This charming bear duo, two of Grants Pass' famous bears, are engaged in our favorite activity, reading. Bearly Noted and Destiny were created by Cindy Kahoun.

Some comments from our tutors:

"My greatest joy is to hear a student say: Now I read to my little girl."

"One of the most rewarding experiences of my life."

"The one-on-one interaction is fantastic - I wish I had started tutoring years ago." (from a tutor with 25 years of classroom experience)

"My husband tells me I always look so happy when I come home from tutoring."

"My student used to have to work only in the kitchen at the restaurant where she works. Now she can be where she can meet and talk with customers. She also understands the menu better."

"A local business asked us to help an employee write more succinct, readable reports. This was accomplished, and the skill will be an advantage to him as he advances in his profession."

"My beginning student has just finished the first conversation book. He tells me he uses his English all the time now - at work, bowling, shopping at the auto parts and grocery stores."

"I am so proud of the tremendous progress my student has made over the past couple of years. She was a beginner in English, doing manual labor at a farm, and now she is reading English easily and writing stories in English fluently. She wants to leave laboring jobs and be a bi-lingual secretary somewhere - someday. I believe she has the talent and motivation to make this leap."

"My dyslexic student has just started his own painting business. It was only a few years ago that he was not able to read a simple three-letter word!"

Some comments from our students:

"I told my wife the other day, I'm REALLY reading!"

"I passed my test - I am a citizen now!!"

"Thank you - we like you."

"I'd like to bring my 8 year-old daughter to class sometime - that will help her see that she's not the only one who has to work hard in order to learn."  (from a dyslexic student whose little girl is also dyslexic)