Project Overview
What is the Writing Exchange?	The Writing Exchange addresses the pressing need for higher standards of literacy by pairing high school student mentors with fifth grade student apprentices. In the context of friendly correspondence, mentors and apprentices uncover the essential processes and components of effective written communication. Unthreatened by grades, students in both age groups can enjoy writing for its own sake. The promise of reply mail motivates frequent exchange. The knowlege that their writing will be published on the "web" motivates excellence.
What are the benefits of the Writing Exchange?	Apprentices write -- stimulated by their mentors -- they write a lot. Mentors teach by coaching young writers to improve their written communication. By teaching, the mentors solidify what they have learned. Built on writing, the apprentice-mentor relationship is semi-social and depends on casual communication.
Who sets up and runs the Writing Exchange?	A fifth grade teacher and a high school teacher collaborate to set up and run Writing Exchange. They (you) will need to enlist the help of school administrators, technical support personnel, and an internet service provider. This web site gives advice and some of the software tools necessary to get Writing Exchange up and running.
When should the Writing Exchange happen?	Fifth grade is a good target year for apprentices, but this depends on your judgment and the character of your class. Sophomores and juniors make good mentors -- they are integrated into high school activity and are not so new to it (freshman) or so ready to leave (seniors) that they are disoriented or easily distracted.
Where does the Writing Exchange happen?	Writing activities can be part of classroom assignments for both the apprentice and the mentor. The actual exchange requires computers, modems, telephone lines and an internet service provider -- it happens in cyberspace.
Why should you develop the Writing Exchange as a literacy tool?	The informal social connection between apprentice and mentor stimulates their attention and creates a receptive environment for writing feedback. Friendly feedback supports a more iterative approach to writing, while the opportunity to publish online in a cyberzine establishes motivation. Students develop useful computer skills -- the ability to use a keyboard efficiently to the ability to search the web effectively. Because pleasure and learning are integrated in communicating with Writing Exchange, both apprentices and mentors will build community -- a literate community of writers and web searchers.
How do you go about using the Writing Exchange?	Writing Exchange can be modified and customized to meet your needs. First you need a collaborating teacher. If you are a middle school teacher, for example, you will need to collaborate with a high school teacher. Next you will need to coordinate goals, schedules and technology. Details on how to set up Writing Exchange are in the downloadable Teacher's Handbook. The checklist gives an easy overview of the process.
	To learn more about the Writing Exchange, select from the following options: Return to Writing Exchange Introduction WREX Project Development History WREX Frequently Asked Questions WREX Timeline/Checklist Newberry Academy Cyberzine