Patiently Waiting: LAI's New Learning Lab

LAI volunteer, Rob Boas, with student, Anna Young, in Learning Lab

Since February of 2011, Literacy Action has offered a learning lab for student to enhance their academic and work skills with the help of LAI volunteers.  Individual and small group tutoring is offered for students interested in receiving extra help with reading, math, job applications and work resumes, just to name a few.  One student explained that when she is in her Algebra class she understands the material, but when she works on it at home the information does not “click”. She enjoys the learning lab because it keeps her focused and she has a chance to go over her work with a volunteer.

The lab is not only for those students interested in building their skills, but those who have registered and are waiting for an available seat in a class. Thanks to the generous donation from Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the learning lab provides students on the waiting list with new materials so that they can begin working on the content being taught in the classes they will enter.  

Seeing the look on students' faces when they realize they got it is unbelievably rewarding.  Knowing that we have helped students take one more step in their journey allows us to remember why we have been helping students for the past 43 years.

-Blog written by Becky Lyons, LAI Volunteer Coordinator