Literacy Program Best Practices

Rob PodlasekTraining Manager, Minnesota Literacy CouncilVISTA 1987-1988

Agenda

Review six best practices for running a volunteer literacy program

Explore tools, activities and strategies for implementing the best practices

Warm Up: The Story of My Name

Share your name Share TWO interesting things about

your name Each person in group asks you an

additional question about your name Move to next person

Literacy Best Practice #1

Academic alignment between school and tutoring programs (and home)

The research shows that the most successful tutors are those who directly support the primary instruction the students receive from their teachers.

It is our job to help kids practice reading, not to teach them to read.

Instructive vs. Supportive

Best Practice In Action

Have the mindset that your program exists to support what the kids are learning in school.

Choose materials/curricula that align with what happens during the school day.

https://thecenter.spps.org/uploads/gr_2_pg_2014-15.pdf

Look for ways to facilitate the connection between school and afterschool programming.

Literacy Best Practice #2

Students’ oral language background will impact their success at reading and writing

Best Practice In Action

Create programming with an oral language component

Train volunteers to imbed oral language into their reading activities

Cool Questions

Cool Questions

Un-Cool Question: How tall are you?

Cool Question: If you could go anyplace in the world on vacation, where would it be?

Cool Question: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Literacy Best Practice #3

Reading is more than sounding out words

Literacy Best Practice #3

Reading is more than sounding out words

Phonemic Awareness Alphabetics Vocabulary Fluency Comprehension

Prior knowledge and experience

Sage Kotsenburg Wins Slopestyle Gold at the Sochi 2014 Olympics

“His line was not only technical but packed with moves that no one else was doing like a layback tail press backside 180 out and Cab Double Cork 1260 Holy Crail grab, basically a contorted japan and cross rocket mash up.”

Sage Kotsenburg Wins Slopestyle Gold at the Sochi 2014 Olympics

“His line was not only technical but packed with moves that no one else was doing like a layback tail press backside 180 out and Cab Double Cork 1260 Holy Crail grab, basically a contorted japan and cross rocket mash up.”

Sage Kotsenburg Wins Slopestyle Gold at the Sochi 2014 Olympics

“His line was not only technical but packed with moves that no one else was doing like a layback tail press backside 180 out and Cab Double Cork 1260 Holy Crail grab, basically a contorted japan and cross rocket mash up.”

Best Practice In Action

Include instruction in all five areas in your programming

Alphabetics instruction should be considered supportive

Don’t neglect vocabulary and comprehension

Reading practice and comprehension checking make for great reading programming

Literacy Best Practice #4

Reading isn’t “fun” for everyone. Reading isn’t “easy” for everyone. Reading isn’t “relaxing” for

everyone.

Best Practice In Action

Let your volunteers experience some pain and humility.

Activity: It’s Greek to Me

Best Practice In Action

Let your volunteers experience some pain and humility.

Make Literacy-focused programs include physical activities and physical-focused programs involve literacy activities

Set up programming so that the kids aren’t defined simply by their reading difficulties

Literacy Best Practice #5

Having “well-trained” volunteers is a key component in the success of reading tutoring programs.

Best Practice In Action

Create an argument about why volunteers need training

Create a tutor job description. What will they be DOING

Define what “well-trained” means in your program

The skills, knowledge and attitudes they will need to do their job well

When Do They Need to Have The Attitudes, Knowledge and Skills?

Before they sign up to volunteer Before their service At the beginning of their service During their service At the end of their service

How Can They Develop the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes?

Pre-service training In-service training Web and print material Volunteer information sessions On-line training Observations On-the-job training Student teaching Newsletters Email Mentoring

Literacy Best Practices #6

What is YOUR Literacy Best Practice?

Volunteer Training Support

Minnesota Literacy Council Trainings Reading Nook Blog Minnesota Literacy Council Web Site Assistance Developing Your Own

Trainings

Contact Information

Rpodlasek@mnliteracy.org 651-645-2277 x 206