Blog # 3 - My Writing Center Philosophy

The environment of a writing center of my own making would have a particular look and feel to it. It would have two parts to it. One part would be set up like a lounge or a large living room with very comfortable sofa type chairs, armchairs and tables. My philosophical writing center would be brightly lit with soft colored walls. There’d be a complimentary cup of coffee and a donut. In the other part, a larger area of the room, there would be some round/square tables with hard chairs where tutor and learner would leave the lounge area and go to for a “one on one.” There’d be all kinds of resource books in the bookcases for the tutoring sessions. All tutors would be trained using a blend of the Burkean Parlor and Garret styles at this writing center. I don’t at this point think there is anything that I would include from the Storehouse technique. It seems for all intents and purposes to be from an era passed.

One major rule that I would include in a writing center that I set up would be: "The learner never wrong." The tutor should be able to take whatever the learner has said or written and put a positive spin on it. Dr. Chandler is a master at this. She never says; "Wrong!" She instead says something like; "I could see that." This does wonders for one's self-esteem. Next she gives the student information that will help the learner get to a better understanding of what is going on.

I also think all tutors should have a checklist, actual or one memorized that each one completes to be sure all bases that need to be covered, are.