Skokie Tutor Honored for Work with Adult Learners

Margaret Sents, a tutor for the Volunteers in Teaching Adults program at Oakton Community College in Skokie was honored with the Tutor of the Year Award on April 9, 2016 at the 25th Annual On the Road to Literacy Conference. The awards were made by Literacy Volunteers of Illinois and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Literacy.

Margaret is a retired reading specialist who wholeheartedly embraces volunteerism locally as well as globally. For the past ten years, she has been an active literacy tutor in Oakton Community College’s VITA program. Margaret is organized, reflective, and knowledgeable in teaching skills and methods. Because of her background, she tutors learners in the lowest levels. Key for Margaret is that her learners understand how good readers break down new works to mine for word parts. In order to build a strong vocabulary and to also integrate technology into her lessons, Margaret collaborates with the computer instructor to identify software that focuses on vocabulary development. Knowing that many of her learners are seeking employment, real world materials such as job applications and job interview practice are another piece of the lessons she develops.

In order to create a learning environment where learners can connect with each other, Margaret encourages healthy debate and discussion on topics ranging from financial habits to world issues. Retelling and summarizing skills are subtly put into action when the discussion revolves around a newspaper article recently read.

The best of tutors recognizes that learning can only take place when the learner has his/her basic needs met. A few years ago, one of Margaret’s learners was facing homelessness. She helped him connect with the necessary social service agencies in order to retain his home. This is but one example of the good will and empathy that makes Margaret an outstanding volunteer. Beyond the VITA program, Margaret has shared in talents with the Iraqi Student Project and Global Volunteers. Margaret is a pleasure and a delight to have as a tutor. She is a significant asset to student learning and advancement.

Margaret works with developing learners who need lots of support and do not necessarily have strong test scores. Her current learners have begun to volunteer to answer questions and share thoughts with the whole class during discussion time. This is a big accomplishment because it shows that their level of confidence has grown. Under Margaret’s steady and gentle tutelage, her learners thrive and grow, achieving their goals in their new homeland.

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Literacy Volunteers of Illinois (LVI) is an organization that is committed to developing and supporting volunteer literacy programs that help adults, families, and out of school teens increase their literacy skills. LVI offers an AmeriCorps program to individuals interested in serving in literacy programs on a full-time basis, and sponsors the Jump Start program which recruits community volunteers to serve as tutors to incarcerated youth. To learn how to become involved with literacy in your area as a tutor or a student, call 312-857-1582 or visit www.lvillinois.org.