By Amanda Woodle, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor Navigating the world of virtual tutoring has been an exciting, and sometimes challenging, adventure. Of course, this new territory comes with obstacles like poor internet connections or barking dogs in the background, but it also has allowed for some really fun and heartwarming interactions with my students. One […]
Read More
Blog
More than Reading
By Richard Hayes, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor Back in August, I knew why I was serving. Well, I was pretty sure. I was confident that helping children learn how to read is an effective use of time. I knew that via the nature of this work, I could learn, grow, and ultimately better myself as […]
Read MoreConfidence, Earned
By Illan Kunik, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor One of the things that I am most frequently asked about regarding my experience as a Literacy First tutor is simple: what is my favorite part of working with the kids? Such a simple question can be one of the most difficult things to answer. For starters, there […]
Read MoreServing Together, Apart
By Daisy Martinez, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor What an interesting service year this has turned out to be. I didn’t expect half of my second semester to be full of virtual meetings, but then again, no one really did. As much as I want to be with my kiddos, I think this is an interesting […]
Read MoreFinding a Voice Through Reading
By Kylee Pearl, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor There are some things you can never be prepared for when it comes to teaching. Although there are many lessons you learn while tutoring, one lesson that has, somewhat unexpectedly, impacted me the most is the relationships I have made with my students. Every kid is different. You […]
Read MoreA Letter to My Students
By Amanda Woodle, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor Dear Students, I am sorry I could not tell you this in person, and I am so sad that we had to say goodbye sooner than expected. But more importantly, I am so proud of all of the hard work you have put in and all that you […]
Read MoreChildren are Happiness
By Diana Cabrera, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor An intruding sound interrupts my dreams.It’s my alarm clock.It’s 5:15 in the morning.Time to get dressed Pack my lunchAnd catch the busBut all I want to do is sleep. I hear the crunching of the leaves And the splashing of puddlesUnder my feetAs I walk with my eyes half-open, half-closedUnder […]
Read More11 Students
By Madison Hess, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor I wish I would have known that Thursday that I would potentially never see you again. It is true I have taken for granted the smiles, the laughs, and the passion in your eyes. Eleven students who have found a place in my heart, are going through the […]
Read MoreZooming into a New Role
By Brittany Barcliff, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 Literacy First Tutor As all of Literacy First knows, life has been different lately. Our 7:30 a.m. morning rituals with our team of tutors have shifted to quiet home-bound Zoom meetings. The boisterous noise of students, each working their way through a new story or skill has hushed to the […]
Read MoreMourning the Meaning
By Rachel Clink, 2018-2020 Literacy First Tutor When I went to work on March 12th, I had no idea that it would be my last day at Ortega Elementary. I knew it would be my last day at work before spring break as I had the next day off to spend with family. That last […]
Read More