Peninsula READS' Basic Literacy program works primarily with American-born adults learning to read or learning to read fluently. Students identify their goal(s) and trained tutors work one-on-one with them to attain that goal. A student may want to read notes sent home from school with their child, the newspaper, the Bible, or may simply want to be able to participate in a class. They may want to obtain employment or become eligible to progress in their current workplace. Many students want to earn their GED and, upon testing by Adult Education or Peninsula READS, discover they need remediation before being eligible to take GED classes. Some of our students have high school diplomas or GEDs and still want to improve their comprehension and/or reading fluency. There are as many goals as there are learners and our volunteers work hard to held each student achieve their individual goal.
Basic Literacy learners are initially tested with the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) to determine a baseline from which to begin. There is a $20.00 testing fee and all services after testing are free to the learner. Trained volunteers begin working with students at their current functioning level and proceed from there. The tutor and learner are introduced to each other in a first meeting where they discuss the responsibilities of each and decide when and where they will meet next. It is very important that they maintain contact with each other and that each upholds their end of the agreement. Meetings must occur in a public space; Peninsula READS' facilities and public libraries are recommended. Periodically learners are re-tested to ensure that progress is being made, to what degree, and in order to identify any challenges in the learning process.
Adult students learn to read differently that K-12 students and it is important to acknowledge that adult students are adults first and students second. Adult learners have most likely developed many coping mechanisms that have helped them survive the challenges of being a non-reading adult and these must be respected. Our workshop trainings and follow-up forums are essential in helping volunteers feel comfortable and confident helping other adults learn to read.