Adult Basic Literacy Tutor

Open new doors for adults learning to read. Nearly one in six adults struggle with basic literacy skills, impacting their ability to work, support their children with schoolwork, and participate in community activities. Adult basic literacy tutoring may include teaching phonics, word recognition, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and spelling. You may also help learners with daily living skills, such as reading the articles, filling out paperwork, or studying for the drivers license test. Meet one-on-one with your learner or a small group.

Tutor Responsibilities

• Plan weekly lessons to support your learners goals. No teaching experience? No problem! VITAL staff will support you every step of the way with training, mentoring, and an extensive collection of ready-to-use teaching resources.
• Help your learner(s) develop confidence. Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and celebrate progress, no matter how small!
• Provide homework activities to encourage your learne(s)r to practice their skills outside the classroom.
• Maintain regular communication regarding tutoring activities by submitting monthly tutoring reports promptly.

Time Commitment

• Attend a VITAL Information session to meet VITAL staff, experience tutoring activities, and tour our teaching and learning space.
• Complete initial online training at your own pace; the estimated time to complete this is four hours. VITAL staff will provide you with additional training as needed to address your students specific needs.
• VITAL staff will assign you a learner that has similar availability. You and your learner will plan a weekly schedule, meeting for a minimum of 1.5 hours per week.
• A six-month commitment is preferredcontact VITAL staff to discuss options for shorter time frames.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Fluency in English (additional language proficiency is helpful but not necessary).
• An openness to learning and trying new things.
• Empathy, patience, and a genuine interest in connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills and a positive attitude.
• Previous teaching experience is not required; we welcome beginners with open arms!

Next Steps

Contact VITAL if you have any questions and to register for a VITAL Information session. Call 812-349-3173 or email vital@mcpl.info.