Re: HS Writing Centers

[WAM3@aol.com]

Mary Lee, 
Thanks for being so curious about other HS writing centers.  Our writing
center has been in existence now for five years.  At this point we are
staffed by student volunteers, one community volunteer who has retired after
teaching English for over 30 years, English department teachers for one or
two periods per week, and me for approximately 10 periods per week ( In
reality I spend all of my so-called free time in the writing center). 

 I prepare our student volunteers during their junior writing course; a staff
is selected by peer and faculty recommendation after the students have stated
an interest in volunteering. Fifty percent of our juniors express an interest
each year.  There is an intensive tutor training course prior to the
beginning of the next school year. Each senior volunteer receives half an
academic credit for which she is required to attend a training session for
one period each week during the fall semester and staff the center one period
each week.  During the second semester, peer tutors devote two periods each
week to conferencing.  

Our writing center is not equipped with computers.  Students have access,
however, to computers in the computer room and scattered places throughout
the buildng.  Computers in our writing centers exists only as a dream, but
the truth is that in many ways I don't miss them.  Our wcenter is
conference-intensive rather than writing-intensive-- most of our students do
their writing elsewhere, visiting the wcenter at critical junctures along the
way.  

I'd love to hear about some of the strategies you've used to promote writing
across the curriculum at your school.  I find the reality of bringing subject
area teachers into "a writing to learn mode" is very tricky.

Catherine

P.S.  I've sent my response to the list serve because I'm hoping that other
HS wcenter people would like to join our discussion.