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Become a Volunteer

Teaching adults to read and write would not be possible without volunteers like you. No prior teaching experience is required. We provide free introductory online training and on-going additional support. OC Read’s goal is to help you succeed and provide a meaningful volunteering experience.  

Position Descriptions

OC Read offers two volunteer tracks, each with their own responsibilities and time commitments. Read through the volunteer descriptions below to learn more. 

Reading tutors are paired with an adult learner who has a specific reading goal and needs assistance learning foundational reading skills. Our learners come to the program with existing skills, life experience, and clear motivations—tutors serve as partners in building reading confidence, fluency, and independence.

Tutors commit a minimum of 2 hours per week for tutoring sessions, with additional time for lesson preparation. Sessions are held at your local OC Public Libraries branch or virtually, using program-provided materials and guidance.

Matches are based on availability and location.

What to Expect as a Tutor

  • Build a respectful, learner-led partnership grounded in patience and consistency
  • Support goals identified by the learner (e.g., improving reading skills to take the DMV test, support a family member, or go for a promotion at work)
  • Follow provided curriculum and expand curriculum lessons to real-world practice
  • Celebrate progress over time. Growth can be gradual and looks different for every learner

Reading Tutor Volunteer Requirements

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Able to commit at least 2 hours per week, plus preparation time, for a minimum of 1 year
  • Willing to communicate regularly via email
  • Learn or have basic computer skills for the purposes of monthly reports and using online resources
  • Open to ongoing training, feedback, and taking a learner-centered approach

Walk-in tutors support adult learners in brief, one-on-one or small group sessions (up to 20 minutes each) during a two-hour shift. Learners are seen on a first-come, first-served basis and bring a wide range of goals, experiences, and skill levels.

Tutors assist with real-life tasks such as reading mail, completing forms or job applications, reviewing short passages, or practicing conversation. Learners may bring their own materials or use library and OC Read resources.

This is a fast-paced, in-person role based at the library. Tutors should be comfortable switching between learners, topics, and skill levels throughout a shift while maintaining a respectful, focused learning environment.

What to Expect as a Walk-in Tutor

  • Provide short, goal-focused support based on what the learner brings in that day
  • Work with multiple learners in a single shift, each with different needs and backgrounds
  • Adapt quickly while maintaining patience and clear communication
  • Approach each interaction with respect for the learner’s existing skills, experiences, and independence
  • Exercise situational awareness to ensure equal time management amongst learners

Walk-in Tutoring Schedule & Locations

  • Tustin Library | Mondays and Saturdays, 10 AM – 2 PM; Wednesdays, 5 PM – 7 PM
  • Rancho Santa Margarita Library | Mondays, 5 PM – 7 PM
  • Fountain Valley Library | Thursdays, 3 PM – 5 PM

Walk-in Volunteer Requirements

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Reliable, patient, and comfortable in a fast-paced, people-facing environment
  • Able to commit to at least one two-hour shift a month
  • Willing to follow a learner-centered approach to tutoring
  • Able to check email regularly and use (or learn) basic computer skills for the purpose of signing up for shifts

To Get Involved

All potential OC Read volunteers must complete an orientation interview, paperwork, and pass a background check before they can begin volunteering with the program. Training is held on Zoom. Please see the status list below to check if OC Read is currently recruiting.


Volunteer Recruitment Status

Reading TutoringWalk-in Tutoring
ClosedClosed

 

Other Volunteer Opportunities 

OC Read is part of the California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) network of adult literacy programs. Many of our sister programs in the area are actively looking for more hands to help! If OC Read's positions are not quite what you are looking for, we encourage you to contact one of our sisters programs to talk about their volunteer roles. 

Current Tutors

Current tutors are encouraged to explore the links below for additional resources related to tutoring materials. 

Core Curriculum

Laubach Way to Reading - Free teacher guides, flash cards, worksheets, and more to support your tutoring. Click on the link for the level you are working on. Then, scroll down to "Additional Resources".

Challenger - Free teacher guides, student diplomas, puzzles, and more to support your tutoring. Click on the link for the level you are working on. Then, scroll down to "Free Resources".

Supplemental Curriculum

News For You  – News For You is a weekly newspaper for adult literacy students and English-language learners. The articles are based on reports from The Associated Press and The Washington Post, and all content is reviewed by adult education professionals and editors to ensure accuracy, low-level readability, and appropriateness. Access online audio of each story in full or sentence-by-sentence, exercises, vocabulary, a crossword puzzle, a word search, and a poll. Ask OC Read staff for the website password.

Journey to Success – For learners with an ESL background. Journey to Success is a 9-level workbook series that helps adult learners build reading, writing, vocabulary, and comprehension skills with contextualized nonfiction and fiction passages. Free teachers’ guides are available for each level.

Gemma Open Doors for Literacy Readers – The Gemma Open Doors books are stories written specifically for adult literacy learners. Each story tells an intriguing tale and helps learners build their reading comprehension, fluency, and critical thinking skills. Reading guides with lesson activities, and online audio recordings are available for select tiles. See individual titles for additional resources.