite C, Greenfield, MA 01301, 413-774-3934, 413-774-3946 fax, www.literacyproject.org
This project is supported by a grant from the Department of Education.
This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Massachusetts Department of Education or the federal government.
 Written reflection:
o What thoughts do you have after completing the ESOL section?
o Describe an experience you’ve had learning a new language, visiting a foreign
country, or participating in a group that was culturally different from your
own. What were the challenges for you and what helped you overcome them?
o In what ways do you think cultural differences affect you as a teacher or tutor?
o What challenges do you expect to face?
o What strategies do you expect to use in the classroom to work with ESOL
learners?
o What questions do you have?
Teaching Math
 Complete the Thinkfinity Course, Making Math Manageable, at
http://literacynetwork.verizon.org/tln/courses
 Complete the on-line tutorial on math and the GED, available at:
http://www.ket.org/ged2002/Math/MathLesson1.htm
 Browse through the state standards for mathematics, the Massachusetts Curriculum
Frameworks for Math, at http://www.doe.mass.edu/acls/frameworks/mathnum.pdf
 Explore “Math Education Today” on the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics website, http://www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=2147483780
 Written reflection:
o What was it like for you to learn math in elementary and high school? What
made it harder or easier?
o What is it like for you to do math in your daily life?
o How do you feel about teaching math today?
o What challenges do you expect to face?
o What strategies do you expect to use with the students in your class?
o What questions do you have?
The GED
 Become familiar with what is on the GED test and how it is structured by:
o Exploring the Wikipedia page on the GED, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GED,
or
o taking the on-line tutorial on the GED:
http://www.ket.org/GED2002/Orient/orientation12.htm
 Complete the on-line tutorial on Critical Thinking and the GED, at
http://www.ket.org/ged2002/critical/cr1.htm
15 Bank Row, Suite C, Greenfield, MA 01301, 413-774-3934, 413-774-3946 fax, www.literacyproject.org
This project is supported by a grant from the Department of Education.
This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Massachusetts Department of Education or the federal government.
 Become familiar with the GED preparation books used in your classroom
 Take a GED practice test, available at http://steckvaughn.harcourtachieve.com/enUS/gedpractice
 Written reflection:
o What thoughts do you have after completing the GED section?
o Describe your personal experience with standardized testing.
o What are some of the strategies you’ve found helpful when preparing for and
taking standardized tests?
o How do you feel about using standardized testing as a tool in the classroom?
If you have strong negative feelings, how might your perspective affect you as
a tutor?
o What questions do you have?
Learning Disabilities
 View “F.A.T. City” Video excerpts, “F.A.T. City LD Processing” at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhzh9kt8z7c&NR=1 and “Risk Taking LD”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01tGtFQ0Ivs&feature=related
 Explore website LD Online, http://www.ldonline.org
 View the webcast, “English Language Learners with Learning Disabilities”, available
at http://www.readingrockets.org/webcasts/ondemand/2007
 View tutorials on learning disabilities at http://www.bianys.org/learnet/tutorials.html
 Written reflection:
o What thoughts do you have after completing the Learning Disabilities section?
o How would you describe your own learning style?
o In what ways do you think your learning style will affect you as a tutor?
o What challenges do you expect to face with your students in relation to
learning disabilities?
o What strategies do you expect to use?
o What questions do you have?
Special Topics
 Explore the website, “Authentic Assessment Toolbox” to learn more about
alternatives to testing, http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/index.htm
 Explore the Special Collection on Health and Literacy at
http://healthliteracy.worlded.org/
15 Bank Row, Suite C, Greenfield, MA 01301, 413-774-3934, 413-774-3946 fax, www.literacyproject.org
This project is supported by a grant from the Department of Education.
This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Massachusetts Department of Education or the federal government.
 Explore the National College Transition Network website at
http://www.collegetransition.org/index.html
 Read the report “Literacy Behind Bars,” giving statistics about literacy levels in
prisons, available at http://nces.ed.gov/PUBSEARCH/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007473
Inspiration and Fun!
 View the poem by Taylor Mali, “What Teachers Make,” at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xuFnP5N2uA
 View Apple Computer Founder Steve Jobs’ commencement speech to the Standford
Class of 2005, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA&eur
 Build your vocabulary at the Free Rice Website: http://www.freerice.com/
Goal Setting and Supervision
 Written reflection:
o What goals do you hope to achieve during your service?
o What kind of support will help you meet your goals?
o What is the best way for you to receive feedback and suggestions for
improvement?
o What additional training would be useful to you?
 Meet with your immediate supervisor. Discuss your goals for service and the kind of
support you prefer, and set up a regular time to talk.
 Meet with Margaret Anderson to review the training.
15 Bank Row, Suite C, Greenfield, MA 01301, 413-774-3934, 413-774-3946 fax, www.literacyproject.org
This project is supported by a grant from the Department of Education.
This material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Massachusetts Department of Education or the federal government.