News

Whether you are a new tutor wondering how you are doing, or a long-time tutor looking to improve the quality of your sessions, conducting a self-review and session plan review can help you take inventory of where you are, what you do well, and where you might want to...

With all types of learners, it can be difficult to pinpoint progress towards their goals. How can a tutor keep close tabs on exactly what a learner knows without constantly quizzing them? One method tutors at Washtenaw Literacy have utilized are Skills Surveys. A...

Washtenaw Literacy hosts seasonal professional development workshops designed to support and inspire our tutors. Our most recent mini-conference, February Forum, brought together volunteers and community partners for a lively morning of shared insights, practical...

Whether you’re working with a one-on-one learner or group, graphic organizers are powerful visuals to support reading, writing, and comprehension. They help break complex ideas into manageable chunks. Here are three examples, courtesy of Program Coordinator Megan...

Our adult learners have a wide variety of relationships and responsibilities, and chances are that their goals are deeply tied to what they view as most important in their life and the roles they play in the lives of others. Equipped for the Future (EFF) is research...

If you’ve ever felt a little nervous about working with ESL beginners - don’t worry, you’re not alone. Whether you're brand new or just brushing up your toolkit, it’s totally normal to wonder, "Where do I even start?" The good news is you don’t need to reinvent the...

Vocabulary is a huge predictor of success in both reading and language.  Vocabulary is also important for expressive language and higher order thinking.  Creative vocabulary practice is essential otherwise it just becomes the monotonous "write sentences" and...