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

Variation

You could invite tutors to brainstorm questions they would like to ask the guest speaker prior to the presentation. This will engage tutors’ attention, and you will be able to let the guest speaker know what tutors are curious about. As an option, you could give each person a third of a coloured sheet of 8½" x 11" paper to record their question and then share and cluster the questions so that the speaker can respond to themes rather than each individual question. The speaker can still prepare areas to share, but will have a better sense of how to relate comments to tutors’ interests.

Option 3 Guest speaker – experienced tutor
Why choose this option? You may have an experienced tutor who would be willing to come and speak about dealing with difficult situations and concerns. Materials and equipment Handout 4.4: Learning Situations (for you only – not to hand out to tutors) Preparation Arrange for a tutor in your program to be a guest speaker. Ask your speaker to discuss challenges she faced and her responses to them. She can also share some of her tutoring experiences. Be sure to let her know how long she has to speak. Review any policies and procedures your program has for handling situations involving tutors and learners. Review the Learning Situations handout, which is based on real tutoring experiences. Think about which ones reflect your program. You might want to discuss some of these with the guest speaker beforehand. STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS Introduce your guest speaker. Turn the time over to her. At the end of her talk, allow time for tutors to ask questions and for a general discussion.

Option 3 Guest speaker – experienced tutor

Why choose this option?

You may have an experienced tutor who would be willing to come and speak about dealing with difficult situations and concerns.

Materials and equipment

Handout 4.4: Learning Situations (for you only – not to hand out to tutors)

Preparation

Arrange for a tutor in your program to be a guest speaker.
Ask your speaker to discuss challenges she faced and her responses to them. She can also share some of her tutoring experiences. Be sure to let her know how long she has to speak.
Review any policies and procedures your program has for handling situations involving tutors and learners.
Review the Learning Situations handout, which is based on real tutoring experiences. Think about which ones reflect your program. You might want to discuss some of these with the guest speaker beforehand.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

Introduce your guest speaker.
Turn the time over to her.
At the end of her talk, allow time for tutors to ask questions and for a general discussion.

Activity C (optional activity)

Addressing tutors’ concerns

Depending on the process you chose for the last activity, your tutors may not have had all of their concerns addressed. If you have a sense they need more time to address their concerns, you can use the following process.

By using sticky notes, you allow tutors to voice their concerns relatively anonymously, making it safer to do so.

Option 1 Brainwriting for a large group, use of handout
Why choose this option? This works with a larger group and gathers concerns anonymously. Materials and equipment Sticky notes Flip chart and markers Handout 4.5: Questions Tutors Commonly Ask (4 pages)

Option 1 Brainwriting for a large group, use of handout

Why choose this option?

This works with a larger group and gathers concerns anonymously.

Materials and equipment

Sticky notes
Flip chart and markers
Handout 4.5: Questions Tutors Commonly Ask (4 pages)