“We have good news for you Kayden! You are doing so well that you no longer need to come back for tutoring.”

Hearing these words, Kayden was both happy and sad.  He was happy because he knew that he was reading better and the words were confirmation.  Even so, he went into the bathroom to hide his tears because he looked forward to meeting with his tutor!  The time they had together was challenging but encouraging.  It made a positive difference in both of their lives.  His tutor had tears, too!

Kayden and his tutor Randy are a tutoring pair at the Warder Literacy Center, 137 East High Street, where children and adults can get help with basic literacy.

When Kayden came to the Center, things were not so rosy for him at school.  He could only read 20 words on the Slossen, a reading assessment.  Worse, he had no concept of consonants and could not say the days of the week nor the months of the year.  He was not making it to where he needed to be in second grade.

Elementary kids of all ages are welcome to register at Warder Literacy Center.  However, only kids two grade levels behind or more in basic reading skills will be enrolled.  The mission is to teach a child to read so that child can read to learn.

Life was not perfect for Kayden.  His parents were divorced and he was part of a blended family.  However, he had many things in his favor.  His mom, grandmother, stepmother and dad all did their part in making sure that he made it to tutoring.  He was at the Center twice a week for an hour each time, virtually without fail.

Such persistence does not always happen.  Often parents fail to get their children to tutoring appointments consistently.  Sometimes working students are required to work extra hours cutting into tutoring time and into extra practice.  Sometimes adult students are mandated by a judge to improve literacy skills—a circumstance that seriously can stifle motivation.

Truthfully, though, even Kaydendid not hit the ground running.  He really didn’t want to be tutored.  Randy, a “veteran” tutor at the Center, tried a few things out with him to see what would capture Kayden’s interest.  Surprisingly, poetry lit Kayden’s literacy flame.  Randy had him read some to a staff member.  Afterward, Kaydendid a self-assessment, “I did pretty good!”  From that point on, Randy could barely keep up.

Most of the tutors at the Warder Literacy Center simply are people who want to help.  Every one of them participates in two days of the Center’s tutor trainingprogram, offered once-a-month.  Then, tutors are matched with students and given the supplies and support to get to work.  Within the first year, the tutor is invited to Certification Day, the final day of training where the tutor becomes a certified tutor for Warder Literacy Center.

As part of the ongoing support for tutors and students, Mary Ann Jung, the Children’s Program Coordinator, reassesses each student twice a year.  Kayden’s second assessment jumped from 1.0 to 2.9 at 6 months!  Although a bit ahead of the norm, a reassessment typically shows an advancement of one grade level and two grade levels over a year of tutoring.

Many people would call this magic but really it is very simple recipe.  Match a student with a big hearted tutor and then mix in some training and support.  Let those two work together with the Stevenson Method for an hour at a time, twice a week.  The results speak for themselves.

Here is what a couple of parents have commented about Warder on Facebook:

“We were very blessed to have them help our daughter and I am forever grateful. This past Friday night they had a carnival and the kids LOVED it!! I cannot say enough good things about this place and the people that give their time.!!!”

“I want to sincerely thank you all for everything you have done for Kayden!! He would not be where he is without all of you!”

Getting back to Kayden’s story, when he found out that it was time to leave the program, he was assessed at 4.3 for reading even though he was in the third grade at school.  We want to help more people like Kayden but our biggest barrier is a shortage of tutors.

All of the tutoring at Warder Literacy Centerinvolves three programs:  Adult Basic Literacy Education, English Speakers of Other Languages, and Teaching Children to Read.  The framework for the programs is CCLC’s Certified Tutor Training program.

David Smiddy, the executive director, explains, “Our tutor training program prepares our volunteers and others who want to volunteer as a tutor elsewhere, perhaps in a school or as part of a church’s outreach.  Anyone who wants to be a volunteer tutor can go through training.  A grant from United Way helps make that possible.  We want to make sure that any volunteer who is tutoring in our area has the skills and support necessary to move someone forward.”

Did you know that a volunteer tutor can move a child through 4 grade levels in reading in virtually 2 years?   And did you know that volunteer can help a student prepare to pass the Citizenship Interview?  Or that a volunteer can be trained to help someone take and pass the GED?  Or get a driver’s license?  These are some of the reasons why Warder Literacy Center is so centered on tutors.

How about you?  Would you like to jump in and help?  Warder is always looking for more tutors to train and plug in.  And if you are wondering which program is in the greatest need for tutors, that is easy:  children.  In 2005 the Center began tutoring kids who are two grade levels or more behind and the children’s program clearly utilizes half of the volunteer tutors.  Of course, there is room and need for tutors in the other programs as well.

Want to help in other ways?  Our Trivia Team Challenge (for adults) is on April 26th at the Courtyard by Marriott—a fun fundraiser for Warder.  Our next Rummage Sale is May 5th and 6th at Warder.  Just want to donate money, books or items for the sale?  Clark County Literacy Coalition/Warder Literacy Center, is a nonprofit 501(c)3.  Contact the Center at 937-323-8617 or sue@cclcnet.net for more information.