Writing Center Strategies

From our discussions in class I feel like there are two views when it comes to the Writing Center. The minimalist view and a direct teaching approach. In the sessions that I have sat in on as well as co-lead we have used both. Having used both I am torn to which was more effective. 

First the minimalist view. I feel by leading questions that some knowledge was gained. But I also feel that many times the clients just shot off so many answers that eventually they got the one that we were looking for. In some cases I doubt that they learned the skill that we were trying to communicate, though they said several times that they did.

In the second more direct approach, when all else failed we gave an answer that we thought appropriate. This seemed to please both us and the client as we thought we taught them something valuable and they thinking they have done better for it. And that could very well be the case, but still part of me wonders if we did the right thing.

So far throughout all most of my sessions there is this nagging feeling that learning isn't always happening and that people come for the quick fix, though maybe through time I will come to realize different.

I guess the moral of my story is that when it comes to approaches of helping at the Writing Center there is always a little part of me that thinks that something isn't go as well as it could. Hopefully overtime I well get a better feel for the Center and be more comfortable in my tutoring.