Tag Archives: WriterCoach Connection
Learning to write, one edit at a time
By Mollie Hart
Andrea didn’t make eye contact with her writing coach right away. The 8th grader from Berkeley’s King Middle School brought out her rough draft of “An Open Letter to the Adults of our Country,” and started to read out loud, but kept her face turned away from the woman sitting next to her in the school’s designated “coaching” room.
“What did you think of the assignment?” the coach asked.
“It was okay,” said Andrea, without much enthusiasm.
Despite the young girl’s shy demeanor, the coach forged on. Soon the pair was talking about Andrea’s thesis statement, her conclusion, and how the American Revolution figured into the piece. … Continue reading »
“Three Michaels” sold out, last chance to snag tickets
As you may have heard, Berkeleyside is organizing what promises to be a hugely entertaining evening on Monday Dec. 10. The “three Michaels of Berkeley” — Michael Chabon, Michael Lewis and Michael Pollan, all Berkeley residents — will come together for the first time to talk place, politics, people and, no doubt, writing. The event is a benefit for 826 Oakland, a new youth writing program for the East Bay, inspired by Dave Eggers’ pioneering 826 Valencia. The event is sponsored by One PacificCoast Bank.
We are delighted to announce today that “The Three Michaels: A Berkeley Conversation” is sold out. Clearly many people are as eager as we are to support a great cause and to hear from three of the country’s best writers, all of whom do fascinating work in their fields.
There is one last chance to snag tickets, however. … Continue reading »
Volunteers needed for writer coaching program
The WriterCoach Connection program is starting up again at four Berkeley schools (along with schools in Oakland, El Cerrito, Albany, and, as of this year, Richmond), and volunteers are needed.
You don’t have to be a writer or teacher to volunteer. WriterCoach Connection warmly welcome parents, college students, working and retired people, and community members of all backgrounds, ethnicities and walks of life.
WriterCoach Connection is a volunteer-based program that recruits and trains local volunteers to work one on one with students in both middle and high schools to develop writing and literacy skills. Its program has shown to be consistently effective in improving writing skills and its surveys and data confirm this. (Read more about the program’s results on its website.)
Coaches strengthen writing skills with individual feedback, challenge students to think more deeply, and encourage them, building their confidence. “It’s the most satisfying work I’ve done in the schools,” says one writing coach. And teachers say, “the writing improves dramatically.” … Continue reading »
