The OASIS volunteer program and Gresham-Barlow School District seek adult volunteers who can spend one hour a week during the school day, working one-on-one with a child between first and fifth grades.
OASIS and the district work together to match caring adults with kids who are struggling to read. The volunteers help build reading and language skills, self-esteem and positive attitudes toward learning.
The training to be an OASIS volunteer takes place in two, three-hour sessions. Training dates for the program will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 29-30. No teaching experience is required.
OASIS tutors are encouraged to attend a monthly support meeting to share experiences with other tutors and receive additional training and materials.
The program provides training, materials and ongoing support free of charge. As volunteers, OASIS tutors offer patience, encouragement and care to students learning to read.
OASIS, a national organization in 17 cities, has been serving elementary school students in partnership with Gresham-Barlow since 1996. The organization works with seven school districts in the Portland area.
For more information, call Marilyn Shephard, OASIS volunteer coordinator and a retired first grade teacher, at 503-665-3544 or email her at msshepard@frontier.com.