Resources for Supporting
Volunteers in the Classroom
Support for teachers
Free On-line Class: Using Volunteers in the Classroom
Pick up some tips for how to effectively use and support volunteers in the ABE classroom (and earn two CEUs to boot). Access the course at online.theMLC.org
On-line Volunteer Request Form
Looking for a volunteer for your class? Fill out the online form at mnliteracy.org/opportunity and we will post it on our website and share it with prospective tutors.
Individual Support
Have a question about using volunteers in your classroom or program? Contact Andrea Echelberger at for suggestions and support!
Training for Volunteers
ESL and GED Tutor Pre-service Trainings
Ask your tutors to attend Minnesota Literacy Council’ English as a Second Language Tutor Training or Reading, Writing, Math and GED Tutor Training. These 12-hour trainings provide volunteers with an overview of teaching as well as some concrete skills and activities they can use when they get to your classroom. Find the current schedule of trainings at: mnliteracy.org/volunteers/training
In-service Trainings for Current Volunteers
Encourage volunteers to sharpen their skills by attending Minnesota Literacy Council’s volunteer engagement events. Ranging from informal movie nights to half-day mini-conferences, these events will keep tutors fresh and motivated. Find the current schedule of trainings at: mnliteracy.org/volunteers/training
On-line Trainings
Are your volunteers unable to make it to an in-person training? Minnesota Literacy Council offers a variety of free online classes. Two workshops, ABE Volunteer in the Classroom and ESL Volunteer in the Classroom, are designed to help prepare tutors for their volunteer assignments. A variety of other courses will help them refine their knowledge and skills in areas such as teaching pronunciation, grammar, and citizenship. Check them out at: online.themlc.org
By Request Trainings for Local Programs
Have a group of volunteers who need training but aren’t able to make it to the regularly-scheduled workshops. Your program can request an on-site training. All you need is 10 volunteers and chairs for them to sit on. A catalog of workshop options is available at mnliteracy.org/educators/custom-trainings or contact Andrea Echelberger at .
Resources for Volunteers
Tutor Tips Blog
Volunteers can join the Minnesota Literacy Council Tutor Tip Blog. They will receive weekly tips highlighting tutoring activities and strategies. It is a great way to keep up-to-date and enthused. Volunteers can also search the blog at mnliteracy.org/tools/tutor-tips
Classroom Videos
The Minnesota Literacy Council and ATLAS have created a number of videos for teacher and volunteer professional development. The videos include detailed descriptions of popular ESL classroom activities, suggestions for integrating ACES skills into classroom teaching, math and numeracy professional development, as well as other topics. The videos can be found on the MN Literacy Council website at mnliteracy.org/classroomvideos.
Curriculum
Find free curricula for pre-beginning and beginning level adult ESL classes, as well as GED math and science, health lesson plans, and citizenship classes. Each curriculum aligns with current assessments, and was written specifically for volunteer teachers. Free curriculum can be found on the MN Literacy Council website at mnliteracy.org/curriculum-lesson-plans. Intermediate and advanced ESL curricula, and pre-GED curricula are available for purchase upon request.
ESL Pull-Out Kits
Volunteers are a huge asset in the adult English language classroom, but finding time to prepare them to lead activities can be time-consuming for teachers and coordinators. OurESL Pull-Out Kitsare designed to take the burden of volunteer preparation off of classroom teachers by providing volunteers with complete activity instructions and materials for small-group and one-on-one instruction. The kits also provide structured support to volunteers which helps to develop their confidence, build independenceand strengthen their teaching skills.Each kit addresses a different ESL skill area, such as phonics, pronunciationor citizenship. Once the kits are assembled, teachers only need to provide volunteers with weekly vocabulary words or a copy of the reading text. Everything else that the volunteers need can be foundin the kit. ESL Pull-Out Kits can be found on the MN Literacy Council website at mnliteracy.org/tools/ESLPull-OutKits.