This information will give you an in depth overview of the training topics.

 The 11 sections below contain some of the material covered in our tutor training. This material is a sample of the type and scope of the training curriculum. Tutor training consists of teaching, hands-on and group to get you started. Follow-up exercises along with written assignments make-up the self-study to be completed between training sessions.

Understanding the Greatest Gift We Can Give

We want to help our students have literacy for life and life forever.
  • Literacy skills for everyday life empower adults to live life as an adult.
  • Life forever with God reaps benefits in the here and now and for all eternity.
​​​The following video is an amazing explanation of the story of God and our relationship with Him.

​Understanding Poverty

Low level reading skills and generational poverty go hand in hand. Not all who lack functional reading skills are in poverty but many are. An understanding of the life of those who lack resources is essential to help adults in poverty. Dr. Ruby Payne gives a framework for understanding poverty.​

SUGGESTED READING:
  • Inmate 46857 by Eddie Charles Spencer & Lafon Walcott Burrow
  • A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.
  • What Every Church Member Should Know about Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.
  • The Working Poor, Invisible in America by David K. Shipler

Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic (phO-nE-mik) Awareness is the cornerstone of reading. Students of any age who lack phonemic awareness will struggle with learning to read. Here are a few resources to get you started learning about phonemic awareness.
  • This video from YouTube will help you understand phonemic awareness and phonics. The presenter distinguishes phonological awareness from phonemic awareness which is a minor distinction and not important. She does a good job of briefly describing the various phonemic manipulation tasks and differentiates phonemic awareness from phonics as well.
  • Phonemes are produced in the vocal tract. There are three aspects to each phonemes production. They are voicing, place and manner. Here is a good introductory video to help you begin to understand the production of consonant phonemes. 

Understanding Teaching

Coming Sometime (let's be real)
​SUGGESTED READING:
  • The Seven Laws of Teaching, Revised Edition, by John Milton Gregory

Understanding Reading
Coming Sometime (let's be real)

Understanding Dyslexia

 ​Dyslexia is commonly understood to be seeing "saw" for "was".  While dyslexia does involve directionality confusion, it is so much more.
A good understanding of dyslexia is found in this description from the International Dyslexia Association.
Dyslexia, like other neurodevelopmental conditions—such as, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—is less a distinct syndrome without clear diagnostic biomarkers and obvious demarcations and is more a developmental multidimensional-spectrum condition. The various hallmark characteristics of dyslexia fall along continuums of severity that vary from individual to individual. Indeed, perhaps it is more accurate to take a page from ASD and begin thinking in terms of the dyslexia spectrum.
  • Susan Barton has made available a lot of good information to help you understand dyslexia. 
  • Begin with four videos of her presenting at a teacher's conference. While she is addressing teachers of children, the majority of the information transfers to adult dyslexics. You can find her videos here . The four videos of Susan's presentation are at the very bottom of this long page.  There is a lot of other information on this page, some of which you may find interesting including the Barton Intro Video and the Background video.

Here is a link to the Barton videos.
​
SUGGESTED READING:
  • Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz, M.D.
​
Below is a video giving a brief overview of dyslexia.

Teaching with the Barton Reading and Spelling System

​HOPE Adult Learning uses the Barton Reading and Spelling System as our core teaching material.
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  • Here is a link to a page with a demo video of Susan Barton teaching bits of Level 3 & Level 4 lessons.

Teaching with Other Materials

While the Barton System provides an excellent foundation for our students, we also incorporate other materials which are within the individual goals of our students and are highly motivational for them. These are just a couple of them.
  • God's Plan is a curriculum written specifically for adult literacy students who need to begin at a very basic level and want to read God's Word. It includes the text, God's Plan, A Walk through the Bible, a teacher's manual complete with instructions and supplemental teaching materials and student activities. It has a companion website which presents the text as well as teaching materials and student activities which mirror the print materials. It can be found here.
  • Ultimate Phonics is a great computer based reading program which supports the Barton System but also works well as a stand alone phonics program to improve decoding and fluency. Free word lists and sentences can be found here. 

Below is a demo video which will give you the feel of the simplicity and versatility of Ultimate Phonics.

Language Experience Approach

 A very effective way to create high interest materials for your adult literacy student is the Language Experience Approach. This uses the student's own story in their own words.  
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Below is a video demonstrating the use of the Language Experience Approach with an adult literacy learner.

Extended Training - Going Beyond Barton

Some students require extra instruction before they are ready for the Barton System. We use the first portion of LiPS (Lindamood Bell Phoneme Sequencing). "The contribution of the LiPS® Program is the development of an oral-motor, visual, and auditory feedback system that enables all students to prove the identity, number, and order of phonemes in syllables and words. It is more basic and more extensive than traditional phonics programs."

Below is a video demonstration of the use of the early lessons in LiPS.
Below is a video demonstration tracking with LiPS mouth pictures, colored blocks & letters.

Keeping Skills Fresh

​Partners in Reading of San Jose Public Library has a wonderful YouTube channel filled with short (5 to 10 min) videos on a wide variety of topics for tutors to refresh your tutoring skills or perhaps learn a new strategy or technique. Grab a cup of coffee, settle down and enjoy watching real tutors and students work together. Be prepared to learn some fresh ideas for your own tutoring.