writing center..class notes

who goes to WC? students go to WC to get "errors" fixed
Why? usually sent, need help, struggling writers, special needs
What happens when they go?

-use language students can relate to
-tutors need tutors too, can become students
- STUDENTS NEED TO COME TO WRITING CENTERS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO
- need to gain skills& drills
-holism,everything is acted to everything else
-coach- watches, makes decisions based on observation about what to do

relation between writing center and teacher:
students responsibility to communicate with teachers
dont second guess assignments
center advocates its own pedagogy

make workload of writing center lighter!!

function of WC
-talk about writing
-research the WC


philosophy-
what i think about writing centers...
writing centers have to be open to all students and aware that students dont want to be there and not pressure them, however, it has to be an inviting place where they can walk out and plan about the next time they "have" to go there
tutors have to be experienced, patient, and understanding
students have to be willing to learn, and prepared with guide sheet or have background knowledge of material, a student cant come in to the WC writing about a novel and expect the tutor to know all the subject material
tutors have to have knowledge about people with special needs
get teachers, principals, students willing to make a WC

revising responses...loving the alliteration there :)

Last class i worked with Talisha and also Laura and Tim to do revisions of our responses. Working with Talisha was easy, i think because she was so clear in what to change. I had a problem with not being concise enough and having too broad of a topic for my response. I think we used the garret house method, because she asked me questions to make me see what i was doing wrong. She had a couple structural problems (lists :) ) so she just had to combine the sentences into paragraphs.
I also worked with laura and tim, just watching them showed me alot. Tim asked all the right questions, but never gave the answers, just suggestions and sometimes even told her to take note of something (write that down!!!). laura was a good student and tried to understand what Tim was advising her about. Laura really didnt know what to write her response on, but Tim guided her through the steps, allowing her to come up with the main ideas by herself. I think everyone should watch a tutoring session, to pick up on different methods and styles.

Last class i worked with Ryan as tutor and student to write Lunsfords essay. The overall experience was fun, mainly because we acted as students who had no idea what they were doing for the assignment. I dont think we had a problem speaking because as the tutor role, we asked questions, and the "student" answered; no one really had to do detailed explanations of anything. We both went online to look at the syllabus to get the right instructions, and then talked about the main ideas for the paper. Because Lunsford had a lot of different ideas and points, not everyones essay will be the same, so the tutor has to be flexible and adjust their interpretation to the students; unless of course, the student is completely wrong.

Collaberation draft

In Lunsford essay, he states that collaboration is a beneficial experience for both tutor and student, however, when used incorrectly can cause both persons to be confused on their roles and make the learning experience more confusing for the student. He emphasizes that while tutors can share ideas with the student, they should let the student learn on their own.
General Ideas;
problem solving
learning abstractions
transfer and assimilation
critical thinking
coffee helps the student stay awake :)
higher achievement

storehouse -gives skills to individual students
garret-


Critical thinking involves the student(s) to figure out their own problems rather than making the tutor give them the answers.

Collaboration class notes

store house- resource center, tutor etc. like a bank---- ask tutor/school -- fixed meaning
garret center- one who is receiving knowledge, internal knowledge in the student
Burkean Parlor- social constructivism, collaboration, culture situation participants in the conversation, critical thinking, collaboration, shared co-created, contextual
social constructed knowledge- words that could mean something different to other people

collaboration- work with others with each model

in list- what collaboration does/helps

control verse collaboration
tutor takes control and doesnt let student to do own work- only there for guidance
can be confused

problems with collaboration- not valued
difficult
not clear goals/outcomes
wrong environment/ background experience
threatens status quo


use collaboration- but be cautious so you dont take control

benefits of collaboration- problem solving
learning abstractions
transfer and assimilation
critical thinking
higher achievement
promotes excellence
engages the student

model for your center, where is/who has knowledge, how does student learn, what the nature of meanings, whats the role of the tutor/ setting/ power- role of direction, tutor training, relationships

Collaboration is a beneficial experience for both tutor and student, however, when used incorrectly can cause both persons to be confused on their roles and make the learning experience more confusing for the student ???

philosophy?

Philosophy- noun, plural -phies.

1.	the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.

2.	any of the three branches, namely natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysical philosophy, that are accepted as composing this study.

3.	a system of philosophical doctrine: the philosophy of Spinoza.

4.	the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge, esp. with a view to improving or reconstituting them: the philosophy of science.

5.	a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs.

6.

a philosophical attitude, as one of composure and calm in the presence of troubles or annoyances. hmmm very intersting, so...what do i think? i think that psychology is fleeing.. therefore, so is philosophy..as more learning disorders pop up, and as new diseases and behaviors become prevalent philosophy cannot remain stable... i dont know why i just wrote this blog, its been on my mind because we were talking in one of my classes and it became intertwined with using different approaches to tutor someone.

9/14/09 overflow of thoughts

so todays assignment was just to talk about writing; tutoring and coaching. first i want to say that i never kept a blog before, not only that, i am basically computer illiterate... i know word and powerpoint and the internet pretty well, but basically making my own website!!! that people can read and comment on is scary..btw, i will be very proud of myself if/when this is actually posted..hopefully all you guys will be able to read it
i am actually a tutor, but not the type that we all will be at the end of this class, i happen to tutor visually impaired and deaf students..talk about not being able to communicate!! i never put much thought into what i tutored, as a english major correcting their papers or helping on a research paper was easy...now im starting to rethink it LOL
umm..ok so MY fundamentals for tutoring..
patience- most people come to you because they dont know something..ive had to repeat myself in 4 or 5 different ways before
motivation- this stuff gets HARD ("meaning challenging) you need the motivation to keep going
i dont know what this falls under, but you have to remember that you are impacting peoples lives, grades, college experience
i think a writing center not only gives u the opportunity to interact with students, its also very rewarding the way you learn so much about yourself, and it helps you in the future if you want to be a teacher or private tutor. its so awesome that we have a writing center here at kean because its such a great thing to have for the students.
ok, its getting pretty late and i still have more hw to do..so peace..see u wednesday!!

Notes 9/14/09

notes on tutoring:

• no cheering/ false praise
• editor/ journalist approach- never write on the students paper
  
• therapy
• judging
• don't do the work for the students
• don't pose as an expert

first blog

blog for 4070 english class