Create Your School Library Writing Center: Grades 7-12

by Timothy Horan

Overview

Colleges typically have writing centers to which students can bring their writing assignments to a peer tutor for assistance, but most high schools and middle schools do not. This book advocates for the creation of writing centers in 7–12 schools and explains why the school library is the best place for the writing center.

There is a glaring absence of writing centers in today's K–12 schools. More and more students are being asked in college entrance testing to submit samples of their writing, and employers are expecting their workers to write correctly and clearly. This book addresses the critical lack of writing centers below the undergraduate level. It demonstrates how middle school and high school librarians can create writing centers in their school libraries, explains how to assist students through a one-on-one writing tutorial method, and gives students and teachers the tools for learning and understanding the complex art of writing.

Author Timothy Horan—inventor of the School Library Writing Center—establishes why school libraries represent the best—and most logical—places to create writing centers, and why school librarians are the natural choice to direct writing center operations. He then takes readers through the process of creating a writing center from original conception up through opening day. Additional topics covered include how to publicize and "grow" your School Library Writing Center; maintaining your writing center for efficient operation on a daily basis as well as for years to come; how to become an effective writing center director and writing tutor; the most current technology that can be used to assist in the writing, composition, and research process; and working with English language learner (ELL) students within your writing center.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440835780
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/16/2016
Pages:	210
Sales rank:	1,130,877
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Timothy Horan, MA, MSLIS, MSEd, DA, is library media specialist and director of the Writing Center at Hauppauge High School in New York.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Please Don't Skip This Introduction/ There's Great Information Here, and You'll Like It xi

Chapter 1 A Little about Me, and Why Your School Library Is the Perfect Place for a Writing Center 1

Chapter 2 Getting Started: An Immodest Proposal 13

Chapter 3 The Tutorial: The Magic Triangle, the Ice-Breaker, and the Interview 25

Chapter 4 The Tutorial: The Big Three: Topic, Focus, Organization 41

Chapter 5 The Tutorial: The Blueprint and the Limestone 59

Chapter 6 The Tutorial: Tips, Techniques, and Mock Tutorials 75

Chapter 7 Daily Operations: The Colonel, the Binder, and a Thing Called Celly 89

Chapter 8 Shout It from the Rooftops! And from Your PA System 105

Chapter 9 I Love Technology! I Really Do But… 121

Chapter 10 This Chapter Is about the Common Core, but You'll Like It, I Promise! 137

Chapter 11 A Clear and Enjoyable Writer's Guide 153

You've Reached the Conclusion! 169

Bibliography 177

Index 181

What People are Saying About This

Patricia McCormick

"Virginia Woolf famously said that all writers need a 'room of one's own.' But young writers need more than that. They need a safe, collaborative space where they can develop ideas and get feedback and guidance. Timothy Horan's book provides a blueprint—and inspiring success stories—on how educators can turn the library into just such an encouraging, yet rigorous, environment. Writing, as a solitary experience, can be scary. Tim Horan shows you how to transform it into an engaging, enjoyable, and satisfying collaborative experience."

Susan Isaacs

"School librarians: Take note. This is a helpful and inspiring guide."

Editorial Reviews

VERDICT For high school librarians with the resources to set up a writing center, this is a useful addition. It may also be helpful for language arts teachers seeking to fine-tune ideas and schemas for peer tutoring.” —School Library Jourbanal

From the Publisher