Hannah Ashley
WRITING ZONES
West Chester University
Grades 9-16+ Subject Areas: Language Arts and Writing
Partnerships: West Chester University, Downingtown and Henderson High Schools, Colleagues

Writing Zones was piloted at Downingtown West in the spring of 2005. Downingtown was chosen for its long-term positive relationship with West Chester University's English Department. In 2005-06, the project grew to touch over 500 students at two sites, with two Teacher Partners, five paid tutors, nine service learning tutors, one project associate. In 2006-07, the project moved into the West Chester Area School District, operating in both East and Henderson High Schools this spring, 2007. Writing Zones works with six core tutors and over twenty-five volunteers/service learning tutors. Student participation has been quite significant at both schools. Writing Zones provided over 150 individualized tutorials to secondary students and thirty-seven classroom sessions (contacting approximately 22 students per classroom visit) in the fall of 2006.

Both school sites are committed to return next year. At Henderson's initiative, an article on the Writing Zone was published in May 2006 on the school district's website and in their newsletter which goes to every household in the district. West Chester University also has highlighted the program on its PR website.

Kimberlee Brown, Kristin Haegele, Karen Grimm, Kathleen Jackson, Tom Mulvey
THE MATHEMATICAL NEEDS OF LEARNING SUPPORT STUDENTS
West Chester University Downingtown Area School District
Grades: Middle School and College Subject Areas: Math/Special Education
Partnerships: Teachers, University Professors and Departments

This tutoring program is an example of a successful collaboration of University departments as well as between the University and the community of Downingtown Area School District (DASD). Four University departments worked together to provide regular education candidates with a unique, comprehensive early field experience to a very special group of students-learning support middle school students struggling in the mathematics content area. West Chester University (WCU) education candidates had the opportunity to go beyond reading about the alignment of state standards with instruction and assessment, and actually experienced that relationship with three middle school students over a ten week period. These students also received support and supervision from DASD personnel who are truly expert in their fields.

This project has served as a seed for future collaboration between the University and the school district. Plans are underway to expand this tutoring program to the fall and spring semesters of the next academic year in two of the district's middle schools, as well as three of the district's elementary schools. While very challenging to organize and implement, this project will hopefully set the stage for a long-term, mutually beneficial collaboration between WCU and the Downingtown Area School District.