Identifying Inservice Topics for Volunteer Literacy Tutors.

Overview & Synopsis

A Tutor Self-Assessment Inventory (TSAI) was developed from the literature on reading, adult basic education, literacy education, and comments of professionals in order to provide the volunteer literacy tutor an opportunity to compare his or her self-perceptions regarding tutoring abilities and knowledge to attributes and competencies considered important by experienced volunteer literacy tutors. By using the self-assessment inventory, tutors can identify their strengths and weaknesses and tutor trainers can plan for preservice or inservice education programs to meet their educational needs. Competencies and attributes selected were chosen because of their ability to be taught, their importance in the tutoring situation, or their high rating by volunteer tutors. The TSAI has a stem followed by a series of statements to be rated on a five-point scale. The items are divided into six subsections under two major headings: knowledge and awareness (attributes) and competencies. The TSAI was designed for immediate scoring by the tutor. (The TSAI is contained in the appendix of this document.) (KC)