DREAM IT, DO IT! INNOVATIVE UTILIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS

Summer Institute 2011

Volunteer Issues Committee of Literacy Action Network

AGENDA

Panel discussion: 16 ways to creatively utilize volunteers

Moving from Innovative Ideas into Action

Wrap-up

FROM THE FIELD….

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS……

GED WRITING ONE-ON-ONE TUTOR Tutor an adult GED learners who is studying

to pass the GED writing test Help with grammar, spelling and vocabulary Help with writing mechanics, paragraph and

essay development

SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEER Provide support and outreach for US Citizenship

Training via Facebook and Twitter Maintain the Twitter Accounts and tweet Create and maintain a Facebook account with

information on the US Citizenship classes. Bi-weekly up-dates – possible video postings of class Stay in direct communication with US Citizenship

instructor, plus meet occasionally with US Citizenship instructor.

STAR READING TUTOR AND/OR ASSESSMENT AIDE

Lead a reading group during class, mainly focusing on fluency. The more the volunteers, the smaller each group!

Meet individually with reading learners to assess students in alphabetics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.

The results are used for dividing students into small work groups, in class, according to their skills.

Special Projects ArtistCreate poster, bulletin board, or display board to be used for appropriate event, such as: Annual Reading Campaign/Family Literacy Day Bulletin board for job postings or other Display board to be taken to resource fairs/events

DIGITAL EDUCATION LAB SUPPORT VOLUNTEER

Assist students in the use of Learner Web ‘Computer Skills You Can Use’, a computer-based learning plan.

Skill sets include: using a mouse, keyboarding, e-mail, windows, internet browsing, and Microsoft Office.

JOB/TRANSITIONS COACH

Help learners with transitions needs such as Job search; Resume; Interview skills; Applications; Career choice; College application; Financial aid; and College choices.

Prep work to be ready for each learner Initial questionnaire and information on learner’s

specific interest On-going prep and work together with learner on

Internet for applicable materials Continuous communications between site teacher and

volunteer

ENGLISH FOR EMPLOYMENT Help students 1-1 as they gain the English

and computer skills they need to achieve their career goals

Create resumes, write emails, practice interview skills, search for jobs online

Use www.englishuneed.weebly.com and www.usefulenglish.weebly.com

PRONUNCIATION/RECORDING VOLUNTEER Volunteer records stories using

Audacity Stories are iTunes in computer lab Good for volunteers who like to

work independently We have recorded stories from Read

Naturally, Story by Story, and Project Read

NEXT LEVEL CLASSES VOLUNTEER TEACHER Volunteer-led afternoon classes in math, reading,

and writing 1-3 levels beyond SHAPE (paid teacher) classes Bridge or jumpstart to Diploma/GED Started with student petition

ORTON-GILLINGHAM 1-1 TUTOR Current volunteer took Orton-Gillingham training &

needed 100 hours of volunteer instruction Teachers identify students who are not keeping up or

not advancing Volunteer takes 8 students per term, works 1hr/week

with each student, 8 hours total Programs can contact Orton-Gillingham or other

reading training programs to request trained volunteers

MUSIC INTERN Jino shared his musical

expertise by teaching songs accompanied by guitar

He led a folk singing group where students shared cultural stories and sang at an end of the year Open-mic Celebration

REGISTRATION, TESTING AND LEARNING PLANS INTERN

Having trouble getting to all the things you would like to get accomplished?

Intern Kathleen helped our very busy staff get learners retested and learning plans completed.

Kathleen was instrumental also in helping us on the day of our learner registration to keep things flowing and to assist staff during a very stressful period.

WRITING INTERN Chris spent over six months developing writing topics

and bringing learners together to write creative stories.

He spent many hours putting the publication together and doing his final project as the emcee for our open-mic celebration.

We had other volunteers complete part of this project in the past.  The staff had to fill in to help out with the project.  Handing it all over to Chris was a great relief to staff and he did our best student writing publication and open-mic celebration!

CITIZENSHIP AMBASSADOR

LIBRARY COORDINATOR

VOLUNTEER OUTREACH INTERN

MOVING FROM INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO ACTION…

Create a “game plan”

Placement, orientation and training

Risk Management

Recognition and Support

Create a Volunteer Position Description

www.themlc.org/volunteerpositiondescriptions.html

www.oursharedresources.com

Questions to consider when developing a new volunteer position

Use a template/worksheet

RESOURCES http://www.themlc.org/vcr.html http://www.literacyminnesota.org/Literacy_Ac

tion_Network.html

www.oursharedresources.com www.englishuneed.weebly.com www.usefulenglish.weebly.com http://www.literacyminnesota.org/Volunteer_P

osition_Descriptions_and_Training_Guide.html

QUESTIONS?

VOLUNTEER ISSUES COMMITTEECo-chairsMaryJo Bayliss (SHAPE): MBayliss@bloomington.k12.mn.us Cathy Grady (MLC): cgrady@themlc.org

Committee MembersTammi Bernard (Burnsville): TBERNARD@burnsville.k12.usGlenice Jones (Metro North): Glenice.Jones@anoka.k12.mn.usRuth Rodriguez (St.Paul): Ruth.Rodriguez@spps.orgAllison Runchey (MLC): arunchey@theMLC.org Nancy Thornbury nbthornbury@hclib.org(Franklin Learning Center, Minneapolis)

www.literacyactionnetwork.org