These are the most Frequently Asked Questions about becoming an Augustine Tutor. If you don’t see the question/answer you’re looking for below, please contact us directly!
Do I have to be an educator or former educator?
No. While many of our tutors were drawn to Augustine because of previous teaching or volunteering experience and the desire to learn a more systematic and successful approach, many tutors come to us without previous experience.
Do I pay to take the tutor training class?
Trainees pay $250, which covers a small portion of the class and ongoing education and support. Tutors keep all tutoring materials. For those trainees who find this investment prohibitive, a scholarship fund is available to offset the cost.
How long does training last?
The current training program consists of approximately 3.5 hours of pre-work and 5 concurrent days in class. Continuing education is offered monthly to all tutors.
What is covered in training?
Training is a combination of classroom time and several practicum lessons with a student. Trainees are taught how to assess a student’s literacy needs, how to develop a lesson plan and how to pace the lessons.
Will I really be ready to do this after training?
Yes! You will have the materials, training, and practice needed to feel confident about teaching a struggling reader.
Is there a service commitment expected of me?
Yes. Each of our volunteer tutors commits to providing a minimum of 60 sessions of pro bono literacy tutoring to a low income student. More than half of our tutors go beyond the 60 hour commitment, having seen the difference ALP tutoring makes. It takes about a school year and a half to complete the 60 sessions.
May I tutor at a school of my choice?
We strongly encourage trainees to tutor at an ALP partner school but we will work with you to find a school that is convenient. Each of our partner schools has an ALP Site Coordinator who provides ongoing support to the tutors.
How do I find a student to tutor?
ALP Site Coordinators facilitate the process of matching tutors with students at our partner schools.
Is CMS requiring masks for in-person tutoring?
Yes, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted July 30 to approve universal face coverings in all schools and educational office buildings for the 2021-2022 year, effective immediately. The requirement applies to all students over the age of 2, staff, volunteers and visitors inside buildings and buses. Face coverings will remain optional outdoors on all school sites.
What will happen to in person tutoring if CMS changes to all virtual instruction once the school year begins?
If CMS makes the decision to go all virtual for instruction or to prohibit volunteers from being in school buildings, ALP will use the knowledge and experience gained since March 2020 to train volunteers to tutor virtually. We are confident based on last year’s work that we can pivot quickly and offer efficacious tutoring in a virtual environment. We will help all tutors to make the transition to virtual tutoring. In some cases, volunteers may opt to take a break until tutoring resumes in person.
Can I train virtually to be an in-person tutor?
We offer two options for tutor training, and each is specific to the type of tutoring that the volunteer will be doing. Virtual training is for tutors who will work with students remotely (i.e., virtual tutoring ). In-person training is designed for tutors who will work with students in person.
(updated 8-13-21)
“The Augustine tutor training was fabulous. I learned something new every hour, and the ongoing support and training are superb.”
Augustine tutor