For potential tutors
Who can be a tutor?
Any adult who is:
>competent in reading and writing of English.
>empathetic and committed to helping others.
>willing to have a background check,
>interested in "shadowing"* tutor/student sessions.
>willing to tutor 1-2 hours per week.
>willing to complete a tutor training program.


When and what is the tutor training program?
Prospective tutors are trained within a few week of volunteering. The first step is for new tutors to participate in shadow training* with two different active tutors. Then, after a background check, new tutors meet with experienced tutors who guide them through an individual reading and study program, using materials in the BALC library collection. Topics include: Adult illiteracy (scope and impact); Cultural awareness; Learning styles; and Lesson planning.


Whom should I contact?
If you are interested in helping as a tutor, please contact us at:
boolit@barabooliteracy.org, or call your local library.
If you email, please include:
Name
Address
Phone
Date of birth
Any experience? (not necessary but always welcome)


*Shadow training will give potential tutors a better understanding of what tutoring is all about. It should alleviate some of the anxiety that new tutors often have prior to taking their first student. Through shadow training, prospective tutors might find out that tutoring isn’t for them, prior to investing a lot of time in training.  Or, they could find that tutoring is different in some way than they expected.