Volunteer at Literacy Source
Become a volunteer!
Small Group Instruction:
Volunteers at Literacy Source lead and assist small group classes on a quarterly basis. We welcome your interest in participating in these small group instructional opportunities:
Instructors develop lesson plans and curriculum to teach small groups of students in a classroom environment. Classes focus on skill levels (beginning to advanced), skill areas (reading, writing, math, speaking/listening), or specific topics (citizenship, pronunciation, grammar, math and science for the GED test, passing the written driver’s license test, etc.).
Classroom Assistants (off-site only) support a class instructor with large/small group activities as well as work alongside individual students to help them keep pace with class. Opportunities to work with immigrant and refugee English language learners are generally available in SeaTac and Tukwila. Class Assistants may also assist in our Transitions Class at the King County Correctional Facility in downtown.
Community Club Facilitators work with a team of 2-3 other volunteers to facilitate conversation practice for English language learners in a social setting, exchange information and experiences with people of other cultures, and help newcomers connect with the community. Facilitators help build a non-critical, accepting, and informal environment in which ESL learners can practice their speaking and listening skills.
Reading Tools for Life Classroom Assistants work with one to two other volunteers to facilitate a class where students of all levels listen to recordings of books and learn to read with ease and understanding. Within the classroom, volunteers work one-on-one with native and non-native English speakers of all levels to build their fluent reading skills.
Community Engagement Workshop Facilitators plan workshops to provide training, information and support for Literacy Source students. Workshops focus on increased civic participation while developing the language skills of participants. Sample workshops include: using the library, voter rights/responsibilities, and financial literacy.
One-to-One Tutoring
Volunteers tutors provide essential support to individual learners on an ongoing basis. Tutors bring a wide range of experience and interests to Literacy Source students in the tutoring program.
Tutors provide individualized instruction to an adult learner at our Center in Fremont. Tutors develop lesson plans focused on individual students needs at all skill levels. Some of our students are learning English as a second language, while others may be fluent native or non-native English speakers. Tutors work with learners whose levelsrange from beginning to advanced and instruction can focus on a variety of skill areas, including reading, writing, conversation skills, basic math, pronunciation, and computer literacy.
Tutoring Students’ goals may include:
Finding work or improving job skills
Studying English literacy, U.S. history, and civics to become a U.S. citizen*
Passing the GED test or getting a high school diploma
Passing the written driver’s license test
Organizational Support
Reading Tools for Life Readers record texts in audio format to be used to enhance students’ fluent reading skills in the classroom. Recording is done in the Literacy Source computer lab.
Program Support Volunteers provide valuable support to Literacy Source students, staff, and volunteers. Volunteers in this position assist with a wide range of tasks, including center reception as well as administrative, communications, and instructional projects. Program Support Volunteers play an essential role in the provision of excellent instructional services to the low-income residents of King County.
Board of Directors Members support and enhance the mission of Literacy Source by participating in long-range planning, providing guidance on continuous service improvement, guaranteeing a stable financial base for the program, and interpreting the mission of Literacy Source in the wider community. Skills in areas such as fundraising, organizational change, financial services, communications, adult education, social services, volunteer management, law, personnel and human resources management, real estate, and community relations are preferred.
For information about current, specific volunteer needs, click here.
For a schedule of upcoming volunteer orientations where you can learn more about volunteer opportunities and the Literacy Source community, click here