Our Training

We make sure that our tutors are well-prepared to serve.

The month of September is fully dedicated to preparing our tutors to be effective in their roles – and our tutors are paid in full during their training.

Tutors receive training on building relationships with students and school staff, social emotional learning, inclusion and equity, and of course, how to provide the best possible reading tutoring.

Training will be provided in partnership with the AIM Institute for Learning and Research which is leading the way in student success by empowering educators with evidence-based knowledge and practice so that they can achieve the best outcomes for all students.

As part of their training, tutors will take a course called Pathways to Proficient Reading, an IDA accredited foundational course in the science of reading. The course is designed for educators who are committed to learning about the connection among reading research, theoretical models such as the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope, and best practices for language and literacy instruction in the classroom. Upon completion of the course, Joyful Readers tutors are eligible for three graduate course credits from Arcadia University.

Training and support continues throughout the school year, with tutors participating in community of practice sessions and receiving weekly coaching and support from our literacy team.

Mira Taichman

Mira’s professional success derives from her core belief that literacy is a human right. A devoted educator and advocate, Mira began her career in the policy world of Washington, D.C., where she worked to promote equity in public schools. After volunteering as a reading tutor for second grade students, Mira discovered that her true passion was in the classroom making a direct impact on student achievement. In 2018, Mira returned home to Philadelphia where she launched her teaching career, leading both first and third grade classrooms at KIPP Philadelphia and Wissahickon Charter School for more than six years. Mira earned a Bachelors of History from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. Mira’s excited to utilize her teaching, mentoring and advocacy skills as a Joyful Readers Literacy Coach in the service of education equity and childhood literacy. An avid fan of children’s books, Mira spends her free time as a freelance curriculum writer and children’s book author. She also enjoys camping and spoiling her beloved pup, Theodore.