Welcome!

I created this blog to encourage communication between my ENG/AST 378 students and the CTL writing Teaching Assistants (TA) and peer tutors. ENG/AST 378: Effective Tutoring through Service-Learning was created to help students learn how to tutor high school or college students in writing. Both the students attending this class and the CTL TAs and peer tutors are learning about tutoring in writing for various reasons, thus we can help each other in this "tutor community" as we continue this quest to help students improve their academic writing skills. Please use this space to post your questions about the course readings and recorded discussions.

August 28 Recording: Part I. St. Martin's Sourcebook

This recording (http://uisapreso1.uis.edu/acmcontent/3486e096-df3f-4143-8529-1caadf0062f3/ENG378_Unspecified_2008-08-28_04-00-PM.htm ) includes a nice discussion about the difficulty in finding a specific formula to use for tutoring. We talked about the many diversity issues tutors need to address for each particular student. What other questions/comments do you have regarding this topic?

September 2 Recording: Fulkerson and Podis and Podis Readings

This recording (https://webmail.uis.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://uisapreso1.uis.edu/acmcontent/b13e2bb0-4488-4853-b5e8-79bc73854b49/engast378_A_2008-09-02_04-01-PM.htm) includes a nice discussion about the four philosophies of composition and the process-orientated approach to responding to student writing. We talked about the various ways teachers evaluate student texts and differences in pedagogy of the writing/English profession. What other questions/comments do you have regarding this topic?

September 4: Vygotsky and Freed Readings

This recording (https://webmail.uis.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://uisapreso1.uis.edu/acmcontent/a8efc9a0-c3ae-4542-8efd-966c4585be35/ENG378_Unspecified_2008-09-04_04-03-PM.htm ) includes a nice discussion about the Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and Stacey Freed's essay. We talked about how can be difficult for tutors to "fill the gap." Freed more specifically discussed the difficulty in separating the subject of the text to tutoring about the writing. What other questions/comments do you have regarding this topic?

September 11 Recording: Zamel Reading

This recording (https://webmail.uis.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://uisapreso1.uis.edu/acmcontent/0e5d37f2-7473-4045-b2c4-44e591ab6809/ENG378_Unspecified_2008-09-11_04-16-PM.htm) includes a nice discussion about the difficulty in responding to student writing. We talked about the connections of how teachers struggle to respond to student writing and how tutors can improve in their responses to student writing. What other questions/comments do you have regarding this topic?

September 16 Recording: Practical Tutor Chapter 1 & 2

This recording (http://uisapreso1.uis.edu/acmcontent/27ba3bb5-154d-40e7-8e25-0d1d0a3df17e/ENG378_Unspecified_2008-09-16_04-26-PM.htm) includes a nice discussion about analyzing our comments to students' texts and how to get acquainted with students during a session. What other questions/comments do you have regarding this topic?

September 18 Recording: Continue Practical Tutor Chapter 1 & 2

This recording (http://uisapreso1.uis.edu/acmcontent/d1926db1-ba2a-4237-8341-5e24f51405ce/ENG378_Unspecified_2008-09-18_04-13-PM.htm) includes a nice discussion about how to dialogue with students during a session. What other questions/comments do you have regarding this topic?

September 23 Recording: Practical Tutor Chapters 5, 8, 11

This recording (http://uisapreso1.uis.edu/acmcontent/596b1265-3f29-4ade-865f-dd3bd29ee306/ENG378_Unspecified_2008-09-23_04-06-PM.htm ) includes a nice discussion about the how to help inexperienced writers with creating concepts, making connections, and reading/writing issues. What other questions/comments do you have regarding this topic?

September 25 Recording: ESL and Thirty-Something

This recording (http://uisapreso1.uis.edu/acmcontent/22b735b0-e7e6-4bf1-8c51-bae6a29e5e06/Unspecified_Unspecified_2008-09-25_04-57-PM.htm) includes a nice discussion about the difficulty in tutoring ESL students and students who are "thirty-something." What other questions/comments do you have regarding this topic?