Help for first time tutor - calandars, outlines, class ideas?

[Gooey]

I'll be starting to tutor a group of about 5 students next week. This is after ONE brief 30 minute session on what the course is (entry level comp) and that's about it. So, what are some good techniques/ideas? I'm talking anything from first day icebreakers to complete outlines and ideas for class sessions. This is my first time in front of a "class" of any size so I'm a bit nervous and could use the help/advice. Basically the tutoring session is that students each bring in a paper, and then we discuss.

Edited August 31, 2011 by Gooey

[runonsentence]

Have you checked out the teaching forum yet? There's already some threads there to help you (even one just on first day icebreakers, and another on teaching freshman comp).

Edited August 31, 2011 by runonsentence

[poco_puffs]

Besides discussing topics and readings that the students are covering in the main sections of their class, maybe consider mini-lectures and discussions about different elements of pre-writing, writing and revising papers. I'm teaching my own section of comp for the first time this year, and it's been tough to come up with enough stuff to fill out a whole term. This is a list of stuff that I've considered including in the course, although now I'm realizing that I probably won't be able to fit it all in:

Intros, conclusions, thesis statements, paragraph structure and topic sentences, evidence, sources and citation, the types of appeal, logic/assumptions, counter-arguments, ethical argumentation, audience, critical reading, and techniques for outlining, revising, and generating ideas to start the whole thing rolling.

The students will already know parts of this, and they'll have strengths in some areas and weaknesses in others. Starting the term with activities or free-writing to figure out what those strengths/weaknesses are and what they THINK they are can help you use the time more effectively and show the students that you're treating them as individuals with a stake in the process. It's kind of cool/interesting that you're tutoring in groups of five, as well. Have you considered teaching them how to workshop papers and give each other feedback?

After tutoring all year last year, I can also say that part of tutoring isn't just helping them in the course at hand or, especially, just proofreading their papers. The role you choose to take on (coach, cheerleader, older/experienced friend, more formal vs. more informal) can include helping them through stuff like anxiety about school, stress, and time/task management. If this is stuff that you have trouble defining before the term starts, at least keep it in mind as you adjust your style to fit the situation. Also, I'm not sure of the teaching/tutoring situation at your institution, but try to be as aware and updated as possible about what is going on in the course. Keeping student/instructor expectations, schedules and assignments clear in your mind and your students' minds will help you avoid problems and wasted hours. If there are any tutoring/course requirements to remember, keep a list for yourself and make sure that your students have something easily accessible so there's no excuse for them to fall behind on dates or assignments.

Do you know if you'll be helping any ESL/ELL students?