West Chester University’s “Writing Zones” Project: A Mutually-Beneficial University-School Partnership

What is unique about this program is the supervisory structure for college students. Writing fellows are peer-supervised by a “core” student staff member, as well as a graduate student supervisor, who in turn reports to Professor Ashley and their fellow core members. The Writing Zones staff receive support in reflecting on their work and in developing the program. Staff members meet once a week with Professor Ashley to discuss how their individual tutoring went with students and to work out any issues at the school, and to do professional development.

They have also used these weekly meetings and reflections to modify their program as it has grown over the past five years. Initially Writing Zones functioned as a writing center that students could drop in to between classes, during lunch and after school. These “Writing Zones” were held in Kennett Square’s library or other spaces where students could choose to attend based on their need or recommendations from teachers.

Writing Zone staff have now developed a model that, in addition to one-on-ones, puts their “writing fellows” directly in to English classrooms and after school programs to aid teachers in supporting students who need extra attention in writing. This has helped greatly in establishing relationships with teachers and the administration. They now allow teachers to help define their role and the structure of the program so that teachers feel ownership over the program. Being in classrooms has also helped the writing fellows develop a stronger rapport with students who would not have come to a one-on-one, giving some tutors the chance to do work in small groups or with the whole class instead of only one on one.

As a culminating event last year Writing Zones hosted a “Connection2College” day. Over forty students, most of them first in their family to consider college,  attended the event and those students are sent a special invitation from West Chester to participate in this all-day event. This kind of culminating event serves as a way for college students to share their campus with the high school students they have worked so hard with. Writing Zones not only supports student learning on the K-12 level in a substantive way, but supports the college students who are Writing Fellows as well. Writing Zones is designed to develop both college student and high-school students’ skills on a consistent basis throughout the year. This facilitates stability for students and sustainability of their program on an institutional level.

Resources:
To learn more about Writing Zones, contact:
Dr. Hannah Ashley at hashley@wcupa.edu.  or go to http://www.wcupa.edu/writingzones/