In Their Own Words

We believe a writing center with student mentors will add writing support beyond the classroom. The WEC is being created within the Academic Mentor program; as the Academic Mentor program has grown into a school-wide support program, data from teachers indicates that students utilize peers for writing ideas, instruction, and support. Students note that peer mentors are approachable due to their “student connection” to the writing assignment (student mentors have engaged in similar writing assignments/tasks during their time as a student); therefore, they can offer planning, crafting, and during-writing strategies that build upon teacher instruction. A writing center at WHS creates a central location for any student to access peer-to-peer writing support. In addition, we know that when students are mentoring their peers in writing, they too, are developing as writers. Our goal is to support all students at WHS with their writing at some point in their high school career. If that goal were to be realized, thousands of students would benefit from this project.

Currently, we are offering WEC hours before school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and during OurTime on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our WEF grant money will be used to staff the WEC for an hour each day beyond contracted hours in order to further support students with their writing assignments and endeavors.

Status: funded in May 2022, Fully in use with extended hours for SY 2022-2023.