Literacy Volunteers of Orange/Athol
Changing Lives...One Syllable at a Time
Serving the 9 Town North Quabbin Region...and beyond

Help Change a Life!

LVOA tutors are patient, dedicated individuals who want to share their time and talents to help other adults improve their literacy and conversational English skills.

Tutoring is a rewarding experience and most tutors find their own lives changed in countless unexpected and positive ways as a result of their tutoring experience.

Spend 2-4 hours a week making a difference!

All volunteer tutors:
  • Attend a volunteer orientation to learn more about LVOA and how to become a volunteer tutor, the time commitment involved and the tutor training classes and workshops offered.
  • Successfully complete an intensive free 18 hour tutor training in either basic literacy or ESOL.
  • Are provided free workshops and professional support
What is the level of commitment for a tutor
Where do students and tutors meet?

The minimum tutoring commitment is 3 hours per week, 2 hours of tutoring and 1 hour of planning, for at least 9-12 months. The tutoring can be done in one 2 hour session or two 1 hour sessions. If both parties would like to meet more often, that is fine.

During COVID tutors and students have been meeting on line. Pre-COVID tutors and students scheduled their own meetings at mutually covenient times in public places in the community (for example, libraries, churches, workplaces and community centers). Some used the quiet rooms at the Athol Public Library. Others met at libraries that are more convenient for them to get to. In this way, LVOA was able to offer flexibility to students. LVOA is in communication with all the public libraries in the North Quabbin region
What is the training like?
At what level will my student read?

There are two separate and distinct 18 hour required trainings for new tutors. One is in basic literacy, (ABE - Adult Basic Education), where you will learn strategies for teaching reading and writing to adults. The second is for working with English speakers of other languages (ESOL). You will choose which population you would like to work with and take that training.

Some of our students don't know the alphabet, some read between a 1st and 4th grade level, and some have trouble with comprehension. Some of our students may read at or above the 6th grade level, but lack writing skills. During the training, you will be able to state your preference for working with a low, medium or high-level student, and we'll take that into consideration when we match you.

Students who ask for help to improve their English speaking skills may know only a few words of English, to being strong in conversation but lacking in academic or work-specific vocabulary. They may also have low writing skills in English. Their goals for tutoring vary quite a bit.