Text/Audio Narration: Welcome to the Newberry County Literacy Council mini Web-based Tutorial for potential volunteer tutors. The literacy council office is located at 1121 Caldwell Street in downtown Newberry. The phone number is (803)276-8086. Should you prefer email, the email address is listed above, under the hours of operation. This mini Web-based tutorial is presented in addition to the in-office face-to-face tutorial. This mini Web-based tutorial can also be completed at the literacy council.

Welcome to the Newberry County Literacy Council Mini

Web-based TutorialThe literacy council is

located at 1121 Caldwell Street, downtown

Newberry. Hours of operation:

Monday-Friday, 10 am – 4 pm

Email: newberrycountyli@bellsouth.net

Barbara H. Chapman, Executive Director; Bob Shea - Tutor CoordinatorRachel Bunch - Administrative Assistant; Debra Crumpton - Administrative

Assistant

Perkins, 2007

Text/Audio Narration: The goal of this tutorial is to introduce potential volunteer tutors to the literacy council, literacy council procedures, the tasks associated with tutoring, and the Adult Basic Education materials. After completing this mini web-based tutorial, potential volunteer tutors will be able to perform the tasks explained in this tutorial.

Potential volunteer tutors will be able to perform literacy council

procedures, perform tasks associated with tutoring, and

create lessons using Adult Basic Education materials.

Goal

Text/Audio Narration: This page lists the learning objectives for this mini web-based tutorial. Please take a minute to read over these objectives on your own.

Learning Objectives PBO # 1: Given a list of correct and incorrect literacy council procedures the potential volunteer tutor will be able to identify the correct procedures with 80% accuracy.

PBO # 2: Given a learner scenario, the potential volunteer tutor will be able to design lesson plan using ABE material without omitting more than two lesson plan components.

PBO # 3: Given a learner scenario, the potential volunteer tutor will be able to identify the correct ABE materials to use with a learner in a lesson with 90% accuracy.

Text/Audio Narration: The mission of the Newberry County Literacy Council is to provide a program that will enable adults to read, write and speak English, and to compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society.

The mission of the Newberry County Literacy Council is to provide a program

that will enable adults to read, write and speak English, and to compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in

society.

PUSD, 2012

Text/Audio Narration: What is a volunteer tutor and what do they do? A volunteer tutor works with adults who want to earn their GED but come to the literacy council for pre-GED tutoring. Volunteer tutors create lesson plans using the Adult Basic Education materials provided by the literacy council. Volunteer tutors are listeners. It is important to listen to the person you are tutoring as they voice their concerns about the work they are completing or any hesitations and fears they might have.

Volunteer TutorsWhat is a volunteer tutor and what do

they do?A volunteer tutor works with adults who want to earn their GED but come to the literacy council

for pre-GED tutoring.

Bike Virginia, 2011

Text/Audio Narration: What are the requirements to become a volunteer tutor? You must be 18 years of age with a minimum of a high school volunteer diploma or equivalent diploma, but a Bachelors degree is preferred. This is a great volunteering opportunity for anyone, but especially for retired teachers.Additional qualities we look for in volunteer tutors are patience, flexibility, and a caring attitude.

Volunteer TutorsWhat are the requirements to become a

volunteer tutor?You must be 18 years of age with a minimum of a

high school volunteer diploma or equivalent diploma, but a Bachelors degree is preferred.

Bike Virginia, 2011

Text/Audio Narration: Who will I tutor and why do they need tutoring? The tutor coordinator will find an adult learner for you to tutor. Adults sign-up for pre-GED tutoring because they have been out of school for many years and are not quite ready for GED classes.In this area most have worked in factories for the majority of their lives and due to downsizing are no longer employed. They are unable to find employment elsewhere because they lack a high school diploma. They are parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, and neighbors. They are community members who need your help.

Volunteer TutorsWho will I tutor

and why do they need tutoring?

The tutor coordinator will find an adult learner for you to tutor.

Adults sign-up for pre-GED tutoring because they have been out of school for many years and are not quite ready for

GED classes.

Perkins, 2007

Perkins, 2007

Text/Audio Narration: Where do volunteers tutors and learners meet? Tutors are encouraged to schedule tutoring sessions to be held at the literacy council during literacy council hours. This makes access to tutoring materials easier for everyone. There will be times when this is not convenient for the volunteer tutor or learner. The library is another location where volunteer tutors and learners can meet. If for some reason you cannot meet during literacy council hours, consider meeting at the local library.

Volunteer TutorsWhere do volunteer tutors and learners

meet?Tutors are encouraged to schedule tutoring

sessions to be held at the literacy council during literacy council hours.

If not

here,

Try here!

The Hal Kohn Memorial Library

Perkins, 2007

Newberry County Library System, 2012

Text/Audio Narration: Please remember you are a volunteer tutor. We do realize you are giving your time to help someone else. Keeping this in mind, the tutor coordinator will schedule tutoring sessions so that both your and the learner’s schedules are taken into consideration.It is important that you remember that our tutor coordinator will do his best to accommodate your schedule and your learner’s schedule. If you have a scheduling conflict, contact the literacy council as soon as possible. If you are able to make other arrangements with your learner, please do so, but remember to let the literacy council know about the changes.

Scheduling

Please remember you are a volunteer tutor. We do realize

you are giving your time to help someone else. Keeping this in

mind, the tutor coordinator will schedule tutoring sessions so

that both your and the learner’s schedules are taken into

consideration.

Wellcoach, 2012

Text/Audio Narration: The tutor statement of confidentiality reads as follows: I (insert your name here) am aware of the necessity of respecting the confidentiality of any information regarding any of the learners I am tutoring at NCLC. I will not share personal information about any learner or the site with anyone other than the Executive Director or Program Coordinator. I will not reveal the names of the learners or the site during any training and discussions of tutoring experiences. I understand that I am to abide by the standards of conduct, mode of dress, and performance standards of the Newberry County Literacy Council as well as those of the site where I am tutoring. I have discussed the policies and procedures with the Executive Director and acknowledge that I understand them and agree to abide by them. I realize that failure to comply with this agreement will result in the termination of my tutoring assignment. I understand that I am bound to this agreement even after I have discontinued my service. This statement is signed by the executive director and the tutor

Tutor Statement Confidentiality & Letter of Agreement

• The tutor statement of confidentiality and letter of agreement is a form the volunteer tutor signs saying he or she will not share information about learners with anyone other than the executive director, the tutor coordinator, or the learner.

•The statement also reminds tutors to abide by the standards of conduct, dress, and performance.

• Failure to comply results in termination of volunteer tutoring services.

Perkins, 2012

Text/Audio Narration: The literacy council uses the Test of Adult Basic Education or (TABE) locator test “to determine a learner’s current skill levels in reading, mathematics, and language. The TABE test is a timed multiple choice test,” (Experts123, 2012). Learners are not required to complete all of the tests in one day. Multiple days will be scheduled to complete the test. Volunteer tutors will receive the learner’s TABE level but are not involved in the test administration. VARK is the Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic questionnaire used by the literacy council to determine a learner’s learning preferences. These learning preferences will not only help the learner, but also the volunteer tutor select assignments that reflect the learner’s learning strengths. The tutor coordinator works with the volunteer tutors to find learning materials appropriate for a learner’s learning preferences. Volunteer tutors will also have the opportunity to fill out the VARK questionnaire to better understand their own learning preferences and how personal learning preferences impact tutoring methods.

TABE and VARKThe TABE and VARK assessments are used by the literacy

council to determine education level placement information about the learner.

McGraw-Hill, 2009

Hazard Community & Technical College., 2009

After the learner has completed the TABE locator test, the tutor coordinator will score the test and then administer the

appropriate full battery test. The full battery test score corresponds to specific TABE materials.

TABE

Text/Audio Narration: After the learner has completed the TABE locator test, the tutor coordinator will score the test to determine the appropriate TABE full battery test the learner needs. There are five TABE test score levels: L for non-reader to 1st grade; E for 2nd-4th grade; M for 4th-5th grade; D for 6th-9th grade, and A for 9th -12th grade. Adults who score at the D & A levels are referred to the county adult education program. A learner’s language score may not match his or her math score. A learner may have an E level language test score but a D level math test score. After the full battery test is scored by the tutor coordinator, the tutor coordinator determines appropriate learning materials for the learner and will show the volunteer volunteer tutor how to determine these materials also. After the learner has complete between 30-60 hours of tutoring, the tutor coordinator will administer the TABE post-test. The number of hours until the post-test depends on the learner’s TABE full battery score. All of this will be taken care of by the tutor coordinator.

Text/Audio Narration: The tutor coordinator will help you create your learner’s first few lesson plans to ensure you understand the components of a lesson plan, and to help you understand the learner may not always complete everything in a lesson. When this happens, the unfinished materials are carried over to the next lesson. Learners only begin a new module after both you and the learner feel he or she is ready to move on. The learner’s lesson plan corresponds with the learner’s TABE locator test and full battery test scores. This information will help you and the tutor coordinator pick level appropriate materials for the learner. The tutor coordinator will show you how to complete this task.

Lesson Plans

Creating lessons plans is not a difficult task. The tutor

coordinator will teach you how to complete your first

lesson plans.

Teaching Info, 2010

Text/Audio Narration: As a volunteer tutor, you will help your learner set attainable goals not only for each tutoring session, but also over a length of time. You will sit with the learner and make a list of goals, one per page. If possible, let the learner write his or her own goals. If he or she has problems with spelling any words, add these words to their “Personal Vocabulary Lists.” This is information they will add to their portfolios. You and your learner will create a portfolio of the learner’s work. First you will add a writing sample to document their current skills. Explaining to the learner the sample is not a test is very important. It is just a way of helping them document their improvement over time. A personal vocabulary list and other writing samples will be added to the portfolio over time. Allow the learner to pick out a binder, box, or container as his or her portfolio although a binder is recommended.

Goals and PortfoliosHelping your learner to set goals

and create a portfolio documenting those goals helps the learner, you,

and the literacy council with documentation of the learner’s

progress.

PSYBLOG, 2011

Office Furniture and Supply Outlet, 2012

Steve's Digicams, 2010

Text/Audio Narration: It is important that you document when you have your tutoring session, what the learner completes in the session, and the amount of time spent in the session. These forms will help the tutor coordinator and you adjust tutoring materials as necessary. From time to time, the tutor coordinator will ask you to schedule a time for your learner to complete an assessment to determine how well he or she has learned material taught in the tutoring sessions. The assessments are designed by the tutor coordinator using the information you use to document each tutoring session.

Documents

Documenting lessons are an important function of tutoring but will not require a significant amount of your time. Write down what you and the learner cover in each lesson as you begin each section. This makes it easier to keep up with what is covered in each session. Jason Drohn,

2012

Text/Audio Narration: At each tutoring session, it is important to encourage and praise your learner. There is always something positive to comment on in every session. Make notations during the session of noticeable improvements. It is very important to not appear as condescending. Your learner is an adult and should be treated as an adult. Please make sure your comments are appropriate. It is acceptable to use age appropriate incentives when the learner reaches a goal. Field trips to the library to find new materials are always a hit with learners. They are often excited about being able to choose new reading materials. Learners also enjoy walking downtown and sitting on the town square.

Encouraging your learner

While incentives are encouraged, gift giving is not. Field trips around town are encouraged, but please remember it is against literacy council policy for you to transport a learner in your vehicle. Make your field trip a walking field trip and enjoy the fresh air. Newberry Literacy

Council, 2011

Text/Audio Narration: You have completed the Newberry County Literacy Council Volunteer Tutor Web-based Tutorial. You have learned about volunteer tutors, literacy council procedures, and the materials used to tutor the learners. Please consider becoming a volunteer tutor with the literacy council and sharing your time and knowledge with someone else. “Be the light that guides our learners through the darkness of illiteracy. Illuminate a mind. Become a volunteer tutor!” (Perkins, 2007)

SummaryYou have completed the

Newberry County Literacy Council

Volunteer Tutor Web-based Tutorial.

You should now have an idea of who a tutor is, what a tutor does,

the people they tutor and the materials volunteer tutors use in

tutoring sessions.

After completing the tutorial, please complete the assessment.

Veneficus Schola, 2011

Please follow this link to the Mini Web-based Tutorial Assessment.

http://aebptest.blogspot.com/

Or you may access the assessment from the Webpage.

ReferencesBike Virginia (2011). Bike Virginia Tour - Welcome to Bike Virginia. Retrieved October 19, 2012, from http://bikevirginia.org

Experts123 (2012). What is the TABE test? In Experts123 - Question and Answer Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 20, 2012,

from http://www.experts123.com/q/what-is-the-tabe-test.html

Hazard Community and Technical College (2009, September 2). VARK. Hazard Community & Technical College. Retrieved October 17, 2012, from

http://legacy.hazard.kctcs.edu/VARK/images/header.gif

Jason Drohn (2012). The Most Profitable Document In Your Business | Jason Drohn. JASON DROHN - Business Strategy And Success Tips.

Retrieved October 19, 2012,

from http://jasondrohn.com/the-most-profitable-document-in-your-business/

McGraw-Hill (2009). Contemporary. Test of Adult Basic Educaiton. Retrieved November 3, 2012, from http://www.ntcpg.com/pages/tabe.php

Newberry County Library System (2012). Newberry County Library: Branches. Newberry County Library System. Retrieved October 19, 2012,

from http://www1.youseemore.com/newberry/branches.asp?showid=2

Newberry Literacy Council (2011, December 21). About Us. Newberry Reads Home Page. Retrieved October 19, 2012,

from http://www.newberryread.com/nrabout.htm

Office Furniture and Supply Outlet (2012). File Cabinets | The Office Furniture and Office Supply Outlet. Office Furniture and Office Supply Outlet

of Phoenix, Arizona: Come buy the cheapest office furniture in Phoenix, Arizona.

Retrieved October 20, 2012, from http://www.office-furniture-and-supply-outlet.com/file-cabinets

Perkins, (personal communication, November, 2007)

Perkins, (Photographer) Newberry County Literacy Council Front Door, [Photograph], Newberry, South Carolina

Porterville Unified School District (2012). PUSD. PUSD > Home. Retrieved October 18, 2012, from

http://portervilleschools.org/Portals/HighSchools/HMA/Images/graphics/mission-statement.gif

PSYBLOG (2011, January 31). How to Commit to a Goal — PsyBlog. Psychology studies relevant to everyday life from PsyBlog.

Retrieved November 3, 2012,

from http://www.spring.org.uk/2011/01/how-to-commit-to-a-goal.php

Steve's Digicams (2010, March 10). Portfolio. Steves Digicams - Digital Camera Reviews, Camera News, and Photography Information.

Retrieved October 19, 2012,

from http://steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/kcenter/porfolio.jpg

Teaching Info (2010, January 23). PreK-K Lesson Plans - thematic lessons PreK-K : What Is Important to You: Create self-portraits.. Teaching Info.

Retrieved October 18, 2012, from http://www.teachinfo.net/les.html

Veneficus Schola (2011, October 11). Resistance Summary. Veneficus Schola | A roguelike game with a magical focus. Retrieved October 3, 2012,

from http://veneficusschola.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/summary-objectives.gif

Wellcoach (2012). Wellcoach Home Page. Retrieved October 19, 2012, from http://wellcoachesschool.com/images/schedule.jpg