For effective instruction:

  1. Develop a lesson plan each week.
  2. Ground your lessons in your learner’s real-life goals.
  3. Emphasize speaking and listening, plus include reading and writing in each lesson.
  4. Design your lessons to build on those from previous sessions.
  5. Review key topics and lessons from the previous week.
  6. Address what the learner should do for the following week.
  7. Take notes on what worked well, what needs improvement, and what challenges came to light.
  8. Encourage your learner to generate useful materials, such as sight word lists, picture cards, post-its, and experience stories that can be used for study and review.
  9. Revisit instructional videos frequently for direction and inspiration.
  10. Keep in touch with other tutors and trainers at Literacy DuPage to share ideas and ask questions.

Here are tools and resources to support your efforts as a Literacy DuPage tutor.

Video Lessons

Real Tutors, Real Learners is a set of videos created by Literacy DuPage. The videos may be viewed on the Literacy DuPage YouTube channel.

Tutor Media Kit

Your work with Literacy DuPage is generating positive change in the community. We created a Media Kit for you to share how important your commitment is – and how important adult literacy is – with your networks.

In spreading the word about the work you are doing with Literacy DuPage, we hope that members of your network will follow in your footsteps and also become tutors. Thank you for sharing your tutor pride with your neighbors, co-workers, family, and friends – don’t forget to tag us!

Resource Agencies

There are many community agencies and resources that provide a range of services that may be of value to Literacy DuPage learners.

To put your learner in touch with food pantries, domestic abuse assistance, medical resources, shelter options, and more, please refer to this list of resource agencies.

Libraries

Literacy DuPage partners with many libraries in DuPage County. They generously provide space for Literacy DuPage tutoring, English conversation groups, and in-service training workshops. Several have extensive collections of materials for adult learners of English, plus computer access for students. Contact your local library for more information.

Our Library Partners

*Designates a English conversation group partner library

Activity & Professional Development Websites

  • Dave’s ESL Cafe is an excellent resource that includes many links, activities, teacher tips, and lesson plans. This is a great starting point for teachers.
  • EL/Civics Online is an online professional development resource created through the Adult Learning Resource Center (ALRC) and the U.S. government.
  • EnglishPage.com provides free English lessons and exercises. It also offers links to a variety of ESL reading and listening resources.
  • GCFLearnFree.org provides step-by-step instructions on a variety of math skills and computer topics. This site requires a good amount of reading, yet it is a good resource for higher-level students and their tutors.
  • Internet Essentials from Comcast offers low-cost Internet service, discounted computer equipment, and free digital literacy training to families with at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program.
  • Safe Kids Worldwide offers easy-to-read materials about an assortment of safety topics.
  • Understanding What Reading Is All About is a PDF that provides teaching materials and lessons for Adult Basic Education Learners from the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL).