Tutor profile: Jennifer R.

What should I do if I am stuck and cannot think of a topic about which to write?

The best writing topics come from the heart. Write about your experiences. Make a list or spend some time free-writing. Do not think too hard while you are doing these tasks. Sometimes, all it takes is a little stream of consciousness to get the creative juices flowing!

How can I appropriately handle reference questions asking for legal or medical advice.

A librarian generally should not directly give or recommend medical or legal advice. Instead, lead a patron towards resources that may help them come to their own informed decisions - including contact information for professionals if desired.

What are some ways to encourage early literacy development in young children?

Reading together with a young child is one of the best ways to promote early literacy development. Adults can make reading an engaging experience with a child of any age - even pre-readers. For example, drawing a child's attention to the pictures or asking them to think about what might happen next are excellent ways to involve children in the reading experience. Reading stories multiple times also helps develop a child's understanding of story structure and as a particular story is read multiple times, adults can ask more complex questions. You can also take a picture walk through brand new stories! Ask a child to tell their own story using the pictures from a book.