Woodinville Library Once Again Offers After School Tutoring Thanks to Retired Teacher

The Woodinville Library once again has after school tutoring for K-12, thanks to retired school teacher Karen Mattson. Now all the program needs is students.

“I sat here alone last week,” said Karen who has been on the job a couple of weeks now. “There hasn't been anyone available for quite a few weeks, so no one expects to find tutoring help.”

But help there is every Tuesday from 3 – 5 p.m. Karen has spent much of her time since retirement helping her granddaughter with homework, but her granddaughter doesn’t always have homework, or need her help. Now Karen wants to help any students who needs it.

“I’m no whiz at math but I can help with most issues, and I know how to set up the online chat to set the student up with an expert in that subject for all grades,” she said.

Even with all the online tutoring available, Karen said there is still a need for the face to face contact received from sitting down across the table from a tutor. The younger students are not computer savvy enough to navigate the online chat service and the older students need the encouragement and support of a tutor in the same room, she said.

“It’s sometimes hard to get that encouragement when you cannot see the face of the person you are talking to,” she said. “The other end of things is that you can’t critique a paper orally, you have to see it, you have to interact with it.”

Karen said she is hoping to help students who need help in writing, her area of expertise. As a public school teacher, her career included teaching third graders to college freshman.

Karen also volunteers as in the WSU Master Gardener program, which is primarily a spring and summer gig. She was looking for something to do the rest of the year when she learned the library needed tutors. She is not the type of person to stay idle in her retirement.

“I suppose it is that idea of being of use, not a draw upon society when I have skills,” she said. “And if I don’t have to work at a fulltime teaching job, it doesn’t mean that I can’t give to other people some benefits from what I learned.”

Study Zone tutors work with K-12 grade students, helping them with math, science, English, social studies and study methods. The aim of the program is to help students in all subject areas up to the 8th grade level, and also specialize in one or two subjects up to the college-prep level. The Study Zone is a great place for students to study, do homework and get help with their questions. 

All volunteers receive training from King County Library System specialists, including an online tutor to answer any questions the volunteer tutor cannot. The hours are flexible and the library is asking for a commitment of two hours, one day a week, according to Pamela Hunter, Woodinville librarian.

To volunteer, visit the KCLS website. Or E-mail the coordinator, Annie Poyner, at anniepoyner@kcls.org