Literacy: You may have what it takes to become a literacy tutor

By Janette Rose

May 11, 2008 03:29 pm

— Could you become an adult reading tutor?
Helping someone learn to read is a very gratifying experience. What requirements are needed?
• Someone who enjoys reading and is interested in sharing the skill.
• A non-elitist, noncompetitive attitude in sharing knowledge and information.
• Understanding the power and importance of learning to read and write.
• Necessary teaching materials.
• An environment conducive to learning.
• Respect and patience for the learner and existing conditions.
A tutor does not need formal training as a teacher in order to help someone else learn a skill. The most important requirement is that the tutor enjoys reading and wants others to enjoy it as well. The tutor must also enjoy helping others and be committed to the student’s personal growth.
Who benefits when an adult learns to read? The answer is multi-faceted; the student, the family, the community, the state, the country and last, but not least, the tutor. If you have ever considered becoming a tutor, now is the time to call Adult Literacy Services at Muskogee Public Library. An orientation for potential tutors will be held in the Library’s Conference Room on June 3, 2008, 6:30-8:30. The orientation will give potential tutors an overview of Muskogee’s illiteracy statistics and the need for tutors, characteristics of adult learners, and the overall tutoring experience. After attending the orientation, additional training will be required of individuals deciding to become a tutor. Additional information is available by calling the Adult Literacy Office at 682-6657 x-246 or emailing rosej@eok.lib.ok.us.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”
— Robert Louis
Stevenson