This article describes the development and field-testing of an observational tool, the Volunteer Tutor Instructional Practices Checklist. It is an example of action research in a clinical setting and will be of interest to all educators, including special education and reading center directors, in the training and ongoing supervision of community literacy volunteer tutors and preservice teachers. The tutees may be elementary or middle school age. The development of the instrument, reliability data, variety of uses, and administration and scoring are discussed.