Ways in which Tutors can help Learning Disabled Students to feel comfortable and welcomed in the Writing Center.
The special needs of a learning disabled student are not always conveniently conveyed to a writing tutor before each appointment. For this reason it is important that communication between a tutor and a student is established early with a brief interview. This allows for the tutor to learn about the background of the student and for the student to know that there is someone around who cares. Kate Morrissey, a writing tutor at the University of Richmond, commented on the need for sensitivity when dealing with a learning disabled student. Often a student who first arrives at the Writing Center is uncomfortable and somewhat embarrassed. By talking to a student and trying to relate to their difficulties, the feeling of awkwardness will slowly diminish.
Although setting up early communications with a student is key to breaking
down barriers of
misunderstanding, it is also important for the tutor to start off on a positive
note in order to promote a comfortable atmosphere. During the first reading
of a paper the tutor should avoid emphasizing errors and attempt to point
out several positive aspects of the paper. This method will allows students
to feel that the tutor is "tuned into what they are trying to say"
(Vogel, 76). Attempts to label and reinforce good writing should be made
by the tutor throughout the entire session.
Even though a learning disabled student may feel welcomed with an opening conversation and occasional praises, a writing tutor must also deal with the need to correct a student's mistakes. It is important for a tutor to understand how to give constructive criticism without becoming overbearing or frustrated over a student's difficulties. Lynette Uzell, a private tutor who specializes in learning disabilities, recommended what she calls the sandwich approach towards giving constructive criticism. The sandwiching technique begins with a positive comment about the student's writing. Rarely will a student enter the Writing Center with a paper that is not in some way positive. This positive statement acts like a piece of bread would in a sandwich. The meat is the correction which the tutor is trying to get across. Once that is said, a second piece of bread is added in the form of a second compliment. This approach allows the tutor ease in criticism and not come across as ridged or "out to get the student".
Overall it is important to treat every learning disabled student witht the same amount of respect that would be given to any other student. "The Writing tutor must treat learning disabled persons as the intelligent, resourceful people that they are. Conferences without respect and understanding are seldom successful" (Neff, 87). A bad tutoring session in which a student is constantly bombarded with criticism can lead to "a potential loss of confidence that can affect their entire college career" (Corrigan, 2). Often a student tutor will have to repeat the same correction several times over the span of a single session. A tutor must learn to remain calm and relaxed in frustrating situations in order for the student to remain confident in their own ability to improve.