The GBJCL’s professional staff trains volunteers in the skills and strategies to support literacy- as well as broader areas of relationship building and diversity. Tutors help students keep reading meaningful, build their academic and social vocabulary, and achieve greater fluency and confidence in their reading abilities.

GBJCL offers two training opportunities; New Tutor Trainings and Support Sessions. Trainings are led by GBJCL Director Vita Weinstein Murrow M.S.Ed.  Vita is an experienced elementary educator and Certified Literacy Specialist.

New Tutor Trainings are two hours in length and introduce volunteers to the GBJCL program as a whole, the role of a tutor, and how best to support students.  New tutor trainings offer an orientation to areas of literacy acquisition, as well as techniques and strategies designed to build student confidence in the classroom, and spark a love of reading. Additional topics include methods for working with a diverse range of learners including students who are learning English.

New Tutor Training sessions are offered in the fall at the start of the school year and through the winter.  Volunteers interested in training opportunities in the spring may set up a semi- private training by contacting GBJCL staff.

Support Sessions are designed to enhance the effectiveness and mastery of current tutors.  Support sessions are held throughout the school year, on an as-needed basis. The following can be offered-

“Make It and Take It” Sessions: tutors are provided with a variety of literacy based games in the following areas of literacy acquisition: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Tutors make the paper based games to bring to their students, to highlight the sense of fun and enjoyment that should be present in all tutoring sessions.

English Language Learner (ELL) Support Sessions: tutors are oriented to the unique development and needs of English Language Learners and are introduced to varied strategies designed for working with students learning English.

Returning Tutor Support Sessions: these sessions are designed for returning tutors to check in with staff, brainstorm new activities, and troubleshoot challenging scenarios.

Are you interested in hosting a New Tutor Training or Support Session at your synagogue or business? Please contact GBJCL Staff. Thank you!