The Jewish Coalition for Literacy, which helps Bay Area elementary schoolchildren learn to read, has announced its winter lineup of training sessions for new tutors.

Volunteer reading tutors are asked to work just one hour a week, helping a disadvantaged student in a local public school learn to read. JCL recruits, trains, places and supports tutors in public elementary schools and after-school programs in grades K-3 throughout the Bay Area.

The training session lasts three hours. People can register at www.jclread.org or by calling one of the numbers below.

San Francisco schedule: 1 p.m. Dec. 2 at Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave., and 1 p.m. Jan. 5 at JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St. For information, call (415) 369-9978 ext. 137.

East Bay schedule: 1 p.m. Dec. 14 at Temple Isaiah, 945 Risa Road, Lafayette, and 1 p.m. Jan. 13 at Jewish Federation of the East Bay office, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley. For information, call (510) 809-4904.

Peninsula schedule: 1 p.m. Dec. 1 at Temple Beth El, 1700 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo; 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto; and 1 p.m. Jan. 19 at Congregation Beth Am, 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. For information, call (415) 369-9978 ext. 139.

Inspired by Jewish values of social justice, the JCL is a joint project of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council and the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. The Bay Area JCL, which began 16 years ago and mobilizes some 350 volunteer reading tutors each year, is one of 27 independent affiliates of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy.