Mikaylah Vindas, Reporter
@mvindascourant
One-on-one extra help is a great resource provided by our teachers. However, In many instances, students hold back from asking questions in class or requesting extra help outside the classroom. What students may fail to realize is that NCHS offers a variety of opportunities that can make a difference in their school work including the writing and math offices.
The writing center is located across from the guidance office and is always occupied by at least one history or english teacher. Teachers are always available to work through essays and writing based assignments. English teacher Susan Steidl, and history teacher Jessica Browner, both run the writing center while other teachers are also scheduled to help out. Through any stage in the reading or writing process, students can find help in the writing center. “ Students are welcome to come to the Writing Center to confer with a teacher about any reading or writing assignment for their regular coursework. This could include reading strategies, utilizing graphic organizers, selecting and evaluating sources, brainstorming writing ideas, revising writing, citing sources, and college essay preparation.” Ms.Browner said.
Teachers in the writing center give students thorough evaluations in order to help them pinpoint their strengths as well as areas teachers can help improve. “The classroom teacher receives an individualized report detailing what was discussed during the conference and what additional steps are recommended for the student; this communication allows the classroom teacher to be aware of the student’s efforts and the additional help they have received,” she said.
This one-on-one attention between teachers and students is what many students look for. Junior Becca Larkin, finds herself actively turning towards the writing center in order to help with important assignments such as the junior research paper. “The writing center has been an amazing resource for me this year and I’ll definitely go back there for my second semester junior research paper.”
Another crucial source for students is the walk-in math center, staffed by William Faircloth, which allows students in any grade seek extra help. “ Mr. Faircloth is highly qualified and does a good job helping students as they need,” Anthony Bloss, head of the Mathematics department, said.
Mr. Bloss emphasizes that the math center is “an important resource here at NCHS” and students should “use the resource when they need to if their teacher is not available.” This being said, students would ideally seek extra help from their math teacher. However, when free periods conflict between, or a teacher is unavailable, Mr. Bloss suggests students use the math center to provide them the opportunity to get their questions answered.
Mr.Faircloth says any student is welcome to come in before school and all periods except 1, 4, and 7. Additionally, students are welcome if they need a quiet working space or if they need to take a test. “Sometimes kids have missed a test and they’ll be welcome to make it up here,” said Mr.Faircloth.
After visiting the math center, it was clear that Mr. Faircloth has many resources that students do not often realize are available. Mr. Faircloth has two computers in the center which are synced together. On these screens, he can use online programs to help students with math practice. Additionally, Mr. Faircloth has a guide to using the Ti-84 graphing calculator, which is often needed for math classes. “Sometimes students end up trying to do the math in their head and don’t know how to use the calculators,” said Mr. Faircloth. Students can take home a guide, which helps students with anything from the basic functions to common problems and programs that can be installed.
The math and writing centers are both very helpful for students which is why teachers encourage more students to visit both centers more often. “While the teachers make students aware of this resource, I feel that it could be more utilized by students,” said Mr.Bloss. Mr. Faircloth agrees that more students can benefit from the math center. “A lot of times students walk past the room, and don’t even realize it is there,” said Mr. Faircloth. The writing center can be found next to the spiral staircase, and across from the guidance office. The math center can be found down the hall from the writing center, in the math hallway.
