Tutor at CMC
Classes are taught by Education staff and more than 400 trained volunteer tutors!
As a tutor, you can teach students one-on-one or small group classes, either in-person or online. By giving one hour per week of your time, you can help adult learners gain confidence speaking English, feel prepared and knowledgeable to take the U.S. Citizenship exam, or learn how to use a computer to apply for jobs. You can have a direct impact on the life of one of the nearly 100 students on our waiting list by becoming a tutor today!
Who Can Tutor?
Anyone can tutor at CMC who:
- is 18 years of age or older
- has a high school diploma or equivalent
- speaks English
- is willing to share their time to help someone learn!
I don’t have teaching experience or speak a foreign language. Will I still be able to tutor?
Yes! We will provide the curriculum, materials, and we will teach you how to teach. The curriculum provides plenty of pictures to help you communicate, and we also have many foreign language dictionaries available. Members of our Education Staff can speak Spanish, French, Swahili, Kirundi, and Kinyarwanda, and more and are always available to help as well!
When Can I Tutor?
Teach at a time that works for your schedule!
You can tutor in-person at CMC during Education’s open hours:
- Monday – Thursday 8:00am – 7:30pm
- Friday & Saturday 8:00am – noon
Online tutoring options are also available!
People from all over the world can tutor, and students from all over the globe can learn because of this flexible option. If you prefer to tutor online, let Education Staff know during the new tutor orientation.
What is the commitment?
We ask that you commit to tutoring at least one hour per week for ten weeks, though many tutors volunteer multiple hours per week. In fact, tutoring is so rewarding that the average tutor volunteers 2.5 years!
How do I get started?
- Sign up for a new tutor orientation. Tutor orientations last two hours and are offered twice monthly.
- You will be matched with a student who is available at the same time as you. The more flexible your schedule, the sooner you can get started.
- Staff will model the first lesson with your student so you can observe a lesson before teaching on your own.
- Have fun and make connections as you BOTH learn, TOGETHER!
Ready to tutor? Sign up for a new tutor orientation online or contact us at volunteer@cmc-cr.org or 319-731-0444
Tutor FAQs
We understand life gets busy! It’s okay if you have to occasionally miss class. If you won’t be able to tutor, please contact Education staff at least one hour before your scheduled session at 319-731-0444. Also call if you are running late so that we don’t find another tutor for your student!
CMC follows Cedar Rapids Schools in canceling or delaying classes due to inclement weather. If Cedar Rapids Schools cancels class, then we cancel our classes. If they delay classes, then any CMC classes scheduled during the delay are canceled. Please check the KCRG website for any updates. Evening and weekend cancellations will be posted on the home page of the CMC website.
Two white announcement boards located near the entrance to the Education department include important closure dates, holidays, in-service days, and CMC events. Also keep an eye out for email updates from our Education Services team!
That’s great! Our wait list is constantly growing, and we can always use additional volunteer support! Please talk to a staff member from the Education Program about your availability, and they will place you with an additional student as soon as possible.
The Education Staff team is always available to answer any question you may have, big or small! We always want to be sure our tutors and students are comfortable, so please do not hesitate to ask for help.
You can drop by the Center to chat, or send us an email at educationservices@cmc-cr.org.
Thank you so much for listening to your student and caring about them. However, it’s important to recognize when your student has needs that fall outside of your tutoring commitment. CMC staff can assist students with everything from food stamps and health insurance to legal resources and child care. Tell your student to come talk with us and we will connect them to the resources they need.
Tutor Blogs
In honor of National Volunteer Week – and to shed a little light in the midst of all the uncertainty – we’re excited to share ...
A sense of community is something to be cherished. As people, we seek out those connections and interactions that make us feel truly human and ...
So much of CMC’s mission to offer hope and opportunity depends on dedicated and kind volunteers who lend their skills in areas ranging from administration ...
