Volunteer tutors come to Midcoast Literacy having had a wide variety of professional, educational, and personal experiences. Some have been teachers, most have not. Some had wonderful, easy experiences throughout their own years in school, while others are people who struggled to learn to read and never felt like successful students. Many of our tutors are retirees but others are younger people, working and raising families. What connects all the tutors who come to Midcoast Literacy is that they want to help people in our region improve their lives through literacy, one person at a time. 

A volunteer tutor can decide to work with an adult learner (in our Adult Literacy services) or a school-age student (in the Read Together program). Tutoring sessions are planned ahead of time by each tutor and held in a public place such as a library, school, public park, or at Midcoast Literacy’s offices (during COVID-19, tutoring may also take place through online remote learning). Many of the requirements and expectations are the same for working with either adults or children; however, there are a few additional specifications for tutors in our Read Together program for children.

Expectations for Tutors of Adults

• participate in a tutor training (online or at a group training) for tutoring adults
• complete tutor application and sign a confidentiality agreement
• commitment to volunteer for a minimum of one year
• commit to holding a minimum of a one-hour session once a week
• work with an English Language Learner, a native English-speaking adult in need of basic education, or an adult with developmental disabilities
• follow Midcoast Literacy Tutoring Guidelines for safety precautions during COVID-19
• submit regular session reports that track volunteer hours
• attend tutor workshops and functions as desired to improve tutoring sessions and support other tutors

If you have questions about Adult Volunteer Tutor expectations, contact Don at d.lader@midcoastliteracy.org 

Expectations for Read Together Tutors of Children

• participate in a tutor training (individually or at a group training) for tutoring children
• complete tutor application and sign confidentiality agreement
• undergo a background checks from DHHS and the state police Maine Criminal History Record
• commitment to volunteer for a minimum of one year
• commit to holding a minimum of two one-hour sessions each week
• work with a student from a native-English speaking family or a student from a family whose primary home language is not English
• follow Midcoast Literacy Tutoring Guidelines for safety precautions during COVID-19
• submit regular session reports that track volunteer hours
• attend tutor workshops and functions as desired to improve tutoring sessions, support other tutors, and connect with the families of our students

If you have questions about Read Together Volunteer Tutor expectations, contact Katie at k.clark@midcoastliteracy.org