In the national service arena, tutoring models range from cross-age to intergenerational programs. But do not let the jargon scare you. Instead, think of yourself as an advocate, and use the following guidelines to create successful sessions.

From ages five through nine, children's learning focuses on language development, reading skills, and writing. To become competent readers, children need to develop a range of skills and strategies for making sense of print. Effective tutoring sessions should be designed to support the developing literacy skills of the individual learner. The better you know your child, the easier it will be to plan your sessions. For example, children who need additional support with phonemic awareness—recognizing the smallest units of sound that make up spoken language—construct words with magnetic letters. For a child who has difficulty paying attention to print, select one of the sentences from a book you have just read and write each word on a separate index card. Then have the child reconstruct the sentence. For a child who is not attending to the meaning of the words, share what you imagined or thought during the reading, and encourage the child to do the same. In addition, make sure the activities you plan enable the child to feel positive about the work you do together.

Depending on the focus of your program, specific activities with children will vary. Choose from the following activities for tutoring sessions (and remember to keep the needs and preferences of the child in mind when you create your plan of action):

• Read a book aloud to the child. Let the child make the selection.
• Listen to the child reread some familiar or well-loved books. (Repetition is important at this stage.)
• Introduce a new book and listen to the child read it. First look at all the pictures. This "picture walk" can help the child make predictions before reading and check those predictions after reading.
• Write a sentence together about the story and draw a picture depicting the action.
• Write and illustrate a book like one of the books just read. It might have a similar plot line, setting, or characters. You can share the pen, so that both you and the child become co-authors and each add to the story.
• Reread a familiar book aloud to the child. Encourage the child to join in on refrains or favorite parts so that you share the reading experience.
• Play a word game like "I Spy," in which you describe an object in the room and the child has to guess what it is. Question: "I spy with my little eye something that is round and big and white and black and ticks." Answer: "The clock!"
• Help children understand and articulate the strategies they used. For example, you could ask, "What did you do to help yourself when you got stuck?" If the child is unable to explain, share what you observed.
  

• What to Expect
• Tips for Choosing a Manual
• What We've Used

What to Expect

Have you wondered how to pick from the many tutoring manuals written for the America Reads Challenge? Dozens have been written to help those new to reading instruction become familiar with what children need to know and learn in order to become successful readers. These manuals are helpful for both tutors and those responsible for the coordination and training of the tutors. One manual is not necessarily better than another. Some give detailed examples of what to teach in a tutoring session; others focus on linking theory and practice. Most manuals discuss the following issues:

• The necessity of establishing positive relationships with children
• Strategies for tutors to use to teach reading and writing
• Record keeping and assessment techniques

Tips for Choosing a Manual

Let the buyer beware. Practice critical judgment when shopping for manuals. Dig into the academic background of the author(s). Most manuals provide a brief bio. If not, you can always search the Web (or talk to a reference librarian).

Skim through. The table of contents should give you an at-a-glance take on topics covered. Make sure you see your concerns listed. Check to see if the appendix includes samples of materials or if the glossary defines terms. If you're interested in research, scan the list of references to see which experts in the field have been consulted.

Look at the language. The audience for tutoring manuals varies. Read a page or two to determine if the manual is written in a style that appeals to you. If you're choosing one for tutors, make sure it addresses needs and issues thoroughly and in a manner that is readily understandable (and useful) to tutors.

Seek the opinion of colleagues. Ask what other people have found useful, especially those in the field. School contacts can be particularly helpful in this area.

What We've Used

1. Book Buddies: Guidelines for Volunteer Tutors of Emergent and Early Readers
   Francine Johnston, Connie Juel, Marcia Invernizzi
   This manual was written specifically for the Book Buddies program which has several distinctive features:

   • A paid recruiter from the school district recruits volunteers, and these volunteers are trained by using video demonstrations of tutoring sessions
   • Book Buddies coordinators are paid reading specialists who work with about fifteen volunteers and their tutees
   • The coordinators assess student progress, prepare lesson plans, gather materials, and monitor progress

     This manual offers:

   • Techniques for tutors working under the guidance of reading specialists
   • Materials for assessment
   • Tutoring plans for emergent and early readers, including lesson plans for word attack skills, and samples of record keeping and planning sheets
   
   To order, contact: Guildford Press; (800) 365-7006, (212) 966-6708 (fax), e-mail: info@guildford.com; http://www.guildford.com

2. Help America Read: Coordinator's Guide
   GaySu Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas
   For coordinators of America Reads projects, this guide provides a comprehensive overview of the reading process as well as practical suggestions for implementation.

   This manual offers:

   • Information on concepts children need to acquire and develop their literacy skills
   • Concrete examples of what tutors can do to help children expand their literacy learning
   • Tips for recruiting, orienting, organizing, and supervising volunteers
   • A training section that outlines activities and includes transparencies
   To order, contact: Heinemann; (800) 793-2154, (800) 847-0938 (fax), e-mail: custserv@heinemann.com; http://www.heinemann.com

3. Help America Read: A Handbook for Volunteers
   GaySu Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas
   Written as a companion piece to the guide above, this handbook specifically addresses the needs and concerns of volunteers.

   This handbook offers:

   • Basic information on phonics and fluency
   • Sample lessons
   • Time management tips
   • Multicultural books lists
   
   To order, contact: Heinemann; (800) 793-2154, (800) 847-0938 (fax), e-mail: custserv@heinemann.com; http://www.heinemann.com

4. Help a Child Learn to Read
   Judy Blankenship Cheatham, Ph.D.
   Written for the beginning literacy tutor, this manual provides explicit information on the reading process as well as specifics on the essential components of tutoring sessions.

   This manual offers:

   • Answers to commonly asked questions about tutoring logistics (duration, meeting times, materials) and reading strategies (decoding words, comprehension, fluency in reading)
   • Techniques used in collaborative tutoring sessions, including language experiences, sight words and context clues, phonics, word patterns, learning styles
   
   To order, contact: Literacy Volunteers of America; (800) 582-8812, Fax (315) 472-0002

5. On the Road to Reading: A Guide for Community Partners
   Derry Koralek and Ray Collins
   This guide outlines essential skills needed to implement literacy development programs. Much of the basic information provided will help programs in the start-up phase of implementation.

   This guide offers:

   • Information on the reading process
   • General tutoring strategies
   • Information on building partnerships with families and schools
   • Profiles of successful programs
   
   To order, contact: Jennifer Gartin, ETR Associates, (800) 860-2684, ext. 142; (408) 438-3618 (fax); e-mail: jenniferg@etr-associates.org http://nationalserviceresources.org/resources/online_pubs/literacy/index.php

6. Reading Helpers: A Handbook for Training Tutors
   Ray Collins
   Written as a companion volume to On the Road to Reading, this handbook focuses on training literacy tutors.

   This handbook offers:

   • A variety of tutoring tips and training activities to illuminate and enliven tutoring sessions
   • Eleven training sessions (described in detailed and accompanied by helpful handouts)
   
   To order, contact: Jennifer Gartin, ETR Associates, (800) 860-2684, ext. 142; 408-438-3618 (fax) ; e-mail: jenniferg@etr-associates.org (no cost)

7. The Reading Team: A Handbook for Volunteer Tutors K-3
   Lesley Mandel Morrow and Barbara J. Walker
   Following the metaphor of tutor as coach, this handbook helps tutors to clarify the role they will play and the strategies they can use.

   This handbook offers:

   • Tips on establishing relationships with children and discussing reading with children
   • Ideas for planning tutoring sessions
   • Information on measuring student success and evaluating tutor progress
   
   To order, contact: International Reading Association, (800) 336-READ ext.266; (302) 731-1057 (fax), e-mail: books@reading.org; http://www.reading.org

8. Volunteers Working with Young Readers
   Lester L. Laminack
   Written for the novice volunteer, this manual provides an overview of the reading process, addresses key concerns, suggests appropriate books and materials, and describes reading strategies.

   This manual offers:

   • Responses to the challenges literacy volunteers encounter
   • Activities for sessions, ranging from creating radio plays to writing secret messages
   • Specific methods for helping children to become independent readers and writers
   • Example situations to illustrate reading and tutoring concepts and to help tutors understand children's varying reading behaviors and attitudes toward books
   • Principles in practice sections that connect theoretical ideas with tutoring practice
   • Actual transcripts of children's responses to books
   • An extensive appendix lists books for children, both by theme and reading level
   
   To order, contact: National Council of Teachers of English, (800) 369-6283; e-mail: orders@ncte.org; http://www.ncte.org