Become an Augustine Tutor

By becoming an Augustine tutor you will have the opportunity to change a child’s life by helping him/her learn to read. You will also invest relationally in that child. Our tutors change lives with the knowledge they have acquired concerning how to teach a person with dyslexia to read, and by the nurturing relationship a volunteer offers. Your life will be transformed by the experience of watching a child who has struggled with reading finally achieve success and by the bond that grows between you and your Augustine student. The difference an Augustine tutor can make in a child’s life just may mean the difference between productivity and prison for an Augustine student. 

 

 

 

 

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“I have helped coordinate The Augustine Project at T C Henderson and have so enjoyed meeting their professional volunteers. I have observed their lessons and the quality of the training is extremely high. The lessons are engaging, interesting and target the specific needs of each student. The volunteers are dedicated and truly committed to their students. I would recommend the Augustine Project to anyone wishing to help their community and to any school that wants the best for their students.”

Fran Hughes,

Lead Teacher at TC Henderson

 

 

 

Tutor Training

Our annual professional training prepares volunteers to meet the special needs of those children who struggle with literacy skills. Augustine tutors receive 70 hours of training. The training includes a practicum during which the trainee evaluates a student then teaches five consecutive Orton-Gillingham lessons (using Wilson® materials) under the supervision of a master tutor. The course is taught by a team of experienced trainers who present such topics as the definition and characteristics of dyslexia (including current brain research), the five essential components of research-based reading instruction, the history and principles of Orton-Gillingham, phonological awareness, the scope and sequence of Orton-Gillingham teaching (including sounds, syllable types, spelling rules and semantics), screening instruments and procedures, the impact of poverty on literacy skills, sight words, cursive handwriting, phonics games and activities, the history of the English language, written expression and advocacy.

An Augustine Tutor’s Responsibilities

After the training course, tutors agree to provide an Augustine student 60 hours of free lessons. This equates to about twice a week for a school term. Tutoring usually takes place twice a week at the child’s school. Lessons last about 45 minutes. Ongoing Support

After a volunteer has begun his/her tutoring with an Augustine student the Augustine Director will observe at least one tutoring session. Also, there are monthly Augustine tutors’ meetings where we share experiences, ask questions and review aspects of the training.