A teacher and student collaboratively writing on a piece of paper, engaged in a learning activity.

Our Services

The Borg Center provides a variety of services to PK-12 students, teachers, preservice teachers, and the broader community.

Literacy Resources

Tutoring

The Borg Center offers tutoring for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade who would benefit from additional, targeted support in reading and writing. Our tutoring is grounded in the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan and emphasizes both academic growth and the development of confident, joyful reading and writing identities.

Tutors are trained to conduct assessments and use those insights to design individualized instruction. Each session includes direct teaching of reading and writing knowledge and skills, as well as opportunities for students to apply what they’re learning through meaningful reading and writing activities.

Fall 2025 Tutoring

Our Fall 2025 program will run for ten weeks, from Monday, September 8 through Friday, November 14. Students will meet with their tutor once per week for a 55-minute session, for a total of 10 sessions. Families also have the option to register for twice-weekly sessions (20 total sessions). Preferred days and times are indicated on the registration form.

Waitlist Form - Our Fall 2025 program has reached capacity. Please complete the form to be added to the waitlist.

Program Structure

The Borg Center offers Fall, Spring, and Summer tutoring programs, each consisting of 10 tutoring sessions:

Fall and Spring Programs: Students attend once weekly over 10 weeks (with an option to attend twice weekly for 20 sessions).
Summer Program: Students attend twice weekly over five weeks.

Tutoring Services and Fees

Tutoring Service

Payment Options

Individualized Tutoring - $300

Your child will works one-on-one with a tutor for individualized support tailored to their needs. Tutoring session are 55 minutes long.

Installment option: $150 due at registration and $150 due halfway through the program.
Pay-in-full discount: A $25 discount is provided if paid in full at time of enrollment (total: $275)

High Impact Tutoring with Orton-Gillingham Trained Tutor - $475:

Your child will work one-on-one with a certified educator trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach. Each tutoring session is 55 minutes long.

Installment option: $250 due at registration and $225 due halfway through the program.
Pay-in-full discount: A $25 discount is provided if paid in full at time of enrollment (total: $450)

*Tutoring payments are non-refundable. *Fees are doubled for students attending tutoring twice per week in Fall/Spring programs.

If you have questions about our tutoring program, please contact Dr. Erin Quast at (309) 438-3571 or eaquast@IllinoisState.edu.

Spring & Summer 2026 Tutoring

Spring 2026 Tutoring: Runs from late January through April. Program details and enrollment will be available on our website in November 2025.
Summer 2026 Tutoring: Runs from July through August. Program details and enrollment will be posted in May 2026.

Check back during these times for updated information and enrollment links.

Service Location

Summer 2025 Tutoring will take place in the Borg Literacy Center, DeGarmo Hall, 3rd Floor.

Tutors

Our tutors are trained to conduct formative assessments and implement evidence-based instructional techniques to support literacy development.

Professional Development

The Borg Center offers professional development on a variety of topics. Professional development formats are offered as either scheduled short courses or customized, site-based learning opportunities.

Short Courses

Borg short courses are six-week mini-courses in which College of Education faculty facilitate extended learning opportunities on topics relevant to educators. Each course includes six virtual meetings with readings and assignments between meetings. Illinois teachers can earn professional development hours upon the successful completion of any course. See below for currently scheduled short courses; more courses will be added as they are finalized.

Customized Learning Opportunities

Customized learning opportunities can be created across a wide range of literacy topics for educational institutions who serve pre-K through high school learners. Our services are site-based and collaborative. We will work with you to design a structure and develop content that will meet your district or school professional development goals.

Our professional development providers are School of Teaching and Learning faculty who have a wide range of expertise in literacy teaching and learning.

Core Knowledge Language Arts Curriculum

Interested in how to implement the the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum in a culturally responsive/equity-oriented way? Dr. Jones draws upon her CKLA research to provide professional development that includes topics such as reviewing units/materials through a culturally responsive teaching lens and/or adapting and extending materials to be more culturally and linguistically responsive. Interested schools/districts are invited to co-create sessions.

Developing Integrated Units of Study in the Early Grades (K-3)

Literacy development doesn’t occur in isolation. In these sessions, you will learn how to integrate across the disciplines to support early learners.

Reading Assessment

Learn more about how to effectively design reading assessments.

Family Engagement

Families are a vital part of literacy development. Dr. Hao introduces various ways to engage families, particularly those of emergent bilinguals.

Illinois Literacy Plan

Get support for implementing the new Illinois Literacy Plan.

Reading Instruction

Reading is a complex process. We can provide support for different aspects of the process including phonics and phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, cue systems, and comprehension. We can also offer guidance for implementing critical reading workshops.

Multilingual Learners

Dr. Handsfield shares her vast experience working with language learners by providing 1-1 coaching and offering workshops or series of workshops focused on teaching multilingual elementary learners, including translanguaging practices and biliteracy instruction.

Learning to Be Literate: More than a Single Story

Join a book club with the author, Dr. MacPhee. This is your chance to get your questions about the concepts in the book answered.

Writing Instruction

Like reading, writing is a complex process. Literacy faculty can provide development in how to each writing in a critical and humanizing way.

Supporting Literacy Development of Diverse Student Groups

Dr. Husband can share his expertise in working with diverse student populations, including improving literacy outcomes in diverse student groups; engaging in culturally responsive literacy instruction; adopting anti-racist education in early childhood contexts; and building mutually beneficial partnerships between schools and diverse families.

Questions?

Please contact Erin Quast with any questions or to schedule sessions.
(309) 438-3571
TheBorgCenterforReadingandLiteracy@ilstu.edu

Lending Library

Do you need a great read aloud for a class or clinical experience, a leveled text for a developing reader, or a young adult novel for your own personal reading? There are a variety of fiction, nonfiction, leveled, and Spanish language texts available for check out from the Borg Center!

Search for Resources

Welcome to the BORGCENTER library! You can search our resources anytime from your phone, tablet, or computer. When you find something you want to check out, swing by the center, locate the item(s), and use your device to check it out.

Set up your patron account

Within 48 hours of sending your name and email to TheBorgCenterforReadingandLiteracy@IllinoisState.edu, you will be entered as a patron by Borg Center staff.
Enter your email into the Borg Center Patron Login and select “Need Password?” A password will immediately be sent to your email address.
Use your email and the password to log in to the BORGCENTER library.
You can change your password by logging in, going to your patron page, and editing your profile.

Register

To become a patron of the BORG CENTER library, email your first name, last name, and email address to TheBorgCenterforReadingandLiteracy@IllinoisState.edu

Borg Center Patron Login