New Tutor Orientation Outline

Welcome to the Writing Center! You begin your journey now with a few days of orientation. Returning tutors will show you around the writing center, including its resources (handouts, handbooks, computers, resource islands). Before you actually begin to tutor on your own, you will complete the orientation details below. The returning tutors  will be your guides through this process. Have fun!

Step One: Observe Returning Tutors

1. Read over this orientation guide, the observation forms, and the Writing Center Principles.
2. Read over the Tutoring Session Overview and Basics together with your Mentor or other available RT in a pinch.
3. When a returning tutor has a session set up, ask the student writer and tutor if it’s okay to observe. Sit at the table with them with your observation checklist and pen in hand. This way you can hear and see all that transpires.
4. Be a quiet observer for these first times, and don’t get involved yet. This will give you a chance to see how the RT handles the one-on-one session. No two sessions are the same, and no two tutors are the same, but all of the tutors work to employ our writing center principles in all they do in the Writing Center (see the attached list of principles).
5. Take notes on the new tutor observation sheet. You’ll have an assignment in Week 2 that will ask you to reflect on your observations.
6. A few things to pay special attention to (these practices may vary in an unusual session, but they are the norm):
   • The tutor will briefly plan the session with the writer, including going over assignment instructions—the tutor can, and often should, suggest approaches, but it’s the student’s paper, so the student needs to take an active role in planning and engaging in the session.
   • The tutor will have the student read the paper, or at least part of it, aloud so they can both focus on it at the same time. During the reading, the tutor is likely to jot down a few notes on the purple sheet to prepare for the session conversation.
   • When the student finishes reading the paper, the trick for the tutor is to engage the student in a conversation about the paper, rather than simply telling the student what to do.
   • The tutor will not write on the student’s paper, but we definitely encourage the student to do this. The tutor will take notes on the purple sheet throughout the session and give the sheet to the student at the end.
7. Be sure to turn in your observation notes and purple sheets from your first co-sessions and the first draft of your reflection with the purple sheet and the final draft, as well as printouts from your after-session notes from both co-sessions.

Step Two: Do a Session as the Writer

For one session, make an appointment in WC Online, using your student account, to work with a returning tutor and bring a draft of your reflection. This puts you on the other side of the table and allows you to see a session from a writer’s perspective so you’ll be even better able to empathize with your upcoming sessions. Like the rest of orientation, this is paid work time.

Step Three: Meet with Your Mentor

Find a time to meet with your mentor after you have done your observations to discuss what you observed, ask questions, and get advice and encouragement. Plan to use 15-25 minutes for this meeting. If necessary, sign up for an appointment to be sure you get this time.

Step Four: Co-tutor with Returning tutor

This will be your first shot at tutoring, but you won’t be alone. A returning tutor will sit at the table with you and the student. The first time, you’ll work as a team, but the returning tutor will be the primary tutor. The second time, you’ll be the primary tutor , but the returning tutor (your mentor if the schedule allows) will not just be an observer, they will be there to assist you in the process. You are still providing the tutoring session as a team.

Step Five: Be a tutor for a Returning tutor

This is your first experience being the sole tutor . A returning tutor will sign up with you and bring in a piece of their writing. This session will be a step beyond being the lead in the co-tutor because you will be solely responsible for leading the session. The returning tutor , however, will be patient and understanding while you practice leading a session on your own. Employ the practices, policies, and techniques that you have learned over the past week to be a true peer tutor .

Final Step: Begin tutoring on your own

At this point, you’re all ready to begin taking sessions. Once you and your mentor have signed off on all of the above orientation requirements, let Kiera know, and she will release you on WC Online so students can start scheduling appointments with you. Don’t worry, though; you’re still not alone! Returning tutors, Kiera, and Shon can help with any obstacles you encounter. Never be afraid to admit you don’t know something or to ask for help if you’re confused. Your student writer won’t mind, and it doesn’t make you look silly or incompetent to ask for help. All you need to say is, “I don’t know the answer to that, but I can find out who does.”

Mentor/mentee checklist

(This is intended for the initial orientation of NCs and for ongoing practices.)

Training tasks

• Get to know each other: names, academic and career interests, previous HC experience, how each of you came to be writing tutor tutors.
• Go through the orientation guide step by step with your mentee to make sure both of you understand the expectations, and they are completed quickly and completely.
• Take your mentee around the WC and explain our various materials, files, and front desk business as well as how we use the reception area and lounge.
• Take a tour of the 6th floor, and introduce yourselves to whoever is available.
• Mentor: share past difficulties, lessons learned, wonderful tutoring moments, etc.
• Mentee: share concerns, difficulties, goals, wonderful tutoring moments, etc.
• Go online together to view the WC Online, website, Facebook page, and Canvas. Mentor: help your mentee to get actively involved in the Canvas discussion.
• Go through the class visit outline and do a “practice visit” together in the WC.
• Go over the workshop materials and get your mentee into a workshop to observe.

Ongoing Tasks

• Have regular check-ins with each other to discuss highs and lows, questions and answers, and generally to learn from each other.
• Troubleshoot any problems that arise and discuss with Kiera or Shon as needed.

Other Training

Observe and participate in class visits

This will happen early in the quarter. Join RCs who visit English classes to give students information about the Writing Center. Observe and assist in a few of them before leading them yourself. You’ll have an outline of what to say. Be professional, concise, and speak loudly enough for the back of the room to hear.

Observe a workshop

At some point during your first quarter, you’ll be scheduled to observe a workshop, either in the Center or in a classroom. Check your WC Online schedule for this.