Tutoring Students to Improve Writing Skills
Writing Centers Provide Opportunity for Assistance Outside of Class
Writing is not a task limited to the classroom. As it gains importance as a tool that can promote learning across the curriculum, students are searching for ways to improve their writing skills outside of class. Since many are not sure where to turn other than an English teacher, it is important to provide them with other alternatives. A writing center either within or associated with the school can help students seeking extra assistance.
Writing Centers
Writing centers come in two forms: a specific place to gather and write or a location where time can be scheduled with a tutor. Some even combine the two approaches. The center might have helpful handouts or provide workshops. It might be located in a room at a library, a coffee shop or a classroom. Most importantly, a writing center makes it easy for students of varying skill levels to find assistance collecting their thoughts, writing a thesis or outline, and editing.
The center itself needs to be inviting and comfortable. Computer access and resources such as dictionaries and thesauruses are ideal. A variety of seating including both comfortable chairs and desks accommodates most students’ desire for comfort.
Student Writing Tutors
Staffing a writing center can be challenging since many educators already have editing and correcting due to their teaching obligations. Taking on a tutoring position might be possible but not for very many hours each week. Hiring professional tutors is another option, as is hiring local college students for a high school center or graduate students for a college center. The greatest difficulty frequently lies in finding funding to pay the professional tutors.
Volunteer tutors can be found through various channels in the community, such as the local library and National Honor Society chapter. In these cases the tutors may be eager and willing, but their skills might not be strong compared to some of the students seeking help.
In either case, tutors may need some basic training in how to assist students in a writing center. Educators may have an intrinsic understanding how to help a student prepare to write, collect their thoughts or to edit the writing, but other tutors might need some support of their own. Opportunities to improve their own knowledge of the writing process by sitting in with other tutors or small group tutoring is one way to support tutors. Another is to assist them with workshops concerning topics such as collaboration, body language, and ethical considerations.
Writing centers that provide capable assistance and a welcoming environment encourage students to seek assistance and better their writing skills outside of class. Tutors are as much an integral part of the success of a writing center as the center's location and atmosphere.
Reference:
Tutor.edu: A Manual for Writing Centers. 2002
