COLUMBIA SC – On Saturday, November 12, 2022, one of South Carolina’s oldest adult literacy councils, Turning Pages, will hold its first in-person Tutor Training Workshop in two years. The 3-hour workshop will introduce volunteer tutors to Turning Pages adult education methods.
The workshop, held at Turning Pages Office at 2062 North Beltline Boulevard, is led by Mr. John Myers, a 30 year veteran of this literacy council. “Each day I am inspired by other educators who are involved in literacy,” said Myers. Myers is retired from the SC Department of Education with a niche focus in English / adult literacy.
Adult literacy is an issue of social justice, not just a problem for educators. Those who cannot read cannot participate in mainstream American life. Reading websites, filling out job applications, or even understanding road signs becomes impossible. “Teaching adults to read gives our council a unique feeling,” said Ms. Lisa Cole, Board Chair and Interim Executive Director. “Tutoring gives you great satisfaction and an emotionally rewarding experience. Anyone who loves reading and wants to share that feeling can be a tutor.”
In fact, the entire council is run on the passion of literacy advocates like Cole. New board member Ms. Emily Davison will wear dual hats as a new tutor also, undergoing training at the November workshop. Davison, a piano teacher, is enrolled in the University of South Carolina’s Master of Library and Information Science program. Of her love for reading, Davison says, “Literacy is important because the more people can read, the more understanding they have for their surroundings and others in different situations. This makes for a more cooperative society since a rising tide raises all boats.”
Founded in 1968 as the Greater Columbia Literacy Council, Turning Pages has helped over 6,000 adults in the Midlands breathe easier in a text-based world. Using teaching methods invented by Dr. Frank Laubach, they are one of the only groups in the state offering one-on-one intensive tutoring for adult learners wanting to improve their reading skills.
Volunteer tutors receive free training and are then matched with adult learners and curriculum kits. Tutoring takes place during one hour sessions spaced over 12-24 weeks at times convenient to both the tutor and the learner. Sessions are held at public partner locations such as in a reserved room at the Richland library. Over 1,700 tutors have been trained by Turning Pages since its founding.
Apply to be a tutor at www.turningpagessc.org/tutor-interest or email [email protected].
