Why Use A Writing Coach?
Over the years, it has become more and more important that students receive timely and effective feedback in the middle of the writing process rather than at the end when a final product is due. The feedback provided during drafting allows students to practice thoughtful revision and helps them become better writers. In the past, most feedback was provided in conjunction with an end grade. Unfortunately, students tend to just look at the grade and not the feedback. Therefore, the feedback has done little to help students improve their writing. A writing coach offers more specific feedback over 2-3 drafts before the final product is turned in.
One on One Writing Coaching:
As a writing coach, Gwen works with students in all phases of the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, and editing. As a coach, her mission is to ensure students become better writers rather than editing their work for them. Gwen also reviews past graded assignments with students to help them interpret and use past feedback to improve their future writing.
The mission is to ensure students:
- Understand the assignment, objectives, and skills being taught.
- Use effective prewrite strategies to gather ideas (includes research strategies).
- Develop an organized piece with introduction/thesis, body, conclusion.
- Complete a draft that meets assignment requirements and exhibits the use of skills taught in the unit.
- Revise using the timely, specific feedback provided via Google Docs during the drafting phase.
- Use conference time to set goals for revision after reflecting on feedback.
- Learn editing skills to put the finishing touches on the final drafts.
As a writing coach, Gwen endeavors to:
- Establish and maintain rapport with each writer.
- Provide a supportive and sympathetic environment.
- Enable writers to have ownership over their work.
- Help writers become confident to make revisions and changes in their writing themselves.
- Approach each session understanding that writing is a process with identifiable stages – planning, drafting, revision, and editing.
- Focus on writing as a skill that can be developed, holding writers accountable for what they have learned.
FOR STUDENTS
As a writing coach, Gwen works to develop writers of all ages, levels and backgrounds, from primary school students to college undergraduates. Be it narrative writing, AP research papers to the college application, Gwen works with writers in all stages of the writing process. Over the years, Gwen has worked will all grade levels to help students become better writers, building on their skills from one piece of writing to the next.
Gwen also offers Academic Coaching for those students who struggle with executive functioning skills. She works with students to develop organization, prioritizing, working memory and task initiation skills.
Academic Coaching
As an Academic Coach, Gwen’s mission is to empower students to become successful, self-directed learners who can advocate for themselves in the classroom and day-to-day life.
It is important for Gwen to know the student’s strengths and weaknesses in the academic arena before coaching them. To this end, she will spend time interviewing the student and other members of the student’s support system, such as parents, teachers, and school counselors. This information is crucial in aiding me, the coach, in identifying areas requiring growth.
Gwen works one-on-one with students to identify and utilize new learning tools and strategies to help meet their academic and personal goals. Working with each student, we create a custom action plan using tools and technology best suited to the situation.
Gwen develops a working relationship with her students through scheduled meetings and follow-up email communications. In the meetings, whether online or in person, she uses a variety of tools to help students improve their time management and study strategies and resolve issues related to attention, focus, and motivation.
As an Academic Coach, Gwen can assist students in these areas:
- Help students establish priorities and set goals.
- Teach strategies for organizational management.
- Encourage the use of daily schedules and routines.
- Support students through various decision-making processes.
- Increase awareness of procrastination and identify ways to get back on track.
- Identify strategies for breaking down projects into manageable and achievable tasks.
- Assist with exam preparation and test-taking strategies.
Other Services I Provide:
- Subject tutoring (English, History, Writing, Reading Strategies)
- Personalized homework assistance
To fully benefit from the coaching experience, students must commit to attending appointments on time and consistently. They must also follow through by implementing strategies that have been discussed in the session.