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There are 30 million adults in the U.S. who have trouble with basic literacy — they struggle to read a menu, a pay stub or a bus schedule. You can learn more about Adult Education by linking onto the following report from PBS called "Turning the Page on Illiteracy, Adults Go Back to School".
Why didn’t an adult learn to read when he/she was a child in grade school?
There are many factors that contribute to an adult not knowing how to read. Some didn’t go to school very much due to illness, chaotic family life, or needing to work. Others attended school but were unable to learn to read because of a learning disability, which was never diagnosed or remediated. Children who do not learn to read by the end of the third grade fall further and further behind. The science of reading has changed significantly in the past 15 years and schools today have many more techniques to help struggling readers. LVM-Quincy uses multi-sensory techniques based on the most recent reading research.
What do I do if I need to cancel the tutoring session?
It’s important for either the tutor or student to call the other when one needs to cancel the tutoring session. Be sure you leave enough time so that the call is not too late to prevent a wasted trip. Parking in the library lot is sometimes challenging, so the tutor or the student may drive around for 10 minutes. Some of us travel a long distance to and from work. Mutual wait time for being late: 15 minutes, then leave.
Where does a tutoring pair meet?
Tutoring pairs meet in private spaces in public places. We do not tutor in people’s homes. Most tutoring pairs meet at the Thomas Crane Library. Tutors must sign up for the quiet study rooms at the circulation desk on the 1st floor and the reference desk on the 2nd floor or the Richardson Room. Sign up for a month ahead of time and pick up the room key at the desk. If you are unable to meet, please call the desk and cancel your room reservation. If the tutoring pair meets at a different library, they follow the guidelines of that library.
How do I get teaching materials?
We will provide you with any special materials you need. Encourage your student to bring in materials he/she wants to work on. Ask about topics that interest him/her. Some students are reluctant to do so at first, believing that the teacher should choose the material and make the decisions. Encourage student input. In addition to materials provided by LVM-Quincy, the Thomas Crane Library has a New Reader book collection. This includes books of general adult interest, both fiction and non-fiction, collections of writings by new readers, and tutor resources such as information on learning disabilities, spelling, and math. If you can’t seem to locate what you need, call us.
What do I do if I have a question or need help? Or I just want to connect with other tutors?
We expect and welcome your calls for help and information. We are happy to search out resources for you, share ideas, and offer suggestions. We publish a newsletter and a journal of student writing (see our Publications page for recent issues). We acknowledge the accomplishments of students and tutors at the annual recognition event in May. In addition, we offer free staff development workshops for students and tutors and several tutor meetings over the course of the year.
What about homework?
We encourage students to do some homework, but understand that this is not always possible. If your student’s homework assignments are incomplete, ask why. Some students don’t have a place to work privately or the time to complete an assignment. The assignment may be too hard or the student may simply not understand what to do. About 50% of students do homework.
Do I have to fill out any reports?
LVM-Quincy must report attendance monthly. We handle this task through phone calls, e-mail, and mailings. Each quarter, we will ask for a more complete update of your sessions.