READ POLK

Building Better Lives Through Literacy
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FAQ
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General Questions

 

  1. What is my commitment to the council?

Tutors are asked to give one year of service to the council. Even if you stop tutoring there are many other ways to serve your council.

 

  1. Procedure for matching tutors and students?

Referrals come to the council from individuals requesting help and from outside agencies. The tutor/student coordinator considers many factors in matching students with tutors, such as local, time of day available for tutoring, tutor strengths, and background of student.

 

The tutor will be contacted by the coordinator and given information about a prospective student. The tutor will then contact the student and arrange to meet the student at a time and place of mutual agreement. The tutor will also attempt to find out something about the student’s background and goals.

 

The tutor will inform the coordinator when tutoring is to begin. Together the tutor and contact will determine what materials will be needed and arrange to obtain them. If you, are uneasy about the first meeting, request that the coordinator or someone designated by the coordinator accompany you.

 

  1. Where do I meet with a student?

Libraries, church meeting rooms, schools, malls, fast-food restaurants with separate party rooms, organizational clubrooms---anyplace which is public and which will grant you permission to use the facilities. DO NOT meet in your home.

 

  1. How do I know where to start?

Tutors receive an assessment of student skills and are given the name and level of the book to be used to begin with the student.

 

  1. Reporting requirements

The councils are responsible for reporting the status of their programs to READ POLK. Tutors are the only ones who can provide the vital information needed. Tutors are asked to keep track of and report the following:

 

A.       The amount of time spent on tutoring

Including travel to and from site, planning and preparation time, and actual tutoring time.

 

B.    You must report these volunteer hours each month. 

Other service to the council such as publicity, phoning, clerical work or helping at a training are counted as volunteer hours.

 

 

  1. What if the student and I have a personality conflict?

If there is a problem contact the coordinator, who will attempt to match you with a different student.

 

  1. What if the student fails to show up?

At your first meeting, both you and your student will sign a contract that specifies that your student will attend sessions regularly.  If a student consistently calls to cancel, you will need to talk to them about their commitment and whether or not they can commit to their tutoring at this time.  It is acceptable to suggest that the student stop their tutoring until other issues are taken care of.  

 

Students who fail to show up two times in a row without notifying their tutor are automatically dismissed from the program. 

 

  1. What are my costs to be a tutor?

All tutoring materials are furnished at no cost to the tutor or the student

 

  1. What if I am unable to continue?

     

Call the tutor/student coordinator, explain your situation, and return all materials that are in your possession.