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Most of us take for granted our ability to read a magazine, order from a menu, fill out an application, or understand a warning label. For adults with limited reading skill, these everyday activities pose significant problems.
Low literacy has profound effects not only on the individual but also on our communities--from unemployment and poverty to health and welfare issues.
ADULT PROGRAM
Students work one-on-one with tutors who meet with them regularly, usually once or twice a week. Tutors are volunteers who undergo training that prepares them to work with adult learners and help them achieve their literacy goals. Since its beginning, ABLE has worked with hundreds of adult learners and offered thousands of hours of instruction.
Individual reading goals are as varied as each learner. Some want to read to their children or grandchildren, and some want to improve their writing skills. New readers from other countries would like to increase their conversational skills Still others find that high levels of reading and comprehension skills are required for today's jobs. ABLE tutors encourage them to achieve their employment goals.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM
Several years ago ABLE board members asked themselves this question, "How can we put ourselves out of business," and from there the middle school program at Thomas Jefferson and Lewis and Clark was born. Trained, volunteer tutors began working with 6th grade students to improve their reading and comprehension skills. The program has proven successful with the majority of the students in the program making progress by the end of the school year with help from the dedicated ABLE volunteers. ABLE proudly promotes the #JCReads initiative in the Jefferson City Public Schools.
Volunteers are the heart of our programming: so we focus on providing meaningful interactions. Volunteers in the adult program can sign up for as little as 60 minutes each week. And the only requisite is patience and time. Students may be speakers of other languages in need of conversational skills. Working with them is a gratifying experience.
ABLE is currently seeking volunteers as reading tutors to meet one-on-one with 6th-grade students at Thomas Jefferson and Lewis and Clark Middle Schools for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Volunteers who pass a background check will give one hour a week to help students achieve the goal of reading on grade level by the end of the school year. Working with middle school students is a great opportunity to learn more about this generation. ABLE provides training and materials. Training for the 2024-25 school year will be in August to prepare for tutoring beginning after Labor Day.
