Creating Learning Partners: A facilitator’s guide for training effective adult literacy tutors

Explain how you use the students’ and tutors’ interests, their locations and the times they are available to match them up.
Review the tutor training schedule and the opportunities for growth and development your program has for volunteer tutors to enhance their skills.
Explain any volunteer benefits and professional development events available to volunteers in your program.
Give each tutor your record-keeping sheets and review the procedures for using them.
Discuss your resource library and the way tutors can use it. Mention your borrowing policy. Have a few resources set out for tutors to look at.
Review the following as they apply to your program:
- any policies you may have
- photocopying procedures
- how to deal with problems
- what expenses you cover
- the program’s process for tutor review and evaluation
- the grounds for dismissal of tutors
Have tutors fill out the forms as needed.

Activity E (if tour is possible)

Program staff and facility

If you hold your training in a separate building from your program office, this activity may not be practical. Adapt it to meet the needs and conditions of your program.

Talk about the program staff, tour
Materials and equipment Business cards – if you have them Preparation Make arrangements as needed to tour your facility. STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS Explain your role as the coordinator and that you are the contact person for the program. If they have any questions or concerns, they should speak with you. Write your hours and contact information on the board, or hand out your business cards. If you have any other staff or contact people, explain how they fit in with your program and include any information tutors need. If possible and practical, take tutors on a tour of your office space. If you have an office in a larger building, then show them as much as you can of the building. This will help tutors to get a sense of where they are allowed to go while in the program space. In your tour, include washrooms, meeting places, your resource library and parking, as applicable.

Talk about the program staff, tour

Materials and equipment

Business cards – if you have them

Preparation

Make arrangements as needed to tour your facility.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

Explain your role as the coordinator and that you are the contact person for the program. If they have any questions or concerns, they should speak with you.
Write your hours and contact information on the board, or hand out your business cards.
If you have any other staff or contact people, explain how they fit in with your program and include any information tutors need.
If possible and practical, take tutors on a tour of your office space. If you have an office in a larger building, then show them as much as you can of the building. This will help tutors to get a sense of where they are allowed to go while in the program space. In your tour, include washrooms, meeting places, your resource library and parking, as applicable.