Children's Tutor Resources

Resources for Children's Literacy Tutors

The Minnesota Literacy Council has a library of games and lesson/program planning resource books available for volunteers and VISTA members to borrow. If you would like to check anything out, please contact literacy council staff. All books, games and materials must be returned to the Minnesota Literacy Council in a timely fashion. Below are several resources, websites and tips to aid in program and lesson planning. 

* Items with an asterisk are resources created by Summer Reads VISTA members

General Tutoring Activities & Lesson Plans

• Minnesota Literacy Council/Summer Reads Pinterest board
• Carl’s Corner
• Mrs Jones Room (free printable mini-books, coloring books and book-making ideas)
• Puzzlemaker (create your own customized word search, criss-cross, math puzzles and more)
• Reading Rockets
• PBS LearningMedia
• A Guide to Interactive Reading* (activities to move beyond flashcards and reading to interact with books and words in hands-on, creative ways)
• Literacy Without a Book* (literacy-based activities that don't involve books)
• Multisensory Techniques to Teach Reading* (incorporating the 7 senses into tutoring sessions)
• Book-making project* (example with tips for making books with children)
• Tutoring K-3 using poetry*
• The Reading Nook: Ideas for Children's Tutors* (tutor tips, sample lesson plans and activity ideas)
• Tips for Reading with and to Children
• Children's Book Reviews* (a series of book reviews examining classic tales and modern publications from the perspective of kindergarteners and their tutor)

Literacy and enrichment/other subjects

• Music, Art and Literacy* (using music and art to build reading, writing and speaking skills)
• Garden Literacy Lesson Plans* (garden and nature-themed activities focused on building literacy skills)
• Literacy Fun Blog* (literacy activities through sports and math)
• All Around Us* (a podcast series produced for children that gives children a chance to expand their vocabulary and listening comprehension through exciting and age-appropriate science topics)

Social-emotional learning (SEL) and behavior management

• Morning Meeting Games & Activities (ideas for "morning meetings" to kick off small or large group programming)
• Games, games, games! (team-building and energizer activities for groups)
• Let's Be Friends anti-bullying campaign*
• Integrating SEL in Literacy Tutoring* (an educator resource guide with activities and books focusing on the growth and development of social-emotional literacy)

English Language Learners (ELL/ESL) and Culturally Responsive Tutoring

• Perspectives for a Diverse America (literacy-based, anti-bias lesson plans for K-12, aligned with Common Core, fromTeaching Tolerance)
• American Indian culture, education and resources in the Twin Cities*
• Tutoring American Indian students* (brief version, with references)
• Tutoring Somali students*
• Tutoring Spanish-speaking students*
• Tutoring Hmong students*
• Children's Books Representing Minnesota's Linguistic Diversity* (a list of books that support ELL students, their linguistic backgrounds and cultural identities as a whole)
• Tips and Activities for Tutoring ELL Students* (a website with an extensive compilation of tips and activities to use when tutoring students from diverse lingusitic backgrounds)

Children with Special Needs

• Deaf Child Literacy* (tips and activities for working with children who are deaf)
• VISTA Guidebook for working with children with behavior or learning disorders*

Parent Engagement

• Supporting literacy at home (English)* (tips for parents on supporting their child's literacy at home, geared toward bilingual families)
• Supporting literacy at home (Spanish)* (same as above, in Spanish)
• Summer Reads parent handbook (English)* (tips for parents on reading and supporting literacy at home)
• Summer Reads parent handbook (Spanish)* (same as above, in Spanish)

Phonics and Fluency Activities 

• Hubbards Cupboard – Literacy in Kindergarten 
• Sight Readings 
• Phonological Awareness Activities

Comprehension Activities

• Practice Passages
• Interactive Story Map
• Lesson Plans and Printables 

Vocabulary Activities

• Visual Thesaurus 
• M-W Word Central 
• Free Rice
• Make Your Own Word Cloud
• Flash Card Maker

Self-Directed Websites and Apps for Students

• Review of Children's Literacy Apps and Websites*
• Starfall
• Time for Kids
• Scholastic Weekly Reader
• Fact Monster
• PBS Kids
• PBS Kids Summer Safari (summer version)
• American Libraries Association’s Great Sites for Kids 
• Read with Clifford
• Dr. Seuss
• National Geographic for Kids
• Camp Wonderopolis (STEM and literacy summer learning)

Self-Directed Activity Guides for Students

• My Book of Crazy Cool Word Games* (reading and writing activities 2nd-4th graders can do on their own)
• Self-directed literacy games for children*