Phil and his tutor, Elaine, have been working together since June 2023, and both find their time together rewarding. They meet twice a week for two hours per session, and Phil estimates that he spends at least another two hours on homework and reading.
Phil graduated high school and has a job with great responsibility and demanding hours. Despite these accomplishments, he has known that he wanted to improve his reading for a while. Phil and his fiancé have two young children. “I need to do this for myself and my kids as well,” he said.
Phil is a hands-on dad. He reads with his children, guiding them in sounding out and looking up words they don’t understand. He is teaching them to value reading and education. In his free time, they might see Phil reading a book and have asked to join him, bringing something they want to read together. His daughter loves the “Captain Underpants” series, and Phil says that his son is into anything about sports.
These days, Phil is reading NFL player Reggie White’s autobiography, “In the Trenches.” As he reads, he highlights new vocabulary for himself, writes it down, and practices writing short sentences using the words, helping him retain what he has learned. At the end of each of their planned sessions, Elaine and Phil take a little time to talk about the book. Elaine loves to read and admits she has a mobile library of used books in her car.
“My student’s goals are being met, and he has expressed sincere gratitude,” Elaine said. “His reading and writing skills have improved tremendously. He is reading novels, magazines, and newspapers with little difficulty.”
Phil has boosted his confidence and self-esteem, and he is preparing for the next chapter in his life. Besides improving his reading and writing, he aims to increase his career options through tutoring and the work he does on his own.
Reading and literacy have always been important to Elaine. She once volunteered with the Charles County Literacy Council. In addition, she enjoyed a long career with the National Park Service, where she spent some time as a trainer. “I implemented a program for employees needing assistance with reading, comprehension, writing/spelling, and resume and interview preparation,” she said. Now that she is retired and lives here, Elaine enjoys volunteering with the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council. “I truly appreciate the opportunity to be part of this dedicated and life-serving organization.”
