Learning to teach writing through tutoring and journal writing

The potential benefits of tutoring for pre-service teachers in various content areas are well documented in a number of studies (see, for example, Ryan & Robinson, 1990, Fresko, 1999; Hedrick, 1999). Tutoring can lead to an increased sense of accom- plishment and self-esteem, better mastery of academic skills, increased ability to apply and integrate knowledge taught in different courses and a broader, more real- istic outlook on the process of teaching and learning. Working one-on-one with a student often has the effect of substantially reducing pre-service teachers’ fear of confronting a class and enables them to tailor instruction to the specific needs of the student. For students, advantages of...