Tutor Resources

Often times tutors feel that their students’ specific skill levels require a different type of text.  For that reason, the Hillsborough Literacy Council offers a variety of workbooks and resources that can fit exactly what you’re looking for.  Tutors, feel free to supplement the Laubach or LifePrints series with any of the items that follow.  Most titles are available only in our office; however, some of them you can find at your closest library in the Adult New Reader section.  Please email or call Nilda Miller at our office (millern@hillsboroughcounty.org or 813.273.3650) to request materials.  

*In order to take advantage of these resources below, you must be a current, active tutor with the Literacy Council.  To qualify as active, tutors must report monthly volunteer hours to our office.   

Both Basic Literacy and ESOL Resources

 The Oxford Picture Dictionary.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1998.  208 pages. 

This beautiful dictionary organizes vocabulary into themes like School, Daily Routines, the Beach, and Plane Trips.  A colorful scene is labeled with the most important English words related to that subject.  The dictionary comes in monolingual and bilingual versions (Spanish/English).  Our office can check this material out to you or your student for 6 months, or your student can buy a copy for $5.    

The Oxford Picture Dictionary:  Workbook.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1999.  186 pages. 

This workbook accompanies the Oxford Picture Dictionary; we carry the beginning and intermediate level workbooks.  Lessons correlate with the themes in the Picture Dictionary:  matching, fill in the blank, and true/false activities offer a chance for students to use their new vocabulary terms.  You or your student can check this material out for 6 months or buy one for $5.      

Grammar Wise:  Levels 1 and 2.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 2004.  204 pages.    

This easy to read workbook helps students practice different grammar concepts like pronouns, verb tenses, contractions, and plurals.  If you notice your student has trouble picking the correct preposition or putting whole sentences together, call or email our office to buy this grammar workbook and to borrow the teacher’s guide.   

The Laubach Way to Cursive Writing.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 1983.  64 pages.  

Standard print English is very different from cursive writing.  Use this workbook as an extension activity to your regular lessons for students new to reading or students new to the English alphabet.  Students can practice forming cursive letters and words with this workbook.  We also carry the teacher’s guide in our office.  The workbook can be purchased for $5 or check out for 6 months.     

The SmartReader:  Levels 1 and 2.  Prince Frederick:  Recorded Books, LLC, 1996.  24 pages. 

The SmartReader kit includes a small book, a teacher’s guide, and an audio version of the book in two speeds (slow and normal).  Students can listen to a story and read along to practice their fluency.  Titles include:  The Bermuda Triangle, Montana Showdown, Applying for a Job, Murder in Cabin A13, Magic Johnson, and more.  Our office carries 10 titles, and each library branch has many SmartReaders in the Adult New Reader (ANR) collection.  Ask your librarian where this section is located, and get your students reading for homework! 

Retold Timeless Classics.  Logan:  Perfection Learning Corporation, 1999.  56 pages. 

The Timeless Classics are small books that are organized by countries or authors.  Each book contains nine short stories and a play.  Check out Tales of Africa, Tales of Latin America, or Tales of Sherlock Holmes among many others.  Use these books for reading practice or homework.  Each library branch has many easy reading books in their Adult New Reader (ANR) collection; our office also carries over 15 titles.  These books are only available for check out; they may not be purchased.     

 Bring the Classics to Life.  Long Island:  EDCON Publishing, 1993.  72 pages. 

This text combines a story with workbook activities.  After a chapter of reading, your student can practice with vocabulary fill in the blank and reading comprehension questions.  Ranging from levels 1 through 4, titles include:  Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Call of the Wild, Little Women, Robin Hood, and more.  Call our office to check out this story workbook.    

ESOL Resources

LifePrints:  ESL for Adults.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 2002.  216 pages.

Books 1-3 of LifePrints are the backbone for the ESOL Tutoring Program.  Tutors receive a teacher’s manual, student book, story book, and audiocassettes for each level.  Each unit includes a practical lesson (like using transportation or finding a job) and direct language instruction (like the verb “to be” or pronouns).  Once students finish this series, they graduate at our annual Assembly.  Student books cost $5.     

Teaching Adults:  An ESL Resource Book.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 1996.  175 pages. 

Designed specifically for tutors and teachers, this resource book summarizes the best and most recent research in ESL education.  Chapters explain strategies like prereading, sight words, root words, and cloze procedure.  The text also provides many activity ideas like free writing, role play, and total physical response (TPR).  Tutors can call our office to check the book out or request a free copy.  

English, No Problem!  Language for Home, School, Work, and Community.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 2004.  128 pages. 

This four book series contains colorful pictures and useful charts.  Use the graphic organizers to help your students visually conceptualize the English langugae.  The units are organized by practical skills like planning a party, starting a budget, and searching for good jobs.  If students finish this series, they can graduate at our annual Assembly.  Student books cost $5.     

On-the-Job-English:  ESL for Job Success.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 2000.  128 pages. 

This workbook contains useful scripts for learning workplace culture.  The first lesson takes a look at key words and phrases used in spoken instruction on the job.  The book then moves into written instructions, safety rules, and documentation.  Use this book if your student wants to focus on workplace English.  Student book is available to buy for $5. 

 The Working Experience:  Book 1 and 2.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 1991.  79 pages. 

In this small workbook, each chapter begins with a short reading that is followed by comprehension practice, fill in the blank, and a language skill.  Subjects include:  day off, take-home pay, supervisors, and benefits.  These texts are only available for check out through our office.       

 Basic Literacy Resources

Laubach Way to Reading:  Skill Books 1-4.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 1991.  80 pages. 

The Laubach Reading Series is the backbone for the Basic Literacy Tutoring Program.  The first book starts at the very beginning – students learn the letters of the alphabet and their sounds.  Laubach literacy teaches reading through phonics, charts, and picture-letter associations.  Each level in the series inclues a teacher’s manual, student book, story book, crossword puzzles, phonics workbook, phonics teacher guide, audiocassettes, assessment, and certificate.  Click here for a complete list of all materials tutors will receive at each level.  Student books are $5 and the other supplies are available for check out.        

Teaching Adults:  A Literacy Resource Book.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 2003.  176 pages. 

This fantastic tutor resource explains the best research in teaching reading.  Learn about sight words, learning styles, language experience approach, free writes, and dialogue journals.  Use these strategies and lesson ideas to develop your student’s reading fluency and comprehension.  Tutors can check this book out through our office or request a free copy. 

Voyager:  Reading and Writing for Today’s Adults, Books 1-8.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 1999.  128 pages. 

The Voyager Reading Series develops reading comprehension skills through a whole language approach.  The first book begins with very short stories and poems.  Help your student learn words in context and chunking skills.  When students finish the first four books, they can graduate at the Assembly.  Teacher’s manual and student books are available in our office; student books cost $5.   

Challenger:  Adult Reading Series, Books 1-7.  Syracuse:  New Readers Press, 1985.  112 pages. 

This book series begins at a more advanced level and has no pictures.  However, Challenger teaches reading through consonant blends and long lists of words for .  Book 1 starts with short stories and fill in the blank vocabulary, and it ends with full-page stories and comphrension questions.  If the student finishes the series, he/she can graduate at the Assembly.  Student books ($5) and teacher manuals are available through our office only.    

The Literacy Office has another series called Patterns in Spelling.  If your student has a higher reading level but has trouble with spelling, use this series to promote writing skills.  When students finish all four books in the series, they can graduate at our annual Assembly.  Student books are $5, and teacher’s guides are available at our office.