READING

Literacy officials looking for volunteers

Volunteers pay $18 to attend 10 hours of training over four weekly sessions.

Local literacy officials are up-front about it: They're desperate for volunteers.

At any given time, 50 to 100 would-be students on waiting lists must delay their education because there aren't enough tutors to go around, said Susan Bodary, spokeswoman for Project READ.

"We have some who call us every week and say, `Have you found me a tutor yet?'" said Jennifer Davis of the Miami Valley Literacy Council, which sponsors local tutor training. "They have all this eagerness and enthusiasm that's put on hold."

The council offers small-group instruction for those waiting for one-on-one tutoring, but many literacy students are shy about studying around others, said Davis, curriculum and special-projects coordinator.

Volunteers pay $18 to attend 10 hours of training spread over four weekly sessions at the literacy council's offices in downtown Dayton. The classes are offered monthly.

Once a tutor finishes the 10 hours of training, council officials match the tutor with a student who has a compatible schedule and personality.

Officials also expect tutors to attend at least two free workshops of 2-3 hours each in subject areas like employability, writing, phonics, learning differences and family literacy. Math and basic life skills will be offered by the end of the year.

"It's designed to give our tutors specialized training in what their student needs," Davis said. "The whole thing's designed to retain tutors and retain students."

Tutors who complete the basic, 10-hour training and another 6-9 hours are eligible for national certification by the Literacy Volunteers of America and Laubach Literacy Action.

To volunteer, call the literacy council at 223-4922, or Project READ at 461-READ (7323).