FAQs

Tutoring: We ask tutors to commit to working with a student for at least six continuous months. This allows you to really get to know your learner and develop a good working relationship which greatly benefits a student’s capacity to learn and will be a more valuable experience for you as a volunteer.

Class Assistants: We ask for a commitment of 2 terms (approximately 6 months). Teaching any new class has an introductory period and it will take at least a term or two to feel confident with class and curriculum. Check the Literacy Source Class Google Drive for the current term calendar and class schedule.

Yes! Volunteering as a Conversation Partner requires an online commitment of one hour, once per week. during term time. As a Citizenship Practice Interviewer you volunteer as needed, either in-person or online, once or twice a term for approx. an hour.

We are currently offering both remote and in-person opportunities. Please attend a New Volunteer Orientation to find out more.

Literacy Source provides online training to all volunteers. Depending on which position you are interested in we ask you to complete 8-12 hours of required training before starting. We encourage you to participate in many other training opportunities throughout your volunteer service with Literacy Source. All trainings are free and are open to all current Literacy Source volunteers. Check our Volunteer Trainings page for a list of online trainings.

After your orientation, interview, and pre-service training, when a suitable student becomes available you will receive an email with information about the prospective student match. Students are selected based on shared availability, the interests and preferences you indicated during your volunteer interview, and the student priorities and needs. The student’s advisor will schedule a match meeting during which you and the student will get acquainted, set a schedule, agree on a tutoring contract, and begin discussing what you would like to work on together.

In addition to the foundational trainings, when you are matched with a student you will meet with their instructional advisor who teaches their class. The advisor will provide you with teaching materials and be your main resource and support while you are tutoring. You will be invited to observe the class and to a class tutor cohort meeting once a term. These meetings provide an opportunity to meet with the class instructor and fellow tutors to discuss ideas and receive support. Literacy Source advisors are always available as a resource for help with lesson planning, library materials, and online resources.

We are on a quarter system; terms are usually 10 - 12 weeks long with a 2 - 3 week break in-between, when we register new students. Check the Literacy Source Class Google Drive for the current term calendar.

Literacy Source limits online classes to 20 students per class and in-person classes to 10 - 12 depending on the size of the classroom.

Yes! After attending an orientation and interview, we encourage you to observe any class you are interested in. You can view the current class schedule on the Literacy Source Google Drive.

If you are tutoring, you will manage your schedule with your student giving as much notice as you can about upcoming breaks. If you are assisting in a class we ask that you try to arrange your vacations to align with our term breaks but realize this is not always possible. For this reason, we have often have two class assistants in the class to cover days off and vacations.

There is a large free parking lot behind our Lake City center at 3200 NE 125th St. Enter from NE 125th St. Please do not park in the yellow retail spaces. There are plenty of spaces to the east of our building.

As our students are all adults, we ask that our volunteers be over the age of 18.