Creating Confident and Competent Writers
Whitefish Education Foundation: Writing Coaches of Whitefish
RITA BRAUN 8/2/2020
It’s all hands on deck at the Writing Coaches of Montana! Never before have we felt more certain about the relevance of our one-on-one support for students’ writing assignments. For five years, teachers have asked us back into the classroom. Come fall, we will do so virtually until it is safe to go back into the classroom.
Our mission is to help students think critically about their writing. More practically speaking, though, we are more eyes on student work. Last year an additional 62 pairs of eyes reviewed student essays—“a huge benefit,” says Ryder Delaloye, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, “especially as teachers strive to keep students engaged remotely.”
The Whitefish Education Foundation funds the coaching program in the Whitefish District for grades 7–12. Your donations create opportunities for writing coaches to help students become more confident and competent writers through one-on-one coaching sessions.
Here are three reasons to support Writing Coaches of Montana through your contributions to the Whitefish Education Foundation this year:
Empower Students to Write Better by Creating One-on-One Learning Opportunities
Kelliann Blackburn, 9th grade English teacher says,
“One of the things I remember the most about when the writing coaches came in last year was how many kids couldn’t wait for the 2nd visit. We were working on their This I Believe essays, and it really empowered the students to have an adult read their writing and really listen to their voices. I remember students asking several times in between coaching sessions when they’d be back. This to me really illustrates that their teenage brains were/are really starting to see the value of revision.”
High quality interactions where students feel heard advances student learning. Megan Chaisson, 7th grade science teacher, takes linear and logical thinking a step further by having her students work with writing coaches on their “Aha” Thesis writing assignments.
After a coaching session she said,
“Working with Writing Coaches empowers my students to communicate more effectively. The one-on-one attention is especially important when we work with a formal style of writing. Several of the students who came back in from their sessions were visibly jazzed.”
Give Students Widely Applicable Tools to Write Successfully
One writing coach and a parent of a 7th grade student, Amy Olson, sees the connection between the strategies that writing coaches apply with middle and high school students, and those needed to successfully tackle many other types of writing assignments, including college entrance exams.
“The blueprint for effective writing used by the Writing Coaches of Montana (WCM) is consistent with that of the SAT essay,” she states. “I see the same writing blueprint requirements in the SAT Reading and Language passages, along with the SAT essay….as a parent and writing coach, I can’t express how invaluable writing coaches are to the future success of our students. What a privilege to be part of a program that mentors young writers not only in their formative years but also during their collegiate journeys.”
Support Struggling Students
It is possible the COVID-19 learning disruption will widen the learning gap for many students in the Whitefish School District. The Writing Coaches of Montana, through Whitefish Education Foundation’s support, strives to enhance public education outcomes for all students. We anticipate collaborating with teachers to provide additional support to struggling students as a way to bolster public education outcomes.
