Tutors typically work with 2-4 children, grades first through fifth, meeting with them individually twice each week for a 30 minute session. Empowering Readers OC partners with many local schools and after school programs and both in-person and virtual (via Zoom) tutoring opportunities are available.
Added Value to Volunteers Beyond Sharing Your Love of Reading with Children:
Weekly Coffee Chat meetings to engage with other volunteers
Lifelong Learners series guest speakers
Social opportunities with students, their families, fellow volunteers, and the community
Share your experience, time, and love of reading.
Share the gift of reading and help change a child’s future!
The Need
Childhood illiteracy is a predictor of adult poverty. If a child is not reading proficiently by the fourth grade, they are four times less likely to graduate high school. Students we serve are reading one to two years below grade level and benefit greatly from an older adult tutor engaging with them one-on-one to develop their reading fluency and confidence.
The Opportunity
Volunteer tutors, age 50 and over, bring a willingness to share their experience, time, and love of reading. The desire to help young struggling readers achieve reading level proficiencies, and beyond, is all that is required. We will provide all the training and on-going support to help tutors thrive.
Become a Volunteer
We are looking for adults 50 years and older interested in tutoring First through Fifth grade students who are struggling to read. We provide training and ongoing support throughout the school year.
What is involved in a typical tutoring session? What will I do as an Empowering Readers OC volunteer?
Tutors work one-to-one with a designated student for a 30-minute session. Our session structure includes time for relationship building, literacy skill development activities, tutor reading, and a wrap-up incorporating our One Kind Word initiative. All tutoring materials and books are provided along with comprehensive training and on-going support.
With caring, focused, and on-going one-to-one engagement, tutors develop positive relationships that help foster their students’ self-esteem and positive attitude toward reading and learning. Through these sessions, tutors help students grow their literacy skills and move toward achieving grade level reading.
What experience or skills are required?
Empowering Readers OC volunteer tutors need to be at least 50 years of age, but no specific skills or experience are required. Tutors just need the interest and willingness to establish positive relationships that support and motivate young readers, and to be passionate about reading.
Additional requirements include: completing pre-service training, and completing a criminal background check (federal and state) and other background checks as required by specific program site. Access to internet and must have an email account.
What training is provided?
20 hours of pre-service and ongoing training is provided and required for every tutor engaging with children in a tutoring session. Prospective tutors will learn from educators and current tutors and will be introduced to the methodologies and vetted curriculum that is utilized throughout the Empowering Readers OC program. Regular in-service training and check-in opportunities will continue throughout the year, and Empowering Readers OC staff will provide ongoing support.
Where will I volunteer?
Tutors will be placed with one of our partner schools or after-school programs throughout Orange County. For a current list of program partners, please visit https://www.parentisfoundation.org/partners-impact
Tutor sessions will be either in-person/on-site or virtual (via Zoom) from your home, depending on the partner organization’s needs and capacity. Tutors will have the opportunity to request their preference for location, schedule, and on-site or virtual options. Training and technical assistance will be provided to those engaging in virtual tutoring sessions.
How are the children selected for the program?
Classroom teachers and professional staff at the after-school programs determine the children (grades first – fifth) who would benefit most from the additional time and attention provided by an Empowering Readers OC tutor. Selected children are struggling readers who are below reading proficiency levels for their age group. Participating children’s parents/guardians are also involved in the selection and approval process.
What is the time commitment?
Tutors typically work with 2-3 children, meeting with each child twice weekly for a 30-minute tutoring session. Tutoring sessions are scheduled in blocks of time, so tutors will typically conduct 2-3 sessions back-to-back. Including additional time for session preparations, completing session follow-up, and on-going training, we estimate that a tutor commits a minimum of 3 hours each week to be successful in the program.
Our program runs throughout the school year, beginning in early October and wrapping up in early June, with some built-in breaks for school holidays and in-service training. We do offer a smaller summer program as well.
Our Empowering Readers OC tutors are praised for their consistency, dedication, and reliability. Building a stable and effective tutor/tutee relationship is a vital component of the program’s success. To achieve this, we do ask that volunteer tutors make a commitment to actively engage with the program for the full school year. Substitute tutors can be arranged when necessary, but for continuity and optimum success with the children, our hope is that tutors commit to attending all scheduled sessions.
How do volunteer tutors benefit from the experience; Why should I volunteer with this program?
Studies show that older adults who volunteer for a significant number of hours each week gain important physical health, brain health, and community engagement outcomes as a result of participation.
Personal benefits regularly noted by our volunteer tutors include the opportunity to: engage with children and make a positive impact on their literacy development; meaningfully contribute to their community; serve as a role model; educate and inspire the future generation; make connections to peers with similar interests.
How do I learn more or join ECOC as a volunteer tutor?
Register for an upcoming virtual information session to learn more about the program. If you have any additional questions, please contact our Program Director at elizah.siegel@parentisfoundation.org
If you are interested in joining the Empowering Readers OC tutor program, please complete the form provided on this page. We will then follow up with you to let you know the next steps in the process. Please note that our primary recruiting season is early summer for the upcoming school year. Training typically occurs in August/September for the program year beginning in early October.