trevordayschool

Nestled in the corner of the High School Center is a bastion of focus and quiet erudition. on any given day, you will see students huddled closely in pairs, debating interpretations of quotations or brainstorming the ingredients of a compelling thesis statement. is tiny nook, no bigger than a dining room table, is one of the most mission-consistent spaces in all of Trevor. Modeled on peer-to-peer support, discussion, collaboration, and self-directed academic growth, e Writing center is inquiry-based learning at its best. Founded in 2009 by then english Department chair, Jay Tarbath, e Writing Center has quickly become a beloved signature program within the high School. Tarbath's impetus was "the simultaneous need to both honor the conscientious work of our best student writers and thinkers and to place strong emphasis on collaboration in the writing process at the heart of our work in the High School Center." Current English chair, Priscilla Siu, has honed the mission and function of e Writing center during her tenure as its Director. Within the center, Writing advisors collaborate with student-"clients" to help them become better, more thoughtful writers, thereby elevating the level of writing across the Trevor curriculum. Beyond the Trevor faculty, the role of Writing advisor is bestowed upon select juniors and seniors. It is an honored position, and in the history of the program, no Trevor student has ever turned down an invitation. Student Writing Advisors have worked hard in their academic careers to gain a strong understanding of the writing process, and they are enthusiastic in their desire to share this knowledge with their peers. Current Writing Advisor adam K. '15 has volunteered for the program since 2013 and sees a myriad of benefits. "Clients get to engage in meaningful discussions about the pure quality of their work. is allows them to look at their writing without feeling the pressure of assessment, which can make it easier for them to freely express their thoughts. advisors benefit equally from these interactions, albeit in slightly different ways. Not only do we get to engage in the same meaningful discussions, but we also hone our own writing skills by helping others. I think the axiom ' e best way to learn is to teach' definitely holds true. Advisors undoubtedly discover much about their own writing while conferencing with clients." e philosophy behind e Writing center and the advisor-client relationship is strong and transparent. e expectation is that Writing advisors will share best practices and act as collaborators and peer-editors for their fellow students so that those students can enhance their understanding of the writing process. To this end, Writing Advisors take a minimalist approach in helping student-clients sort through and clarify their ideas, then communicate them effectively to their audience. advisors do this by listening reflectively, asking probing questions, and providing strategies to help peers navigate the messy and sometimes overwhelming process of writing. To promote an active learning process, Writing advisors never write on their client's work—the conferences are all discussion-based, focusing on good writing practices and oral feedback. For the student-client, the opportunity to be mentored by a peer-writer or to evolve his or her writing alongside department faculty can be priceless. And the benefits for a Writer advisor can be just as valuable. advisors become better writers and editors, gain confidence in their writing, T r e v o r T r a N S l aT e S : high school writing center 1 4 T r e v o r D ay S c h o o l n W I N T e r 2 0 1 4 – 2 0 1 5

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