Volunteer Resources

Thank you for volunteering to change a life through literacy. We’ll do everything we can to support your efforts—starting with these easy-to-use online tools.

Additional Resources

Our YouTube Channel

Stay up-to-date to teach your learner using online resources. All the videos in this playlist have been created by the program coordinators and are directed specifically at supporting our coaches with their one-on-one lessons.

List of Resources for Online Coaching

Check this collection of websites that will be useful for online coaching.

Access to Burlington English

Direct access to the login screen of Burlington English. If you want to review the initial training session we offered to use this platform with us, please go here.

Access to ReadTheory

Direct access to the login screen of ReadTheory.

Access to Northstar Digital Literacy

Direct access to the main page of Northstar Digital Literacy, a website where learners can take assessments and learn at their own pace to practice their digital literacy skills.

Coaching Material Exchange Station

Share and access the materials that you and other coaches have created for your lessons. All the materials have been classified according to type and level, and they are in a format that is easily downloadable from any computer, ready to be printed! To share your materials, please send them to your Literacy Coordinator. To access materials, just click on the link, find what you need and click Download. If you have any questions about how to download files, please contact your Literacy Coordinator.

Reading Practice

News for You

Online newspaper for coaches and learners. Email info@literacycenterwm.org for login information or contact your Literacy Coordinator.

The Change Agent

Online magazine for coaches and learners about social justice. Email info@literacycenterwm.org for login information or contact your Literacy Coordinator.

Breaking News English

Current events presented at a beginner's English level.

Lit2Go

Lit2Go is a free online collection of stories and poems in Mp3 (audiobook) format. Many of the passages also have a related reading strategy identified. Each reading passage can also be downloaded as a PDF and printed for use as a read-along or as supplemental reading material for your session. You may search for books by genre, authors, and more importantly, readability level! Look at your Training Manual for more on readability. The link goes straight to that section of the webpage.

English Club

Various exercises to help ESL learners learn and practice the skill of reading English.

Writing Practice

Busy Teacher

Writing strategies for the ESL learner.

Listening Practice

News for You

Online newspaper for coaches and learners. Email info@literacycenterwm.org for login information or contact your Literacy Coordinator.

The Change Agent

Online magazine for coaches and learners about social justice. Email info@literacycenterwm.org for login information or contact your Literacy Coordinator.

Breaking News English

Current events presented at a beginner's English level.

Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Listening tracks and exercises for learners of different levels.

YouTube Channel: English Speaking Course

This is a YouTube channel for English language learners. You may have your learner listen, repeat, work on their pronunciation, discuss, among other tasks. It is for all levels but directed more specifically at beginners.

ELLLO

Various videos and audio tracks for learners of different levels. Also helpful for speaking practice and vocabulary building.

Speaking Practice

Tools for Clear Speech

Look closer at consonant and vowel sounds in English to practice their pronunciation. Helps with practicing English phonology through hearing and producing these sounds.

Sounds American

Breaks down the sounds of English in an IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) chart. Helps with practicing English phonology through hearing and producing these sounds.

Grammar Practice

ESL Blues

Grammar exercises for various levels.

Sites with various kinds of exercises

Dave's ESL Café

Fun, creative site for both ESL teachers and students with interactive quizzes, a graffiti wall, student and teacher e-mail exchange, literacy software for sale and a help center. Teachers from around the world can quickly answer questions about grammar, writing, vocabulary, and others.

ProLiteracy Education Network

Resources for non-native and native learners.

Lesson Plans

The Change Agent

Online magazine for coaches and learners about social justice. Email info@literacycenterwm.org for login information or contact your Literacy Coordinator.

ESL Notes

Activities about movies in English.

5-Minute English

Lesson plans and Q&A for a variety of grammar and other topics.

Further Coach Training

ProLiteracy Education Network

More online courses for coaches.

Other Organizations/Resources

Grand Rapids Public Library

The Grand Rapids Public Library is our community’s foremost source for information, viewpoints, resources, and programs.

Kent District Library

Kent District Library is a public library system operating 18 branch libraries.

Federal Trade Commission

A variety of downloadable flyers to teach learners about being a consumer and avoiding scams.

Michigan eLibrary

Catalog of free online resources, such as GED practice tests and tutorials, career preparation, computer literacy tutorials, and citizenship resources. All that is required is an email to register for a free account!

Coalition on Adult Basic Education

The Coalition on Adult Basic Education is organized to advance national and international adult education and literacy opportunities for everyone.

Welcome Plan West Michigan

Contains a wide range of resources for learners such as childcare, language services, transportation resources, and entrepreneur & small business help.

The Rapid - Reduced Fare Card Application

A PDF version of the application.

The Rapid - GO!Bus

Information on the GO!Bus shared ride service.

Digital Tools

Duolingo

Website and smartphone for language learners to study English through games and other tools, using the learner's first languages. The first languages included are German, Catalan, Esperanto, French, Guarani, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian.

Word Reference Online Dictionary

Website with an easy-to-use dictionary.