Workshop Descriptions
TLC offers a variety of workshops in the areas of Training
for New Tutors, Specific Topics, and Family
Literacy. TLC is always available and willing to design customized
training upon request.
Training for New Tutors
Basic English as a Second Language
Tutor Training
This workshop prepares tutors to work with adult learners whose primary
language is one other than English. Topics
covered in this workshop include: second language acquisition; cultural
differences; teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing; multi-sensory
and real-life learning; and lesson planning. (back to
top of page)
Basic Tutor Training
This 12-hour workshop prepares volunteer tutors with skills and information
for tutoring in the four basic areas of communication: reading, writing,
listening, and speaking. Additionally,
this workshop includes information on adult learners, the learning process,
basic principles of tutoring, lesson planning, and adult literacy issues. (back
to top of page)
Specific Topics
Advanced Lesson Planning
The importance of carefully planning lessons to approach the challenges
faced in tutoring sessions will be discussed.
Goal setting will incorporate both standardized and informal assessment,
including A.I.M. (back to top of page)
Building Vocabulary: A
Multi-Sensory Approach
Words build the foundation of reading for meaning.
Expanding a learner’s vocabulary is essential for improving reading
comprehension. This workshop gives
tutors techniques to teach vocabulary with methods that use multiple senses.
The value of the approach is that it enhances memory and it is especially
helpful to adults with learning difficulties.
The workshop is designed for both basic adult learners and English as a
Second Language learners. (back
to top of page)
Computer-Assisted
Learning
This workshop discusses the options for including technology in tutoring
instruction. Included are answers
to questions such as: How do I incorporate computer-assisted learning? What are the tools that are available? How do I decide what
will work for us? (back to top of page)
Developing Life Skills
Using Everyday Reading Materials
This workshop assists tutors in learning how to incorporate life skills
development into their tutoring curriculum.
Tutors will learn how to include the real-life needs of students in
lessons using real-life materials. (back to top of page)
Enhancing Student
Recruitment, Motivation, and Retention
This three-hour training examines the factors that lead to student “drop
outs” or “stop outs” and gives suggestions for improvement of those
factors which adult educators can control. The training recognizes the four main
phases of motivation – Inclusion, Attitude, Meaning, and Competence;
emphasizes the five necessary teacher strengths for effectively motivating
learners; and recommends the top ten strategies for improving learner motivation
and retention within programs. This training is packed with participant
discussion and best practice ideas. (back to top of page)
Health Literacy
This is a two-hour in-service workshop which emphasizes the need for the
inclusion of health literacy as a component of tutoring instruction. Appropriate
teaching techniques and health content are demonstrated. Topics such as how to
access the health care system and related literacy needs are discussed. (back
to top of page)
Instructional Materials
and Techniques for Writing
Tutors receive specific guidance in the use of instructional materials and
techniques for teaching writing. Topics
and strategies such as the writing process, trigger events, organization,
writing activities, language experience, journals, spelling, and integrating
reading and writing are included. (back to top of page)
Learning Styles/Learning
Differences
Tutors will learn about multiple learning styles and differences and the
affect on students’ learning processes. Tutors
will also learn to modify lesson plans in order to take advantage of their
students’ learning styles. (back to top of page)
Multiple Intelligences and the Adult Learner
Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences is applied to the adult
learner; upon completion of the five hour training participants will be able to:
a) describe the eight intelligences
b) use tutoring techniques that will clearly target at least four intelligences
c) explain the importance of including multiple intelligences in their tutoring
sessions.
The structure of the workshop will include an initial period for
tutors to learn about the various intelligences. This will be followed by time
for the tutors to work either alone or in pairs to design a 10 - 15 minute
presentation on multiple intelligences. The session will include tutors'
assessments of the presentations using a standard rubric, time for discussion of
the presentations, a summary, and evaluations. (back to top of page)
Psychology of Learning
The Psychology of Learning workshop is designed for tutors and staff working
with adult basic education learners as well as ESL students. This training will
address a variety of issues concerning the mind and learning. The topics to be
discussed include: the mechanics of the brain, the memory process, learning and
thinking styles, methods of organizing thoughts, information on Bloom’s
taxonomy, and how to apply all of these concepts to teaching strategies and
assessment. (back to top of page)
Small Group Training
This workshop is designed to assist tutors who teach reading and writing to
small groups of adult learners. The workshop includes topics such as stages of
group development, issues of confidentiality, multi-level instruction, learning
styles, preparation and planning. Also applicable for tutors of ELL students. (back
to top of page)
Switching Places with an LD Student
This workshop will provide ABE/GED/ Family Literacy instructors and tutors with
the opportunity to experience life the way a learning disabled person
experiences it. Participants will be exposed to background experiences that may
affect adult learners in literacy programs today. The Learning Continuum, a
review of the definition of learning disabilities, and the emotional stages of
parents will be discussed. A video called “How Difficult Can This Be?” the
F.A.T. City Workshop, Richard Lavoie, 1989, includes the following themes:
visual perception, reading comprehension, risk-taking, visual-motor
coordination, decoding, fairness, etc. Feelings of frustration, anxiety, and
tension pervade in this sensitivity workshop as participants enter the world of
the learning disabled.
Teaching Math
Methods of teaching math will be discussed and practiced.
Instructional techniques, lesson planning, math applications, real-life
math, math and work are included. (back to top of page)
Volunteers Make a
Difference -- Take Advantage
Issues relating to using volunteers in adult literacy programs will be
addressed. Strategies include
recruiting, screening, rewarding, supervising, and retaining volunteers. (back
to top of page)
Family
Literacy
All of TLC's family literacy trainings are being revised so that they will be
appropriate for tutors of all adult learners. Please contact Colleen
Serencsits for updates on the trainings.
| 
