Spring is afoot, tutors! Here’s what’s going on at the Literacy Council this month.   

Some of you may not know that the Literacy Council is 100% funded by grants and donations; we do not receive any government funding. Because of this, it’s essential for our data collection that tutors report monthly using the form available on our website. (Click on the heading “Get Involved”, and you’ll find “Tutoring Report Form” listed at the bottom of the drop-down box.) This tool helps us track student progress, identify potential issues students may be having, and even provides a space where you can share what’s working well so that information can be passed on to other tutors. There is a space to record your volunteer hours, as well as any non-tutoring services you may have helped your student(s) with that month, such as connecting them to other community resources. It’s a comprehensive metric not only for our tutor/ student files, but it’s required information when we apply for grants. In order for the Literacy Council to be successful, we need this critical data to be up-to-date. It also gives you, the tutor, a chance to reflect on the past month with your student(s) and can help you map out what’s next. I look forward to reading your submissions! (Conversation group leaders can also use this form, or e-mail me directly with updates, so we know what’s going on at those sites.)

I would also like you to keep an eye on our website, as we’re adding some new features pertaining to tutor training and resources. ProLiteracy offers a series titled Teacher Training Plus, which is now linked on the Literacy Council’s website (click on “Get Involved”, then “Tutor”). Divided into four instructional areas- basic literacy, English language learning, HSE for GED tutors, and workplace literacy, these webinars are free and a good source of continuing education, as well as training for new tutors. All previous webinars are on ProLiteracy’s Teacher Training Plus YouTube channel playlist, which is also linked on our website. I’m working, too, on compiling a list of online resources for you to explore as you prepare your tutoring sessions. Please send me recommendations for well-liked websites you use with your student(s), so that I can include them on the website.

Finally, consider going to greatnonprofits.org and writing a review for the Literacy Council of Carroll County. With ten positive stories from tutors (or students) and by maintaining an average of 3.5+ stars throughout the year, we can earn a Top-Rated Nonprofit badge for 2025. This is similar to a Better Business Bureau rating but for nonprofits and is another way to increase awareness of our organization’s role and accomplishments in the community.  

I will end by reiterating the importance of homework for your student(s). As most of you have realized, the time spent each week with your student(s) is limited, so it’s imperative that they’re also putting in effort outside of tutoring hours. Studying on your own can be daunting, especially if you’ve never been taught study skills. Talking to them about scheduling time to study and finding a quiet space/ eliminating distractions, as well as providing them with helpful strategies (highlighting key points, notetaking, summarizing information, memory techniques, visual aids, etc.), will plant the seed that the responsibility for learning is theirs. Being creative with homework assignments can also be a good motivator- easier done with ESOL than math! For example, if your student is an English language learner, giving interactive homework- such as talking to three native speakers about a particular topic or writing in a journal that gets passed back and forth between tutor and student- provides practice in a pragmatic way. Keeping a log of new words they come across in daily life and then using those words to make sentences is another way to keep learning at the forefront between classes while providing real-life application. The more a student sees that he or she is learning and making progress, the better the retention rate.

As always, many thanks for all of your hard work and effort. It takes a special sort of person to volunteer their time to help another, and many of our students are shocked to learn that there are so many of you willing to do so. In my short time here since February, I’ve enjoyed meeting a number of you and likewise find it heartwarming that you’re such dedicated volunteers. You’re renewing my hope in humanity!