Home » News » Top Stories » 2005 » Volunteer Literacy Tutors Change Lives, Openings Available

Posted: March 25, 2005 Filling out an employment application. Reviewing a child’s school progress report. Writing down a telephone message. Completing a medical form or applying for a Driver’s License. For adults with reading levels that often fall far below a fifth grade level, these commonplace tasks can become an impossibility. For 14 years the Plano Public Library System’s Literacy for Life (LFL) program has helped improve the quality of lifestyle for hundreds of native and non-native adults, who benefit from improving their reading and writing skills. “There is no special prior educational experience needed to become a tutor,” said Suzy Cass, Literacy for Life Program Coordinator. “We provide the training that is needed and all that is really required is the desire and commitment to help.” Volunteers are currently being sought to become Literacy for Life tutors. A tutor workshop is being held Saturday, April 23, from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m., Harrington Library, 1501 18th Street to introduce tutors to the program and LFL materials utilized. The training focuses on instruction, patience and understanding cultural differences. A one-time fee of $20 covers all training materials. Once trained, volunteer tutors are asked to work with students a minimum of two hours per week for at least six months. LFL’s goal is to improve reading skills and to assist adults with tasks in their daily lives requiring higher levels of literacy. The program is aimed primarily towards adults with reading levels fifth-grade or below and also provides educational opportunities for individuals learning to use English as a second language. LFL is an affiliate of the Collin County Adult Literacy Council, DALLAS READS and Proliteracy American. For information regarding the workshop or program, call Ms. Cass at 972-941-7323.