Alliance for Literacy
The Central Rappahannock Regional Library established the Alliance for Literacy in 1985, building on the volunteer efforts of area literacy providers. As a program of the library, the Alliance organizes training for volunteer tutors and works closely with the Adult Education Programs in Planning District 16.
Tutor Training
Basic tutor training is offered online through the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center (VCU). Tutors are trained to provide assistance with math, reading, writing, or English to adults 18 and over who have not achieved a high school diploma or GED. We use the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) or the BEST Plus (Basic English Skills Test) to determine what skills to work on and what materials to use for each student. Tutors and students meet once a week one-to-one or in small groups. Tutors and students are encouraged to meet outside of either one's home - the library has quiet study areas, meeting rooms, or tables that might be used for tutoring. Call ahead to reserve a meeting room. Tutors and students might also meet at area churches or fast food places - any place the pair can find a table and a couple of chairs to sit. Volunteers should contact Nancy Buck at 540-372-1144, x250, or nbuck@crrl.org for more information about how to begin the training.
We are available to area tutors and adult educators to answer questions and find materials as needed. Tutors should feel comfortable calling or coming by the library whenever assistance is needed. A small collection of materials is available at all of our branches.
English Classes (ESOL)
English classes are offered by the Regional Adult Education program September through May. Contact their office at 540-898-8165 for more information.
A number of area churches also offer English classes, some are offered all year. You can find out more by calling the Regional Adult Education office or view/download a copy here.
Students
Adult students, 18 years old and older, who want to improve their reading, writing, math, or English skills may contact Nancy Buck at 540-372-1144, x250, for more information. If needed, she will set up a time to meet with the student to do a short assessment to figure out the best starting place for that student. She will find out when the student can meet with a tutor or if the student prefers to enter a class. If the student wants to work with a tutor one-to-one, she will contact a tutor who is available during the same times the student is. The student will receive a letter letting them know who their tutor is and asking them to call the tutor to set up a convenient time and place to meet. If students have any questions, they may call the number above.
GED Testing
Students and tutors who have questions about the GED should visit Germanna's GED Testing Center for test dates, registration info, and more.
Please note: Children 21 and under who are still associated with a public school should contact their school for academic tutors.
Call Nancy Buck, Outreach Services Coordinator, at 540-372-1144, x250, for information and assistance.
Resources
The Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center is a rich source of information for volunteer tutors. Check out their Important Links section. Staff at the Center have also created videos for volunteers available on YouTube. There are 8 short videos (30 seconds to 2 minutes in length) about language experience and 5 videos on GED subjects. A quick overview of the K-W-L (Know-Want to know-Learned) technique begins in the second video.
Thinkfinity is a project sponsored by Verizon, ProLiteracy, and the National Center for Family Literacy. The site offers free training on a variety of topics for volunteers as well as educational resources, lesson plans, and activities for all ages.
One of our tutors said she learned about Reading Skills for Today's Adults at a conference and has found it extremely useful. She says, "It has short reading passages written for ESL/Adult learners about everyday topics, [including questions]. You can read them online and do timed exercises, or you can select the box “Print the Stories” and use the printed version in your tutor sessions. The readings are arranged by reading level."
