Washington Middle School Counseling

Washington Middle School’s Tutoring Program is now three years old, and it remains one of the most visible and sought-after academic student intervention programs in the school. The program as a whole has been quite successful, thanks again to the efforts of the Tutor Coordinator, Susan Huntley. Her report for this school year follows.

My fourth year of coordinating the tutoring program at Washington has come to an end.  Once again this year, at least 70 volunteers worked for thousands of hours with our students individually and in classrooms.  These included parents and grandparents of current and former students.  We also had many volunteers from Seattle University’s Children’s Literacy Project, as well as a cohort of six SU sophomores in a special program for those considering a teaching career.  In addition, there were volunteers from University of Washington’s Pipeline Project, and Seattle Central Community College service learning program.  Finally, there were several candidates for Masters in Teaching programs who totaled many required hours working in classrooms and observing experienced teachers.

Between 60 and 70 Washington students received one on one tutoring from these volunteers for at least part of the school year.  These students are referred by their grade level counselors, who may be asked by parents, teachers or the students themselves for more academic support.  Once a week, tutors meet them in the library during their elective (non-core) class time.  They may work on missing homework or classwork assignments, binder organization, research projects, or reading practice.  Tutors are encouraged to stay in touch with the student’s teachers and to keep up with the student’s current grades on Source from the Tutor Coordinator’s office. 

Washington Middle School’s Tutoring Program is only a few years old, but it has become one of the most visible and sought-after academic student intervention programs in the school. The program as a whole has been quite successful, thanks to the efforts of the Tutor Coordinator, Susan Huntley. Her report for this school year follows.

The in-school tutoring program is wrapping up another successful year at Washington Middle School.  Over the course of the year, we saw 85 volunteers working with our students individually and in classrooms.  Of these, 23 were parents and grandparents of students.  We had a a total of 25 undergraduate tutors from Seattle University’s Children’s Literacy Project, and two SU staff members participated as well, thanks to a new program to encourage community volunteerism.  In addition, we had 8 students from University of Washington’s Pipeline Project, and 8 from Seattle Central Community College; for the first time, we had two participants from Bellevue College as well.  Four of our college-age tutors were former Washington Middle School students!  Of all the people who tutored in 2009-10, 16 were volunteering for at least their second year.

Around 70 Washington students received one on one tutoring for at least part of the school year.  These students are referred by their grade level counselors, who may be asked by parents, teachers or the students themselves for more academic support.  Once a week, tutors meet them in the library during their elective (non-core) class time.  They may work on missing homework or classwork assignments, binder organization, research projects, or reading practice.  Tutors are encouraged to stay in touch with the student’s teachers and to keep up with the student’s current grades on Source from the Tutor Coordinator’s office.