Gorge Literacy

Tutors needed for: reading & writing, basic math, English conversation, citizenship, GED® Preparation, life and work skills.

Please fill out the application below
 or contact the literacy office to make an appointment.

Volunteer Tutor Application Form

Tutorees who need: reading & writing, basic math, English conversation, citizenship, GED® Preparation, life and/or work skills.

Please fill out the application below
 or contact the literacy office to make an appointment.

Request Volunteer Tutor Form

All volunteers will need to complete a background check. Even if you have previously tutored for Gorge Literacy it is now a required action to continue volunteering. CGCC Gorge Literacy will pay for the process. Please fill out the "Volunteer Tutor Application form (found above) and Tree Rocha will send out the electronic background form via your prefered email. Please fill out the form and return it to Tree at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions or concerns or need it in paper form please contact Tree Rocha, contact info found below.

How do I request a tutor?

Email gorgeliteracy@cgcc.edu or call (541) 506-6083 or Click here to set up an intake appointment where we will talk about what you need and your goals for tutoring. We will also do some informal testing to determine your reading and writing level, discuss any preferences you may have regarding your tutor, and your scheduling needs.

How long will it take to be matched with a tutor?

We do our best to match you as quickly as possible, but sometimes learners will be placed on waiting list if no tutors are immediately available or fit your needs.

Is there a cost for tutoring or materials?

All Gorge Literacy services and materials are free to our learners. Learners may keep and write in most workbook style books. Other books need to be kept in good condition and returned to us when you finish with them or stop your tutoring.

Tutors are also provided with teacher guides and copies of workbooks if necessary. These must be returned at the end of each tutor match.

What is the process once a tutor/learner match is identified?

When we have identified a tutor that fits with a particular learner’s needs and schedule, our staff will meet with that tutor to review the learner’s goals and initial work plan to make sure the tutor is comfortable with the match before moving forward.

Once this is confirmed, a match meeting will be scheduled with the tutor, the learner and a program staff member. Here, we will help with the beginning steps of setting up your tutoring sessions (time, place, etc), review important information, introduce learning materials and activities, and help you get to know each other before your first official tutoring session.

What is the time commitment?

Dates, times, length and frequency of sessions are usually decided by each learner/tutor pair based on their needs and desires. To make sufficient progress, we recommend that tutor pairs meet for three hours per week (usually two 1½ hour sessions).

Where do tutoring sessions take place?

Tutoring sessions generally take place in any public setting within the community that is convenient and comfortable for the pair. This could include your community library, a room in a church or social service agency, a coffee shop or restaurant.

The best and the most common location for meetings is on one of the CGCC campuses in a common area or reserved classroom/meeting room. We can help you with finding appropriate meeting locations if necessary. We discourage pairs meeting in private homes for a variety of reasons.

Think of all the reading you may do in any single day: road signs, medicine labels, advertisements,  email, notes from school, weather warnings, voter information, this website, and so much more. Now think what it would be like if you were unable to read or understand these many things that you may take for granted.

Together, we can build a stronger community.

Literacy Facts

• Adults who have not received high school diplomas are unemployed at nearly three times the rate of their peers with high school diplomas. (State of Oregon Employment Dept.)
• The literacy levels of parents are crucial in predicting their children's literacy levels and educational attainment. (National Institute for Literacy)
• More than 20% of adults read at or below a fifth-grade level, which prevents them from working at jobs with a living wage, hinders their ability to vote, and impedes their ability to read a newspaper. (National Institute for Literacy)

Adult literacy may be working on reading, writing or math skills to get or keep a job, or to get a promotion. Others may want to read books with their children. Still others may be learning English as a second or third language.

Many just want to be able to better navigate a world that relies on written communication.

Adult learners are courageous individuals who decide the time is now to tackle their greatest obstacle. All they need is an interested tutor who is willing to share the knowledge and skills that open the doors to the world of literacy.

Adult Basic Education (ABE)

Native English speakers who request tutor services to improve their reading, writing, math and/or life skills. ABE learners may never have had the right opportunities to pursue their personal, higher education, or employment goals. Some may have a learning disability while others may have a physical or developmental limitation and need to improve skills so that they might become more independent and better able to reach their goals.

General Education Development (GED)

Students who want support in pursuing their GED. They could be preparing for or already taking GED classes at CGCC.

English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Learners looking to improve their English conversation skills. They could be taking ESOL classes at CGCC or desire individualized help. ESOL learners can also be working on improving reading, writing, pronunciation, grammar and other skills once speaking is fairly fluent.

Citizenship

Learners looking for help establishing U.S. citizenship by taking citizenship exams.

Classroom

Tutors sometimes assist an instructor in a classroom setting. Tutors usually receive some direction from the instructor and then meet with students individually or in small groups during class.

Gorge Literacy is funded by generous donations from community members like you. To support Gorge Literacy, send donations to:

Columbia Gorge Community College Foundation
c/o Columbia Gorge Community College
400 East Scenic Drive
The Dalles, OR 97058

Specify funds are for Gorge Literacy.