If a volunteer asks a question and we think the answer might benefit others, we'll post the question and response here. 

February 2012 - Several volunteers came into the office to tell Leigh that students were getting frustrated when coming to unfamiliar words in the text. 
Leigh suggests using bookmarks with the words NEW WORDS: at the top.  Tell the student that it will be fun to search for new words while reading.  After reading, look up the new words in the dictionary, use them in sentences, or play a game with them.
Use the template below and print on card stock.

July 2010, From a Volunteer: Student and Parent forgetting scheduled sessions over the summer.
Leigh suggests printing a calendar and writing in the sessions for the upcoming month or two.  This is particularly important if the sessions are less frequent (as they are for some in volunteers in the summer) or are not at the same time each week.  See this site to print calendars:
http://www.calendarsthatwork.com/calendar.php?calendarId=monthPSn1

May 2010, From L.B. - 5th grade student requests some games and/or manipulatives to help with spelling words. 
Leigh suggests a game called Spelling Square and Making Words (see below for both), which are both appropriate for students in grades 2-5. See below.

Help your student write each of the week's spelling words or each of a set of vocabulary words in the spelling square such that each intersects with another. 
Words can be written side to side, up and down, or diagonally.

Choose a long word from a story or unit of study.  Try to make smaller words from the letters in the longer word.  As an added challenge, think about which words you can make if you could add just one more letter.  This game is fun for all. 

Tom Angleberger, author of The Strange Case of the  Origami Yoda talked with Leigh Hoyer about his book and shared thoughts about encouraging students to write.

Tutor/Mentors should give the  DIBELS Assessment to their student at least three times each school year.  Contact Wright to Read for the materials.  The assessment takes under 5 minutes to give and score and helps tutors measure student progress through the year.