Midcoast Literacy, a non-profit that provides free literacy tutoring to people of all ages, is holding two training sessions for new volunteer tutors this spring: one for volunteers who want to work with kids, and one for volunteer English language tutors for adults. Midcoast Literacy serves individuals in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, and northern Cumberland counties, and is seeking volunteers who come from any of these communities. Demand for one-on-one tutoring is high, especially for children who are struggling to read at grade level, so the need for new volunteers to come forward right now is significant.   

“We tutor all year round and always have new learners enrolling in our programs,” says Katie Clark, Program Director. “If you or someone you know can give two hours a week to help a child read better, there is a real need in our area. By tutoring a child twice a week after school, you can make a tremendous difference in a young student’s life.”  

Midcoast Literacy’s two 3-day tutor trainings will be held at their offices at 9 Park Street in Bath. The first training is for those who want to work with school-age children. It will be held May 19, 21 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. For more information or to sign-up, contact Katie Clark at k.clark@midcoastliteracy.org.  

The second training is for people who want to work with adult immigrants who are learning to read, write, and speak English. It will be held June 10, 11 and 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. An online, on-demand training course is also available for people interested in working with adult learners. For more information or to sign-up, contact Diana Krauss at als@midcoastlit.org.  

Pre-registration and participation in all three days of the training is required for both programs. Volunteer tutors must be at least 18 years old and make an initial commitment to tutor once or twice a week for 12 months (with occasional breaks for vacations or holidays). After the first year, many volunteers continue working with their students to help them get closer to their reading goals. “I was apprehensive about tutoring at first since I had no prior teaching experience. But my tutee’s respect and gratitude made me feel more confident each week,” says volunteer tutor Andrea Schademan. “He gained a lot of confidence too after a few months. I love working with him because of his positive attitude.” 

You can find out more about their programs at www.midcoastliteracy.org.