Tutor Toolbox

Welcome to the Tutor Toolbox - your go-to space for tips and resources!

Tutor Support
This form is here to support you in your tutoring journey. Use it to request materials or ask for help with anything related to your tutoring experience. Whether you need specific resources, have questions, or are looking for new ideas, our team will do our best to provide what you need so you can feel prepared and confident in your work with learners.

Meet Your Program Staff:

  • Laurie Hoffman, Program Manager

  • Carol Garcia, Tutor Support Specialist

  • Ambreen Abdullah, Assessment Specialist

  • Lila Birchfield, Assessment Specialist

  • Ana Aguilera-Duncan, Intake Coordinator

Secretary of State - Adult Volunteer Literacy Grant Reporting Requirements

  • Tutor Time Log - Jan 1 - Mar 31 (Quarter 3). We must report all volunteer hours that tutors dedicate to our program each quarter. Please report your hours when requested by our Program Manager.

  • Goal Achievement Progress - We are a life-skills, goal-based program. Each learner sets goals during the intake process, and goal progress is evaluated after 35 hours of instruction. Per our grant agreements, we are required to report on learner progress after each assessment.

  • Post-Tests - We set a goal that 65% of adult learners will receive a post-test after each 35 hours of instruction.

    • If the tutor is unable to attend the post-test, the assessment specialist will contact the learner directly (similar to when they received their pre-test) to schedule their post-test which will be facilitated over Zoom/WhatsApp, unless it is an ABE test that must be delivered in person. Once the post-test is complete, results will be shared with the Tutor Support Specialist who will then contact the tutor to discuss the results and recommended new materials if needed. In order for us to count a learner as making progress in our program, they must be pre-tested and post-tested during the current fiscal year.

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Develop a lesson plan each week.

    • Ground your lessons in your learner’s real-life goals.

    • Emphasize speaking and listening, plus include reading and writing in each lesson.

    • Design your lessons to build on those from previous sessions.

    • Review key topics and lessons from the previous week.

    • Address what the learner should do for the following week.

    • Take notes on what worked well, what needs improvement, and what challenges came to light.

    • Encourage your learner to generate useful materials, such as sight word lists, picture cards, post-its, and experience stories that can be used for study and review.

    • Revisit instructional videos frequently for direction and inspiration.

    • Keep in touch with other tutors and trainers at Literacy DuPage to share ideas and ask questions. description

    Download a lesson planning worksheet.

  • In volunteer-driven programs, especially with beginners or low-literacy learners, it’s important to prioritize:

    • Comprehension (understanding spoken English)

    • Basic speaking skills (getting needs met, asking/answering questions)

    • Pronunciation is addressed in the service of being understood, not perfection. Too much focus on “perfect” pronunciation can be discouraging.

    Volunteer tutors should aim to support intelligibility and build learner confidence.

  • In partnership with Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley, we recently presented the workshop "Enhancing Lesson Planning with AI Tools." A recording of the session is available here for those who missed it or would like to revisit the content.

    Watch this video to learn more.

  • Citizenship Test Changes Coming October 20, 2025

    The USCIS has announced that it is implementing a new 2025 naturalization civics test on October 20, 2025. The new test will place a much stronger emphasis on history and government.

    Applicants will now be required to study a pool of 128 possible questions, up from 100 on the current test, as well as answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly. Students currently must answer 6 questions out of 10 correctly.

    Read more about the changes, get study resources, and find testing guidance by clicking below.

    Literacy DuPage and its staff do not provide citizenship assistance to learners due to the legal implications involved. Fortunately, several neighboring libraries and community programs offer free citizenship classes.

    ‍Our volunteer tutors can still play a valuable role in supporting learners by:

    • ‍Practicing Civics Questions for the naturalization test.

    • Conducting mock interviews to build confidence in answering interview questions.

    • Improving English language skills — speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

    • Enhancing understanding of U.S. history and government concepts related to the naturalization test.

    ‍However, it’s important to remember that tutors should not:

    • ‍Assist with completing the N-400 application.

    • Provide legal advice or guidance on immigration status or processes.

    ‍For official citizenship assistance, we encourage learners to seek support from accredited immigration organizations or legal professionals.

    View additional resources here.

  • Volunteers and staff should not assist anyone with this process, instead refer them to an immigration lawyer. It is important that trained experts in the fields of immigration law and policy handle our students’ technical questions about immigration and citizenship.

    It is important that you do not ask the status of your learner. As an organization, we do not ask status during the intake process, and it is at their discretion if they share this information with you.

    • Tutor/Learner pairs must meet in a public location. Meetings in private residences are not allowed. 

    • If your learner has expressed concern over continuing with in-person tutoring, offer them other options such as Zoom, What’s App, FaceTime. Respect their decision to discontinue tutoring in-person and inform Laurie Hoffman, Program Manager, lhoffman@literacydupage.org, of any changes. Although our libraries have guidelines in place to protect our community members, we cannot guarantee safety. 

    • If your learner has additional questions, please refer them to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights at 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693) or World Relief Immigration Legal Services: Aurora (630) 906-9546, Chicago (773) 583-9191, Carol Stream (630) 462-7660.

    Thank you again for all you do to ensure a supportive tutoring environment for you and your learner. 

New Tutor Training Packet

Tutor Resource Library

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    • Internal and external motivation

    • Characteristics of adult learners

    • Active vs passive learning

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    • Great language tutors

    • Language learning as an adult

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    • What is culture?

    • How culture affects language learning

    • Crossing cultures

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    • Emergent literacy learners (levels 0-1)

      • Characteristics and sample lessons

    • Beginning learners (levels 2-3)

      • Characteristics and sample lessons

    • Intermediate learners (levels 4-5)

      • Characteristics and sample lessons

    • Advanced learners (levels 6-7)

      • Characteristics and sample lessons

    • ABE, or Adult Basic Education, learners; they can speak English fluently, and it may even be their native language. They are working on foundational skills in reading and writing.

      • Characteristics and sample lessons

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics covered:

    • Listening skills by level

      • Emergent Literacy (0-1): Listening for Keywords

      • Beginning (2-3): Listening for Main Points

      • Intermediate (4-5): Listening for Details

      • Advanced (6-7) and ABE: Listening for Nuances

    • Speaking skills by level

      • Emergent Literacy (0-1): Basics

      • Beginning (2-3): Building Confidence

      • Intermediate (4-5): Moving Past the Plateau

      • Advanced (6-7) and ABE: Refining Speech

    • Ideas for all levels

      • Use Visual Aids: Charts, images, and videos help learners connect spoken language with meaning.

      • Use Sentence Frames: Provide the beginning to help learners build sentences (e.g., “I think ___ because ___.”). Sentence frames can lead to dialogues. Gradually increase improvisation until your learner is comfortable with role plays.

      • Record and Playback: Record learners speaking and let them listen for self-assessment or improvement.

      • Focus on Functional Language: Teach phrases learners can immediately use in real-life situations.

      • Help learners apply what they are learning: Some learners practice English every day, and some will only practice when they meet with you. At the end of every lesson, help them brainstorm how they will practice what they learned in your session. This could mean formal homework or just an emphasis on the importance of practice.

      • Emergent Learners

    • Total Physical Response (TPR)

    • Picture Prompts

    • Repetition Drills

      • Beginning Learners

    • Role Plays for Daily Tasks

    • Dictation

    • Interview Each Other

      • Intermediate

    • Open-Ended Questions

    • Debate Each Other

    • Problem-Solving Discussions

      • Advanced

    • Role-Plays with Complex Scenarios

    • Listen to and Discuss Authentic Materials

    • Presentations and Storytelling

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered

    Reading Skills

    • Emergent Literacy (0-1): Decoding Basics

    • Beginning (2-3): Building Vocabulary

    • Intermediate (4-5): Comprehension and Fluency

    • Advanced (6-7) and ABE: Nuances in Text

    Writing Skills

    • Emergent Literacy (0-1): Letter and Word Formation

    • Beginning (2-3): Writing Simple Sentences

    • Intermediate (4-5): Writing Paragraphs

    • Advanced (6-7) and ABE: Writing for Purpose

    • Emergent Literacy

      • Matching Letters and Sounds

      • Labeling Activities

    • Beginning

      • Sentence Building

      • Simple Journaling

    • Intermediate

      • Summarizing Texts

      • Writing Prompts

    • Advanced

      • Response Writing

      • Professional Writing Practice

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered

    • Intake Form (completed by LDP staff)

    • Student Goal Form (completed by LDP staff)

    • Culture Gram (sent by LDP staff)

    • Assessment results (completed by LDP staff)

    Best Plus 2.0 (ESL)

    • 0 - Beginning ESL (88-329) (may be emergent literacy, depending on educational background)

    • 1- Beginning ESL (330-400) (may be emergent literacy, depending on educational background)

    • 2 - Low-Beginning ESL (401-417)

    • 3 - High-Beginning ESL (418-438)

    • 4 - Low-Intermediate ESL (439-472)

    • 5 - High-Intermediate ESL (473-506)

    • 6 - Advanced ESL (507-540)

    • 7 - Extra Criteria (541+)

    TABE (ABE)

    • Beginning Literacy (Grades K-1)

    • Beginning ABE (Grades 2-3)

    • Low-Intermediate ABE (Grades 4-5)

    • High-Intermediate ABE (Grades 6-8)

    On-going assessment

    • Informal assessment

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    • Review goal form

    • Competency Checklist

      • All Levels: All learners should begin with the Level 0-2 Competencies. No matter your learners’ level, there may be gaps in their skills. Ask your learners to go through this checklist and demonstrate what they can do. It's important for them to demonstrate rather than simply tell you that they can do it. This ensures they have a foundation on which to build their language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing).

      • Levels 3-4 and 5-6: After addressing the 0-2 Competencies, tutors with students with a placement Level of 3 or above continue to follow the Competency checklist. Assess and teach the needed competencies within the Level 3-4 range.

      • Levels 5-6: Tutors with students in the Level 5-6 range continue to assess and teach the identified competencies in this range. Work on competencies from levels 0-4 as needed.

    • Goal setting and tracking progress

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    • First meeting goals

      • Get to know each other, bring photos

      • Plan future meetings

      • Get a writing sample

      • Review / set measurable goals

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    • Why do we lesson plan?

    • How to lesson plan

      • Start with Objectives

    • Use the Four A’s

      • Anchor – warm-up

      • Add – new information

      • Apply – practice (majority of lesson)

      • Away – homework

    • Where do I start?

      • Vocabulary in lesson

        • Actions

        • Learning Materials

        • Chunking, Repeat, Reinforce with a variety of activities, Review

        • Pictures – show don’t tell

      • 3 period lesson

        • Introduction (This is…)

        • Recognition (Show me…)

        • Recall (What is this…)

      • TPR – Total Physical Response

      • Language Experience Approach (dictate learner’s story, learners re-read story and correct any mistakes they see. Can replace some words with blanks to fill in. Create sequence activity – put sentences in order )

      • The Plan

        • Have an objective for each lesson and stick to plan

        • Learner should be able to do 1 new thing

        • Vary activities but have a routine

        • Reflect on lesson and use that to create next lesson plan

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    Additional information coming soon…

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    Additional information coming soon…

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    Additional information coming soon…

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    Additional information coming soon…

  • Click here to access Training Materials.

    Topics Covered:

    Additional information coming soon…

Life-Skill Goal Resources

  • Types of Community Goals:

    • Community Member Goals

    • Consumer Goals

      • Shopping & Money Lesson Plan (Levels 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, ABE)

    • Life Skills / Daily Living Goals

  • More information coming soon…

  • Employment Lesson Plans (Levels 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, ABE)

    Types of Employment Goals:

    • Job Seeker Goals

    • Workplace Goals

    • Shopping & Money Lesson Plan (Levels 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, ABE)

  • Additional information coming soon…

  • Health Lesson Plan (Levels 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, ABE)

    Types of Health Goals:

    • Doctor's Office Goals

    • Participation Goals

    • Rx Management Goals

    • Preventive Care Goals

Tutor Resources

Getting Started

Printable Resources & Worksheets

Training Videos

How to use Google Docs

How to use AI in Lesson Planning

Tutors can find all volumes of our Tutor Toolbox (formerly Keeping in Touch) eNewsletter.

eNewsletters include resources compiled by our Tutor Support Specialist.

Activity & Professional Development Websites

Activities for ESL Students offers a wide variety of interactive quizzes, tests, exercises, and puzzles for ESL learners.

Adult Education and Literacy Resource Collection is the LINCS (Literacy Information and Communication System of the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL)) site for ESL teachers and students with articles and links to numerous other useful ESL sites.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association provides a list of free, multilingual picture dictionaries designed for beginning English language learners of all ages.

Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults offers First Steps for Teachers, developed by the National Institute for Literacy for Basic Literacy learners.

Bridging Refugee Youth & Children’s Services offers a booklet titled, Raising Children in a New Country: An Illustrated Handbook. This resource can help foreign-born parents adjust to the different laws, norms, and practices related to raising children in the United States.

CATESOL ESL Games is a collection of online, educational, English learning, grammar, and vocabulary games.

Center For Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA) has a collection of articles based on research called digests on many diverse topics for ESL and BL tutors.

Dave’s ESL Cafe is an excellent resource that includes many links, activities, teacher tips, and lesson plans. This is a great starting point for teachers.

EL/Civics Online is an online professional development resource created through the Adult Learning Resource Center (ALRC) and the U.S. government.

EnglishPage.com provides free English lessons and exercises. It also offers links to a variety of ESL reading and listening resources.

GCFLearnFree.org provides step-by-step instructions on a variety of math skills and computer topics. This site requires a good amount of reading, yet it is a good resource for higher-level students and their tutors.

Internet Essentials from Comcast offers low-cost Internet service, discounted computer equipment, and free digital literacy training to families with at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program.

Safe Kids Worldwide offers easy-to-read materials about an assortment of safety topics.

Understanding What Reading Is All About is a PDF that provides teaching materials and lessons for Adult Basic Education Learners from the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL).