Engaged writers express creativity, tell stories, and share ideas. A tutor's first session with a child is an opportunity to begin forging a trusting and supportive relationship. Tutoring sessions should follow an agenda that is tailored to build on a child's interests and skills. A tutor's primary role is to support a child's reading and literacy development. Conditions of learning set the stage for children's success in reading and writing.
Scaffolding provides just enough support to move a child forward in learning a new skill.
Children who enjoy reading are likely to read more often and to continue improving their skills. Tutors can help children in child care, Head Start and kindergarten explore literacy play and make language discoveries. Reading aloud is one of the most effective ways to encourage a child's emerging literacy and to support growing reading skills. Talking with children helps them understand the relationships between spoken and printed language. Writing focuses children's attention on print and helps them learn that letters represent sounds.