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| with assistance from South Piedmont Community College 4209 Old Charlotte Hwy., Monroe, NC 28110 Ph: 704-226-1425 |
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Tutor Profiles Page 1
Mary Billman (Winter 2001) |
or Norma Griffin |
Tutor Profiles - Page 1When Mary Billman first took the Laubach tutor training four years ago, she was already a strong advocate of literacy. In her home state of Pennsylvania, she had been a reading tutor and was the Story Lady for over two years at her regional library. To Mary, the perfect gift for her children was always in the form of a book.
Because of her interest in literacy, Mary was eager to get involved with the Literacy Council. Although she had only worked with native English speakers, she knew the need for ESL tutors was great and has taken ESL students ever since.
And what an impact shes made. Mary often recalls her first tutor match, which was a husband and wife. When the wife got a job at a local grocery store, Mary asked her to use her English to recount her first day on the job.
They told me to bring in the boogies, said the student.
The what? asked Mary.
The boogies.
Oh, buggies...shopping carts, clarified Mary.
The next day at work, when asked to bring in the buggies, the student interjected, Miss Mary said theyre shopping carts.
Mary sees serving the ESL population as a mission in our own back yard. It doesnt take much time and it fills you up.
Think you cant do it? At least make the attempt, encourages Mary. It is a wonderful experience to see someone learning.
If you want to make a difference in someones life like Miss Mary, give us a call at the Council or register by mail for an upcoming Tutor Training Workshop.
Joan Botzko
It was late summer 1998 when Joan Botzko became aware of the Literacy Council program just getting underway in Union County. A friend of hers had begun tutoring in July, and Joan, understanding the importance of reading in everyone's life, wanted to help.Her first tutoring experience was in a community college Basic Skills classroom assisting the instructor with various students who needed one-on-one help with reading. In November of 1999 she began meeting an adult new reader at the public library. They have been working together weekly ever since, and Joan has really become involved in teaching and preparing lessons. She knows her student's needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Her heart breaks for him when he tells her that other people think he's stupid, because she realizes that he is smart in many ways--he just has problems with reading and spelling.
When her student expressed an interest in learning about computers, Joan began showing him how to type and complete his written lessons on a computer. What a boost to his self esteem to be using a computer!
Joan admits that tutoring is sometimes a challenge. However, the student's interest in learning and improving his life motivates her. His faithfulness in attending tutoring sessions on Saturday mornings and working in SPCC's Plato computer lab on his own time also shows his desire to learn. "He always does his homework," says Joan, "and he lets me know he appreciates that I'm helping him."
Her student admits that he never learned as a child in school and says that he's only ever had two teachers who cared to try and help him with his reading problems. One of them is Joan.
Talbot Davis
Approximately three years ago, Pastor Talbot Davis preached a sermon at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church urging his congregation to do more with and for needy people. He gave several examples of the kinds of things, including teaching someone to read.As it happened, a visitor in the congregation that Sunday was involved in planning a workshop to train tutors to work one-on-one with illiterate adults using the Laubach method. Davis attended the workshop in mid-January, and by March he was meeting with his student, Robert. Since then the two have continued to meet twice a week for sessions of 45 minutes to an hour, geared to the student's attention span. For Davis, the best part of tutoring has been the friendship that developed between Robert and him. An additional reward for Davis is that Robert now has a church home at Mt. Carmel, where he has been welcomed into the congregation.
Davis says his interest in teaching an adult to read was sparked by his mother who taught him to read. To succeed as a tutor, Davis believes the three essential qualities are patience, perseverance, and a love of reading.
Additionally, Davis sees the tragedy that results when people cannot read. "Anyone who thinks having a non-literate society is a danger should be involved in this program," said Davis.
5 Questions with Jeanne Diehl
Jeanne Diehl, has been a tutor for three years and has made a great impact on her students life. After spending most of her life in Wheaton, Illinois, she spent a few years in New Jersey before retiring and moving to Monroe in 1996.Jeanne is serving her second year on the Councils Board of Directors and is currently serving as Vice-Chair. Here are our questions and her responses:
- How long have you been a tutor? I completed training April 24th and met with my student for the first time on May 4th, 1999.
- Whats the best thing about being a tutor? It is a thrill to watch my student when something clicks, which is quite often.
- Why is volunteering important to you? It is in volunteering that I get to do the most rewarding work ever.
- What is your favorite book? I have two favorites, and they are both suspenseful and surprisingthough I generally dont like surprises: The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard and Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow.
- If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it? Dont need it. Im happy with what I do and when I do it.
Vicki Fink
Vicki Fink's introduction to the Laubach method for teaching adults to read came during the 1984-85 school year when she taught a 20 year old student with cerebral palsy in her exceptional children's class. The student told Fink that his greatest desire was to learn to read, yet she knew that other teachers had tried most every method for teaching him to read without success.Determined to help her student achieve his goal, Fink attended a Laubach tutor training workshop and used this method with her student throughout the school year. The student progressed, and for the next two years she continued the tutoring as a volunteer. When she moved from the area in 1987, another tutor took her place.
In August 1994 Fink came to Monroe when her husband accepted the pastorate of St. Luke's Lutheran Church. Still interested in literacy issues, she helped organize a Laubach tutor training workshop for Union County residents in January 1996. Since that time she has volunteered to tutor four adult students, her most recent since March 1998.
As an Exceptional Children's teacher at East Union Middle School, Fink teaches communications skills, math, social studies, and science. Although she was honored as Union County's Teacher of the Year for 1998-1999 and went on to become a semi-finalist in the regional competition, Fink is quick to stress that Laubach materials are designed to be used by anyone who can read.
Moreover, Fink stated that she is motivated by Laubach's 'Each One Teach One' philosophy. "Anyone with reading skills and a willingness to devote several hours a week to this program can use this easy-to-follow method," says Fink who stresses that she, too, had to be trained to use the Laubach materials. "It's the ability to read that is primary," she said. "Anyone can do this."
Joan Goetchius & Mimi Smith
About a year ago, two "good buddies" decided to begin a new venture together-doing their part to combat the large problem of illiteracy. After completing the Council's tutor training workshop in January 1999, both began volunteering in a Basic Skills class at South Piedmont Community College (SPCC).Both agree that the idea to train as tutors stemmed from Goetchius who has a long history of volunteerism in her family. Goetchius says she wanted to make herself useful and believes that the inability to read keeps people shut off from the world. Goetchius believes her degree in Health Education, which she earned from Wingate University at age 55 helps her when she is working with students. Moreover, she believes it is important for a tutor to like people and know how to deal with different types of people, especially those who may be embarrassed by their life circumstances. Smith believes that a college degree may help a tutor but the most important criteria for a potential tutor is the desire to help someone.
Both women also speak of the rewards they receive from the tutoring experience. Goetchius tells of the thrill she gets every time a student's eyes light up or one says with surprise, "I didn't know that!" Smith agrees that knowing that what she does in class benefits her student in and out of class is a great reward. She enjoys the challenge of working with adult students and studies lessons in advance when she knows which students she will have. Both women work with one main student, but they are available to help others as the need arises. In addition to teaching reading, tutors often introduce students to everyday knowledge and experiences the student may have missed because of their limited educational opportunities. They say the tutors learn a lot too.
Both women like the convenience of having the set schedule that SPCC classes provide. Smith says she enjoys seeing all the students come to class and knowing that they are all willing to work at their education. It makes both Goetchius and Smith do their best to be in class every Wednesday night. Even if they've had a rough day, they know that at least one student is counting on them to be there.
Rose Giacchetta
When Rose Giacchetta moved to Monroe three years ago, she was looking for a new and different volunteer opportunity. Right after an acquaintance she met at church recommended the Literacy Council's program, she also saw a newspaper article about us and signed up for our upcoming Tutor Training workshop.While admitting that at first she was scared to death, Rose hesitantly decided to give tutoring a try. Once she began, she found that she was quite comfortable with the process and enjoyed the contact with her student. Soon she volunteered for a second student. Not long after, there was a third student - and then a fourth! Indeed, she is currently tutoring 4 students on a one-to-one basis.
When asked why she tutors, Rose says she loves the contact with her students and enjoys preparing lessons based on their needs - things that will help them with their everyday lives. Her reward is seeing how well they are doing and experiencing the indescribable feeling she gets when her students share one of their accomplishments - something they were previously unable to do - with her.
While sharing her abilities with others, Rose has found an excellent way to use her time and talents! And she is a great advocate for and asset to the Council.
To Tutor Profiles, Page Two
The Literacy Council of Union County is a non-profit organization that teaches adults to read and/or speak English. Please contact our office for further information.