A team of 40 AmeriCorps National Service members serve as literacy tutors to help struggling readers gain the skills and confidence to become strong readers.  Members serve in teams of 2-5 at school sites in Chualar, Greenfield, King City, Salinas, King City and Seaside.  

Members provide one-to-one tutoring to students in Kindergarten through fourth grade to help them improve their reading abilities and be able to comprehend text and lessons during classroom instruction. Tutoring sessions include: reading and discussing books; listening to students read a variety of texts at his or her independent reading level; vocabulary acquisition both academic and English language, promoting reading through individually and teacher-designed activities; engaging in phonemic awareness skill building exercises; and expanding students' knowledge base through the written word.

Tutoring takes place throughout the entire school year and summer school, during and after school hours. Tutors create and develop lesson plans for each of their students with teacher guidance, if applicable.  Children love to work with their tutors each day as they are challenged with literacy games and activities designed for their ability level and get to share stories together.  

8:00am              Arrive at your elementary school

8:00-8:30am      Organize and prepare activities for students.

8:30-9:00am      Tutoring session 1- Grade 3: Jose

9:00-9:30am      Tutoring session 2- Grade 1: Luna

9:30-10:00am    Tutoring session 3- Grade 1: Denise

10:00-10:15am  Break

10:15-10:45am  Tutoring session 4- Grade 2: Louis

10:45-11:15am  Tutoring session 5-Grade 2: Oscar

11:15-12:00pm  Lunch

12:00-12:30pm  Tutoring session 6- Grade 1: Christian

12:30-1:00pm    Tutoring session 7- Grade K: Katrina and Anthony

1:00-1:30pm      Tutoring session 8- Grade 1: Mia

1:30-2:00pm      Tutoring session 9- Grade 3: Francisco

2:00-2:15pm      Break

2:15-3:30pm      Lesson planning for next day

3:30-4:00pm      Tutoring after school program students: Grade 1: 4 students

4:00-4:30pm      Tutoring after school program students: Grade 1: 2 students

4:30-5:00pm      Tutoring after school program student: Grade K: Sophia

5:00pm              Car pool back to CSUMB housing (if applicable)

"I want to help, but I am not sure if I have the knowledge to be a successful reading tutor."

If this is a thought going through your mind, you are with a majority of potential members. AmeriCorps programs across the nation know that intensive training and support is important for all members.  Most programs do not expect or require any previous experience!  So rest-assured, if you are willing to learn, work hard, and consider yourself a fast-learner in most environments, you will do well as a literacy tutor.  Keep in mind all tutors must have a high school diploma or equivalent.* 

Monterey County United for Literacy has a 2-week Orientation program for all members. During this time, members will be introduced to the foundations of reading and teaching reading to students. Members will practice their new knowledge with fellow members, who give and recieve feedback as part of the learning process.    

Orientation Topics:

-AmeriCorps policies

-Print Awareness

-Sounds of Speech

-Phonemic Awareness

-Phonics

-Fluency

-Vocabulary

-Spelling

-Comprehension

-Assessments

-Lesson planning

-Migrant students/ History of the Area

-English Language Learners

-Games, Activities, and hands-on methods for tutoring

-Certification in Mandated Reporting

-Family Reading Night organizing

-Reads Naturally

-Accelerated Reader and how to incorporate AR as part of your lesson plan

-CPR/ First Aid

Weekly Team Trainings and Additional Support:

-Tutoring observation and feedback visits

-Lexia training

-Guided Reading

-Close Reading

-Reader's Theatre

-Member-driven support sessions

-Growth Mindset

-Team Brainstorming meetings to discover and share solutions

-School provided trainings as available

-School reading coach support (location specific)

-Individualized support by request

-Certification in CPR/ First Aid/ AED

-Certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid

*If you are not there yet, don't worry!  You can still help! There are many AmeriCorps programs across the nation, and tutoring programs have a stricter requirement on education levels than do other programs.  For our program, an Associate's and/or Bachelor's degree is preferred for the position, and a competency assessment is required for applicants with a High school diploma or GED.