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 We've gathered below a group of questions that LEARNS frequently receives. We hope the responses will help you in your work with tutors and mentors, or in developing and sustaining your program. If your question isn't answered here, please contact us at learns@nwrel.org.
 We applaud--and want to support you--in the most important work of improving educational outcomes for children, youth, and adults.
 General LEARNS Information
What is LEARNS?
A partnership between Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory and Bank Street College of Education. We are a national training and technical assistance project funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Whom does LEARNS serve?
Education-focused national service programs (AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve). Typically, these include tutoring, mentoring, and out-of-school time programs. We provide training for program staff and additional support through our toll-free hotline, the LEARNS Web site, and a variety of print resources. While our primary audience is national service staff, our Web site and print resources would be helpful for policy makers, practitioners, and volunteers.
How do I contact LEARNS?
[Contact us at either of our two offices]
LEARNS-Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Portland, OR (Nancy Henry, Rändi Douglas, Nicky Martin, and Warren Ani) call 800-361-7890 or e-mail learns@nwrel.org
LEARNS-Bank Street College of Education. New York, NY (Judith Gold and Erika Larson) call 800-930-5664 or e-mail learns@bnkst.edu
How do I find out about upcoming trainings?
Visit the training section of the LEARNS Web site or view the master calendar of training opportunities for national service programs nationwide on the ETR Associates Web site.
Can I request LEARNS to come to my area to provide training?
Yes! We provide a limited number of customized trainings each year. We encourage cross-stream and multiple program events, and require a minimum of 25 confirmed participants and at least four hours of training. To explore this possibility and plan a request training, call us.
How much do LEARNS services and products cost?
Our technical assistance, request trainings, and products are free to you if you are part of a national service program funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service. There is a small registration fee to attend our indepth training events.
Starting and Managing a Program
What first steps should I take to start up a volunteer tutor program?
While there obviously is no magic recipe, we have found some common steps that successful coordinators have taken when beginning their programs. These steps are:
- Assess what you know and what you have
- Define the program
- Set program goals and objectives
- Meet with stakeholders
- Write a memorandum of understanding
- Begin recruiting volunteers
For a more complete description and discussion of each of these steps, take a look at our Program Startup resource, Day One in the Life of a Program Coordinator.
For another look at this topic, check out our publication, Growing a Volunteer Tutor Program, through this link you will find a brief description of the guide and instructions for how to order your free copy.
Tutor Training
I would like to provide ongoing training for my tutors and mentors. What suggestions do you have for training activities?
First of all, we commend you on your decision to provide ongoing training to your volunteers or members. Well-trained tutors and mentors are more effective, and when people feel they are truly making a difference and can see visible progress, they are much more likely to stay, to be dependable, and to bring others to tutor or mentor as well.
The Corporation for National and Community Service commissioned a study of AmeriCorps tutoring programs that showed there are four key tutor program practices that lead to an increase in students' reading scores. One of these is that a tutor receives ongoing training. You can find the complete text of this study at www.nationalservice.org/research
Resources on the LEARNS Web site to support ongoing tutor training include:
- Summer/Fall 2001 Tutor newsletter:
The Verdict is In: Trained Tutors = Increased Student Success
www.nwrel.org/learns/tutor/sum2001/sum2001.html
- A variety of ready-to-use training activities
- Tutor training videos
- A selection of online activities
Call or e-mail us for help with your specific training needs.
Tutor Session Activities
What can I do with my tutee during our sessions?
- We have created games and word activities to use during tutoring sessions. They come with descriptions of how they reinforce literacy, instructions on how to play, and instructions on how to make the game boards.
- Take a look at The Tutor newsletter entitled Read Aloud. In this issue you will find a research-based discussion on the value of reading aloud to your tutee.
An Assessment and Evaluation Tool
What is the LEARNS Literacy Assessment Profile (LLAP)?
LLAP is an observation tool. LLAP is not a reading test. LLAP addresses three stages of literacy development: emergent, beginning, and early independent. These stages are not age or grade specific, but instead describe behaviors children exhibit as they learn to read.
LLAP will facilitate your ability to:
- Identify the multiple skills and strategies that children need to become successful readers and writers.
- Assess children's literacy progress over time.
- Keep records of tutors' sessions with children.
- Provide a system through which you will be able to record and analyze data needed for program evaluation.
Who should consider using LLAP?
LLAP is most appropriate for:
- Programs that provide one-on-one tutoring in reading.
- Programs in which tutors work with individual students from 30 to 60 minutes per week
- Programs with students ranging from emergent to early independent readers.
Other uses of LLAP
- LLAP is a valuable training tool for tutors. It articulates the skills and strategies children need to acquire at each stage of literacy development.
- LLAP explains how to choose appropriate books for children and provides an extensive bibliography of books for each stage.
- LLAP provides information on literacy teaching and strategies for supporting the learning of individual children.
What assistance can I get to implement LLAP?
- LLAP can be downloaded from the LEARNS Web site at www.nwrel.org/learns/resources/llap/index.html. Here you will find complete step-by-step instructions for how to use the instrument and how to aggregate the data.
- LEARNS conducts LLAP conference calls to answer your questions and provide guidance on its use. These calls are designed for people who have read LLAP and have questions, and those who have started to use LLAP. If you are interested in participating in a LLAP conference call (800) 930-5664 or e-mail learns@bnkst.edu
- LEARNS provides LLAP training at our indepth trainings and by request. Visit the training section of the LEARNS Web site or view the master calendar of training for LEARNS training opportunities.
Resources
What free resources exist for my national service program?
In addition, an impressive wealth of other national service-oriented resources can be downloaded or ordered free of charge if you are a national service program staff member through ETR Associates. E-mail ETR at nsrc-shipping@etr.org or call 1-800-860-2684 ext. 142.
How do I get on the mailing list for The Tutor newsletter?
If you are a staff member of a national service program, send an e-mail to learns@nwrel.org with your name and address and tell us you'd like to be added to The Tutor mailing list.
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