Literacy Council of Kingsport

Our mission is to provide one-on-one tutoring to adults and qualified children to improve their literacy skills as well as achieve their individual goals and to be an advocate for literacy in the community.

Over the past 30 years, the Literacy Council has evolved to be the only organization in the region to provide free one-on-one tutoring to adults and children in three program areas: Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Tutoring for Children and Youth.

The Adult Basic Literacy program provides specialized one-on-one tutoring for adults who read at or below a fifth-grade level and helps adults achieve their individual goals. It utilizes Laubach Way to Reading, a phonics-based reading and writing program for adults with limited or no reading ability. It helps adults develop basic reading and writing skills, achieve success and become confident readers.

The English as a Second Language program provides specialized one-on-one tutoring for adult speakers of other languages who need to improve their English language proficiency and helps adults achieve their individual goals. It utilizes an adult English language curriculum to help adults develop the ability to speak, understand, read and write in English. It teaches key life skills and important cultural information needed for adults to be self-sufficient in their daily lives.

The Tutoring for Children and Youth program provides trained volunteers to local elementary schools and youth-serving organizations for one-on-one tutoring to help children, Kindergarten through 3rd grade, improve their reading skills.

Also, adult students are encouraged to participate in peer-to-peer and group conversation classes that occur throughout the week and on Saturday. In addition to improving literacy skills, adult students are encouraged to identify and take steps toward achieving their individual goals like improving employability skills, enrolling in an adult or higher education program, engaging in their child's education, and volunteering in the community.

In order to meet individual goals, students utilize materials such as, work readiness books, pre-HSE workbooks, Citizenship books, pleasure reading novels, and other educational resources and materials. In addition to one-on-one tutoring instruction, peer-to-peer sessions, small group classes and computer-based learning opportunities are offered daily and weekly as an additional resource to meet the need of services for students.