Write a commentFor the past 50 years, Literacy Volunteers has been an invaluable resource for Oswego County residents looking to improve the quality of their lives.
Providing quality tutoring in reading and writing through an 8th grade level, financial and health literacy, English speaking skills, and basic math and computer skills, Literacy Volunteers has had a profoundly positive impact on the lives of hundreds of individuals and families who have accessed its services.
Literacy Volunteers tutor Gary Irland has seen first hand the effectiveness of Literacy Volunteers and the benefits the program offers. A retired teacher who previously taught in the Cato, Wolcott, and North Rose school districts, Irland has been involved with Literacy Volunteers in different capacities for the past 20 years. The past three years he has served as a tutor, a role that he enjoys and looks forward to.
"When I retired I wanted to get involved with community volunteering," Irland said. "My knowledge of the program, my background in teaching and my familiarity with the staff made Literacy Volunteers the perfect match for me."
While his past experiences as a teacher proved helpful, Irland said the training and support that tutors receive from Literacy Volunteers Coordinator, Meg Henderson and the programs staff made it very easy to begin his role as a tutor.
"From regular assessments to references and resources, Meg ensures that we have what we need to be successful," Irland said.
When community members choose to access Literacy Volunteers services, they meet with a staff member to assess their current reading level, determine what their goals are, and pair them with a tutor that will help them achieve their goals. While students' goals can vary from increasing literacy skills in preparation for seeking employment and/or a High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma, to increased reading comprehension and conversational skills, like Ed Babb who is looking to increase skills for the sheer enjoyment of leisure reading.
Irland began tutoring Babb last fall. While he enjoyed reading magazines, he wanted to feel comfortable reading books.
"When Meg and I met with Ed, it was clear that he liked to read but found that books could be intimidating," Irland said. "We determined that Ed's goals were to increase his reading comprehension and his vocabulary so that he would be more confident in his reading abilities."
Once the goals were established, Irland chose a book that matched Ed's interests and the two began meeting weekly at the Hannibal public library.
"We read one chapter at a time with extended learning assignments between tutoring sessions," Irland said. " When we meet, we discuss what took place in that chapter. To assist in Ed's comprehension level and expand his vocabulary, I have him compile a list of any words he is unfamiliar with. We then discuss the meaning of the words and the context in which they are used in the story."
Nine months into the program, Babb has noticed an improvement in his reading ability and is enjoying his experience with Literacy Volunteers.
"Gary has been very helpful," Babb said. "I like the books and he's made it easier for me to read. I really enjoy it."
To ensure that Babb and other students in the program achieve their literacy goals, Henderson meets with tutors and their students regularly to assess the improvement of the student and the effectiveness of the pairing.
"One of the aspects of Literacy Volunteers that makes it so successful is the way in which we pair our tutors with students," Henderson said. "We strive to make a match based on likes, dislikes and personalities. It makes for a better experience for the students and the tutors."
Literacy Volunteers accepts volunteers. No previous experience is required. For more information on accessing the services of Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County, or becoming a volunteer, contact Meg Henderson at 315-342-8839, via email at lvoswego@oco.org, or visit their website at www.lvoswego.org. Literacy Volunteers is a member agency of United Way of Greater Oswego County.
