Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County provides free, confidential tutoring to adults and out-of-school teens in reading, writing, and conversational English; and recruits and trains volunteers to provide this tutoring.

There is no cost and anyone in our area who qualifies and needs help can receive it. Sometimes, however, a person may need more help than we can give, and we will refer them to another program.

A person is accepted into our program after a confidential interview and placement test. The student is told at this time if they qualify for our program.

Practice Makes Perfect

By Shardaha

Hi my name is Shardaha.  I’m 19 and I have a 3 year old daughter.  I had to leave school at age 15 to raise my daughter.  I felt like my teachers didn’t care if I finished my education.  I left school when I was only in the ninth grade.

 So, I’ve been struggling to be a good mother.  But it’s frustrating and hard not to be able to answer my babys questions or read her a book.  There were lots of things I couldn’t do because I could not read and write.  I was down and ready to give up.

Then I met my tutor from Literacy Volunteers.  The first thing that I thought was it’s not going to work.  I had no confidence, I didn’t believe in myself and I thought it would be too hard.

My tutor Linda gave me ideas to make my life better.  She understands me when I’m trying to explain something to her.  I did a lot of things that I thought I couldn’t do.  I even met most of my goals.  We meet at the library twice a week.  Finally I’m learning to read and write.  I’m working to get my G.E.D.

Now with Linda’s help I believe I can do it!  Practice makes perfect!  It’s all worth it.