When the Writing Fellows program at Hope High School ended last year, Sejal Jhaveri '09 and Cristina Rodrigues '10 wanted to make sure the school's students would continue to get the writing help Brown students had previously offered. The two have collaborated to create the Literacy Fellows program, which aims to replace the functions of the old program.
Jhaveri's and Rodrigues' program was created through the Swearer Center for Public Service. In addition to discussing the new program with former Writing Fellows program director Britt Harwood '09, the two are also working with Jonathan Goodman MAT'89, head of the English department at Hope High and co-director of the previous Writing Fellows program with Harwood.
The Literacy Fellows plan to work in classrooms at Hope twice a week, every other week. They will work to improve students' writing and teach the foundations of essay writing, Jhaveri said. She has tutored Hope students for the SAT and said many students are not even proficient in basic grammar.
"English and literacy skills are so important to being a successful person," she said. The goal of the program would be to help the high school students master these skills.
"Classrooms at Hope are big," Harwood said. "Having volunteers in the classroom automatically means each student is getting more individual attention."
According to Harwood, students at Hope are generally behind grade level in reading and writing. "The ultimate goal is really trying to help students value their own writing and academic work, and to facilitate improving their writing," she said.
Jhaveri said she is still looking for more volunteers, but plans to start the program next week.
