Opportunities From: Connect2Community

If you are interested in making a palpable difference in the life of a child, this is an opportunity which we believe you will find quite rewarding. 

The Family Learning Institute (FLI) is seeking adult tutors to work one to one in reading with an student assigned them for the year.  The program works with second through fifth grade students from Erickson and Holmes Schools in Ypsilanti who are a year or more behind grade level in reading, and referred by their teachers.  

Tutors receive training in teaching reading and are provided a lesson each week by a reading specialist. The lessons provide intensive  instruction and practice  in phonics and word recognition.  This tutoring program differs from many other volunteer-based reading programs in that tutors do not just read with students, but provide instruction to students, with the goal of student mastery of foundational skills and independence in reading. 

Once a week, hour-long tutoring can be either in-person at Holmes or Erickson schools before the start of the school day, or virtual, with on-line Zoom meetings during late afternoons. All lessons are provided tutors by the tutoring director.  

Tutoring takes place for an entire academic year, generally beginning in October and ending at the end of  May.  Some students are also referred to the program later in the school year, so some tutors begin tutoring after October. Tutors can chose from a number of options for day and time of tutoring. 

Before-school in-person tutoring tutoring takes place Mondays at 8:15 (at Erickson) or Tuesdays at 8:00 (at Holmes). Virtual tutoring takes place Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays after school, from either 5:30-6:30, or 6:30-7:30.  

Tutors receive preliminary training and ongoing support through the school year. 

We ask that volunteers are U of M or other college graduates, U of M employees, or retirees. 

For more information, contact Caroline Nathans, FLI-Ypsilant Program director, at cfnathans@ameritech.net.